Guild Wars 2

…. EU and US guilds.

Some US/North American guilds have already moved to the EU. I just want to make the case for more of them coming here and why Blacktide is the destination for them.

For better or worse WvWvW is a 24/7 fight. Blacktide is one of the few English language servers that has coverage over 10 time zones, from the West coast of Ireland to the east of Siberia.

The main weakness that Blacktide needs to address to take us to the next tier is to cover the timezones of the North American continent.

Some of you may have already known that Blacktide is both the official Russian server and the official Irish server. (This is not to forget out Polish contingent.) This may seem a very strange mix. However to create a 24/7 server we need a broad spectrum of guilds.

To other EU guilds and our American Cousins does this sound familiar to you.

‘We are actually dying right now and there’s been a huge drop in activity in the past week or so, especially in the WvW. This is due to the fact that our server’s performance in WvW isn’t good enough for us as a guild’

Is it disheartening for your members to login before prime time and see that all our hard work that you put into the WvW is gone. Could this be your guild? Are you playing well when your on and losing out when your at work or study?

To counter this we trying to build a WvWvW 24/7 community based on cooperation and good fights.

We on Blacktide are building a playing field where when any of us log on we can go straight into a fight with out being severely disadvantaged because we have to work, study, eat or sleep.

From my own gaming perspective I log on at 6pm and try to be off line at 11pm so I am not too tired at work. I play hard when I am on but hate to see my hard work go for naught when I am offline. Since moving I know when I come home the server is in a state where:

1. We are not trailing the other servers
2. I can make a real contribution to making the score is positive for us
3. I can have great fights that keep the moral of the guild high and our player base engaged and logging on

As a guild, The Unnamed, looked at the reasons Blacktide was a good fit for us.

We would have a night time presence on Blacktide. No one would fully take back all of our objectives while we’re sleeping and get ahead of us in points. We would have a positive impact on Blacktide’s performance. With us on at our prime time, we would easily be able to compete We knew that we were wanted on the server.

Blacktide is primarily English speaking. Hardly anyone speaks in another language, and from the screenshots and trials we have ran there, we haven’t witnessed anything but English.

There were a number of reservations we had too.

We would have to mass transfer. This could be a problem for us, as Blacktide shows up as ‘Full’ at times. If we were to transfer in one go, we’re not sure what would happen and we may find members having to wait around.In the end transfer over to Blacktide was ok, we have most of our guys on and while some had to wait an hour or two we have the transfer sorted. It was far less painful than we imagined.

Our presence on the server could increase the queue times of Blacktide during our prime-time, by how much, we’re not entirely sure. In the end we have shorter queues than previously (this was a very pleasant surprise)

There was a worry that we would end up being subordinate to others (although anyone familiar with my colossal level of self aggrandisement would have known that was a non runner ) but in the end it has been easy to coordinate with the many guilds and cultures on the server.

Focusing on winning is the common language.

We try to keep people who are offline up to date with the Blacktide reports so even if you are in the office you get to know how the best battles are going, http://www.gw2guilds.org/guilds/eu/blacktide

The fights are often fun https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/pvp/wuvwuv/Desolation-Augury-Rock-Blacktide/page/6#post457692

Project Blacktide is a work in progress but its work that is worth persevering with. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side but sometimes it is. Blacktide already has existing cooperation between its original guilds and its new immigrants.

This guys says it well https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/pvp/wuvwuv/North-American-WvW-guilds-should-move-to-Europe

Come join our WvWvW Adventure.

Snort

edit:

The server is in Austin Texas, so there is no latency

The Unnamed – ThUn

Very good post Snort, I, and every other member of ThUn, can vouch for this. It’s nice when sometimes I pop on earlier morning and I can actually move out of spawn and join up with Xaoc rather than being pinned back unable to do anything.

And I would also like to add all chat I’ve seen in WvW has been in English except for a Polish guild recruitment message I saw once.

Yes, we really need NA guilds. We have strong morning/day russian force, strong evening eu force. I know that some servers play on WvW only during “guild events”. As a member of the biggest russian guild i can say that we always play on WvW from 4 am to 8 pm(GMT). WvW is the reason why we are here. This is more then “just a game” for us.

