Mike Ferguson speaks on Server Lists

Mike Ferguson chatted in WvW during the last stress test. He notes that the current list is "close" to the launch list..

http://imgur.com/a/ySDRa#15

It wasn't really imposed, was more of a quick selection, CD was just for beta, it is not the final server choice. CD has proven already that it fills up very quickly and already has guild members blocked from joining the server, a different server will probably be selected once we get an actual finalized list instead of a "close to launch" mention.

I know I'm probably fighting against the tide here but picking a popular server will be in our benefit in the long run. Everything (other than the 5 man instances and your person story) is driven by having enough people to push events forward, the more empty the server becomes (medium will drop to low when the games "newness" wares off) the harder it'll be to take part in the large scale content.

This is true for both WvW and PvE. I rolled on a RP server at the launch of Rift and at launch it was amazing. The forums where full of people moaning about queues but I never saw one but soon the moaning stopped and our server became more and more empty while the popular servers held strong. Without people rifts took over and the server effectively died.

If you plan to play the game for more than the first month then we have to look beyond that and picking a popular server will insure that we have the players needed to compete both in PvE and in WvW.

I don't believe any server will be WvW centric. Having a lively WvW doesn't negatively effect the PvE side of the game. Let's not forget that the WvW maps have a cap on the amount of players that can enter them and I think players will regularly hit the queues on every single server. Where are all the players who can't get into WvW? They'll be in the PvE areas.

That's just my opinion though.

I completely agree with Halish. A more crowded server equals a beter community, and more opportunities. We don't want to be a fighting force in a server dominated by 12 year olds and unorganized, small guilds. CD seems like the right place for a dedicated guild, to both wvw and pve.

It would be nice if we could see into the future and check out how the population, etc. falls..

My gut feeling is not to be at the "very" top.....just damn close to it. And that's all it is is a gut feeling. I will do my best to get on whatever server is selected for us :)

Quote by Siafu

My gut feeling is not to be at the "very" top.....just damn close to it. And that's all it is is a gut feeling. I will do my best to get on whatever server is selected for us :)

gotta agree with this... I think the sweet spot is around the 3/4 highest pop.. we want an active WvW community.. playing RvR and DAoC for a number of years trust me you do not want a dead WvW server.. these high pops are a very temporary issue.. even the highest pop now will be moderate a year from now..

anyway we don't even know the list yet..

Well we can look at the reddit guild/server list (im not sure where it is, but its somewhere ;P) and do some research on the guilds inhibiting the "3/4" servers that we are interested in?

Remember, this is still suppose to be a group effort, not just Stonewall itself, obviously if over population is an issue which is an obvious issue with Crystal Desert. I am sure it will pop up during the talks on server selection, but first we need the final official list

WvW we don't have to assume about WvW, because they more then likely will be very active communties for it (aside from the 3 low servers), it is a really popular draw to the game for the people who enjoy world pvp and the pvpve environment while having a regular pve side to level and play normally.

We are gonna run into jerks and badmouthers no matter where we go, that kind of gamer has been bred into the MMOG community heavily now thanks to a certain game.

I dunno I don't see CD as obviously over populated..

There are few alliances or guilds that can truly have a numbers impact on a server. Ascension and Team Legacy because of their huge followings from the Tales of Tyria podcast. Are one of these exceptions. Not to mention the hardcore PvP/WvW folks they attract.

They have been on CD throughout Beta, I think this is a big reason why CD has the following it does. Because of so many people following them around they plan on moving, this alone is going to dramatically change the server.

I also don't see it as over populated because ANet has been fudging the numbers all along to control population. What we see the moment of release is not what we'll see 30 days from now. I just don't want a permanent solution to a very temporary problem.

Since we're talking about it, are we going rogue and don't plan to joining the GLBT community? That of course is another part of the equation.

Anyway I don't want to give the impression I'm tied to CD, I just don't want to be on a dead server because I know low pop today means dead within a year..

Not sure if you watch their podcast but they will very much be in charge of the WvW on whatever server they go... no doubt.. has both its positives and negatives..

Another reason it might not be bad to sit tight as they plan on moving from CD on release.. it would be kind of funny if we changed servers and went to the same one they move to.. lol

I've requested to be added to their mailing list so I can see the announcement when they decide.. my hope is for Eternal Grove to come back.. it just seemed like home to me.. but I did pick Sylvari for my main.. hehe

Quote by Thrumdi

Here's a pretty funny post from Guru on mega-alliance dominating servers. Generally encapsulates my feelings on the matter.

