Trakanon failed because it was launched just before the two Progression servers, and after rumours of their launch had spread.
They should create a new server once per year, then after that year is up the server gets merged into the least populated server. Rinse and repeat. Seems like a win/win to me.
Why has Trakanon not been merged? One could argue about Fippy and Vulak until the cows come home ( where the hell do cows go?), but there isn't any reason for Trakanon not to be merged that I can think of.
so plans for new server in near future? if heroic characters were allowed think of the millions of SC that would be dumped into it. could make it gold sub only exclusive for additional revenue
Eh... It was like a year or so before the current progression servers were added. They did the original Progression servers, then the 51/50AA server, then Trakanon, and then the current Progression servers; each a year or so apart. After the TLP servers were added another new server was not added until Vox due to EQ going F2P, and SOE wanted to give those new to the game a chance to start new with others instead of on top heavy established servers. Most of the reason why Trakanon is such a low pop is because it was just your average server, nothing special. Also, I believe that it launched around the same time as a new expansion, so a lot of those who might have messed around on it at least early on were busy leveling their existing mains; and missed the early server firsts after which they weren't as interested.
I just checked, and my oldest character on Vulak was started in Feb 2011, and my oldest character on Trakanon was in September 2010. I believe these were both day one characters. So... longer gap than I thought, shorter than you did . New expansion launch was therefore very likely a factor with Trakanon, as you suggest.
