[Official] Clustering Thread

[Sharkith]

I voted no in the end and feel I have looked at as much about it as I could. The biggest threat from clustering is to the community of both servers and I am sorry not many have seemed to think about that here. Essentially all these communication forums will have to be restructured in some way because we will need more cross server communication. I am personally very happy with this side of things as it is and I think that you tamper with these communities at your peril.

Hib Pryd and I am sure Alb and Mid are said to be closer knit communities and in the long run they have the most to lose because they are going to find themselves having to adopt to the bigger brother community on Excal in all cases. ToA is likely to be 25% more camped and we will see labelling of people from one realm or another and this is going to cause an awful lot of friction. All of this just so we would have more people in RvR. From the American experience I can see that the following has happened in RvR

- Soloers - forget it.
- Zergs - they get bigger
- 8v's8 - some more action but there also seems to be more adding

The saying goes "The grass is always greener". I am sorry but once this is done and your on the other side your ass is hanging in the wind friends there is no going back we are told. You will have no choice to change servers unless you can learn German or French (not that bad an idea). So once you have pushed it over the edge and you find that your holy realm point is even more zergy and boring to get. What will you do then? Who are you going to cry to?

 

[Ingafgrinn Macabre]

ATM there are enough fights to find in the frontier. And I'd hate to lose the option to switch my 2nd realm... we, as english players only have two realms we can play.. I'd see it as shooting yourself in the foot if we'd cripple ourselfs into playing only 1 realm, and well.. that 1h switching time is just too long. In reality you'd never play the other realm anymore just cos it takes too long to switch...

 

[Bahumat]

ATM there are enough fights to find in the frontier. And I'd hate to lose the option to switch my 2nd realm... we, as english players only have two realms we can play.. I'd see it as shooting yourself in the foot if we'd cripple ourselfs into playing only 1 realm, and well.. that 1h switching time is just too long. In reality you'd never play the other realm anymore just cos it takes too long to switch...

this is what pissed me off, say you get in from work and go on alb pryd, your rl m8 phones up and says "really good luagh in mid excal thid"

you would want to join your friend more than likely but you have to wait an hour.

ofc there are hundreds of scenarios where you wanna change server etc but waiting an hour is not on.

if your xp'ing on mid excal and your alb pryd friend says an arte is up you have been after....."ok i just need to log out and wait an hour then i can log on and join you....will you wait"

ofc ppl wont.

 

[Gwenne]

I am against clustering because of the disadvantages Requiel listed. I'm glad he has clearly followed the various debates and is aware of concerns about effects on the existing communities and effectively cutting the uk servers down to one in future. I can't imagine that GOA would cluster Exc and Pryd with one hand, and give another english server with the other hand. I think limiting new players to only playing one realm is going to reduce the number of new players and the future life span of the game. A lot of those who currently play a realm on Exc and a realm on Pryd will eventually just play one I think. Conflicts of interest and having to quit playing for an hour to switch, will take their toll, and playing a second realm will no longer be easy fun.

We do not have a large number of servers the way the US do, and we have a much larger population than they did when they were clustered. There is no need to do this at this point. I believe server populations have risen as a result of people getting bored with WoW. We do not need to do something irreversible.

I feel those heavily committed to rvr are the most likely to post on this forum. Some of those have only thought as far as more enemies to fight, and may find they really dislike clustering if it happens. Some have thought more deeply. The way people react to posts by insulting people for not agreeing with them, doesn't encourage less rvr focussed people to post saying they don't want clustering.

I voted no because if we cluster it seems very possible the aggro in the community will increase and I will leave. Some of the people I most enjoy playing this game with are talking of the possibility of leaving if we cluster. I don't think moving to US servers is really going to work because of time zone problems, so I would probably move to another game entirely. Its been 3 or 4 years, and I'm not actually bored with the game. I'd keep playing but I don't need more aggro, and going from 2 servers down to 1 is a message the game is dying and we cannot expect new players.

So, that is my opinion. I hesitated to post here. I think I've made a dozen posts on this forum in 18 months, but hopefully I'm allowed to say my personal view without being insulted. If I am, then I'm not bothering to reply.

 

[Gear]

I voted yes, as rvr in it's current state is dramatic. I've talked with people I know irl that play alb/pry, most of them have not been playing for quite some time now, however they will reactivate their accounts if that would mean more people rvr-ing.

I am 90% rvr focused, I hardly have enough playing time to play in one realm and maximise my potential there, so going on a second one, is not a big thingy for me.

I think that more people in the rvr zones, will have many things to offer for every playstyle of the game. To the ones saying that the new players will not be able to play different realms, well, I know quite a few players that cannot find the time to optimise their character in even one realm, or to create some alts while we're at it. MLs and artifacts have increased the pve end game considerably to be courageous enough to try another realm. I guess that if servers do get clustered, and we see a significant rise in numbers from new players (yeah, wet dreams ) there is no reason why goa will not start another english server really.