Hey guys,

Just wanted to say I’ve been looking to transfer over from a NA server currently on Crystal Desert. I enjoy my server and community, but dislike seeing all the hard work we’ve put in disappear when I get up in the morning. Currently it will only be myself and another moving over. Will try and recruit more to come with.

Was curious of any good homes looking for some NA(Central Standard Time) members.

And used to running small squad gorilla warfare tactics to help zergs be successful at keep and castle domination.

I think you may have sold me on this server. Just gotta talk my brother into making the move.

Here is one of last nights fights

As guild leader of CIR, it’s my responsibility to provide the best atmosphere for my members to enjoy WvW and GW2.

On our previous server we were growing frustrated and drifting away from GW2 because we didn’t feel the server we chose shared our passion and dedication to WvW. We were spinning in the endless loop of capturing everything when we were online, only to lose everything during the night when we all log off.

We had many concerns with Blacktide, indeed we heard many rumors and unconfirmed “facts”. If we had taken that information for granted, we would never have migrated. Instead we transferred for 1 day, checked it out for ourselves and by the next day our entire guild was transferred over.

Our only regret is that we didn’t roll on Blacktide in the first place. The community is very much “no fuss, no drama, no ego” and the main focus is winning in WvW. If stuff doesn’t get done, we stand together and work our kitten off to get it done instead of mudflinging blame at each other.

Blacktide is also not a “russian only” server. There are italian guilds, polish guilds, UK guilds, international guilds… XAOC is the biggest russian community here, but there are many other cultures working together for a better WvW enviroment.

The only “downside” is that the PVE areas are pretty much deserted. Blacktide is a WvW server, so if any NA guilds want to play with like-minded people it’s the perfect place to transfer and call home.

I’m not a huge WvW player myself, but I have tried perhaps 10-15 different servers. I transfer mostly for PvE reasons, but I do make a point of seeing what’s happening on my temporary server’s WvW landscape.

And I have to say that Blacktide impresses. Everything is very well-coordinated and objectives are executed quickly and precisely. Big guilds communicate to achieve common goals, commanders and smaller guilds work with pugs to do the same, and I found it somewhat shocking that on Blacktide pugs actually follow and do as they’re told.

There’s very little mindless zerging, there is no flame wars or drama in the map/team chats, and from what I can tell, the vast majority of players are very competent and knowledgeable.

All in all I’d say that this server has every chance of one day making it to the top EU tier.

I can’t vouch for the on server environment itself (on Desolation).. but these Blacktide boys can fight. I very much applaud their effort and never die attitude this week. As a NA to EU transfer I will caution you that the level of PvP in the EU bracket is much higher than NA.. so you better be ready to bring it if you move over.

Ireland mentioned on the forum?! OP must be Irish! /cheer

But yeah, I came from Gunnar’s Hold with Heresy and the WvW here is far more entertaining. Teamwork is incredible and some of the fights have just been epic!

I’m happy with the change. Most of the chat in map is actually in English, and people in general seem to be either more competent or more bloodthirsty than in our previous server. It pleases me.

Our first full week on the server start on Friday. We will see if the cooperation goes well and how the fights are.

If you like kyrillic signs and russians, Baclktide is the place to be! Now seriously, i thought it´s a russian server? Used to play in BWE1 on Blacktide and it was flooded with signs i could not read and i see a lot of russians guilds in WvW.

It’s like others have said, Blacktide is a lot more international than it was in BWEs. You’d be hard-pressed to find any non-English chat anywhere, and the Russians of Blacktide are without doubt the best Russians I’ve ever played with.

Uder.9187:

If you like kyrillic signs and russians, Baclktide is the place to be! Now seriously, i thought it´s a russian server? Used to play in BWE1 on Blacktide and it was flooded with signs i could not read and i see a lot of russians guilds in WvW.

I haven’t really noticed any Russian text in chat. It’s pretty much all English.

Also, the game doesn’t support cyrillic :p

But yeah, no worries about the Russian!

Syndic.4762:

<snip>

Our only regret is that we didn’t roll on Blacktide in the first place. The community is very much “no fuss, no drama, no ego” and the main focus is winning in WvW. If stuff doesn’t get done, we stand together and work our kitten off to get it done instead of mudflinging blame at each other.
<snip>

Sounds fun, and was what I had hoped G.H. would be based on the period leading up to launch.

