World Transfers

[Minstracar]

To Vyv, Frelorn and the rest of the Turbine staff,

First off, sorry for the large font and garish color -- I just wanted to make this hard to miss in all the posts.

Please open new neighborhoods on each remaining server automatically when a new group of servers is scheduled to open transfers (or at least make sure there are several completely empty neighborhoods on each before the new transfer batch). This will give transferring Kinships a chance to grab whole neighborhoods as they may have on their originating servers.

Thanks, Minstracar

[Pdt_the_Confused]

And Meneldor will be the last to go... Guess we just missed the cut, from all the unofficial stats I have seen, and the list puts proof to them of sorts.

Sad Spider.

[Tuco]

Well, that would work, but the problem is when you want a name already taken. For example, suppose I am on Brandywine. Someone else is Oldname. When I originally transferred to Brandywine, I got Oldname-1. Rename tokens used to expire, so by now, that option is long gone (or I used it to get a different name entirely). But now that we can claim priority over names against inactive characters, suppose the current owner of Oldname hasn't logged in for 2 years. How can I get Oldname from them, since I'm already on the server? The name priority only applies during the transfer process. So somehow I have to get off Brandywine, change my name to Oldname, and then transfer back to push the current Oldname out of the way.

Try creating Oldname on two of the surviving servers -- e.g. Oldname on Arkenstone and Gladden. Transfer the Arkenstone one to Gladden getting Oldname-1 there. Then transfer your Brandywine Oldname-1 to Gladden getting Oldname-2 and a rename token. Now delete Oldname/Gladden and rename Oldname-2/Gladden to Oldname/Gladden with your token... and then wait for Brandywine to open up for incoming transfers and POUNCE!

[Shriya]

To Vyv, Frelorn and the rest of the Turbine staff,

First off, sorry for the large font and garish color -- I just wanted to make this hard to miss in all the posts.

Please open new neighborhoods on each remaining server automatically when a new group of servers is scheduled to open transfers (or at least make sure there are several completely empty neighborhoods on each before the new transfer batch). This will give transferring Kinships a chance to grab whole neighborhoods as they may have on their originating servers.

Thanks, Minstracar

I wholeheartedly support this! Maybe it would be good if the amount of neighborhoods which are completely and half filled on the closing worlds would at least be added to the remaining worlds. That way players have a lot more chance to get entire neighborhoods and to get a house where they already had it like on the closing server.

[BangoTwinkletoes]

Turbine - how about putting into the Store the ability to "buy" a brand new neighbourhood the properties within which can only be purchased by the buyer or those who he sets permissions for. Price it at around say 3k TP and you'll make a lot of money.

[Shriya]

2) For those concerned that your server will be last to move, you can still create new characters on the remaining worlds. So you can still reserve character name, Kinship names, and houses using a new character or one already on a remaining world if this is a concern for you. One house per account per world, means your items from the previous world will just be added to your placeholder house once your server is opened for transfer.

Just to make sure, cause I'm not entirely clear about this:
If I make a kinship with my placeholder character (same name as the character I want to transfer) and the kinship has the same name as the kinship I want to transfer, will the kinship be replaced with the kinship that's going to move as the placeholder character is going to be deleted? Or will the kinship from the closing world get a -1 and do I need to contact support about changing the name?

Thanks for the help!

[Nyzira]

Just to make sure, cause I'm not entirely clear about this:
If I make a kinship with my placeholder character (same name as the character I want to transfer) and the kinship has the same name as the kinship I want to transfer, will the kinship be replaced with the kinship that's going to move as the placeholder character is going to be deleted? Or will the kinship from the closing world get a -1 and do I need to contact support about changing the name?

Thanks for the help!

The way I understand it, the incoming kinship will get the -1 and you will have to contact customer support to change it.

