[-Edge-]

Ok, to me the problem in realm distribution lies clearly in how a realm is viewed. Each realm has its own "image" that shows it to new players.

Syrtis and Ignis are your typical Dark Elf versus Light Elf. When it comes down to new players (most of them are young) it's about which realm is cool. Although having played in all 3 realms I will say Alsius is built by far the best in PvE, meaning there are few problems with monster spawns, quests are really nice, it's fast, etc. Followed by Syrtis which is really close, when I talk about Ignis I mean it's horrible in the PvE aspect.

Our quests end at ~23 now, and NGD deleted around 12 quests up to Medenet City. It's a grind the whole time, although the new Initiation Zone presents Ignis as a realm better, it still fails to address age old problems like flying monsters, missing spawns, and useless content with potential that sits around without a care. When someone plays in Ignis now, its usually a new player that has very strong nerves to play in a realm that is filled with bugs from day one, or it is someone from another realm that will play because they know the game mechanics. (Although people don't talk about it, this is another reason why Ignean players tend to have more understanding of game mechanics, because in order to survive in Ignis you need to learn the survival of the horrendous PvE, in Syrtis a 5 year old could survive, that's why you have more Syrtians, and Syrtian noobs on top of that.)

But Ignis aside, I want to talk about Alsius. To me the image of Alsius is corrupted because it fails to keep its players. I'll say again, Alsius has by far the best ingame experience, with stunning landscapes too. But to a new player when they come they see this boring feeling. Because Alsius itself feels boring to people, that's what I've been told and I've noticed myself. NGD fails to promote Alsius, the story is there, but do you really see much of it? I've just seen a couple Syrtis quests address Alsius, other then that its Ignis vs Syrtis, Syrtis vs Ignis. Alsius fails to fit into the story, and NGD continues to promote the Good versus Evil gig.

It also has to do with characters, I believe if NGD gave Alsius more uniqueness, like Ugthars, Dwarves, and for fucks sake the Nordo's, then people would be attracted to it. There are no racial attributes like Alsius being naturally stronger in Barbarians and Marksmen for example, Ignis being strong in Warlocks and Knights, and Syrtis in Hunters and Conjurers. While I'm on it attributes are messed up, Dark Elves do NOT start with 30 Intelligence, and they are supposed to be expert necromancers.

I don't think "forcing" someone to play in another realm is the solution, though it would work.

EDIT: I just also wanted to add that the Syrtis zerg effect and any realm zerg comes from the fact that the fort area is too small. It should be roughly increased, as to spread out players. Then at least maybe the side with fewer players would have a chance. Right now its just 40 on 15 and the 40 focus on one target, one gate, one goal. I don't think the game is meant to be played in Zerg versus Zerg style, it should be more about teamwork on various goals, not which side has more bastards clumped together.