Well, there have been some interesting developments in FFXI. With the official release of FFXI in Europe, and the release of Chains of Promathia, the second expansion pack, SE is anticipating (rightfully so) on a shitload of new players. As the existing servers are fairly full as it is, SE is making two new servers: Remora and Hades.
Now some may be confused about this whole "server" thing. Basically, the computers that run FFXI can only handle so many players at one time. So in order to let everyone play, SE sets up different computers for people to play on. This way no one gets turned away. But also, people who play on one computer (server) can not play with people on a different server. Thus, each server is its own little world seperate from the rest of the servers. There are no differences in the game from server to server other than the players on them.
Here's a new term for ya'll: Linkshell. Basically a buddy-list/chatroom/club of sorts in the game. Usually the people in your linkshell are the ones you know the best, get along with, and turn to for help completing certain missions and quests.
Anyway! Now that you all have a vague idea of what Im talking about, I'll get to the drama. When SE created these new servers, they gave people in other servers the option to transfer their characters to the new servers to even out the populations. There was a limited time to apply for this emigration. Well, Meira, the founder and leader of my linkshell decided to transfer. Thus, not only would one of our best friends in the game be lost, but also because she created the linkshell, when she left, the linkshell would be destroyed. Yes, another linkshell could be created and we could all join it again, but we would still be losing a great friend and ally in the game.
Well, naturally, we were all saddened by it. Meira said that she was unhappy with the way some other people on the server were acting and thought that by moving and starting over, she would be able to enjoy herself more. As silly as it sounds, it was as if a friend of ours was dying. Sure, we could still talk to her online, but its not the same as interating with her virtual cat-girl character.
Anyway, the emigration application period came and went. We did some farwell missions with Meira and we had all resigned ourselves to losing our mentor in FFXI come today . . .
Well, I log on today and everybody is all excited. Some other people had decided to follow Meira by starting new characters on her server. As the emigration period had ended, they could no longer transfer their characters and would have to start new ones to play on the other server. Well, one person, Zaike, had found a way around that.
He had convinced a GM(tech who runs the game) to transfer his character as well. With this news, several people were contacting GMs and trying to get their characters transferred too. Well, my brother wanted to change servers when he found this out, and follow Meira.
So, after much debate, and much running from GM to GM to find out info, we finally were both upgraded to emigration status. We will be moving to the new server.
Well, probably. The GM said that since it was past the deadline, she couldn't guarantee. It would depend on how many other people are going, as they need to balance the server populations. But she seemed pretty confident that both of us would go.
However, I had, and still have some reservations about this whole emigration thing. First of all, there are several people who are playing on my current server specifically because I'm here. Wentworth and his brother are just 2 examples of people who started new characters just to play in the same world as me.
They're not emigrating with me.
And then there are the other people in my linkshell who, for reasons of their own, can't or aren't going either. There are several people whom I have gotten to know and have become good friends with. Even more so than Meira, that I will be leaving behind. So instead of losing a mentor figure, I'm losing several true friends.
Is it worth it? I dunno. The new server will be full of new players. They'll be inexperinced, and thus will be less competition for things like crafting and monster hunting. I'll continue to be able to play with my brother and I'll still have several people from my linkshell to cooperate with. They may not be the ones I was closest too, but they're still friends.
God, I'm making this out to be such a huge deal, when its just a game! I'm such a nerd. But FFXI is more than a game in some respects. Its a community. Real friendships can be created through it, and that's what makes it, and games like it, so appealing.
I suppose the situation most closely resembles that of graduating high school. You leave many of your friends behind and move on to a new place. You can still talk to them again, but you'll never be with them in the same way. Other friends will go on with you and things won't change too much with them.
Oh, I'm so emo! I just wanted to say goodbye to some of my best friends I have made in the game this past year. I'm sure non of them will read this, except Alex, but its going up anyway.
Valyant, my first true friend in the game, I haven't seen you in months, and I don't even know if you still play anymore, but I'll always remember the times we hunted in Valkrum together and got our subjobs.
Evian, I haven't seen you online either, but we've talked on AIM before we even knew we were on the same server, so I'm sure I'll talk to you again.
Dakliron, I will truly miss you. You helped me when no one else would/could. I've never had more fun dungeon crawling before. I will really miss you, probably more than any other person.
Aerec and Lightslayr, I thank you for all your help throughout the past year as well. I wouldn't be where I am if it wasn't for you guys.
Thom, sorry I never joined your gay linkshell. I just couldn't find it in me to leave my own. But thanks for your companionship regardless. I'll be sure and invite all gay players in Europe into our new linkshell on Hades!
Analee, Wiseman, Wentworthy, Teeko, I'll miss you guys too, but I can still just drive half an hour to see you. I deeply apologize for moving on you. I hope you understand.
And I know I'm missing a bunch of people, and I'm sorry. I wish you all luck in your continuing adventures on Lakshmi. You guys are the best!
Eric 10/06/2004 01:35:00 AM