[Silmelin]

Just to make sure, cause I'm not entirely clear about this:
If I make a kinship with my placeholder character (same name as the character I want to transfer) and the kinship has the same name as the kinship I want to transfer, will the kinship be replaced with the kinship that's going to move as the placeholder character is going to be deleted? Or will the kinship from the closing world get a -1 and do I need to contact support about changing the name?

Thanks for the help!

Delete your placeholder kinship before transferring

[Shriya]

Delete your placeholder kinship before transferring

Perfect! Will do that! Thanks for the help

[DKenny]

Not sure that this has been mentioned, but IMHO it's a bit of a raw deal for F2P not getting any additional char slots. With Brandywine closed to transfer for now, we're left with only 4 servers we can transfer to. If someone has already been playing one of those servers and has filled the char slots, that leaves chars on 10 servers which are closing to be jammed onto 3 servers. They said we can purchase additional slots, and there will be a "sale" on additional char slots at some point. I only hope that it's a large discount, and not just 10% or 20% off, because Turbine is closing the servers and forcing us to buy more slots with some pretty tight restrictions.

Another point is regarding the number of remaining (US) servers. Unfortunate that there wasn't much, beyond speculation, of a public discussion regarding the number of surviving (US) servers. With the announcement having been made I expect that's probably "carved in stone" at this point. However, having one more US server, especially with Brandywine restricted for now, would make a big difference. Is 5 a "magic number"? Is there any reason it couldn't be 6?

[Silmelin]

Not sure that this has been mentioned, but IMHO it's a bit of a raw deal for F2P not getting any additional char slots.

Nowadays no one has to be F2P unless they want to You can become Premium just by using one of the many free starter pack codes that are given away on websites constantly

[Lilalene]

Another point is regarding the number of remaining (US) servers. Unfortunate that there wasn't much, beyond speculation, of a public discussion regarding the number of surviving (US) servers. With the announcement having been made I expect that's probably "carved in stone" at this point. However, having one more US server, especially with Brandywine restricted for now, would make a big difference. Is 5 a "magic number"? Is there any reason it couldn't be 6?

You're having luxury problem here, really. Imagine living in europe and having only two or even (for the french) just one single server to "choose".

[DKenny]

Nowadays no one has to be F2P unless they want to You can become Premium just by using one of the many free starter pack codes that are given away on websites constantly

Interesting. I did get a free pack code, the one that give riding, a steed and a few other goodies. Using that has not made me Premium as far as I can see. Is there something else required to qualify? (sincerely interested, thanks).

[Vexter]

Why does a kin leader have to purchase a new home? Turbine has uprooted us already, forced to go where we don't want to be, then make us pay yet again for a home we already have? It is things like this that make me want to quit playing.

[DKenny]

You're having luxury problem here, really. Imagine living in europe and having only two or even (for the french) just one single server to "choose".

I actually mentioned something similar on another thread specifically on the EU server situation. Basically I think 6+6 would be much better than 5+5. I suppose one could simply repeat the argument in order to try to justify and even larger number. However, 1 of the 5 being closed creates a situation for the US and the language - RP/non-RP situation in the EU creates another set of constraints there. As I stated in the other thread, IMHO a sixth EU server, officially designated EN and non-RP, would make a big difference for the English speaking non-RP population on EU servers (and given the enforcement of Lore names on the RP server there, it is a legit concern for those who already have a char with a name that doesn't qualify and who won't qualify for a free rename as the rules stand).

[DKenny]

Why does a kin leader have to purchase a new home? Turbine has uprooted us already, forced to go where we don't want to be, then make us pay yet again for a home we already have? It is things like this that make me want to quit playing.

My understanding is that you will get a 'credit' for existing house, so you won't have to pay again out of your pocket. However, you will have to find an available house and 'purchase' it.

[maartena]

Why does a kin leader have to purchase a new home? Turbine has uprooted us already, forced to go where we don't want to be, then make us pay yet again for a home we already have? It is things like this that make me want to quit playing.

