Server clustring..

[Gahn]

Can quite understand that would be hard to give us directly 1.74 with Catas launch on rocket ramp, but i do hope GOA gives a deep thought about it cause i don't think regardless of press campaign, that Catas alone will inject numbers big nuff to revitalize Prydwen.
Atm it's pretty dull to run in a big empty bowl most nights, or having the only 70 ppl out in frontiers packed inside a tower like Friday night ... (and wasn't fun for us Hibs caught in between btw oO).
No secrets that at end of April there's another big launch (ie GuildWars) and GOA need to sort things out before that (already heard that we are expecting Catas in April and not in March as seemed at 1st glance) or we gonna miss other ppl (this time me included cause GW is really nice).

 

[IainC]

(already heard that we are expecting Catas in April and not in March as seemed at 1st glance) or we gonna miss other ppl (this time me included cause GW is really nice).

You haven't heard that from us and as we're the only people who can give accurate launch dates. I'd not trust any date you might hear being passed around unless you read it on the Goa news site.
The last news we published said March and, so far we've said nothing to indicate that's changed.

 

[Gahn]

You haven't heard that from us and as we're the only people who can give accurate launch dates. I'd not trust any date you might hear being passed around unless you read it on the Goa news site.
The last news we published said March and, so far we've said nothing to indicate that's changed.

Then how about giving us your views about server clustering? Or it isn't an issue so far for GOA? U know 1 month won't change anything sadly at this rate.

 

[SkarIronfist]

I know you have spoken on a new marketing campaign. But thats not going to affect the RVR in the short term.

Since if you are bringing in new players. They will not know about how to level effectively, so they will be slow, just like we all were with our 1st characters. So if I remeber correctly that was 11 days. Now we have the free level concept, which is nice. The levels in catacombs will be more friendly, but still there is going to be a large gap inbetween. Any fresh meet hitting the server and appearing in an RVR zone.

Though Thid and the battle grounds will prove a good testing ground.

So as Gahn said, its time to start indicating what the future holds for english speaking servers in DAOCs. Catacombs and WoW fatigue will bring some people back, but they need something to come back to.

 

[IainC]

As far as server clustering is concerned, we're keeping a close eye on how things unfold in the US. Regardless of what happens over there and here in Europe and regardless of what decisions are made, clustering isn't going to be possible until version 1.74 hits Europe.

The decision is obviously going to be a difficult one. As far as I l know it won't be possible to cluster different language servers. This means that if we did cluster, we'd effectively only be offering one server to our English-speaking players. This is likely to be a serious disincentive to many players. There are of course benefits but we would have to weigh up the pros and the cons before taking any decisions. As the situation is likely to have changed significantly by the time that European clustering is even possible, it's a bit premature to start making predictions (or 'guesses' as we call them in the video games industry).

Regarding the impact of new players on RvR, of course it will take time for new players to trickle through to level 50 RvR, however not all the 'new' players will be brand new to the game. We are expecting a significant number of lapsed or less active players to take another look at the game when the new expansion hits. This has been the case with every expansion so far and Catacombs is perhaps the most eagerly awaited DAoC expansion ever. These players will be coming straight back into top level RvR and bolsterig the 'mature' population.

 

[Eroda]

Agreed, people kinda need to have some encouragement that things are going to get better else more and more will leave. Getting to the stage where even the most positive people are wondering if they are wasting time on a server which is dying.

I really enjoy the game still but i no longer feel prydwen has enough people to support a healthy rvr experience and a merge with excal is the only way i can see it improving.

Edit: Just saw what requiel posted above. Makes sense, i just hope it will turn out that way and overall that the server survives this rough patch while everyone is off trying WoW.

 

[SkarIronfist]

I remember that someone mentioned that if you are in a clustered server, then you can only join one server in that cluster and the rest are excluded, therefore stopping you trying different realms with the same account.

If that is the con you are talking about, then yes it is a problem. It needs to be resolved by Mythic in a suitable manner, which means, that you should be able to create characters on any server in the cluster.

