IDEAS FOR RYZOM

Just a quick thought I tripped over...

Assuming that transferring the characters to the new server (or at least transferring skills/titles/occ with the name/looks) is possible and that what we're after is the best combination of game experiences for the greatest number of player types.

We have people that want to keep their toons, people that want a complete reroll, people coming back or leaving because of and for either possibility.

The thought is that we run 2 shards. One shard is as is with no reroll. The other is fresh start. After 6 months, or some other predetermined amount of time, the players from the old shard go to the new shard...even dapperless or whatever and maybe packing a 10 item limit or something. Disallow new toons on the older shard.

The idea being old toons get kept while those that want a fresh start can have it. If it was workable it might even be worth working out a cycle...every year or so. That's a whole other can of worms though.

Major flaws with the thought...

Extra work to set up the other shard and combine toons on it.

Extra work to move them later.

Extra expense/work for the 2nd shard.

Older shard might get a bit stagnant with no new players but it'd be on borrowed time anyway.

Going to be hard to spin it for RP without using the words "another dimension".

When the older toons hit the new server you're going to have a huge wave of veteran players. If it worked I'd be planning an epic event about then.

Concluding...

Yeah probably a terrible idea and I've already taken some minor flame for even hinting. If you hate it completely add your flame below or ignore it outright. I'm really just thinking through some possibilities.

maybe with a few modifications...

First of all some facts:
- It is possible to teleport between shards.
- You login on the shard where you logged out
- On other Shards you get the original shard name in parenthesis behind your name (like in the forum)

Here are some things I don't know for sure:
- access to apartment and guild hall via other shard
- using teleport pacts from one shard on the other

So it would be possible to do this:
- setup the new shard and make it the only one useable for character creation
- disable teleport to mainland on new shard (RP: because of kitin threat there)
- on 22nd setup porters "to Silan" are enalbed on the old shards for at least 24 hrs (teleporting to Silan on new shard; RP: regrouping/fleeing because of Kitin threat)
- close old shards as planned
- shut down new one 24 hrs later for maintenance (enabling the people to get to know each other a little bit for the coming 24 hrs)
- put the patches on it for the announced changes
- move players on the shard from their old ones to the new one (they could track the specific teleports to know who went over)
- reopen the new shard

Pros:
- The most dedicated people can retain their skills
- The ones who want to use the chance to re-roll can do so as well
- death of known persons can be explained easier (they gave their lives defending the people fleeing to the teleporters)
- there is a little time before the downtime to get to know each other
- the devs would have a list of people that are supposed to be transferred
- no silan on old shards = saving resources there as the AI for the region can be disabled (same goes for no mainland on new one)

Cons:
- a lot of extra work for the devs (create porters, disable char creation, modify missions, ...)
- not entirely fair as some might not have the time or possibility to log in on that day
- unknown risks (teleporter pacts from old shards on new one)
- extra work for event-teams (send NPCs to the teleporters and despawn them)