Merge the non-hardcore servers

[HungarianRhapsody]

I know they have said about technical issues to make a full scale server merger... but, they did a Hardcore server and they are planning on transfer the characters created to a regular server.

So, they could make an Universal Server and plan a schedule to Transfer all active players of all servers to that one. During that scheduled time, all Character Transfers are Free. They can do it if we pay, why not make it Free?
The technical issue response is BS, to sell Transfers.

Ohhhh Guild Ships, Amenities and Buffs.
Everything is logged in a database, every guild and their members. Or it isn't?
Make a copy and paste to the Universal Server, some guilds could gain Levels during the schedule time (sorry, but it is manageable to regain).

I'm sure they could do a sort-of-manual process where a guild leader could get a coupon for a new guild and X guild renown, but "copy and paste to the Universal Server" is a lot harder than it sounds like.

Character transfers aren't horribly painful most of the time, but when anything goes wrong, there are going to be some really angry customers and not nearly enough customer service resources available to fix the problems that come up.

I absolutely agree that something is needed, but I'm not confident that SSG can manage to pull it off.

[br0adcast]

free transfer is the answer

[tralfaz81]

Not disagreeing in the slightest about the many suggestions about free server transfers being a possible solution but I do feel it worth pointing out that people being allowed to transfer to whichever server they choose would be an illusion of progress and only result in the same amount of players just shifted around the servers.

The answer is for the devs to pick two servers and only offer free transfers to those servers to consolidate the population.

Two servers and offer incentive on those servers for people to transfer:

- free extra character slots
- free transfers
- half price airships and amenities
- double renown rewards

Basically anything that would encourage and ease the migration of guilds and members to select servers.

[Opener]

Not disagreeing in the slightest about the many suggestions about free server transfers being a possible solution but I do feel it worth pointing out that people being allowed to transfer to whichever server they choose would be an illusion of progress and only result in the same amount of players just shifted around the servers.

Because that I suggested One Universal Server... of this server reach a peak during the schedule, another server would be opened up and so on.

Exemple...

Universal Server 1 - has 1000 quota
Transfers from Argonnessen - Ghallanda - Sarlona filled 870 of the quota

Open an Universal Server 2 - more 1000 quota
Transfers from Cannith - Khyber - Orien filled 690 of the quota

Open an Universal Server 3 - more 1000 quota
Transfers from Thelanis and Wayfinder...

New Accounts will be filling those vacant quota in Universal 1 then 2 then 3...

[mauriciomaster]

I think it takes 1% more xp per member in the fixed party this will help to have more lfm

[Kuttamia]

I can't speak for the rest of them, but Ghallanda is dead. Hardcore has pulled enough away to kill it.

I've no interest in HC, yet this is affecting my fun. The game's more fun in a group but LFMs just are not filling.

+1 from me, i am always up to having more ppl around to pug with.

[NemesisAlien]

How do you deal with alts, friends 1 level higher than you, shared bank, etc... this just wouldn't work at all.

Cross server grouping seems much more viable. Allow players from separate servers to go to the same quest instance.

Well if the friend is above the server level, you just wont see them.

As for shared bank, ship, etc, not the best soultion, but simpliest is every tuesday reset devs copy paste the whole thing over.
(Best is of course someone script it and debug of course, but who is going to pay for it?)

[EllisDee37]

Brainstorming the logistics for how to get us down to a single non-hardcore server:

1) Create a brand new server as the new destination for everyone.

Starting fresh removes a HUGE amount of historical clutter from the server.


2) Two new server transfer options would need to be coded:

Transfer Guild
- A new guild is created on the destination server with the same renown total. The value of the guild airship and all amenities is placed directly into the new guild's plat and astral shard accounts, allowing immediately repurchasing the same setup. Since you can't withdraw plat and astrals from the guild bank, only spend it on guild stuff, it wouldn't matter who did the guild transfer.
- Duplicate names have "-1" (or whatever) added.
- All guilds on the new server, regardless if transferred or created new, get one free name change.

Transfer Account
- Transfers an entire account from one server to the next:
- All characters, shared banks, banks, inventory, TR caches, favor unlocks, etc...
- All account transfers are free, but you can only do an account transfer to the new server.
- Accounts can transfer directly into their guild if the guild has already been transferred.


3) Existing servers still function normally, except no quests

Everything on the existing servers still works normally, except you aren't allowed to enter quests, raids and challenges. You get a message about being on a legacy server, and to please use the free account transfer to move to the active server.



I think this covers most issues. It won't help someone who has a ton of alts on multiple servers and actively plays all of them, but for the vast majority of players, this proposal gets them to the promised land at full fighting strength.

After setting this up, leave the current servers online and active for one year, letting people migrate voluntarily when it suits them. After the year is up, THEN do a legit old-school behind-the-scenes server merge to combine all 8 legacy servers into a single legacy server. Note that this new legacy server will only include people who haven't played in over a year, so naming conflicts, loss of guilds, etc... from automated transfers isn't really an issue.