Xandax.1753:

Syndic.4762:

<snip>
Our only regret is that we didn’t roll on Blacktide in the first place. The community is very much “no fuss, no drama, no ego” and the main focus is winning in WvW. If stuff doesn’t get done, we stand together and work our kitten off to get it done instead of mudflinging blame at each other.
<snip>

Sounds fun, and was what I had hoped G.H. would be based on the period leading up to launch.

I did actually suggest it at the start but it was a non runner.

Its something iI will remember for future games, actively going for a different cultures server.

Well after BWE1 a lot of russian guilds decided to leave Blacktide. Some russian guilds think that [Xaoc] is the monster who always absorbs other guilds:) They went to Vabbi and Ring of Fire………… and now at the bottom.
First time we really played 1 guild vs 26 worlds. Then [WIC] joined us. Then [XT], [HP] and now Gunnar guilds.

CIR worked together with WIC in Augury Rock borderlands, together with ThUn we defended the Bay lord room for 2 hours against both servers. Very nice italian guild, easy to work with. We hit it off from the get-go, taking turns at supply runs and helping each other’s flank.

Uder.9187:

If you like kyrillic signs and russians, Baclktide is the place to be! Now seriously, i thought it´s a russian server? Used to play in BWE1 on Blacktide and it was flooded with signs i could not read and i see a lot of russians guilds in WvW.

I cant fully agree with You on this one. Now personally me, i havent noticed any Russian kyrillic text in Map chat, sometimes there might pop up some russian words or in chats but really the communication language is English. Someone is better with it and someone is not, yet its English. At least now…. Not sure about how it was at the game launch + 2 weeks.

So if someone is concerned about “What language is primary” U can be 95% sure its English.

Personally I think 1 strong EU guild that can field 20-30 players, and ~2 US guilds that can put out around 20 players would be ideal for Blacktide.

I would recommend to any guild considering transfers to send a few guys over, take full advantage of the free 24h transfers, and get your own perspective of Blacktide. It’s really the best and only way to make such a big decision.

[Ruin] have more than 500 members on Desolation, we also need a lot of US players to resist them at night.

Yup. [Ruin] are our biggest problem on Blacktide. The EU-daytime fights are incredible with territory going back and forth constantly, but [Ruin] have control for a great deal of the night until our Russian counterparts, [Xaoc] wake up.

Cannot really speak about Ruin because by the time they log on, most of CIR is already in bed for work in the morning.

3 hours ago we had only +100 points and now just see the screen(7-20 GMT). Really need night force.
http://ipic.su/img/img5/fs/123.1350804491.jpg

I would like to add my thoughts to this topic.

I was a little apprehensive about transferring to Blacktide for a few reasons, but am extremely happy that I have now done so.

I play purely for WvW so is extremely important to me to be able to play in a structured, enjoyable and competitive environment. Blacktide provides all these qualities, there is a great sense of cooperation and strategic planning that is coordinated between the many active WvW guilds.

The level of performance displayed by the allied guilds is of a very high standard, this is reflected in the success that achieved when each of these guilds is active in their respective time zone.

I believe that due to the high standard of players, guilds and cooperation that is currently displayed on Blacktide, the addition of an active US guild/alliance would allow the server to compete in the highest tier.

I would suggest to any US guilds that are considering a move to an EU server to take advantage of the free transfers and give Blacktide a try. Get in touch with some of the commanders and/or guild leaders and play alongside them for a few days if possible.

I’m sure that if you witness the community, sense of cooperation and server pride that is present you would consider it a good place to call home..

Dafomen.7892:

All those guilds like cico, thuna, pups and what not take part in the downfall of WvW by changing to a win-team-server.
Instead of trying to organize something on the first server, they give up just after only a few weeks and jump over to the neighbors cosy bed with some cheap “blabla, PvE blabla WvW blabla QQ” excuse.
This ends up in some server now practically not (able) participating in WvW at all because the other server facerolls all maps within a few hours.

this is the worst scenario that could happen in WvW and in a few more weeks WvW will be just between 3-4 servers, how fun.

Thanks to all opportunists and guild leaders!