Because it is way too complicated from a programming/coding perspective to copy the house over to another server, especially since the exact same address might be taken.

You will get a full refund of your home. Your maintenance fees that you still had will apply to the new home. You won't lose ANY money. You just need to take some time to find a new address and redecorate.

[Rhunar]

As I understand the official statement the handling naming conflicts during server moves is as follows:
The system compares if the name of the character from the closing server is already used on the world remaining open.
If from the remaining world has logged in during the last 12 months, he will keep his name and the transferred character is renamed to -1.
If from the remaining world has NOT logged in during the last 12 months, he will be renamed to -1 and the transferred character keeps his .

Is this correct? If that's the case, it's an invitation to all kind of unfriendly naming reservation activity. No disrespect, but creating a char with name on the remaining world and just logging in once is given a higher priority than a char with the same name that has been active (and paying) for years? That would be extremely disappointing and punishes the long-time players from the closing worlds.

I understand that it would be difficult to solve a naming conflict based on time /played.
But at least a character who has had his name for longer than one year should be the one to keep his name compared to lvl 1 toons recently just recently.

Otherwise, with the server merges announcement, there will be a dirty fight over names. Anyone could just create an f2p account and reserve names on possible target servers out of greed, malevolance or other obvious destructive reasons.

Please clarify.

Greetings

Rhunar

[DKenny]

Re Naming Conflicts

It would be practically impossible to program a fairer system. However, I think you have a good point that name conflicts should, for a time, be able to be reported to a GM for consideration. A longer term paying player losing their name to a recently created level 1 char on an F2P account would be an injustice, I agree (and I'm F2P).

[maartena]

Well, that would work, but the problem is when you want a name already taken. For example, suppose I am on Brandywine. Someone else is Oldname. When I originally transferred to Brandywine, I got Oldname-1. Rename tokens used to expire, so by now, that option is long gone (or I used it to get a different name entirely). But now that we can claim priority over names against inactive characters, suppose the current owner of Oldname hasn't logged in for 2 years. How can I get Oldname from them, since I'm already on the server? The name priority only applies during the transfer process. So somehow I have to get off Brandywine, change my name to Oldname, and then transfer back to push the current Oldname out of the way.

Ugh, what a mess. It's so convoluted it's hard to make heads or tails of it.

Option 1: (If there is "Oldname" available on one other server).

1) Create an "Oldname" on one of the 4 other remaining servers. Keep him there till Brandywhine opens up for transfers.
2) Transfer "Oldname" to Brandywhine. The inactive "Oldname" will be renamed, and you get the name on your new toon.
3) On the server you created "Oldname" on, now create "Newname", matching the name your main has on Brandywhine.
4) Transfer your old toon with "Newname" off of Brandywine to the server you created "Newname" (and Oldname before that), and you get a rename option.
5) Rename back to "Oldname" on that server.
6) Transfer back to Brandywhine. You can either delete your current "Oldname" before you transfer, or become "Oldname-1" with a free rename token and delete the placeholder later.

Option 2: (If the name is taken everywhere).

1) Suck it up and play the game.

[Thorvalin]

Interesting. I did get a free pack code, the one that give riding, a steed and a few other goodies. Using that has not made me Premium as far as I can see. Is there something else required to qualify? (sincerely interested, thanks).

You get Premium status after first purchase of anything from the lotro store using real money - the free stuff does not qualify.

[maartena]

Re Naming Conflicts

It would be practically impossible to program a fairer system. However, I think you have a good point that name conflicts should, for a time, be able to be reported to a GM for consideration. A longer term paying player losing their name to a recently created level 1 char on an F2P account would be an injustice, I agree (and I'm F2P).

So if I am a long time player with many level 100s and a long history of being VIP, spending money on Turbine points, etc, etc..... and I create a few F2P accounts specifically for the purpose of making placeholders, I should vacate? I think you are going to hear a lot of Meneldor players, who are last in line to migrate, complain about that.... they are already last to wait, they may have made some F2P accounts to make placeholders, especially if they need to combine toons from multiple servers and don't have the slots for all toons already..... and they will then see their names picked up one by one?