At this point, one year from "now' we are left with:

Active Server
Includes everyone who has logged on in the past year. Does not include all the extra baggage, like someone who logged in and created one character in 2009 and then never came back. Should be both extremely populated and less laggy than any of the live servers today.

Legacy Server
Includes everyone who hasn't logged in in at least a year. ALL the throwaway accounts over the past decade. Anyone logging in here can still transfer their guild and account to the active server. This server stays open essentially forever.

Hardcore Server
Occasionally. Once every 2 years, maybe?

[NemesisAlien]

Brainstorming the logistics for how to get us down to a single non-hardcore server:

1) Create a brand new server as the new destination for everyone.

Starting fresh removes a HUGE amount of historical clutter from the server.


2) Two new server transfer options would need to be coded:

Transfer Guild
- A new guild is created on the destination server with the same renown total. The value of the guild airship and all amenities is placed directly into the new guild's plat and astral shard accounts, allowing immediately repurchasing the same setup. Since you can't withdraw plat and astrals from the guild bank, only spend it on guild stuff, it wouldn't matter who did the guild transfer.
- Duplicate names have "-1" (or whatever) added.
- All guilds on the new server, regardless if transferred or created new, get one free name change.

Transfer Account
- Transfers an entire account from one server to the next:
- All characters, shared banks, banks, inventory, TR caches, favor unlocks, etc...
- All account transfers are free, but you can only do an account transfer to the new server.
- Accounts can transfer directly into their guild if the guild has already been transferred.


3) Existing servers still function normally, except no quests

Everything on the existing servers still works normally, except you aren't allowed to enter quests, raids and challenges. You get a message about being on a legacy server, and to please use the free account transfer to move to the active server.



I think this covers most issues. It won't help someone who has a ton of alts on multiple servers and actively plays all of them, but for the vast majority of players, this proposal gets them to the promised land at full fighting strength.

After setting this up, leave the current servers online and active for one year, letting people migrate voluntarily when it suits them. After the year is up, THEN do a legit old-school behind-the-scenes server merge to combine all 8 legacy servers into a single legacy server. Note that this new legacy server will only include people who haven't played in over a year, so naming conflicts, loss of guilds, etc... from automated transfers isn't really an issue.



At this point, one year from "now' we are left with:

Active Server
Includes everyone who has logged on in the past year. Does not include all the extra baggage, like someone who logged in and created one character in 2009 and then never came back. Should be both extremely populated and less laggy than any of the live servers today.

Legacy Server
Includes everyone who hasn't logged in in at least a year. ALL the throwaway accounts over the past decade. Anyone logging in here can still transfer their guild and account to the active server. This server stays open essentially forever.

Hardcore Server
Occasionally. Once every 2 years, maybe?

This in the IT sector is called data migration, which is the 2nd worst nightmare in the entire IT industry.
Cost a bomb too btw.

[LurkingVeteran]

This in the IT sector is called data migration, which is the 2nd worst nightmare in the entire IT industry.
Cost a bomb too btw.

They already have character transfers though. People also run copies from all over on Lamannia.

I see three options.

a) Either they just open a new server and make it optional to move over. For this to work people need significant incentives so the majority moves over. Hold-outs will still complain they have less people to group with (irony), but at least it was their choice to remain. One problem is returning players who will now wake up in an an even emptier wasteland, and have to be informed how to find the other players.

b) They just copy all existing characters to a new "Regular" server. If all went well, they can nuke the old servers after a few months. Guilds, caches etc may need a look so unaware players don't lose stuff, but having parallel servers for a time will manage the risks. If things go south people can play on their own server. They could even be allowed to transfer over once again after X months. Unless this overwrites their old character this could be used to double characters / assets, but that is a minor issue in this context.

In both cases the new server should be the default for new players.

c) Cross-server grouping. Ideally combined with an automatic dungeon finder. This would be best imo, but I'm not sure if the back-end work required is feasible for SSG to muster.

Frankly, people transfer servers all the time, so I don't see why ironing out the problems with b) would be impossible either.

[NemesisAlien]

They already have character transfers though. People also run copies from all over on Lamannia.

I see three options.

a) Either they just open a new server and make it optional to move over. For this to work people need significant incentives so the majority moves over. Hold-outs will still complain they have less people to group with (irony), but at least it was their choice to remain. One problem is returning players who will now wake up in an an even emptier wasteland, and have to be informed how to find the other players.

b) They just copy all existing characters to a new "Regular" server. If all went well, they can nuke the old servers after a few months. Guilds, caches etc may need a look so unaware players don't lose stuff, but having parallel servers for a time will manage the risks. If things go south people can play on their own server. They could even be allowed to transfer over once again after X months. Unless this overwrites their old character this could be used to double characters / assets, but that is a minor issue in this context.

In both cases the new server should be the default for new players.

c) Cross-server grouping. Ideally combined with an automatic dungeon finder. This would be best imo, but I'm not sure if the back-end work required is feasible for SSG to muster.

Frankly, people transfer servers all the time, so I don't see why ironing out the problems with b) would be impossible either.

Its not impossible, its just considered menial work, nobody in an office environment wants to do sweat work.