I fail to see what the difference is between a pre existing player having characters on different server and a new player being not be able to do the same.

This is what I meant about sorting out some of the problems with clustering. Mythic have managed to get an innovate solution to US, now they need to refine it for Europe. Otherwise they are in danger of crippling the Excalibur/Pyrdwen and the new Italian/Spanish servers.

Req - I understand the delima that the current clustering solution presents. But whats the point of creating a character on a server if there is no one on the server to play with. You need a population base, this way you gain some time for Mythic to resolve the character creation issue.

BTW thanks for replying Req.

 

[[GOA]Erivoss]

This is what I meant about sorting out some of the problems with clustering. Mythic have managed to get an innovate solution to US, now they need to refine it for Europe. Otherwise they are in danger of crippling the Excalibur/Pyrdwen and the new Italian/Spanish servers.

This is definately something that has been going through our heads (well mine at least ) and it's definately something that will be talked about at length here and with Mythic. Of course it is still far too early to say anything yet but we'll keep you informed of the situation as it evolves.

For the moment though: nothing final has been decided.

 

[Gahn]

Not my intention to beat on Requiel ofc, but maybe he can filter our concerns to the heads at GOA.
I for one hope that Catas will bring a good turnout of ppl coming back, but we are lacking a medium-long term strategy. I just hope GOA doesn't put all its bets on new expansions to get some ppl back from the lot which is leaving, cause it ain't a strategy, it's just a patch in a hole (imo).
GOA should start to realize that there are competitors out there, and they won't magically disappear even after Catas and whatever next expansion will see in the future. We have a problem with server pop on Prydwen and either GOA will solve it in some way or more ppl (who wanna stay in game) will simply reroll (as many already did) another server, leaving Pryd more and more empty. I got no willing of starting back from scratch on another server when Pryd will defo die (cause either GOA takes decisions or player base will do) and so i know many others from my Guild and Alliance. What this peep will do when Pryd will be dead? Well simple as 1 2 3, if they forced to reroll they will reroll another game :/
Another chance could be (dunno if it's possible) to stop beating on the dead horse (aka Camlann), revert it to a normal server and cluster Camlann and Prydwen? In the end we got no Co-Op server, we can live without a pure PvP one i reckon.

 

[Ticking]

How exactly do you merge pvp with a normal server?

Isnt quite same :l

 

[Gahn]

How exactly do you merge pvp with a normal server?

Isnt quite same :l

Revert it to normal and then cluster (as i wrote in my post).
I'm quite aware that this will disrupt Guilds ofc...

 

[SkarIronfist]

I don't think it would be really fair to the Camlann players to grab their server and population base to solve a problem with Pyrdwen. I think it would be counter productive and would driver players away. It offers players another style of play.

Maybe we can hope that returning WoW players will bring new WoW players with them, though basing a strategy on that is not without risk and is very speculative.

Though WoW may well have swollen the MMORPG player base in Europe alot and they will move on in time (just maybe not in my lifetime).

It would be better that magazines actually reviewed the games, not as part of an add on, but as a whole. But that would require a vision that alot of magazines don't have. I mean if you buy a full copy of DAOC now, its not the add on you are getting but the whole thing.

Anyway heres hoping.

 

[Ovi1]

This is definately something that has been going through our heads (well mine at least ) and it's definately something that will be talked about at length here and with Mythic. Of course it is still far too early to say anything yet but we'll keep you informed of the situation as it evolves.

For the moment though: nothing final has been decided.

This could also be a way to allow Eu-En players to sample all 3 realms? If it is possible to create characters on the cluster on different servers, then would there not be a case for adding a third server to the cluster purely with that goal in mind?

The 8 hour switch could be annoying, and it would mean the only one server rule being changed for the Eu-En cluster, but worth a thought maybe.

 

[Zenythe]

Once servers are clustered you can not create characters on any realm you do not already have characters on.

Example server A and server B get clustered. You had Hib chars on A and Alb chars on B. Even if server C is clustered to A and B you will not be able to create a Mid character anywhere... additionally anyone coming in new to the cluster can only create characters on one realm... and even if you delete all your Hib chars you will still not be able to create in another realm.

