Movers and shakers

Hi Ottar,

It's an interesting perspective - but unsurprisingly, not one we agree with.

I'd like to make three points that I feel are important.

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Firstly, I believe we listen to solo players and large alliances equally. 

We try and do things for the good of all players in the game. 

If anything, we listen to new players more than large alliances as these new players are not only the future of the game but they are also the best source of information about what we're doing wrong, what we can make clearer, what we can explain better etc than an existing player who has possibly got "used" to the imperfect idiosyncracies of the game.

Secondly, the ability to move cities freely has been the single most requested feature from new players to Illyriad - not the established alliances. 

Small players come into the game, find their feet, and then decide that they wish to be somewhere else on the map.  Perhaps they've been randomly seeded next to the neighbourhood bully; perhaps they've made friends in chat; perhaps they've decided to join an alliance and wish to move closer to them.

Historically this required a second city, and the majority of players' second cities are substantial distances from their first.

We firmly believe the Tenaril relocation spell gives *more* power to small players to decide to strike out on their own path rather than less.  The World Map is very large, and to typify the choice available to small players' as "a less favourable location... out on the fringe and ultimately out of the game" is hyperbole at best.

Thirdly, the intention to allow everyone to move their cities was announced officially nearly 6 weeks ago. 

The feedback we got from everyone (without, I think, exception) was that this was a great idea, and the idea originated from a player thread about "Nomad cities" as far back as 5 months ago in the suggestions forum.

It wasn't a rushed decision by any means, and it was a highly supported decision by the vast majority of players regardless of alliance size and affiliation. 

We still firmly believe this was a great decision, and we are considering extending the (once per city) move spell permanently so that brand new players to the game in months to come can have increased choice and options from Day One about the kind of game they wish to play: which factions they wish to be friends or enemies with; who their major trade partners are; whether they wish to get involved in water and navies; their desired level of sociability with other players; their desire to have a chance to escape from a nearby bully - all things which are enabled early for new players through the ability to move city.

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I entirely understand from your post that you disagree with this, Ottar.

I have no knowledge of what event has spurred your post, but I assume there's a particular action or set of events related to relocation that has turned out negatively for you, presumably from a bigger player or alliance.

I am confident that the vast majority of players, now (and especially in the future) will welcome the ability to relocate city, and I fear that whatever disappointment you feel about your current situation is being misdirected at the code-based game mechanism rather than the player-based cause of the situation.

Regards,

GM Stormcrow

Ottar, now you're not even making sense.  Aside from the fact this was already a "trial run" of feature concepts that have been broadly requested, you're suggesting the dev team should have predicted nuances that the entire player population overlooked during 5 months of discussion.  Should we have had a limited trial run of our trial run?  Would letting a randomly selected subset of people move have been "more" fair?  (I rather expect not.)

At some point you have to accept the dev team either doing something or nothing.  This is a growing game and as such doing something is an admirable choice.  Whatever minor problems we encounter, at least the devs are still here and will keep doing something.

At the end of the day, you just have to suck it up and take your lumps.  This is by design and intent no kindergarten nor day care center.  There are going to be losers.  But ultimately, more choice almost invariably means having more chance to personally direct and control that outcome.  There's a whole server to support and catering to fringe cases would be counterproductive.

Zangi wrote: Can't say I feel any empathy for your complaint.  You had a lot of forewarning for this change.  You did not speak up then, but only after it has changed.  It seems only after you were 'wronged'. Players have already moved their cities.  Also, a portion of those players have made plans on the fact the game will change in this way. What is it you expect now?  Things to turn back to the way it was before? Things change, you adapt to it and make what you can from it. That includes communicating with your new neighbors.