Hmmm... not a good idea

[Rhunar]

So if I am a long time player with many level 100s and a long history of being VIP, spending money on Turbine points, etc, etc..... and I create a few F2P accounts specifically for the purpose of making placeholders, I should vacate? I think you are going to hear a lot of Meneldor players, who are last in line to migrate, complain about that.... they are already last to wait, they may have made some F2P accounts to make placeholders, especially if they need to combine toons from multiple servers and don't have the slots for all toons already..... and they will then see their names picked up one by one?

Hmmm... not a good idea

You just would not need to create placeholder characters if the decision citeria for naming conflicts would be a little bit more solid. In my opinion all that placeholder character creation is nonsense anyway. What would you think if anyone had already created lvl 1 toons with all your char names (derived from lotro alt finder) on your possible destination servers with f2p accounts while you for example had been on vacation or otherwise away / delayed?

[maartena]

As I understand the official statement the handling naming conflicts during server moves is as follows:
The system compares if the name of the character from the closing server is already used on the world remaining open.
If from the remaining world has logged in during the last 12 months, he will keep his name and the transferred character is renamed to -1.
If from the remaining world has NOT logged in during the last 12 months, he will be renamed to -1 and the transferred character keeps his .

Is this correct? If that's the case, it's an invitation to all kind of unfriendly naming reservation activity. No disrespect, but creating a char with name on the remaining world and just logging in once is given a higher priority than a char with the same name that has been active (and paying) for years? That would be extremely disappointing and punishes the long-time players from the closing worlds.

I understand that it would be difficult to solve a naming conflict based on time /played.
But at least a character who has had his name for longer than one year should be the one to keep his name compared to lvl 1 toons recently just recently.

Otherwise, with the server merges announcement, there will be a dirty fight over names. Anyone could just create an f2p account and reserve names on possible target servers out of greed, malevolance or other obvious destructive reasons.

Please clarify.

Greetings

Rhunar

I have issued worries about that myself. The situation of "name claiming trolls" is indeed a possibility. On the other hand though, you had 6 months to reserve your name when it was first announced in January, so you had your chance. My solution to this problem was to leave the naming system as it is right now (and that is what I always thought it would be), but add the option that a player needs to complete the intro, and become "Novice" rank before it can reserve the name. Someone that is serious about certain names would have taken the time to create characters and level them up out of the intro. A "name claim troll" would not do that, they just want to create names, move on, see who else they can mess with. They don't want to take the time.

Unfortunatly Vyvyanne has said that this would be hard to do, the naming conflict system does not have the ability to distinguish between players completing the intro and those who have not.

The naming system is what it is now. It went live with the August 3d patch, and will be used as-is. There will be no changes to it anymore, that ship has sailed. They are certainly not going to halt all progress made so far to go back to the drawing board and stop the current schedule to develop something new.

[maartena]

You just would not need to create placeholder characters if the decision citeria for naming conflicts would be a little bit more solid. In my opinion all that placeholder character creation is nonsense anyway. What would you think if anyone had already created lvl 1 toons with all your char names (derived from lotro alt finder) on your possible destination servers with f2p accounts while you for example had been on vacation or otherwise away / delayed?

Lotro alt finder is really old data. And if someone wanted to do that, they have a bigger axe to grind with their own karma then with anyone else. It's a game. If I need to change my name, i'll change my name. I managed to reserve the ONLY name I care about (because that is what everyone calls me) on a few servers, the rest can get renamed and I won't care.

In any case, that ship has sailed. The naming policy has been set. There is no seniority system, it doesn't matter if you are a free player, premium, or VIP, everyone is equal with regards to names, everyone, regardless of how new/old you are, regardless of played time, regardless of level, regardless of whether you paid real money on this game or not.