Questions and Answers about the domain merge

Bla bla. Travian is dying because of lack of inspiration by developpers. Just face plain facts before its too late!

Artifacts as it was on classic. It allow governors to be more active in mid game. New units or nations. Some super power unit. Lots of possibilities to make a game alive.

Artifacts can be:

• for governors,
• for kings,
• for princes,
• for kings and princes,
• for princes and governors,
• for everyone.

Then there is something to fight for. The game takes on new possibilities, gives more joy.

In addition, enter what violates equality:

• there are pennants for kingdoms and accounts, there are no secret societies.
• there are helmets for infantry and cavalry, there are no sieges for siege machines
• there are boots accelerating the march, there are no slowing movements of troops

In addition, there is no easy language switching, regardless of which server and domain name. Without this, it will be difficult for many players to switch to the language version when they are used to their national level.

Quote from TheSimon#EN

It allow governors to be more active in mid game.

Midgame is boring, because nobody tries to create action. We rarely get any (coordinated) attacks, even if we piss off everyone on the server. Last two rounds I played, 4 off actions were made against us. 4! We made over 20 in one round on our own [governors included, ofc]. We had action & an active midgame. If you introduce new features, but don't change anything about your mentality, every round will be boring as fuck, no matter what features there are. I would welcome artefacts (and with it maybe longer game rounds) very warmheartedly, don't get me wrong, but they will not solve your problem.

Edit: To be fair, my last two rounds were on de, idk about com and pl.

That's a bit of a harsh move from admins, I mean keeping some languages/ countries open while closing other ones , even if it is for less revenues is kinda biased and very money oriented approach.

If they had closed all languages and just used 1 global server, it would have made more sense, but handpicking languages, well I do not know who gave them that right. Before someone get me wrong, I have nothing to do with any of the closed server languages, and it does not affects me, as I just play com in English, but not a good feeling to see such a discrimination.

Also, to all Polish players who are understandably upset due to this, I'd like to say that most players in travian do not share same mindset as admins and we all love to play with people from all over the world, and I'm sure you guys have proved your potential in multiple servers over and over again so if you love the game and accept this decision , I'm pretty sure the global community will be more than happy to welcome all the poles in COM servers.

Of course it is a money oriented approach, it's a game company, what do you believe what they do games for? Because they can? And maintaining servers, paying localization, development, administration, techsupport, quailty assurance, game design and so on is all for free? If you have a company and see "mhm, those domains often or always write red numbers", then you don't have a reason to keep them and all right to drop them. Those discrimination accuses are just stupid and immature, nobody at the company cares where you live, what language you speak and what nationality you have. Some domains are profitable, some aren't, they get rid of red numbers, because they can't afford them, not to make players unhappy. And they keep the other domains, because they make profit with them, and therefore have no reason to cancel them (and because canceling domains makes their players unhappy, as you see). I don't have anything against foreigners, I dislike discriminisation and racism, and I never cared where someone comes from when talking to him, but those accuses are, like I said, just wrong and stupid. Maybe think twice before spreading nonsense like that.

I agree with the thoughts to keep the translation options, the translations do exist, so for now it woudn't be a problem - but to be honest I don't have any good approach on how to continue the language support (without TG having to pay for localization). Sure, user-driven translations are the first thought, but how to prevent idiots from translating "Settler" into whatever the polish word for diarrhea is? I'm thinking about this one since a few weeks now, since I want to make my toolpage for tk international with user-provided translations, but didn't figure out a good method yet.

Focus on solving actual problems, like that one, instead of raging, accusing people you never spoke to of something, and whatever. Better for everyone.

Quote from Be2-e4

Some domains are profitable, some aren't, they get rid of red numbers, because they can't afford them, not to make players unhappy. And they keep the other domains, because they make profit with them, and therefore have no reason to cancel them (and because canceling domains makes their players unhappy, as you see).

Surely, but how do you explain a handful of players quitting the game make any better revenue for Travian, it's a very subjective topic and everyone got their own opinion.

They could have just taken a more smarter approach and maybe merge all domains in COMs , added translations to all and encourages players to play COM worlds together for better competitions and bigger crowd , instead of just handpicking few domains. They are a company and it's inevitable that they needed to do that but I still believe there is more smarter approach that could have been taken without hurting feelings.

I play COM server, and if we reverse roles here and in a very hypothetical scenario if Travian tells me tomorrow that we're closing COM servers and that everyone will need to play on RU server, i might feel the same, just because I am used to COM not because I dislike Russians.

Quote from Starx#EN(1)

Surely, but how do you explain a handful of players quitting the game make any better revenue for Travian, it's a very subjective topic and everyone got their own opinion.

What? If you have a domain with red numbers, then this means, you lose money by keeping up those servers, language support, and so on. If you cancel the domain and nobody goes to com instead, even then you're good to go, because instead of losing money with PL, now you don't gain money, but don't lose money. If PL players join COM, then it's just a bonus. Imagine, for instance, you pay 30k a month to keep PL running, but only get 20k a month off of it. Then you make -10k / month with PL. If you drop PL and nobody joins COM, then you lose 20k a month income, BUT you save 30k costs a month, so you have a benefit of 10k / month. (Like I said, example numbers). If for other domains you have more income than costs, you keep those domains, because you make profit with them. Numbers aren't an opinion. Numbers are facts.

It's not about keeping every player, it's about minimizing losses.

To the cancel all approach: Canceling 4 domains hurts feelings, but canceling EVERY domain doesn't? If you cancel 4 domains, people are uncomfortable with switching to COM and upset, but if you cancel all, then people suddenly get comfortable with it and aren't upset anymore? That's not very logic, is it?

