I propose an alternative: shut down Red, transfer all Red characters to Blue, and open a new PvP-Teams server with SZ ruleset.
Nihilum can choose to test their PvE chops versus TMO or restart with the rest of the PvPers.
Given the current situation on Blue, I can't imagine hundreds of players not taking the chance to start fresh on a new server. Population would stabilize at no less than 300-400 peak.
Starting the server soon would also give people a chance to make significant progress before Velious. If you wait until Velious comes out to launch a new server, all the returning players will flood Blue, because that where their geared characters are. Launch the new server now and many will return and start on it, knowing they have some time to gear a character up fresh for Velious.
Making the new server PvP-teams also adds an element that will help to address the major issue plaguing Blue: the jam-up at the high end game. PvP not only gives players something to do besides raid, it provides a direct way of solving raid drama without the need for GM involvement. Many blue players would be hesitant to start on a PvP server, but would take the chance if they had a good reason and felt like the new server would have enough of a population to give them some safety leveling up. Team PvP provides this degree of leveling safety by design, and launching the new server during a period of high dissatisfaction with Blue would provide the impetus many players need to give it a try, ensuring a high population.
In short, there has never been a better time for a PvP-Teams server. Red is not quite dead, but will never be anything more than it is now. There is zero incentive for new players to start there, and transfers are extremely problematic. Blue is what it is, everyone knows it. It's a fun, casual server for leveling up and reliving nostalgia, but after spending some time there the rot becomes apparent. The situation at the high end/raiding level with TMO's domination, combined with the server history of plat duping, RMT and account selling has left a bad taste in the mouths of many, causing them to walk away from the server once they got a character in the 50-60 range. Many of these people are not burned out on P1999 and classic EQ, they're simply burned out on Blue. Give them a chance to restart on a server that is guaranteed not to have the problems that Blue does now, or that Red did at its launch, and many will take advantage of it. I think it would be a big success and a lot of fun.
|