Idea for balancing nations on servers (no merging, no caps, none of that)

[Don Calico]

On servers such as Blackbeard, the game is a bore. The map reset didn't change anything, the British still dominate the seven seas, the Spanish barely exist, and so on. Instead of merging servers or imposing nation limits (as to number of characters in one nation), we could allow for international transfers.

For instance: a pyrate is tired of his/her harsh life and decides to become a national. He requests a Letter of the Marque from a French governor and the governor can decide whether to give him one or not (probably based on that character's reputation with the French). A period of transition would follow, during which said pirate acts as an ally and agent of the crown. After this period, the cutthroat can apply for citizenship and become "Français par sang versé" (French by spilled blood). He would turn into a French privateer.

Likewise a national who attacks too many of his nation's ships would be labeled an outlaw and become part of the pyrate nation.

A national could become part of another nation by first descending into piracy or simply by emigrating.

Equivalents of the characters could be as follows:

NATIONAL <--> PYRATE

Naval Officer <--> Rebel
Freetrader <--> Smuggler
Privateer <--> Pirate

Characters could thus gravitate freely between nations (with a period of transition to prevent abuse) and could ideally balance out the servers in times of need, such as now.

[UlteriorModem]

Well good idea but players already gravitate freely to other nations by re-rolling.

The mass exodus of spanish to french on Kidd is example.

Not many people want to play for the 'weakest' nation.

ps; Freetraders are already considered smugglers.

[Lord Jim]

One easy option would just be to lock the high pop nations on a particular server until there is some sort of balance. It could be based on ratios rather than actual numbers. Another option would be to have new characters select their nation before they select their server, and then list the lowest pop nation's server first. The people that just knid of select randomly may be likely to head to that server.

I don't think these would fix everything, but seems like they would be simple to implement.

[flaknugget]

Originally Posted by Lord Jim Another option would be to have new characters select their nation before they select their server, and then list the lowest pop nation's server first.

Now that's a step in the right direction.

[Don Calico]

Lord Jim's ideas would definitely be easier to implement and certainly have value, but just think of how good it would be to change your nation without having to do all the painful leveling all over again.

[CutlassJack]

They've already said on the other few occasions this came up that Transferring nations is impossible due to all the nation specific flags attached to each character. (for quests etc.)

I dont doubt at all people would use the feature (even the Devs werent adverse to the concept) but it just isnt feasable.

[Lord Jim]

Originally Posted by Don Calico Lord Jim's ideas would definitely be easier to implement and certainly have value, but just think of how good it would be to change your nation without having to do all the painful leveling all over again.

I meant to add that closing a nation on a particular server due to imbalance would suck for getting your friends to play, a lot of which may end up joining a month or two after you. So it could be a fix, but I think it would be sour grapes for the player base.

[flaknugget]

Originally Posted by Don Calico we could allow for international transfers.

Unless these 'international transfers' are forced onto the player, I don't see this effecting balance.

If players can pick sides at any point, why would they choose anything but the dominating force on that server?

This is how Blackbeard got so out-of-whack to begin with. Allowing players to pick a side with no regard given to population balance. And if Blackbeard is any indication, the more one side dominates, the more out-of-balance the population becomes.

The French population is dwindling and I believe the Spanish are extinct. I haven't seen a single Spaniard on Blackbeard since the Brits won the server.

The RvR dynamics have become equally silly. The British have been taking port-after-port from the French because we can't field a team that has a chance against their well funded, overpopulated war machine (Scuba Steve's 'Invicible' has become the source of much French anxiety. A second British 'Invicible' is likely to appear before the first even loses durability), so the French take port-after-port from the Spanish, because there are no Spaniards to defend anything.

[Don Calico]

I disagree. Honestly, I don't know why anyone would get transferred to the British side with the way things look right now on Blackbeard. I'd find it very boring, personally. I'd transfer to France.

[Danicia]

Moved to Community Suggestions