Well done!

You are wrong, bro.

First, we tried organising WvW on our previous server. It didn’t work. Our previous server was just not WvW oriented enough for it to become competitive. That’s okay, though. If people want to PvE, then that’s their choice. The PvE vs. WvW issue pretty much reached an event horizon when one of the largest guilds on the server outright denied working with the alliance, because apparently trying to get things organized makes you an kitten.

At the end of the day, there really was no other option for us than to move to a different server. If you can’t change the people, then play with different people. Would you continue playing with a group in a dungeon if that group was failing horribly, refusing to change up their approach and being whiny about it, or would you cut your losses and find a different group in order to not waste more time and money?

We were originally hesitant to leave. People had friends on the old server. Our guild was heavily upgraded, and a move would mean all that effort and money would be lost. Plus, we knew a lot of people would accuse us of trying to join a winning team, etc etc. But then we got an invitation from Chaos on Blacktide, and we quickly realised the opportunities. Blacktide is a very WvW oriented server. When we noticed that Blacktide had a lot of people that played during the early hours, and we had a lot of people that played during the evening, we knew that if we teamed up we would make a very strong alliance. When we fought them in our matchup, we were originally beating them, but they refused to admit defeat and fought their way back. That’s something we hadn’t seen before, and it was pretty much the deciding factor for us to move.

I think I speak for everyone when I say we couldn’t be more satisfied with the move.

We have a strong morning force, a strong day force and a strong evening force. Now we just need guilds to take care of the night.

I am a US player and recently transferred, I can not say enough good things about running on this server.
Almost all of the text is in english (98%) and the WVW chat is all in english. The organization in WVW is second to none and the alliance cooperation is outstanding, even PUG groups are organized (even without a commander online), and manage to get a lot of things accomplished in an efficient manner. Que times as an American are very low as most of the time I am queuing up at EU non peak times.

I would like to highly suggest other organized American or latin american groups come over and join us. Be willing to work as an alliance and give it your best effort and you will see the returns.

I originally transferred to this server because the server I was on was just not WVW orientated and was always getting blown out of the water. When I transferred I looked at the rankings and saw that BT might not always win but the battles are always close and hard fought. As a player this is the only thing I ever wanted out of WVW but instead I have gotten to team up with and learn from some fantastic people.

As others have said send over some reps, hit me up and I would be happy to show you around.

Cunnart.6519:

I am a US player and recently transferred, I can not say enough good things about running on this server.
Almost all of the text is in english (98%) and the WVW chat is all in english. The organization in WVW is second to none and the alliance cooperation is outstanding, even PUG groups are organized (even without a commander online), and manage to get a lot of things accomplished in an efficient manner. Que times as an American are very low as most of the time I am queuing up at EU non peak times.

I would like to highly suggest other organized American or latin american groups come over and join us. Be willing to work as an alliance and give it your best effort and you will see the returns.

I originally transferred to this server because the server I was on was just not WVW orientated and was always getting blown out of the water. When I transferred I looked at the rankings and saw that BT might not always win but the battles are always close and hard fought. As a player this is the only thing I ever wanted out of WVW but instead I have gotten to team up with and learn from some fantastic people.

As others have said send over some reps, hit me up and I would be happy to show you around.

We need more players like Cunnart.

CIR has now been on Blacktide for almost two weeks, here is our experience with queues so far:

GMT +0 06:00 – No queues
GMT +0 08:00 – No queues in 3/4 borderlands/EB.
GMT +0 12:00 (Noon) – No queues in 2/4 borderlands/EB.
GMT +0 16:00 – No queues in 1/4 borderlands/EB.
GMT +0 20:00 – 5-10 minute queues in all zones.
GMT +0 00:00 – No queues in 2/4 borderlands/EB.
GMT +0 04:00 – No queues.

As we have deducted so far, there is overlapping of two-three communities on Blacktide;

EU Prime community

These are the guilds that transferred from Gunnar’s Hold, usually focusing on 1-2 borderlands because while we can do a lot individually, being in the same zone allows us to have 3-4 forces to push and defend simultaneously due to leaders being in mumble comms.

There are also “native” BT guilds like WIC, HoM, HP, XAOC Int that play heavily during EU prime time and work together with the others. Due to nature of WvW, we sometimes play in same zones sometimes we spread out as the score dictates.