Overall, these threads of statements made by these intelligent people are great and as a general rule I very much agree with the mood and spirit of their conversation.

Then there is the added complication of Server-Transfers due to Over-Population or Balance Issues. As seen and experienced in other games...sometimes things can change on a server very drastically (when the two fore mentioned occur) Ie: incentives such as weapons and gear upgrades or other such bait to get XXXXXX amount of people to go to another server.

At the risk of sounding condescending (because if you knew my heart and soul, you would immediately know this is not the case at all) but rather that I am very respectful and grateful to be able to speak freely.

After (ALL) that I have read on the subject of selecting "just the right" server for us....it becomes very evident that it's "STILL" going to be a very long time with many changes before we see if the decision was made well ... or not so well.

My humble advice: When in doubt roll the dice / flip a coin whatever to make it easy or easier than it has been anyway to choose a server....we are loyal and have faced many challenges in our life's to get here....and make no mistake..."We Are Here" in force, we will all do what needs to be done when the time comes.

IF: we select a server and the end result is low ....so be it. We can either get together and see if there is a way to attract what we need to come to our server or and at the very least "WE" will have a lot of fun getting to know each other, grouping up, taking on exciting things in the game and just overall.....playing the game very stress-free.

There are many fine people "here" and a lot of them....I am not going to shed a tear if all we end up ruling a server and it's pretty much just us.

To the people who are making the decision ultimately - as far as our server is concerned.

Breath /relax and smile and know when the button is pushed.....we are going to be just fine.

Best day to all :cheer:

Quote by Siafu

at the very least "WE" will have a lot of fun getting to know each other, grouping up, taking on exciting things in the game and just overall.....playing the game very stress-free.

Speaking as a very new member, I'd really like to play with this attitude. GW2 rewards adventuring which is something that is always better with people you enjoy playing with. I'd like to get to know everyone and then, no matter if we are #1 in WvWvW or last place, working together to take a tower or defend a town in PvE. I know that I'll be very active in the community for whatever sever is chosen and I will choose whatever server the leadership picks.

Usually at launch of any online game, server capacity runs short, the first ones fill up quickly and they need to open new ones.
We will be there since day one, I am pretty sure our server will fill up.

As far as for going to a server where all the GLBT guilds go to...does it really matter? Segregating to that level seems a bit over the top to me. Being on a gay-straight friendly guild is fun and cozy because we can joke around without freaking people out but beyond that, it seems unecessary (...or it's because we want to have virtual sex with every male character we encounter without being constantly bashed?).

Trying to guess which server will be the best candidate taking into consideration factors such as LGBT pop., concurrency, WvW at this point, it's just not possible.

Finger point the server list and voila, lets go together, and enjoy.

ummm no.. it's not about sex thank you..

its about increasing the chance of being around folks that accept you, about maybe hearing how "gay" this and that is a little less often.. even with a good showing of GLBT guilds we are not going to have the population of controlling WvW.. so its not about being in charge either... its just about being a degree or two more comfortable and accepted...

at least for me...

Quote by MMOWarrior

ummm no.. it's not about sex thank you..

its about increasing the chance of being around folks that accept you, about maybe hearing how "gay" this and that is a little less often.. even with a good showing of GLBT guilds we are not going to have the population of controlling WvW.. so its not about being in charge either... its just about being a degree or two more comfortable and accepted...

at least for me...

The sex part was a big joke...

Segregation contributes greatly to creating this atmosphere you hate so much in the long run.
If gays have gone this far in society has been by putting themselves out there for people to see and deal with.

You will be in the guild so have no fear to be bashed.

I find the discussion springing up about segregation interesting. I hardly think the GLBT is segregated here or in the world.. far from it.. I offer my viewpoint simply for the sake of good conversation.. just to be clear (because print can't always be) I wasn't offended by your sex comment, I think my response came off harsher than I meant it to be.. :)

I go throughout my day at work, with family, playing in a community orchestra, etc.. all with straight folks.. yet I also like to go home to my safe haven where I'm totally accepted just as I am.. the GLBT community is like going home.. Who doesn't like to go home? Gay, Straight or otherwise.. It's not a matter of this OR that, it's a matter of this AND that.. these things are not mutually exclusive.. for the record my best gaming buddy is a straight guy I met back in DAoC.. we've now been friends and gaming buddies for some 10 years..

