ZOMG server transfer disaster, News at 11

I wrote a short time ago about players from Karak Hirn transferring to Karak Norn

Our alliance Red Eciplse (formerly Shadow Wind) has transferred from Karak Hirn.

At the moment the constituent guilds are:

Apex
DarkWind
Explicit Content
Fractal
Filth
Tainted
The Rigante
The Unnamed

What a hectic introduction to a new server. Five minutes after moving server I find that a fortress is under attack. A very enjoyable defence of our Inevitable City instance. No points for Order in the instance we were defending as an alliance(No: 95).

I could see from following chat that some misunderstandings between new arrivals and others ensued. Corwynn has an excellent write up on it all. He could write a thesis on trolling but its a fascinating piece if your a forum warrior.

One of the huge issues raised is the use of caps. In many games CAPS ARE CONSIDERED RUDE AND ANNOYING.HOWEVER THE MAIN ALLIANCES WHO HAVE TRANSFERRED FROM HIRN HABITUALLY USE CAPS WHEN LEADING A ZONE LOCK OR FORT ATTEMPT.

This has led to consternation.

It has been suggested that "I'm sorry but you moved to OUR server, so you adapt to OUR rules."

Unfortunately when hundreds of active and coordinated level 40 players move to your server the rules change. It is unreasonable to suggest they stay the same just as it is unreasonable for the new comers to impose their own rules.

I am a user of and an advocate for CAPS, when I lead events I use them, other leaders in my alliance use them as well. They stand out and they make simple orders more prominent. The vast majority of players do not care one way or the other they want to be where the action is and they want to win. Yesterday the guys using caps locked Thunder mountain(Twice), Kadrin Valley once and Caledor back to Dragonwake. They couldn't have done it if the guys that don't use caps hadn't been helping them.

So is this post to highlight how the triumph of getting a whole community to work together has turned to dust with internecine feuding.

Yes it is, Damn you GOA.

Actually I am joking. Just as Magnus said a community can work something out in regards to a transfer, I am sure he would say that teething problems on a new server are to be expected and will be sorted out by communities as well.

The good news is that we are already doing this.

We all know forums don't often give an accurate picture of the reality of a server. The forums have players from my own guild flaming players of the main destruction alliance. In reality myself and the alliance that I am a member of and that already established alliance were working together over 12 hours yesterday.

Tells were sent, whispers received. We pulled of coordinated attacks on order forces from multiple directions. We sent information to each other. we swapped zones to back each other up when needed to stop locks in other zones. we split the duties on keep takes

So while the forums are full of bluff and bravado the game was full of action and fun.

With a merger like this the Norn server is not going to stay the same nor is the Hirn server going to be rebuilt. We will even have more folk joining us from other servers.

All we are going to have is the esteem that exists between equals.

Some people are already on this page of the story, the slower readers will catch up.

So onward to Karak Norn

So GOA decided to merge some more servers and my server Karak Hirn is on the list.

It was a shock to lot of people.

Magnus from GOA posted the following.

Dear Hirn,
as some of you know, I've played on Hirn from day one and have first-hand experience of the unique and plainly awesome community found here. The decision to close Hirn has not been taken lightheartedly and has followed lengthy and sometimes turbulent discussions, but we all agree that something had to be done about population development on Hirn as well as our other English servers. Put plainly, they just weren't sporting the kind of populations we think we owe our players and some tough decisions had to go through.

A community consist of the players which are part of it and little else. I hope you'll all talk with your friends, guilds, alliances and foes to make sure you end up on the same server, allowing you to continue to develop the relationships you have built on Hirn over these months.

-Magnus

So while some fumed, others tried to do just that.

The two major destruction alliances discussed it between them, as did Order's. People took the time to learn a bit about the possible destinations.

At 8pm a large number of Order and Destruction represenatives met and discussed the transfer. Information was shared, opinions offered. It was incredibly civil and the difficulties of all particpants were catered for. In the end we opted for Karak Norn. We couldnt have done this without the cooperation of all particpants.

It was a pleasure to see "friends, guilds, alliances and foes" decide to transfer to the same server. It was great that so many different people could turn a problem into an oppurtunity.

Afterwards the fun started. We went and took some screen shots to commemorate.

Some more very good Shots and another film.

Domination system flawed?

We wanted to see what half a warband could do if they attacked at an off peak play time. So while everyone else was a sleep we locked Thunder Mountain, Caledor and Praag, differnet players took part but we never had more than 14 or 15.







Half a warband can lock 3 zones, this needs to be fixed.

Edit: It strikes me that a server transfer is potentially a fix to the issue of late night attacks. more players means greater off-peak activity.

Karak Izor server tranfers

In Order to kill two birds with one stone I thought I might say something about the Server transfers from Karak Izor.

Firstly browsing the forums for Karak Izor I see people are taking a great deal of time to carefully gather information so that they can make the correct decision about their destination. This strikes me as a greatly positive indicator for the life span of Warhammer. We have people who are obviously enjoying the game and want to ensure that enjoyment is not diluted.Noone is interested in easy mode play and as such balance is a key issue. Useful data on which servers need which faction have been provided.

Beyond this we have groups of guilds looking to transfer in mass without unbalancing the game play. This is the way such things should be handled and I applaud it (Cant find a clappy emote)

I have a vested interest in this saga as my server Karak Hirn is a possible destination server. But in the interests of fairness I will attempt to provide an impartial impression of Karak Hirn.

In terms of population Order are slightly outnumbered, War analytics gives a ratio of about 1.27 to 1.(tier 4) Recent census takes by players on either side indicate it is a closer with a ratio 1.03. to 1. Examples of both can be found on the Karak Hirn forums.

On any given day either side can be in the ascendancy and on some days we have large scale encounters with both sides well represented. This is not to say that on any given day in any given zone you will not be rolfstomoped by a zerg of either hue.

In destruction where I play there are 2 active alliances, both with slots available for non alliance guilds. On days that we attempt locks there is cooperation and pretty decent support for those trying to coordinate matters. Adding another alliance into this fold should not be an issue. As a destruction I find the order to be organised, there are a number of competent leaders who coordinate regularly and are successful.

In terms of game play I have had no issues with lag at keep sieges in the last weeks or so. On Friday (I believe) I attended a fort attack and a fort defence and game performance was excellent. I do have a decent machine though so cannot speak for low specs.

The community on Hirn is vibrant with good give and take and for the most part respect on both sides. I would wager that the community elements of Karak Izor would prosper and not be consumed.

I believe Karak Hirn has great potential as a server and as this game prospers as I believe it will so will the server.

Krak Hirn would benefit from a balanced influx of players but make your decisions based on all the available data and where ever you play enjoy yourself.