And then there is the part where people who have left DDO office (be it turbine or SSg or whatever) didnt pass down the information to their successor completely which leaves some parts they cant touch.

ANd then probably the most common part, "If its not broken, dont break it". ¯\_("/)_/¯

[HungarianRhapsody]

Frankly, people transfer servers all the time, so I don't see why ironing out the problems with b) would be impossible either.

Just because you don't see the problems doesn't mean they don't exist.

You wouldn't think that there would be problems with Reincarnation either, right? Seems pretty simple. But people lost tomes and past lives and gear over and over and over again for YEARS.

I'd love to see a successful server merge. More than I can possibly say. But I don't want to see a giant catastrophe and I applaud SSG for recognizing that a real server merge would be exactly that catastrophe. The best we could hope for is free character transfers to (not from) a couple of servers so that people could choose to move over time.

[Potatofasf]

(be it turbine or SSg or whatever) didnt pass down the information to their successor completely which leaves some parts they cant touch.

This is a wacky excuse... When I have to buy a business (Car Rental, Barber Shop, Local Paper, etc etc...) I have to buy it all, including the debts...
So makes no sense that they (SSG) have bought or acquired the game rights without demand full ownership to run maintenance, bug fixing and new coding.

As you said it isn't impossible, is pure Hard demanding work... Either they don't have hands on deck to do it or they don't want to.

Either way... a Merge is a solution to the diminishing population.

As was said on other replies, a marge would be beneficial to clear old inactive and throw way accounts from the past 10 or so years.

The best we could hope for is free character transfers to (not from) a couple of servers so that people could choose to move over time.

That ^ is the BEST SOLUTION EVER!

[LurkingVeteran]

Just because you don't see the problems doesn't mean they don't exist.

You wouldn't think that there would be problems with Reincarnation either, right? Seems pretty simple. But people lost tomes and past lives and gear over and over and over again for YEARS.

I'd love to see a successful server merge. More than I can possibly say. But I don't want to see a giant catastrophe and I applaud SSG for recognizing that a real server merge would be exactly that catastrophe. The best we could hope for is free character transfers to (not from) a couple of servers so that people could choose to move over time.

I didn't say problems didn't exist, I'm just saying that there is no indication that it would be impossible. The recurring TR problems are mostly rare occurrences. We don't know if they have actually prioritized stamping them out. A server merge on the other hand, may be key for the survival of the game. Since none of us have experience with their back-end, we don't how many much work it would be to implement an automatic and "good enough" character migration. Saying that it cannot be done because Turbine generally didn't prioritize fixing bugs in the past, is a pointless argument. Only SSG has insight into this, and the only thing I've seen them say on this is that they would prefer not to merge servers. They will have to work on improving PUGing some way though, and not just for PST prime time.

[frederjoe1]

SO I just returned last night after about 3 years away. Used to be on the Argonessen server alot. Where is everyone these days? DO I need to try out the hardcore server?

[NemesisAlien]

SO I just returned last night after about 3 years away. Used to be on the Argonessen server alot. Where is everyone these days? DO I need to try out the hardcore server?

Are you prepared to roll a 28 point built?

Are you prepared to have 1 and only 1 life with no rez?

If yes, the majority is on hardcore server.

[Cantor]

SO I just returned last night after about 3 years away. Used to be on the Argonessen server alot. Where is everyone these days? DO I need to try out the hardcore server?

Yes, everyone* is on the hardcore server.

*for a given definition of everyone

[HungarianRhapsody]

I didn't say problems didn't exist, I'm just saying that there is no indication that it would be impossible. The recurring TR problems are mostly rare occurrences. We don't know if they have actually prioritized stamping them out. A server merge on the other hand, may be key for the survival of the game. Since none of us have experience with their back-end, we don't how many much work it would be to implement an automatic and "good enough" character migration. Saying that it cannot be done because Turbine generally didn't prioritize fixing bugs in the past, is a pointless argument. Only SSG has insight into this, and the only thing I've seen them say on this is that they would prefer not to merge servers. They will have to work on improving PUGing some way though, and not just for PST prime time.

We know that SSG has said that they can't make this happen and that the people who know the interfaces and back ends left years ago. This comes up every dang time.

I agree that it's a problem, but breaking everything with a poorly done server merge isn't going to fix it either. A free character transfer to one or two servers designated by SSG might be workable(ish), but a server merge is not. SSG has insight into this and they've said they can't.

[HungarianRhapsody]

As you said it isn't impossible, is pure Hard demanding work... Either they don't have hands on deck to do it or they don't want to.

They don't have hands on deck because those hands left Turbine/Warner Brothers/SSG years ago.

[Potatofasf]

They don't have hands on deck because those hands left Turbine/Warner Brothers/SSG years ago.

What is okay!
They can be front forward saying it and giving us alternatives, like the Free Transfer solution.

Create a server to receive this transfers and advice people and new players to create characters in this new server.

To lure people to do that, give Welcome Gifts
Exemple
- Double Store points each 100 Favor in the server
- Heart of the Wood/Blood
- Exp Stone
- Buddy Bonus
- etc etc etc