Anyway I just thought the conversation was interesting..

The reason I think we have LGBT guilds is because people play games as a form of entertainment. As a relaxation, or a way to blow off steam, at the end of a stressful week. Or maybe just to have some fun when there's nothing else to do.

When games used to be confined to your living room it didn't matter who you "fancied". It didn't matter if you had two dads or had a lesbian sister. Nothing mattered because the game you were playing never cared who you are.

Today it's different and with MMO's especially (but it's practically all games these days) social media demand that people know things about you. You can keep things a secret if you like but why should anybody walk on eggshells for fear of the ignorant? You should be able to be open about who you are and what you like without fear that people who were becoming friends suddenly shy away from you.

Gay accepting guilds are great but I find there's always a moment where somebody says something to you which crosses the border of "harmful teasing" into homophobia. You look around to your guild mates for support and you find it lacking with people claiming you're taking it too personally and if you have the problem perhaps you should go.

Obviously not all guilds are like this but in my experience being open in a none-GBLT guild lends it self to this inevitable truth and you have no choice but to "turn the other cheek" and we need to be more "thick skinned". All similar things we shouldn't tell children when they're being bullied in school but for some reason we still do because the only other option is to act against the offender and like I said you find your allies not-so-number-some.

Being in a gay guild on a server can bring about similar challenges, especially in a completely social environment where everybody is encouraged to play with each other and help each other. Having more GBLT guilds with us gives us a little more grounds to be open about ourselves knowing that we have support that will back us up. It means that we can take part in large scale content knowing that we're surrounded by friends rather than people who are muttering things like "I don't care what you do but why do you have to talk about it? By the way me and my girlfriend got engaged last night".

There's a terrible double standard in gaming where GBLT members should operate a "don't ask, don't tell" attitude while straight people can be as open as they like. I wish to avoid any of our members, even for a second, feeling upset by the comment of idiot. Anyway we can limit this is a good thing, in my eyes.

Also Stonewall is a "any age" gaming community and as such we try actively to turn away from the sex orientated stigma that surrounds the GBLT community, if people want to do virtual sex and the members are both of age and consent then go for it but keep it private just like you would in the real world. People certainly shouldn't join Stonewall hoping for such things, they should join hoping (and expecting) to make friends.

We are a family guild that accepts everybody for who they are and, I don't know about you lot but, I want to get to know each and everyone one of you as personally as you'd like me to get to know you. Your character is great but you're much more important.

I know I'm being dramatic and somewhat over the top with my examples but this is how I feel. :)

Edit: I know I spoke more about the importance of GBLT guilds rather than GBLT servers but my points are valid just on a larger scale. We do have an alliance system incoming (at some point after launch) and the alliance chat will be helped by being entirely GBLT.

Quote by Thrumdi

The thing about WvW though is that it does require in part coordination outside the guild, largely through public chat. If this public coordination is curtailed for any reason (for example, you have a server full of asshats), your WvW experience could be diminished.

One of my fears about being on a server dominated by another interest (like the Reddit server, but especially a mega-alliance), is that if they embody the cruder aspects of gamer culture, we might have to endure some gratuitous bashing if we want the full WvW experience. It just seems better to me to stake out our own server to begin with.

And this is no idle speculation on my part. I used to play a f2p RvR game called Regnum Online. It actually had a Linux client, so it started out as a fun, inclusive, relatively smart place to play. The game had 3 realms like DAoC, so you got to know everyone and fought together.

However, it soon went downhill, with some of the worst speech I have ever seen in a game. Putting people on ignore, or sticking to your guild didn't work because everyone had to work together to win. The only solution was to find another game.

I get your point on segregation though. The ultimate solution is to publicly push forward. However, not everyone is an activist, and wants a fight on their hands every time they log into a game. The needs of everyone should be balanced (which I think is what we are trying to do with these server threads).

Sorry Thrumdi, I didn't mean to bury your reply at the bottom of the last page because of my long reply so I'm reposting it.

You made some great points :)

Halish said it all much more eloquently than I have the talent for...