 

[Silverbirch]

You can take the player out of Prydwen, but you'll NEVER take Prydwen out of teh player :kissit:

Voted no if you didn't figure

 

[Mojo]

Voted NO, I have never seen a problem with prydwen I guess maybe because of my play style, having said that I wont have an issue if the servers do get clustered. I do appreciate the benefits from both arguments the only real issues is that it cant be undone and it could be done down the line sometime if required.

 

[Belomar]

I voted yes on both of my accounts. However, I have my doubts about some of the people touting the fact that "RvR will now be spread across all of the frontier". I also play on Avalon, the most populated server in Europe, and let me tell you that the RvR action is not spread out any more just because of that; instead, the zergs are bigger and the adding is insane. Casual players looking for fights will still run to the flames on the realmwar map, or, failing that, to the nearest bridge you can port to. Consequently, the opted FGs will stay in those approximate areas, trying to find other FGs and occasionally farming stragglers or parts of the zerg. It never fails.

I also found that there was an amazing amount of retarded shit being spouted in this thread, mainly by the "hardcore RvR players". Or how about this gem:

if u think like u said u must be a loser irl

Eh, another idiotic post by Xxcalibur, how refreshing. It is clear that RvR is not about uber groups, anyone can figure this out; the amount of casual players running around in non-opted groups or zergs far outweighs the hardcore players. If you think otherwise it is just because the hardcore minority is a hundred times more vocal and whining than the casual majority. In fact, with your kind of attitude, I would not be surprised if it was you who turned out to be the loser in the end.

Having said that, I believe clustering will be beneficial to both hardcore and casual players alike (for reasons already stated in this thread).

Wonder how much normal players will be hated if clustering dont happen because no won.

Ye gods, who cares? There are actually many more "normal players" than there are RvR fanatics, and why do you think they would care if a few dedicated players (most who already despise them, just read between the lines in this post) would go around and hold a grudge against them?

 

[Ballard]

Once it was clustered I dont see why players couldnt be allowed to play all 3 realms with no switch over time. That way we could all play 3 different realms without GOA having to shell out for another server or two. If you hold up RP farming as a reason for not doing this you need to think about it a little more. RP farming is alot slower than just running in a group. RP farming is actually much harder to do now that kills are displayed in the zone they occur, leading to other players checking it out and increased risk of being reported. RP farming is boring... I really dont think it will be a problem. The only people likely to try it are the pople who cannot compete in normal RvR and who really cares if they get a few rps they still wont be any good.

 

[Equador]

Once it was clustered I dont see why players couldnt be allowed to play all 3 realms with no switch over time.

I suppose this can also affect RvR - what if there's a relic raid preparing and your main is on the other server/realm? You could switch quickly and tell your alliance for instance.

Personally I voted yes. For the people that care for RvR they'll have their bigger fights, and the casual players will have more people to raid with. As for casual players in RvR - They'll still form the same kind of groups they used to, but you probably see a lot more of those. Maybe it will even attract them to RvR more, who knows? I can enjoy RvR, but PvE as well, and finding a group at the moment is ye horror. I think the more people, the better.

 

[Maff]

Voted no.
RvR will get more zerger and imo any one tinking it wont are just fooling them self.
come on u see flames on a tower you go every one dose,like a moth to the flame
also think of this a RR is planed now how many RR you know are done in 1 hour
people all rdy know most time time when there going on with clustering will be more well knows and some will log off to set up some RP farming in a set tower they know will be hit.
i do thinki it will mess up RvR just make it a huge zerg.
on excal some times get the nice 1fg vs 1fg with pry there as well will make it less likley to have that.
also not sure on facts here so a ie:if Mid Excal&pry is the most populated and Hib Excal&pry are the most underpop going to make it so you have no one to fight cos there zergs otu there and cant beat the numbers.

campping arit's and price on CM's been said many time the price will just go up more.

they should leave it well alone

 

[mikke]

youd have to be insane to vote no for clustering, if you come from prydwen. do you not understand? most of pryds regular GGs atm are only here because theyre anticipating cluster, soon as it goes, the GGs go.

and whats the bet that as soon as GOA say no cluster, and the population takes a nosedive, you very same people who voted no start crying "ffs mythic look at population, why arent we clustered you never do anything right".

Totally agree

 

[Lilinallte]

Voted no, for now. If in future it is realy needed, we can still do clustering. For now I think the impact on PvE is too big to justify.

All this talk about 'people who reactivated their account because clustering was going to happen' and these people leaving if we don't cluster: tough titty... If this game is focussing more and more on RvR, then I think we're going to loose way more people than those few that are going to re-close their account if we're not clustering. (Besides, they closed their accounts before, not a steady basis to base a descision on, is it...).