RUS prime community

Russia is a big country, by definition their country is across 9 timezones so their “prime-time” is hard to gauge, but looking at major population centers they peak around GMT 19:00 and start falling off.

XAOC community

XAOC (or CHAOS in english) is one of the biggest Russian multigaming communities, and have enough manpower to call daily CTA (Call to Arms) operations that hit EU servers at their traditionally weakest spots – the Australian/US West Coast timezones.

Currently the weakspot on Blacktide is the time between the main EU guilds logging off roughly 00:00 GMT +0 or 01:00 GMT +0, and the XAOC CTA logging on between 05:00 GMT +0 and 08:00 GMT +0.

From our pre-move research, we have confirmed that queues are VERY negligible and only really happen during the ~1 hour window where all three communities overlap, roughly around 19:00 GMT +0. Even during this time, the queues have to date not been longer then 15 minutes.

What does all of that mean?

It means that Blacktide could benefit from having ~1 EU WvW guild that can field ~20 guys ever day, and 2-3 US WvW guilds that can field 20-30 guys.

How does it benefit you?

You play during YOUR prime-time. No alarmclocking (unless you really feel like it), and you’re coming to a really no-drama server. The heavy majority of Blacktide is focused on winning together in WvW, not mudflinging whose fault it is X got lost.

US guild considering transfer. I’m curious as to number of players during US peak time. Basically, will we have anyone to fight or will it be a lot of roaming and taking undefended objectives?

The server and community sounds interesting and like it would be a good fit, but we are concerned about numbers and whether we will have any actual player competition since our play time is typically GMT 17:00 – 02:00.

And yet without a single good player we are on an upward spiral, better to be lucky than to be good,

Joking aside the level of cooperation and coordination is superb.

http://mos.millenium.org/matchups/

Dominating at this stage of the weekly match up.

Highlet.8039:

US guild considering transfer. I’m curious as to number of players during US peak time. Basically, will we have anyone to fight or will it be a lot of roaming and taking undefended objectives?

The server and community sounds interesting and like it would be a good fit, but we are concerned about numbers and whether we will have any actual player competition since our play time is typically GMT 17:00 – 02:00.

We can have a chat if you eant and I can try and answer you questions.

In the bracket we are you will have some very decent fights, the top servers are all evolving towards 24/7 fights.

I have screen shot for a lot of the period you mention and its still busy now at 11.00gmt.

The time period you mention is near perfect for our needs and yours.

Highlet.8039:

US guild considering transfer. I’m curious as to number of players during US peak time. Basically, will we have anyone to fight or will it be a lot of roaming and taking undefended objectives?

The server and community sounds interesting and like it would be a good fit, but we are concerned about numbers and whether we will have any actual player competition since our play time is typically GMT 17:00 – 02:00.

You will have no lack of opposition. As Snort said, the top tier servers are evolving toward 24/7 coverage, PvDoor is what happens in lower tiers. For example next week we will be up against Desolation, where Ruin (NA guild, you guys probably heard of them) are playing, and Far Shiverpeaks who have been advertising for NA players for a very long time now.

It should be a very good fight.

@Syndic

Thats not true.
I’m playing on Elona Reach, which is second atm in der european ranking and we defeated vizunah last week and we are not a 24/7 server. Neither Vizunah nor arborstone are 24/7 servers. We have no queues between 00:00-17:00/18:00 during weekdays. There are NO 24/7 servers in europe

Highlet.8039

US guild considering transfer. I’m curious as to number of players during US peak time. Basically, will we have anyone to fight or will it be a lot of roaming and taking undefended objectives?
The server and community sounds interesting and like it would be a good fit, but we are concerned about numbers and whether we will have any actual player competition since our play time is typically GMT 17:00 – 02:00.