This is -another- reason it is being so carefully looked at as once the servers are clustered we are offering essentially one server.

 

[SkarIronfist]

I still hold to what I said earlier. The clustering is nice, but it has to be more flexaible in character creation. Otherwise it will end up being a solution for the US only. Where all the servers are English speaking and can be clustered how they like.

Mythic get a A for Effort and B for implementation.

 

[snarf]

Thanks for replies and sharing your views

I think you might be offering one server either way. If pryd doesent get clustred even more people will leave, and those who would consider coming back wont.
I sure think cata will bring some people back it looks very promising and fun But it doesent neccesarily have to change the rvr-situation.

Of course having two english servers so that people can create and play different realms is the best. But I still think that wont be possible if you want the new frontier working as it should (Relic raids etc).

Troublesome situation I agree. Good to know that GOA hasent ruled out anything yet!
Isent there a way to "uncluster" the servers in case the situation would change in the future?

 

[Rediknight]

meh - i remember the times us Europia-dwellers would whine about us not having a third English Server, when the Germans had been given a fifth, etc.

It does pain me a bit though to find that the rules still dont apply when it comes to Camlann. Its a very cliquey server for a start, and even considering the /level gank groups that used to plague it have left.

I have often tried to give the PvP thing a go, but sadly everytime it fails me, and 9 out of 10 times its the community there. After creating a ickle stalker, i made it to Na Nog and started looking for a good hunting spot/some company, but all the people about were speaking what i assume to be some form of scandanavian. I asked around a bit, and when i found that i was the ONLY one speaking english there, i POLITLEY pointed out that it would be nice, seeing as its an english server, that they spoke in english...

I won't bother telling you what i got in reply, as you can pretty much guess it.

L33tness will always be an issue in games, especially MMORPGs, and it wont change until these kids who consider being the "best" and having the best stuff in the game somehow compensates for a lack of any other life.

Personally, if the servers were merged and i was forced to spend time in the selfish company of every one i've ever met on Camlann, then that'd be my subs cancelled for the second, and last, time.

We have to stop proclaiming doom on this game and expect a shiny thing to distract a few of the slightly less intelligent away from time to time, but it was always the community that kept this place humming, and thats what will have people come back once they realise WoW aint for them <shrugs>

 

[Ovi1]

Once servers are clustered you can not create characters on any realm you do not already have characters on.

Example server A and server B get clustered. You had Hib chars on A and Alb chars on B. Even if server C is clustered to A and B you will not be able to create a Mid character anywhere... additionally anyone coming in new to the cluster can only create characters on one realm... and even if you delete all your Hib chars you will still not be able to create in another realm.

This is -another- reason it is being so carefully looked at as once the servers are clustered we are offering essentially one server.

That is how it is currently programmed. That is not how it HAS to be programmed.

My post was an idea, which may help the UNIQUE position of the UK servers. If you think it's a good idea feed it back, if not don't

Even if it is a good idea whether it can be achieved is then a different question

 

[atos]

If you want to cluster Camlann and Prydwen you should still be able to attack everyone of one cluster and have normal RvR on the other imo. Should be doable, atleast in my head. ^^

 

[Maeloch]

This is -another- reason it is being so carefully looked at as once the servers are clustered we are offering essentially one server.

But better one lively server with a healthy, sustaining player-base, than a choice of two dead ones with constantly dropping population that no one in their right mind will roll on?

Mael, 50th ment.

 

[Svendoc]

Agree with so many, did not want to try WoW too cartoonish for my liking but is has a better PvE game than DAoC (ToA nice touch ) the only area DAoC wins over WoW is PvP. So it stands to reason if that continues to die a slow death as it is currently there will be no benefit to sticking with it.

No offence Mythic/GoA but you dont stand an ice cubes chance in hell of attracting enough new players to fill the void left in WoW wake.

<Very close to Subs cancellation>

 

[enkor]

cluster camlann and mordred