Clustering is bad for game dynamics and un-needed (at the moment). So 'no to clustering'...

 

[Henrock]

Didn't have to think long before voting yes. As Jjuura said the current 'healty' state of the servers is only because of the high anticipation of clustering.

I don't doubt there will be some annoyance with the 1 hour waiting time when you want to switch realm, especially if theres an arti encounter involved, although the current RvR situation outweighs that, in my opinion.

You have to remember that it is not Goa that developes the server software, it is Mythic, and apparently they designed it in this way as it suits the US server-system alot better having so many servers. Iirc Goa can only alter the time you need to wait and not recode it to ignore the one realm per cluster restriction. And voting no to ease new players is a bit silly in my opinion, I doubt even 10% as many as the current player base will start playing Daoc. So basing this decision on players who may or may not buy and start playing this game instead of thinking of the current playerbase is.. well.

 

[Dracus]

7x yes

My reasons are already listed so wont bother. What does interest me is, what will goa do if its a close run? keep servers as is or do clustering "for the good of the servers" or something equally lame in a lets say 53% 47% scenario would they actually dare go with the 53% just coz its higher? or would they wait it out a few months and ask again?

Its a regular powder keg

/Dracus

 

[IainC]

7x yes

My reasons are already listed so wont bother. What does interest me is, what will goa do if its a close run? keep servers as is or do clustering "for the good of the servers" or something equally lame in a lets say 53% 47% scenario would they actually dare go with the 53% just coz its higher? or would they wait it out a few months and ask again?

Its a regular powder keg

/Dracus

The poll is just one of many factors that are weighed up in the decision. Your opinions here in ths thread are another.

 

[Accupuncture]

voted no

Population on the servers is fine as it is for now. If we get to the position they have in the US than maybe I will vote yes, then.

I feel sorry for all the new people that will come into the game. Tied to one realm, then again nice money making ploy. Most new players once they spend the time and want a change will either have to delete the realm they are in now or get a new client. The later is more money for GOA

 

[LordjOX]

Voted yes.
It will be fun with more people.

Game economies will most certainly change and, in genera,l items will become far more expensive across the board. This is likely to affect Prydwen more than it will Excalibur.

As far I've read and understood and heard guildies / friends say the same. Won't there be 2*ToA zones for each server population?
Or is it two identical realms sharing one ToA zone? Say Hibernia/Prydwen and Hibernia/Excalibur sharing one ToA zone... ?
Or Hibernia/Excalibur having access to Hibernia/Excalibur ToA AND Hibernia/Prydwen ToA but not meeting Prydwen players in those zones?

If my initial interpreting was correct, there will be twice the artifacts to spawn. And again more players with access to same CMs on both servers will give twice the amount of crafters / farmers and they will compete to sell stuffs?

 

[Ingafgrinn Macabre]

Voted yes.
It will be fun with more people.


As far I've read and understood and heard guildies / friends say the same. Won't there be 2*ToA zones for each server population?
Or is it two identical realms sharing one ToA zone? Say Hibernia/Prydwen and Hibernia/Excalibur sharing one ToA zone... ?
Or Hibernia/Excalibur having access to Hibernia/Excalibur ToA AND Hibernia/Prydwen ToA but not meeting Prydwen players in those zones?

If my initial interpreting was correct, there will be twice the artifacts to spawn. And again more players with access to same CMs on both servers will give twice the amount of crafters / farmers and they will compete to sell stuffs?

It will be exactly as it is now, except that we in prydwen, can also visit the ToA zone of excal, and vice versa... so for Prydwen arti's become more camped, and for Excal, arti's become less camped (assuming equal amount of campers) however, overall they'll probably be more camped in Excal ánd Pryd because people will leave their BB at an Excal-ToA Artifact encounter, and place their other account at the Pryd-ToA encounter...

 

[LordjOX]

It will be exactly as it is now, except that we in prydwen, can also visit the ToA zone of excal, and vice versa... so for Prydwen arti's become more camped, and for Excal, arti's become less camped (assuming equal amount of campers) however, overall they'll probably be more camped in Excal ánd Pryd because people will leave their BB at an Excal-ToA Artifact encounter, and place their other account at the Pryd-ToA encounter...

But it says that only Frontier zones and Capital cities will be clustered?
Now im proper confused.

 

[Sharkith]

But it says that only Frontier zones and Capital cities will be clustered?
Now im proper confused.

'clustered' means exactly the same zone. However the non clustered bits I.e. toa etc whilst not clustered will be accessed by both populations through an NPC in the capital city of each server. So if you are in Hib pry for example expect the camping of ToA to increase by 25% or there abouts at worst.

