I've been merged twice so far in this session (about two hours). The first time I was merged away from barrels I was in the process of plundering. The second time happened just as I was returning to Ruby's Fall to retrieve my rowboat full of loot I had to abandon due to an eruption. Naturally, the rowboat and loot vanished before my eyes. There was a new rowboat (empty) but--as often happens after a merge--it was inoperable. Please, just stop already. I've never, not once, had a positive experience result from a merge. They're always disruptive and always unwelcome. I don't want to be merged. It breaks immersion and destroys emergent gameplay. Make migration optional! ARGH!
STOP THE FREAKING SERVER MIGRATIONS
@genuine-heather I've only had a couple of merges, but I have heard so many horror stories regarding them! I do wonder what else Rare can do now to solve the problem, maybe we will see something else with the release of Arena next year?
I've had a funny encounter thanks to a server merge, along with @SpecialAdvisor where the merge duplicated every gunpowder barrel at the fort we were approaching!
@genuine-heather May I ask where in the world you are? I think I've had two or three merges since the game launched and always wonder why it affects some people more than others. I guess if you're in a more remote area and relatively far from a data center and other players, then match making is less likely to pull a new crew in to your session, meaning the server will eventually empty which forces a merge.
If the above doesn't apply to you, then there may be an issue more local on your network that's making the game behave this way. Something that may be worth investigating.
Either way it sucks, I hate to see it affecting your gameplay in that manner, and I'm sure I'd feel just as frustrated as you were I in your shoes. Let's hope Rare can tweak something to help relieve this a bit!
@luciansanchez82 & @Genuine-Heather I think that location may gave something to do with connections...
Given what we learnt from this weekend about how Rare use XBL matchmaking to create crews, but then their own matchmaking for servers I wonder if there is a conversation between the two that tries to put people with other folk close to them geographically? Hence why I mostly hear people from the UK or Europe on the other end of the mic when sailing (plus the odd American).
XBL will always try to put you with people with similar NAT settings and the same data center, then if Rare is trying to do the same on top this could explain all the merges...Not sure... Server and network programming is NOT my strong suit! Perhaps someone more savvy with this type of programming and matchmaking could pitch in...
@luciansanchez82 @Sshteeve East Coast U.S.A (EST). I tend to see the ridiculous numbers of merges in the wee hours of the morning. And the thing is, it doesn't change anything. The system is trying to do its matchmaking thing, but at this hour there just aren't a lot of people playing, and there's a high turnover rate on servers because people are ending their sessions for the night. That's my theory, at least. In any event, what is theoretically supposed to be a "feature" to preserve the appropriate ration of ships, becomes an incredibly disruptive bug that accomplishes nothing other than ruin game sessions. I'm so beyond sick of it, as is obvious.
@genuine-heather
Since Shrouded Spoils I only faced one server migration. And one of the worst...
After defeating a skull fort and defeating 3 crews (2 Galleons and 1 Brigantine) for it, we lost everything for a migration...
The worst part was that I was playing with new people and they clearly got frustrated by that...It Was their first fort and we were battling that for hours, they were started to feel annoyed by all the crews coming (and returning) to fight us and prolonged our victory. Even with all the encouragement and victories, the migration was a clear let down to them. 😔
@genuine-heather though merges seem only to be negative has to do with the fact that the positive effects are subtle and often unnoticed.
There a couple of reasons a merger can be required:
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The service has been running for extended periods of time and is starting to cause problems on the technical side and requires a reboot. Just how technology works and is unavoidable from time to time. The more they improve net and server code the less often this will be the reason.
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The server is emptying out and you are the only ship out there. As this is a game that revolves and is designed for interaction between players they try to avoid you being by yourself for longer periods of time. Not to forget, reducing the amount of servers running at the same time, if you have 6 solo ship servers it makes more sense to run just one server with all of them together.
Sadly we still occasionally lose our valuables due to them and they are trying to improve it. I have experienced mergers where nothing really happens and it is a good thing, as I am now in the world with more crews. Also, have had loot or the fort we are heading to disappear due to it.
They are a good thing in my opinion, though they have some improvements to be made.
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@genuine-heather said in STOP THE FREAKING SERVER MIGRATIONS:
@luciansanchez82 @Sshteeve East Coast U.S.A (EST). I tend to see the ridiculous numbers of merges in the wee hours of the morning. And the thing is, it doesn't change anything. The system is trying to do its matchmaking thing, but at this hour there just aren't a lot of people playing, and there's a high turnover rate on servers because people are ending their sessions for the night. That's my theory, at least. In any event, what is theoretically supposed to be a "feature" to preserve the appropriate ration of ships, becomes an incredibly disruptive bug that accomplishes nothing other than ruin game sessions. I'm so beyond sick of it, as is obvious.
Makes sense it would kick in during the quieter hours, though it seems something has to change. Obviously they want to keep servers busy to encourage interactions between players, but these merges seem to add more frustration than anything else. A warning that your server will merge in some minutes would at least give you a chance to cash in before hand.
Not ideal and breaks your journey for that session, but at least it gives you a fighting chance to not be robbed like that.
Here, here! East coast here as well if that really matters. It is just crazy. Is there not enough people sailing?
I keep saying just leave us pirates alone! Maybe it is time to grab a quill and start a petition.
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