A group server-non raid

No.

I get this idea. People have suggested having "raid only" servers too so that the "Us's" doesn't have to associate with the "Them's", even in sarcasm. It is still one game and the community doesn't need more reasons to divide itself.

If you don't want raids, than don't join a raid guild.

Sleeper/combine were most definitely raid only servers.

On the topic of division amongst players and for those that fear the population decline of creating separate rule set servers: I would like to point out that there are people with different views on the way the game should be. You might argue that there are as many views as their are players and that it would be impossible to pander to every single person, but I don't think this is the case. Just from what's written here (and elsewhere) I can see the potential for at least four different servers (when and if they ever decide to release new servers for Everquest). A Raid/Boxer server, a Casual Server, a Classic (prePoP?) server, and a PvP server.


Some people think that everyone should just be thrown together and hope it works out, but that's what they've always done and, ultimately, it has always led to the same thing - a Boxer/Raider server only. Allow me to explain. In a game like Everquest (and so many others) all of us have the ability to affect the experiences of our fellow players (whether negatively or positively), and thus, each demographic tends to get in the way of the others. PvPers have problems waging their wars with so many PvEers in the way. 9-Boxers set up camp in the middle of Karnors and completely devastate the entire zone. Raiders progress past the classic era when classic-lovers wish to stay behind. These are just some examples. Now, the general rule of thumb for some people is to simply tell Classic-Lovers if they don't like it "Shut up and Go away". And you know what? They do. Then they're gone. People tell Casuals and PvPers to "Quit whining and go away". They quit whining because they're gone. Eventually, we all fall prey to this system as one by one the server becomes something we don't want and, as a result, we leave which leaves only a raider/boxer server left in it's place.


You might argue that you can't find enough players to populate these servers. I would say "Let's try it and see." Even when the server dwindles to just raider/boxers you still have a relatively healthy population. Why then cannot we try a full PvP server and see how it does? Or a classic? Or a casual? At the very least they could entertain the idea and open up character creation for these servers to get an idea of how many will come.


Well, I had more to say, but already I've carried on too long. I apologize for the length of the post. Please, there has to be a way to make EVERYONE happy. There has to. Thank you.

　

I think this is a great idea.

Every "but raiders get/can/have/etc... post from that point forward could then be met with "Maybe you should play on groupServer01"

I don't think it would be hard at all to implement as raid mobs are already flagged raid mobs, would just need to set them as non aggro.

You should maybe do some more research on the history of special ruleset servers. Especially the PVP servers. PVPers didn't go away because PVEers told us to.

I'm okay with it, either create a server where all raid content is locked out and there is no raid gear, or allow the raid gear for group content, chard double or triple the monthly fee to join and never ever allow transfers off or to the server.

You can still be a great player without having to raid.

Why does it matter if there are raids? You can completely ignore their existence and have little to no effect on yourself.

The issue is even casual people get chances of a long play session. I think if they had easier versions of raids with lesser rewards than you would see a lot more pick up raids and a nice boost of gear from those players.

This could also be used as a training tool for guilds to help newer guild members to learn how to combat certain mechanics without wiping the raid.

Little to do with the topic at hand, but as an FYI, Firiona Vie WAS created as a roleplaying server. Languages had to be learned and could only go up one skill point an hour and there was no common language, no drop gear didn't exist because it doesn't make roleplaying sense that you can't drop an item, and so forth. There were a few other mechanics in place that I don't quite remember. Hell, we're going back what? 14 years or so ago now.

But, over the years, most roleplayers eventually left, rules got modified to the existing player base, and now it's primarily used as a free trade server.

I don't understand this at all. People left because they were jealous of players who had time to raid and the gear it yielded? How about this, play the game to have fun and don't worry about what someone else thinks about your gear. Play as if no raids exist and do the group content. My life is too busy to raid like I once did as well, but I'm not going to ask for a private server to cater to my life because the hard core raiders have better toys than I do. This is a real selfish suggestion.

Also, most people left eq when GoD was broken, WoW released, and eq2 released all in a short period of time. I would like to know where you got your statistics on the reason folks left. Did you go to Imright.com and find something?