 

[Farbaute2]

I think there will be more artifact camping and griefing overall. those who already behave bad will do it on both servers. and artifacts will be camped permanently. I also think prices will rise alot since there are now many more players who wants stuff. Im already rich in platina since i have always played on prydwen, and will as many others buy what i want from cm´s, but i dont think everyone is in my situation.

Im not sure either how rvr will develop. You who wanted to run full groups and fight eachother. i think that way of playing will be much harder. players in rvr goes to where "the action is" and will do so after clustering also. this specially concerns prydwen i think. a good think for prydwenites though is that there will be alot more rps to get. we have played years with fewer enemies to fight and i think if we wanted it to be fair with a clustering of servers, prydwen characters rps/character should probably be doubled.

then guilds.. i have no idea how the guild communites will react. will players try to be members in multiple realms/servers? or will guilds have one guildgroup in each realm and fight?

I dont think this is the right solution. what we need is a better balanced game and better marketing for the game so that we get more new players. NOT just stuff to keep old players who play to much anyway.

 

[ImaNoobie]

Server Clustering
With this new version comes the opportunity to join the RvR zones of several servers together along with some other zones such as capital cities ; as you may have read in previous news pieces and in the polls which we have made available. Many of you took part and your votes have helped us reach a decision. The results show that each language has very distinct views as the server choices are very different.
And so, the clustering of the English servers Excalibur and Prydwen, voted for with an overwhelming majority, will take place. The same will happen for the French servers Carnac and Orcanie, for whom the results were closer yet still quite clear. On the other hand, there will be no clustering of the German servers, the majority of the population having quite clearly voted against.
The clustering will come a shortly after the release of 1.75 in Europe and we hope that it will bring satisfaction to the players concerned.

Well, i personally can't wait for the 2 new English servers. I pay to play the whole game not one third. I should not have to delete characters or open more accounts.

Any eta on the 2 new English servers?

Hmmmmm, where did i put my EQ2 account details.......



PS All those that voted Yes to clustering have waived the right to moan/whine/bitch and generally complain about zergs. What the hell will all of you whine at now?

 

[Sharkith]

Well, i personally can't wait for the 2 new English servers. I pay to play the whole game not one third. I should not have to delete characters or open more accounts.

Any eta on the 2 new English servers?

Hmmmmm, where did i put my EQ2 account details.......



PS All those that voted Yes to clustering have waived the right to moan/whine/bitch and generally complain about zergs. What the hell will all of you whine at now?

Its all done now - clustering is happening - see the Friday news. I hope the holy realm point was worth it.

 

[Cadiva]

That's the auto renew cancelled then.

I'm not paying for three accounts just so I can choose to play each of the three realms without having to cancel characters when wanting to try a different one.

Those who voted yes in the hope of more RvR and less zergy battles, best of luck but I can't see it happening.

 

[Cadiva]

Bah can't edit the above frigging post now. Anyway, the point I was badly trying to make in the other one was that it's okay for the Germans to reject the idea, they have enough servers to choose each realm.
The French also have enough servers to choose each realm.

The English speaking DAoC gaming population now have to buy three accounts if they want to play each of the three realms.

Oh sorry, I forgot Camlann. Actually no, I didn't forget Camlann I deliberately ignored it because a lot of people don't want to run around on a PvP server as proved by the lack of population on it since about a month after it opened.

 

[Raven]

i think everyone understands that there will be more zergs, however there will also be more 8v8 for those that enjoy that, there will also be more soloers around for people who like that, more people, more of everything. Anyway, it was voted for and most people said yes.

PS Anyone know what will happen with the relics?

 

[rampant]

welcome to DE ZERG.....this will kill off the english servers

 

[Scotticus]

Alass i fear the merge of 2 servers will result in the fall of one realm, Hibernina

This is how i see things going , hib already has the lowest pop on excal and a very low pop on pry, now with albs having by far the highest pop on both servers this will start to (again be a zerg for the win) as it was when nf came out...... im not very good at xplaning myself but have any of you also thought of the drawbacks of being able to play 2 realms on effectly 1 server?
most of my hib friends and have characters on mid pry or alb pry , as i think most of us hibs do, i can just c it now if hib starts to take an unfair battering and losse all our relics in the first day ,week ect, who is wanna gonna play them?
when thay can play there mid or alb alt that can now play on the same server with all the % bonus ect, as i see it server merge = less hibs to start with then only to loose more peeps to what will be an even bigger alb / mid pop swing..


i really hope im wrong as i love this game but i can only see it going one way

 

[Minau]

if u now so desperatly wanna play 3 realms, im sure u can afford another account..
after all, doesnt all the roleplayers have a buff bot for all that PvE u do ?

I voted yes for one simple reason, i rather have to many people to fight,
the to little. And ofc il keep complaining about the zerg, just cuz alot people
CAN gather up and destroy everything in their path doesn meen they have to.
Zerging is a choise u do, not sumting that automaticly happend just cuz there
is alot of people online.