A shard doesn't die because the players somehow collectively or separately decided they wanted a small shard. It dies because people leave due to gameplay or a diminished and broken community, and what's left are those who just happen to be there. It's purely incidental. A tragic story. If we are indeed bound irrevocably to our pre-destined play-styles, then then truly, I had as little choice as any dead-sharder facing a shard merge.
People leave for many reasons - and a shard "dies" for even more reasons.
I can speak for Napa (as you personally know).
The shard was known for Role Play - it was home to some of the most hardcore rpers in the game, reds and blues alike. It was also home to some of the most passionate gamers. Adam Ant, Scotia, (dare I say it) Silas... Pelle had a hell of a time keeping the old Stratics boards calm for how many instances of game activity flared up on the boards in RP-stories which branched into flame wars. Auwe! I remember them...
Now what is causing the slow cancer on Napa?
Well, the RPers left - you and I both lamented that passing in our own ways. The "Spirit of Sosaria" struggled, tried to stay - still rears its head from time to time - but has essentially left Napa and the vacuum it has created is stifling.
However, the why's of the RPer-exodus are a multitude. If you look though, their exodus from Napa also mirrored a shift in post content across Stratics - both on the forums as well as the content site. Other fansites, too, were affected. A lot of this coincided with the recession and major loss of jobs for people across the country - that mortgage crisis here in the states. Even I was affected - laid off and then having to somehow get back to Hawaii from Florida due to family issues. Ayuh.... its been a slippery slope.
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On a personal level, and I know this has some on Napa in a tizzy, yes, I moved my main characters from the RP shard. A "Kirthag" is still on Napa - and always will be - but more of a "Hi!" and wave type of character for when I want to visit - she will travel the mists between shards and pop up from time to time, but she's now situated on Pacific with a couple of castles and more.
Why did I leave Napa? Foremost - activity. I'm in Hawaii. The majority of players on Napa are not on the west coast - they live central and east coast. So I don't get to play with others except during carefully constructed times which, for the most part, do not coincide with my own schedule. Whereas on Pacific (another west coast shard) there are many people who play on that shard from Hawaii, its interesting seeing some Hawaiian names running through the Abyss!
Second, I have family (my cousins) and some other friends there. I can randomly run into people I know, and not have to carefully time everything to meet schedules. There is even some discussion of people meeting up here in Honolulu! A few people who ping from Guam are even on the shard.
Another point is - and this is a shock even to me - I'm finding it harder and harder to actually role play my celtic persona. Perhaps joining the ranks of the middleaged cougars I've lost that zest - or maybe its just sleeping deep inside me waiting for some inspiration. Maybe I need to get back into D&D.... *shrug* Whatever the reason, the Kirthag of the past is hard pressed to be the crazy, wild celitc warrior. She's more the smooth, silent, observant lady.
omgosh - what has happened to her?
Maybe I'm doing more "harm" to the persona by posting OOC here on Stratics. Perhaps the drudgery of being a forum admin is hurting my RP for it takes a whole lot of energy to do this.... *sigh*
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This is good conversation so please keep the personal nit-picking to a minimum. Deraj is not doing this to beat a dead horse - but is a legitimate topic of concern when you look at the state of some shards and how the gaming industry is morphing. Several games are announcing the merge of worlds/servers/maps and at some point, it may actually happen to our beloved UO. No one has a crystal ball that tells the future... only that magic 8-ball that is tweaked by the RNG gods. Lets keep it civil.