I am certain the administration already decided to merge this server. Now it`s just a matter of when will the merge take place. This week, Next week, 1 month, end of July? Who knows? Only the Royal Quest Team knows that.
Last maintenance (a few days ago now) the English Localization Patch was added to the RU servers.. Why would the developers add that feature if they did not plan to merge this server soon? The developers realized that this server has little chance to grow into a larger server so it`s merge time. The 3 Russian servers still have a chance to thrive and grow bigger hopefully. The Russian population is huge compared to ours of course. Hundreds if not thousands of players are still playing there. However, even the Russian population has experienced a big decline in recent years. The population now is no where as big as it used to be several years ago. Sure, it`s still crowded and has more than enough people for it to feel cramped in Varlone. Just not at full capacity like before. When I visit the RU servers most maps are actually empty and easy to farm. Even when leveling a sorc there I never felt the maps were over populated The bulk of the population just sits in Varlone.
Don`t judge the Russians too harsh. They have plenty of good people too. It`s always the bad ones that stick out and ruin the reputation for everyone else. Toxic people exist everywhere in the world. Even on this server in the glory days the toxicity was off the charts. That`s any game with PvP content. Everyone can`t win so someone is bound to rage.
I can understand some players having personal vendettas against a few players there. There is something called the Ignore List. Use it......Like seriously. It`s not hard to weed out the trouble makers and block out the annoying players. If someone really hates the whole Russian Population then adjust your chat to block out the main text. Only keep guild and party chat open.... or whatever you want to show up on your screen.
PvE players. So what if the bosses have more players competing for chest? The boss chest should have never been free here to begin with. That means if you want to win now work to Improve your gear and items. That +8 B class gear just does not cut it anymore in a highly competitive environment. Time to adapt and move on. Too many players just want to ride on that easy mode getting everything for free..
PvE players will have big benefits too. Finding people to do Dungeons, Quest, Solo, SK, and what not will be a lot easier. No more spending 4 hours in Varlone trying to gather up one team. Bosses will die faster. I highly doubt waiting around for a tank to show up at some bosses is really enjoyable. That time could be spent elsewhere. Like always some players are just be clouded with greed and mad about loosing their free chest.
I have no doubt in my mind that this server can and will win a castle/castles. I know the right players that will make a deadly threat towards the other PvP guilds there. This Server has not seen true PvP in years. Not since Revolt and us clashed head to head in hour long battles. Sometimes all day long, sadly those days are gone.. Most players have never seen the true monsters this server has to offer.