Realm Timer - Phoenix Freeshard

While I see the desire of people wanting everything at once, the realm timer (or rather, absence of one) seems to be implemented half-heartedly.
1) BG chat/realm timer: Frontier BG chat is muted in PvE zones to prevent spying, but it is still possible to just stand in the frontiers and listen in without triggering a realm timer, and change to a different realm and PvP there. This is intended as it is said in the bug tracker, why mute it at all when it is made this way?
2) No forced commitment: everyone can go play everything, anytime. This has a huge impact on realm pride and the large battles which actually made DAoC famous. While a short realm timer may help populate a low-pop server it is not really needed on a populated server because there will be things to do whereever you go.

Suggestion:
1) Start realm timer when in frontier zone, not when engaging into combat because engaging in pvp can very well be just being in the chat (although it won't yield rps - well unless you spy for the other side, duh).
2) Encourage commitment by making choices harder. Realm timer should go back to 24 hours, can be shortened when population starts to lower.

Fri 15 May 2020 8:00 AM by Razur Ur

yeah plz reduce timer on 1 hour :-)

Fri 15 May 2020 6:13 PM by Azuell

1. Who cares?
2. Fuck realm pride

24 hour realm timer? Haha get the hell outta here with that.

Fri 15 May 2020 6:21 PM by Kurbsen

a 24 hour timer makes me cringe.. the way the timer is right now has been the best its ever been..

dont listen to op lol

Fri 15 May 2020 6:54 PM by joshisanonymous

Personally, I'm not a fan of the way the realm timer works now, nor of short (e.g., 4 hour) realm timers in general. And I agree, it's weird to have BGs muted but you can still do /who BG and /who <zone> to find out where zergs are and read /advice and /as where BG info is often broadcast, as well. It's weird that I can't keep up with my own BG if I haven't gotten into the frontier yet, but enemies can log into my realm and get quite a bit of info still.

I don't know what impact it all has on PvE or population balance or server population in general, so I trust the devs to make good decisions in that regard since they have some of that data, but personally not a fan of the current system.

Fri 15 May 2020 7:51 PM by Durzo

I’ll give ya a tip, no one cares about knowing where your Zerg is going. And if they did and you use discord you’re just as ‘vulnerable’.

Fri 15 May 2020 10:43 PM by Quik

Durzo wrote: ↑
Fri 15 May 2020 7:51 PM
I’ll give ya a tip, no one cares about knowing where your Zerg is going. And if they did and you use discord you’re just as ‘vulnerable’.

This. Why would they take time to log out and then back to mid to spy when they can just check with people in Discord?

Sat 16 May 2020 6:40 AM by Lynee

Quik wrote: ↑
Fri 15 May 2020 10:43 PM
Durzo wrote: ↑
Fri 15 May 2020 7:51 PM
I’ll give ya a tip, no one cares about knowing where your Zerg is going. And if they did and you use discord you’re just as ‘vulnerable’.

This. Why would they take time to log out and then back to mid to spy when they can just check with people in Discord?

You are missing the point, if somebody wants to spy they will and always have been, regardless.
My point is that realm identity is currently watered down to almost nothing, be it by adjusting class disparities or by being able to play anything anywhere. This may be good for the individual with low timeframes to play or with a hard time to commit to anything.
However, it taxes the overall realm pride and spirit, which is a motor for the ever ongoing war between the different realms. The stone-paper-scissor principle is core to the game and yes, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Deal with it, don't just run to another realm where the grass seems to be greener for the moment.

The next thing will be that the "language barrier" between realms is being lifted and we can flame our enemy directly after killing them or getting killed.
Or a place where you can fight people under controlled conditions. Oh wait, don't we already have that?

There are enough arena games or games with mirrored classes where your enemy is identical to you except the outfit looks different. DAoC isn't this type of game, and that is one reason why it is still loved to this day.

It should be allowed to play in different realms, but please, make people commit for more than just a couple of hours.

Sat 16 May 2020 3:38 PM by Quik

Lynee wrote: ↑
Sat 16 May 2020 6:40 AM
You are missing the point, if somebody wants to spy they will and always have been, regardless.
My point is that realm identity is currently watered down to almost nothing, be it by adjusting class disparities or by being able to play anything anywhere. This may be good for the individual with low timeframes to play or with a hard time to commit to anything.

