Idea for improving server population.

[ShadowMunkie]

So, I have been reading on here, that most people don't want to see a merger in the servers. How about this simple idea. Set-up a server strictly for Game-wide groups. You know how to you can send tell to different server? Why should grouping be any different? To tell someone on another server something its simply, /tell Server.CharacterName why can't you devs, create something similar to this, where everyone is able to group with everyone, Game-Wide.  This would increase the population of groups and raids. Being able to raid on a server with people from every server would be nice. Talking about taking the game to the next step. The only other MMO that has anything like this is Guild Wars, and basically they just have several instances of the same zone, for each prospect(region). This would disperse the lag issue's and actually cut it down on the populated servers, not only because the people that are grouping Game-Wide will be on a different server, but because there will be less groups on the non Game-Wide servers. This idea may seem simple yes, however I actually do realize how hard it would be to implement, however if more people was able to group, I bet more people would come to the game. Okay, I know you guys are probably gonna disagree go ahead, everyone has their opinion just remember, this would be an option, not like you have to use it.

[YeldarbSpiritbla]

<p><blockquote>This idea may seem simple yes, however I actually do realize how hard it would be to implement, however if more people was able to group, I bet more people would come to the game.</blockquote></p><p>More like impossible. It can't be done. Whether it is a good idea or not doesn't matter. It's just impossible.</p>

[lrdpath]

<p>I think the idea itself is brilliant and would do a lot of good.... unfortunately, even without knowing details about eq's core code, i'd wager a lot on this being impossible without rewriting the entire core engine or a ton of workarounds which would probably end up being horribly buggy.  It won't ever happen.  Maybe in eq3 <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Kaz</p>

[sayitaintso]

<cite>lrdpath wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I think the idea itself is brilliant and would do a lot of good.... unfortunately, even without knowing details about eq's core code, i'd wager a lot on this being impossible without rewriting the entire core engine or a ton of workarounds which would probably end up being horribly buggy.  It won't ever happen.  Maybe in eq3 <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Kaz</p></blockquote> There is nothing wrong with the server populations. There are hundreds of thousands of satisfied  well taken care of subscibers who get their money's worth from customer service. We play in a utopia where we can always find groups, where there are plenty of players and not one of them cheats....We even recieve in game mail and advertising for places we can go to make our game experience better! Nothing to see here...Move along!

[Skua]

good idea but dunno how servers are "placed" ..... instanced zones ? JohnXXX leader of group in AB server zone in unrest your are in crushbone and when u click unrest zone = Window pop up Jhonxxx zone Yourname Zone but isnt doable imo =/ but hey we DONT have a population problem right? merge servers ? nah all is fine....................

[Novusod]

How about some advertizing instead? Hardly anyone knows what everquest 2 is. Some have heard of the original everquest but so few realize everquest 2 is entirely different game. Most people think that if they want to play a modern MMORPG they have to play WoW or bust. SoE needs to get the word out that Everquest 2 is excelent game worth playing.

[Ratslave]

It all about marketing. You not going to get new players to try this great game if it not even on the shelves of the store to buy. Gamestop wont even stock it so i have to order the expandtion. Most of the workers dont even know what the game is. I got a few students from school to play, they liked it very much but wouldn't stay because they dont see how much life EQ2 have left(ie they see it never growing). MARKET MARKET MARKET!!! WORD OF MOUTH WILL ONLY GET YOU SO FAR!!! But i think SONY knows what they doing. 1. They dont care to put money into EQ2 because it wont bring the big money they want. 2. They rather put the money else where 3. they losing money so they just tring to kill the game slowly. who knows.....bah. I do know No ADS No new players so we are pretty much stuck with the server population we got. it the main reason the merged them the first time and dont let "oh it was to make room for the PvP server" fool you.

