Community teams generally avoid the term “server merge” for the same reason that the Chicago Cubs tend to avoid actually winning: No one wants to deal with the ensuing riots. The recent update on the upcoming server consolidations for EverQuest II makes the point that these consolidations really are different from run-of-the-mill server merges. The difference is that rather than bringing characters from servers A and B onto server C, servers A, B, and C are all being transferred to a new server. This means that some of the old rules about merges don’t actually apply here.
Players will not need to clear out their mailboxes or their shared banks, for example; all of the data contained should be transferred over properly. Houses and guild halls will also be moved, with no loss of existing guilds or membership changes. The current timeframe for these consolidations is around the end of September, with all characters affected also getting a free transfer option. Check out the full FAQ for more details.
The year of the mergers.
Now all I have to decide is whether or not I want to use my free transfer to get off the Perma/Nagafen/Freeport server. I wasn’t terribly excited about that merge and have more friends on the BB/CB/Oasis and AB now than I do left on Perma. And then of course there’s the fact that every time I log onto my Live characters I feel dead inside and log back to my Stormhold ones. So I wonder if I even care at all anymore. Decisions, decisions!
Vtravi The TLE server is already shrinking and will continue to expand and shrink with each Yes/No vote. Unless of course they opened a new ruleset server like no multiboxing or cash shop, then I’d 100% agree and jump on it immediately.
Styopa Haha there’s still time! Â I’d be surprised if there aren’t some hiccups somewhere.
Though I do think this is probably the best and most fair solution all round, short of bringing players last names into the mix which would probably require a major database overhaul and all the time and resources that go with it.
Radfist In an ideal world maybe that would make more sense, but EQ2 doesn’t have a mega-server type setup that we see in more recent games. Â I Â think DBG and the real facts and figures from the data they are privvy to are the only people who can truly make that call. Â I’d also bear in mind that the newly merged servers will all have larger populations than Antonia Bayle when the consolidation is over – and AB is a high-load server and currently EQ2’s highest population.
Vtravi The TLE servers are undoubtedly popular, and I definitely noticed live servers were a little quieter when the TLE servers launched, particularly the first couple of weeks, but to suggest ‘everyone is playing on them’ is a wee bit of an exaggeration.
From the FAQ:
” In the event of duplicate character names during the consolidation, priority will be given to the character who has logged in to the game within the past sixty (60) days. If multiple characters have logged in within the past sixty (60) days, then the character which was created first will retain their name. Other same-named characters will have an “X” (or several) added to their names automatically until their name is unique. Each player that is auto-renamed this way will get a rename potion to change their name.”
Seems pretty reasonable. Â
Where’s the drama, dammit? Â Aren’t all server merges supposed to be agonizing, painful, full of ragequits and CSRs assuring everyone that “everything is just fine” when it isn’t?
Hell, I suppose we’re supposed to just play the damn game instead?
sounds like the way it should be done
Sounds reasonably player friendly.
I’d like to make two remarks. First, if DBG manage to make it all work together as suggested, it will be one of the more painless merge/consolidations I’ve ever seen on an MMO.
Second, and more importantly, that’s the best, most chuckle-worthy lead-in to any posting I’ve ever read on MassivelyOP, Eliot. Well done!