I understand people wanting everyone to be loyal to their realm, but if you're being honest what right does ANYONE here have to tell people they need to play 1 realm and must wait on a timer before changing? This is a free server where everyone that plays has the same voice as everyone else, so why are you so much better that you get to decide the rules that others must follow?

Sorry but the only people with a true VOICE here are the dev's that take the time to work on the server during their own free time.

You, nor anyone else, has a right to tell me who I need to play and that I can't switch when I want. If people want to exhibit realm pride that is great. If they want to do loyalty rewards for staying on a realm, that is great. Don't tell me I can't switch when you don't have more rights then I do.

And just so people know, I play mid 99.9% of the time, not specifically for realm pride (big reason) but also because I hate being on the FOTM realm.

Sat 16 May 2020 4:23 PM by Lynee

Quik wrote: ↑
Sat 16 May 2020 3:38 PM
so why are you so much better that you get to decide the rules that others must follow?

Sorry but the only people with a true VOICE here are the dev's that take the time to work on the server during their own free time

That's why this is posted in the Suggestion forum. I was under the impression this forum is directed mainly at the developers, not the playerbase.

Sat 16 May 2020 8:08 PM by Durzo

Lynee wrote: ↑
Sat 16 May 2020 6:40 AM
Quik wrote: ↑
Fri 15 May 2020 10:43 PM
Durzo wrote: ↑
Fri 15 May 2020 7:51 PM
I’ll give ya a tip, no one cares about knowing where your Zerg is going. And if they did and you use discord you’re just as ‘vulnerable’.

This. Why would they take time to log out and then back to mid to spy when they can just check with people in Discord?

You are missing the point, if somebody wants to spy they will and always have been, regardless.
My point is that realm identity is currently watered down to almost nothing, be it by adjusting class disparities or by being able to play anything anywhere. This may be good for the individual with low timeframes to play or with a hard time to commit to anything.
However, it taxes the overall realm pride and spirit, which is a motor for the ever ongoing war between the different realms. The stone-paper-scissor principle is core to the game and yes, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Deal with it, don't just run to another realm where the grass seems to be greener for the moment.

The next thing will be that the "language barrier" between realms is being lifted and we can flame our enemy directly after killing them or getting killed.
Or a place where you can fight people under controlled conditions. Oh wait, don't we already have that?

There are enough arena games or games with mirrored classes where your enemy is identical to you except the outfit looks different. DAoC isn't this type of game, and that is one reason why it is still loved to this day.

It should be allowed to play in different realms, but please, make people commit for more than just a couple of hours.

I would much rather have a stable population than some fake pride in a fake faction of a 20 year old game. If you feel realm pride is important than stick with it. But the rest of the player base shouldn’t be beholden to your philosophies.

Sun 17 May 2020 7:16 AM by Lynee

Durzo wrote: ↑
Sat 16 May 2020 8:08 PM
I would much rather have a stable population than some fake pride in a fake faction of a 20 year old game. If you feel realm pride is important than stick with it. But the rest of the player base shouldn’t be beholden to your philosophies.

I am not talking about pride as a sense of achievement in real life, like saving a life or getting a medal. What I am talking about is the underlying mechanism of striving for a common goal, together. And, in my opinion, the realm timer is nothing more than an encouragement to stick to your side, not a prison. It's not my philosophy, it's one of the core rules of original DAoC.

Sun 17 May 2020 7:51 AM by Durzo

Lynee wrote: ↑
Sun 17 May 2020 7:16 AM
Durzo wrote: ↑
Sat 16 May 2020 8:08 PM
I would much rather have a stable population than some fake pride in a fake faction of a 20 year old game. If you feel realm pride is important than stick with it. But the rest of the player base shouldn’t be beholden to your philosophies.

I am not talking about pride as a sense of achievement in real life, like saving a life or getting a medal. What I am talking about is the underlying mechanism of striving for a common goal, together. And, in my opinion, the realm timer is nothing more than an encouragement to stick to your side, not a prison. It's not my philosophy, it's one of the core rules of original DAoC.

Well original Daoc had a much bigger population and much less quality of life features needed to sustain a healthy pop.