[Sebastien]

<p>As far as OP's suggestion is is certainly not impossible.  That is precisely how Guildwars works.. there are no "servers", there is just one big network and the cities have multiple districts (ie the way EQ2 can have antonica1, antonica2, etc).</p><p>Anyway I will just post once again that SOE is being absolutely short-sighted with regards to this topic.</p><p>I can tell you that, for just my own direct personal experience, of the 10-15 players that we brought back to SOE as paying subscribers when our guild started playing again, almost half of them have already left, with the number one reason for leaving being that the game feels dead, the boards feel dead, the servers feel dead, etc, because the populations are low.</p><p>It is within SOE's ability to solve this problem via server merge, but out of what appears to me as pride, they are going to instead pretend the problem doesn't exist I suppose.  They are losing customers each and every day as a result.  I would really like to see the game do better.</p><p>Along with re-allocating some of the playerbase, they also need to try to .. market their product.</p>

[Sunlei]

<p>   A good idea, even if the group across servers are to just some instances, new instances or a whole world. This can be an expansion pack $$$$$!!!</p><p>   From the old days of transfering characters to other eq1 servers. Transfers are fast, done by a script. Soon as I paid, for example, movement to Stormhammer - the characters were moved within a few mins.</p><p> To make the servers seem more alive, I suggest the same thing I did for everquest1,  4 or 5 years ago. A default globalwide chat.  Soe added the globalwide chat to EQ1. It's limited to 200 in chat a a time. Rarely when I logon is the chat full of more than 200. However instead of the hours of noone in the zone and the chat dead. Everquests globalwide default chat is lively and the world seems much more alive.</p><p> Add a default globalwide chat to eq2 please. Limit globalwide chat to 200 if you have to. The world will seem more alive when there is chat on the newbies screen, even if the newbie is alone in a zone. </p><p> Get out on the internet more links to the downloads for both the free trial and the full game. Perhaps those nice free sigs soe is making for people. People seem to use those sigs..let them use the sigs anywhere they want..have the sigs click-link to the free trial.</p><p>  Make the free trial much less restrictive. Get that free trial out there on a dvd/CD so new players with low-end computers and bad isp don't have to wait on a 17 hour download just to try the game.</p><p> If people buying throw away or free trial accounts to exploit with are a problem, make a free trial server. Give those new players a real taste of the full game. Limit the level to 10 to reduce the number of not real newbies playing. Transfer them off the free trial server.. to a server of their choice..when they pay.</p><p>For returning players and encouraging use of the all access subs. Have all those item databases that soe is charging 1 dollar for included in the one price includes everything. People like looking up item into, character info all that stuff. It's a pain when you click some item and you get that "you're not subscribed" and have to pay 1 dollar. You're raising the price anyways, include everything soe offers and they will stay on the sony official sites.</p><p> Another idea and I don't think this can be done yet in any game. Allow 'one account' to login 2 characters at the same time in the same zone, same server, same window. Click mouse on one character and that's the one responding to keyboard commands. switch to second character with a simple command or mouse click. Call it a double account or something and charge more than even 2 separate accounts. This is just wishfull of what I'd pay much more for than just starting a second account.</p><p> A globalwide chat like is in eq1 seems like a quick start to make the worlds more alive. </p>

[Sunlei]

<p> oh I should edit my thoughts into my above text spew.</p><p> Far as this official soe messageboard and the comments above.</p><p> Yes, after the 'change' posting has slowed down even more.  Couple months ago, when the numbers showed there could be 2000 logged in and 10-20 thousand lurkers. Current dates topics covered the front page.</p><p> Today a  full weeks new topics can be on even the most popular board. That is a slow board!, how can soe get more eq2 players to post? A very small percent of players actually post, lets help players find this place easier. </p><p> Have the url right at top of the game launcher.. "OFFICIAL EQ2 community forums" could be a great start.  Move that huge EXCHANGE SERVERS ad down a bit and give the players a one click to these official forums. Lets get more players developing more character love and a feeling of a real active larger community.</p><p>have a good weekend! </p><p>    </p>