I have been along time player, opening of C3 many years ago (do a search), in all these years I have not seen it get as bad as it currently is to log in to this game.
The problem is not the server size nor that there are not enough servers, it is because of all the place holder toons left in game so players do not have to log in.
An inactivity timer needs to be implamented to dc those toons standing in town for hours if not days on end.
The only exceptions would be seller stores and MENTORs afk for their mentee`s. Seller stores could be checked for authenticity to make sure a store is not setup just to beat the timer.
You can litterely count hundreds of inactive toons thoughout the towns left in the game as a placeholder so the owner does not have to relog back into the game.
It is costing players who cannot get into the game because there are 500+ afk toons just standing around to hold the owners spot.
It is costing Ncwest in dead bandwidth, not counting adding to the lag on the servers.
Check it for yourself, go though the towns make a mental note of severial toons come back hours, days later and the toon is standing in the exact same spot.
I know during weekends with TW`s and Seiges going it can get hectic but the afk toons are making it worse.
Get ready for the flames, because the ones most guilty will be the ones screaming the loudest against this!!!!!
The only exceptions would be seller stores and MENTORs afk for their mentee`s. Seller stores could be checked for authenticity to make sure a store is not setup just to beat the timer.
Because of this paragraph your suggestion has no value. First of all they cannot check for "authenticity" of a shop. They dont (obviously) have the manpower for more important issues, so checking all the shops to see if they have an item in a logical price range is out of the question.
Secondly, it is because of the flawed mentor system that servers are crowded. If they dont change that, they will need a lot of free transfer weeks to fix the balance in servers, if they ever manage to do so.
And yes I leave afk 2 toons for days, so I dont have to go through the nightmare of trying to login everytime.
Because of this paragraph your suggestion has no value. First of all they cannot check for "authenticity" of a shop.
A simple script could be written to check shop items and price, most afk shops just sitting to hold a spot put one item at a very high price ie: 1 ore for 1 million adenas.
Secondly, it is because of the flawed mentor system that servers are crowded. If they dont change that, they will need a lot of free transfer weeks to fix the balance in servers, if they ever manage to do so.
Do you really believe this, DUHHH there are 3 (three) mentees to one mentor, I am not saying the mentor system is perfect but look at the figures before blaming something. Take for example 1 thousand mentors hosting 3 mentees each if the mentor stays online for his mentees thats 1k players, if his mentees feel they are entitled to go afk to just take up a spot that then becomes 1k mentors + 3k mentees, so this totally bust your myth that it is the mentors fault, it is the mentee`s fault. The mentor is providing a service to those who have sought him/her out he has no choice in wether the mentees log or not.
Too many mentors have had their butts busted by lil children crying my mentor is not on 24/7, so alot of the mentors have started leaving their toons online to assist their mentees.
If you want to place the blame anywhere it is the MENTEES fault for not logging when they go afk.
And yes I leave afk 2 toons for days, so I dont have to go through the nightmare of trying to login everytime.
You are not part of the solution you are part of the problem.