I understand, that people aren't comfortable with switching to COM (or RU like in your example), but it doesn't change the fact, that the intention is to minimize losses, and not racism, discrimination or any other of the accusations.

I do not know if they were't making enough money of Polish servers, because reading the messages here I believe players have spent money , plus they haven't covered themselves and not released any report showing so called Red numbers justifying the action.

Furthermore, Players don't see it that way and also there are much better ways to solve the problem. For instance, merging all servers into COM and adding flag/ translation features and just covering themselves by saying that we are gonna use global game world approach to make games more competitive instead of killing few domains.

It's not their duty to provide you their internal information to justify anything. It would be cool to have such an insight, but it's definitely not a must for them. Sure, some polish players spent money. No doubt in that. But what you seem to not understand is, that keeping up a domain costs a lot of money - and apparently more money than the players spent on that domain.

Can you please elaborate on how upsetting and frustrating playery of EVERY domain is a better approach than upsetting only those of four domains? That just doesn't make sense to me at all. Btw, localization costs money, too, if they merged everything, they'd probably still drop polish support.

Quote from Be2-e4

But what you seem to not understand is, that keeping up a domain costs a lot of money - and apparently more money than the players spent on that domain.

I understand that but that's the technicality which comes running a company, you should not expect an average person to use so much brain for these things, they are just playing a game they enjoy not buying shares, It's great that players like you understand the inner workings of a business but it is a fact that most of the average players playing travian as fun or hobbies can't care less about how server works and how they are setup.

Quote from Be2-e4

Can you please elaborate on how upsetting and frustrating playery of EVERY domain is a better approach than upsetting only those of four domains? That just doesn't make sense to me at all. Btw, localization costs money, too, if they merged everything, they'd probably still drop polish support.

I don't think it'll be more upsetting if they are told that every other server is being merged into COM servers rather than pointing on few servers, whatever the reasons might be. There are many more countries than there are domains in travian, and all those players usually play COM servers.

These localized servers were started from Travian anyway to dig some more money from players so it's fair enough for players to be outraged on this action. Also localization costs a lot less money than running few servers on domains, so in all fairness that's still a good deal to make said players happy and paying off for localization from the money they spent.

Quote from Starx#EN(1)

Surely, but how do you explain a handful of players quitting the game make any better revenue for Travian

Because there is another side to the ledge where you put in the expenses... so it doesn't matter if they lose 1 unit of revenue and save 2 units of expenses.

Quote from Renuo#EN

Because there is another side to the ledge where you put in the expenses... so it doesn't matter if they lose 1 unit of revenue and save 2 units of expenses.

It's not as black and white mate. There are times when players want to play with each other and form a link, even a single player can cause a chain reaction sometimes, also there are many polish players playing COM servers which Travian probably didn't counted.
I have read someone's message above urging all polish players to quit from both PL and COM servers, extremist sure but still cannot blame them.

Quote from Starx#EN(1)

It's not as black and white mate.

It is that black and white.

Do you seriously believe this money machine as you describe it (I am paraphrasing here) would shut down a profitable venture?

NO. Just stop it, you are clearly already talking against yourself.

Quote from Starx#EN(1)

I don't think it'll be more upsetting if they are told that every other server is being merged into COM servers rather than pointing on few servers, whatever the reasons might be. There are many more countries than there are domains in travian, and all those players usually play COM servers.

These localized servers were started from Travian anyway to dig some more money from players so it's fair enough for players to be outraged on this action. Also localization costs a lot less money than running few servers on domains, so in all fairness that's still a good deal to make said players happy and paying off for localization from the money they spent.

im somewaht sure they considered that aswell. but estimated the number of quitting actually paying players would be higher than the saved money so they discarded it.

Its not only localisation, its also ongoing language support aka a bunch of people wanting to get paid per month for helping players with whatever problems they got

Quote from Be2-e4

Sure, user-driven translations are the first thought, but how to prevent idiots from translating "Settler" into whatever the polish word for diarrhea is?

worked for a company doing this stuff. We had multiple people translate the same word (sentence in our case, but whatever). if they had different translations they had to dispute it until they agreed on one solution (or send it to a higher instance if they couldnt). so unless ALL of the translators write bullshit it should somewhat work out

Poles are curently mostly gathered on COM3. I think we have most the team in there. Most known and influenced polish players are there. And from talks inside our own community seems that if it is possible we ask to leave polish language. And if there will be a problem with future translations, we as community will translate it.

Quote from TheSimon#EN

Poles are curently mostly gathered on COM3. I think we have most the team in there. Most known and influenced polish players are there. And from talks inside our own community seems that if it is possible we ask to leave polish language. And if there will be a problem with future translations, we as community will translate it.

This is why commerging with those domains will fail.

Quote from BridgetB

@Portuguese @Hungarian @Dutch @Swedish Finnish @Danish and @Norwegian Players:

Would you rather go to the com game round since it is our international domain or are you in favor of another domain? We have these discussion threads in all our domains and for example, the Spanish community is looking forward to welcome Portuguese players and are already eager in helping out and support you all.

@all: are you rather joining com7 now or one of the last local game rounds that are still running?

As a Finnish player i've already always played on com rounds as the nordic servers were too dead for me to enjoy. Plus you had to communicate there in english most of the time anyway so why not just play on an international server.

I'll definitely join some of the rounds on dying domains though as the ending badges from those will become relatively rare