Possible idea: Merge blue + red and rescript PoD/tome

[Senatelol]

I would like to start off by saying I started playing EQ when I was a kid, starting at kunark. I invested a lot of time into it and really enjoyed it, but I do not hold much credibility due to the fact that my highest character was ~30 on live, so take everything I say with a grain of salt.

I really wanted to play on red, I love pvp, it's what I enjoy. Unfortunately EQ is not the kind of game you play solo (though some may beg to differ). The population on red is completely desolate and really deters most players (myself included) from playing on it as there are not really any players to play with (compared to blue at least).

An idea came to mind (which has probably already been mentioned before, just ignore this if it has): Merge blue + red and rescript the tome that flags your character pvp.

From what I understand (and correct me if I'm wrong), flagging on blue/live means that you can no longer group with nonflagged players, among other things like being able to be buffed/healed/etc. This should be changed to where flagged players can still group with and play with nonflagged characters, while still having the ability to pvp against the ones that are flagged. This way, red players can still group and interact with players and have access to a real economy rather than playing in a ghost town.

If this is possible, not only would it reduce the cost of running two servers, but it would integrate both pvp and pve players while still giving pvp players like myself the ability to play with other people, which is the heart of everquest. If red were more populated, I would play there, but unfortunately it's completely desolate and everquest isn't a game that is fun to play without a living, breathing social structure.

[Somekid123]

Would just be people leveling there chars 1-50+ blue, then tagging red after there all raid gear'd. Low level pvp wouldn't exist.

[Tecmos Deception]

Blue players would just refuse to group with red players (oftentimes, at least) for fear of PvP happening while PvE was happening, and red group members being distracted/killed, which would cause the blue players to suffer because of PvP... which is exactly what they want to avoid by staying blue.

But I guess there is potential that all the red players could work together sometimes to do blue things, and then that would invite blues to go red just to take over a spawn, etc.

[Tecmos Deception]

Would just be people leveling there chars 1-50+ blue, then tagging red after there all raid gear'd. Low level pvp wouldn't exist.

Could give xp bonus while red /shrug

[Trophy Scars]

Stupid idea, no offense.

[Drone]

i think the camp reconciliations would be annoying as hell
either you have red players complaining about blue players claiming a camp with no risk
or blue players complaining about red players not utilizing their camp (say if, a blue player comes across a camp they want, however there are already red folks fighting over it-- how do you reconcile?)
it would most likely dilute both the red and the blue experiences if you merged the servers
though i think re-scripting the tome on the blue server is a good idea regardless-- just make it clear that the camp policy remains unchanged
there's the chance min-maxer's will deny you groups, but that can be outweighed by the ability to run around and pvp a little when you want, depends on your priorities

but, not classic, so they wouldn't do that on blue

[Swish]

I can get a group whenever I want on red, OP's argument is invalid.

Just say "great group seeks 5 more", get at least 1 more and you're good to go.