Sup Highlet. Its Sejanus/Dureal/Alatheus here – we played together with Gorikor @ Warhammer. If you’re the same dude :p

I’m in Seafarer’s Rest atm and we’re fighting Blacktide and honestly they ain’t good, just morning caps everything that we won during EU prime-time. Atm the actual score is:
Seafarer’s Rest 455
Blacktide 150
Riverside 100

Anyway, sure Blacktide can nightcap its way to tier 1 but if i were you i’d join Seafarer’s Rest. There is literally no night capping at all and we’re the only medium populated server to reach tier 2, so if you’re looking for challenge and competent players during prime-time its the server to be. And normally i wouldn’t try steal any US guild to Blacktide but i’m just posting here since i know you :p

You’re with Exo or Scelton or what? I still have my US account to Anvil Rock just to do some tPvP with Beardz and Ostricheggs.

Maybe u have 455 becouse all sleeping now ?)
Nightcapping and thinking that they server are good xD
Good try guys

Clearly, there is some competition at night since the SFR guy is so proud of the scores at this hour :p

When i logged off (think it was around 21h CET), all 3 servers were doing pretty decent score-wise, in a good competition way. While we were still slighlty ahead in tick points, both SFR and RS were putting up a fight and some towers and keeps were going back and forth.

Sadly enough, I’ve been unable to play much later in the evening/night, so i don’t know what it turns into then, but I do know that we are organised and competent, despite some people’s beliefs ;p

lin.2814:

Maybe u have 455 becouse all sleeping now ?)
Nightcapping and thinking that they server are good xD
Good try guys

How about you log into your own server and see there is actual quite some BT playing?
Unfortunately russians will fight no one from our side. Check score screenies:

http://assets-cloud.enjin.com/users/2224503/pics/original/1168235.jpg
2:20 CET (GMT+2)

http://i.imgur.com/3D8la.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/T2gRW.jpg
2 CET

http://i.imgur.com/e3q3y.jpg
3 CET

http://i.imgur.com/rvsPs.jpg
8:45 CET

Hf

2.20 we all sleep already) We have 7-20 members onlain in this time [Xaoc].
8.45 (CET) – 9 hours this is time then we went to sleep.

Where score in 0:00 CET ?
Maybe here ? (GMT+3)
http://forums.goha.ru/showpost.php?p=21297926&postcount=2480

0.00 CET is a time in that we dont have queues on borders.
We are full but have empty slots in u prime time.
I think that [Cir] and other guilds proof this. U can transfer and check it yourself xD

Mmm, i feel we do pretty well primetime in general, though we can’t be everywhere at the same time, and we could actually use some more primetime guilds, as i’m pretty sure is mentioned earlier in this thread.

As mentioned in the thread, Blacktide isn’t just looking for NA guilds, but also welcoming people for several other timeslots, including EU primetime.

Though of course, anyone is welcome, regardless of timeslots, and we’d be glad to have you!

Syndic.4762:

Hmmm I can’t seem to view the thread at all… :/

Some kind of bug when a thread has 49 posts. It’s supposed to make a new page at 49, but it only makes one at 50, so at 49 posts a thread becomes unreadable until someone makes a 50th post. Probably goes for page 2>3 etc. as well.

And if US guilds are considering moving, I’d say just give it a try for a couple of days. That’s what we did. Free 24H transfers are still here, so you’re not really taking any risks.

Highlet send over some prospects to the server and just check out the action for yourselves. As snort said some of the other major servers are going to 24/7, you can read the forums to see that, so we are trying to position ourselves for that as well. I was originally on a US server but made the transfer as the EU competition is a lot better. Unfortunately you still get the whiners and people that try to highjack your thread..

Cunnart.6519:

Highlet send over some prospects to the server and just check out the action for yourselves. As snort said some of the other major servers are going to 24/7, you can read the forums to see that, so we are trying to position ourselves for that as well. I was originally on a US server but made the transfer as the EU competition is a lot better. Unfortunately you still get the whiners and people that try to highjack your thread..

Highlet if any of your guys need a place to hang out if you come over to look, your welcome to join one of our groups.

Thanks all for the replies, pms and hospitality. I’ll talk with the rest of our team and hopefully come check out the action for several days and get a consensus. Thanks again!

Highlet.8039:

Thanks all for the replies, pms and hospitality. I’ll talk with the rest of our team and hopefully come check out the action for several days and get a consensus. Thanks again!

Either way mate, best of luck.

I think that is definitely the best way to get the information you need to make such an important decision Highlet, look forward to seeing you in-game.

Next week BT vs FS vs Deso