Guild Wars 2

How about, instead of having different server merges every 2 months, we have ‘mercenary’ servers who go where and when they are needed? This would balance population (to some degree) / be fun for those smaller servers who currently feel they have lost some identity / be fun for the players on those mercenary servers. The mercenary servers could fix unbalanced timezone play too. Eg; a couple of those mercenary servers could be made up by a larger nightcapping population etc.

what exactly would determine which server they go to? If it’s Anet determined it’s no different than what currently happens with link servers. If it’s player determined, then who decides which players get to vote etc.

I don’t think it’s doable tbh

Anet semi-recently asked if players were interested in doubling the number of servers so they could mix and match better on population, something they can’t do with 24 servers. It was not well received based on identity issues, though that remains an issue with the current system.

I think it could be based simply on what servers have the greatest need at that time based on population fluctuations. Since we can’t stop people mass-bandwagoning, at least a mercenary server can step in and fill the void when it happens.

Mrs Qurly.9372:

I think it could be based simply on what servers have the greatest need at that time based on population fluctuations. Since we can’t stop people mass-bandwagoning, at least a mercenary server can step in and fill the void when it happens.

That is basically server linking, which is in essence a temporary merging of servers.

But it isn’t 2 months.. not sure if op stated how often the (link) changes – daily reset? Different for eu – Na- ocx – sea?

Mrs Qurly.9372:

How about, instead of having different server merges every 2 months, we have ‘mercenary’ servers who go where and when they are needed? This would balance population (to some degree) / be fun for those smaller servers who currently feel they have lost some identity / be fun for the players on those mercenary servers. The mercenary servers could fix unbalanced timezone play too. Eg; a couple of those mercenary servers could be made up by a larger nightcapping population etc.

you mean this?
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/wuv/WvW-2-0/first#post6395579

Well yes, essentially it’s still a linking server system, but the linked servers would have a different role. Instead of them being filled with players-left-behind-when-everyone-else-left, they will be filled with players wanting to be mercenaries. The link changes could be regular as needed, perhaps max once per week at reset. And there could be a recruiting system for those servers too – based on what time of day you play (to get balance). To start it all off, Anet could offer free transfers to and from those mercenary servers.

Mrs Qurly.9372:

Well yes, essentially it’s still a linking server system, but the linked servers would have a different role. Instead of them being filled with players-left-behind-when-everyone-else-left, they will be filled with players wanting to be mercenaries. The link changes could be regular as needed, perhaps max once per week at reset. And there could be a recruiting system for those servers too – based on what time of day you play (to get balance). To start it all off, Anet could offer free transfers to and from those mercenary servers.

This assumes that you know the outcome of next weeks matchup before its even started, so you can properly “balance” it ahead of time. Otherwise adding this “mercenary server” is the same as the link system, just randomly stack population and hope for the best.

Even if Anet has invented a time machine or have a psychic in their offices they would never tell us in the WvW forum anyway.

Mrs Qurly.9372:

Well yes, essentially it’s still a linking server system, but the linked servers would have a different role. Instead of them being filled with players-left-behind-when-everyone-else-left, they will be filled with players wanting to be mercenaries. The link changes could be regular as needed, perhaps max once per week at reset. And there could be a recruiting system for those servers too – based on what time of day you play (to get balance). To start it all off, Anet could offer free transfers to and from those mercenary servers.

Those link servers are already filled with players wanting to be mercenaries. I specifically left Tarnished Coast and joined Kaineng because I wanted to do that.

We had votes not long after the launch of the server-linking system and not enough people voted for 1-month re-links, instead we got enough votes for 2-month.

ANet absolutely should offer free transfers or reduced-cost transfers to these servers. I personally would actually really like it if players on the big 5 servers which don’t currently have links would have their transfer costs to link servers cut to 0. I’ve got casual friends who’d like to WvW but they can’t justify spending the 500 gems to move from TC to Kaineng.

I do not mind the idea of merc servers, small enough that alliances can park themselves in. In a way it’s something the devs wanted to try with adding more smaller worlds to even out population links better, to which I believe most of the players on these forums rejected.

As mentioned above by Dawdler you don’t know the outcome of the next week, you need to determine which server to attach the mercs to every week, and there’s really no way to predict which server would need the mercs until a match starts or unless you just attach them to the losing servers.

While BG is the “top” server they don’t always win every week, a losing server this week might roll down and be a winning server next week, they wouldn’t exactly need the help then. You might even have servers who are losing early just give up so they can get the mercs attached to them the week after.

More recent discussions on allowing players to “guest” on servers instead for shorter periods. https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/wuv/Server-Linking-Calling-For-2nd-poll/first#post6464344 Filtering players to losing servers for 24hr time periods could be more helpful. Any type of merc action should probably be on a very short duration.

I have longed believed guilds should be able to register as a mercenary guild and be assigned to servers to help balance out a fight.

Mrs Qurly.9372:

I think it could be based simply on what servers have the greatest need at that time based on population fluctuations. Since we can’t stop people mass-bandwagoning, at least a mercenary server can step in and fill the void when it happens.

that’s a very abstract thought, how exactly will that be accomplished? As I said, at the moment I believe the linkings are done manually by Anet staff after reviewing data every 2 months or so.

I like your idea in theory, but practically speaking it’s like telling doctors “Hey you, can you please invent a cure for such and such disease, thank you” The details are important and current server linking system with manual links is the closest they’ve managed to come, because it’s not an easy thing to do.

Mrs Qurly.9372:

How about, instead of having different server merges every 2 months, we have ‘mercenary’ servers who go where and when they are needed? This would balance population (to some degree) / be fun for those smaller servers who currently feel they have lost some identity / be fun for the players on those mercenary servers. The mercenary servers could fix unbalanced timezone play too. Eg; a couple of those mercenary servers could be made up by a larger nightcapping population etc.

The current transfer system has its bad and good sides to it. Its good short term, but extremely bad for the whole game and WVW game mode in the longterm due to overstacking and creating dead servers.

Overall I feel the current system is very bad, as the players who transfer for short term or hop around different servers for a while end up leaving anyways and just causing a big mess to deal with for those of us that actually stay and continue.

One thing I was thinking about as far as a “mercenary” type system is a limited, temporary transfer of individuals and guilds, which might help a bit with balance, or might not, depending of other circumstances per each given matchup as this would vary from week to week. But it would definitively spice things up for both players who stay by providing them with new opponents, and those that hop around as they wouldn’t be so pinned down and limited.

So my idea or something like that would be as follows:

1. Allow limited FREE transfer to underperforming / underpopulated links ONLY. Limit it in following ways:
A. Total 50 players max. Period. So if you are in a megablob guild, this would not be for you.
B. Make this temporary, would last only 3-4 days, then pop you back on your home server automatically.
C. Allow a total of 2 of these per month, 1st one free, 2nd one paid per account.
D. Allow a total of 2 free of such transfers per month to the above said underperforming / outnumbered links.

2. Make the transfer system be able to work with a squad. For example: commander assembles a squad (guild, pugs, whatever the group wants), and hits the temp transfer squad button. All the players in that squad would be under the effect of that temp transfer.

I think something like this would actually be fun and beneficial for most in the game.