1. What is Starting Over?
2. Reasons and Implications
3. Practicalities
4. What now?

What Now?

You done it. You’re starting anew on another server but… nothing’s the same. Maybe you’re lucky and it is ‘the same’ or luckier still - it’s better. It may be all you hoped for, the spark which fires up your passion for the game again but, maybe, it’ll be a disappointment. I can’t add much here, most of this is personal and there are too many factors which can make a difference for any one person but there are a few pieces of advice I’d give.

Even if it isn’t a disappointment straight away be aware that you may feel, whilst readjusting, that you wish you hadn’t made the change. Keep your mind open, though! It takes a while to build your social networks up again and you may find things eventually turning out a lot better than they felt at first. You need to actively get out there and build up new networks, contacts and friends - they won’t come to you and until you do this, you may find it hard to compare the old to the new fairly.

Take a step back, breathe, evaluate. Is it really as bad as it seems? Is it just because everything is new? Is it any better or worse than what you left behind? Consider that before running back to your old server / characters.

Do not delete characters! Although they can usually be recovered they will often be left with un-gemmed / enchanted gear. Why not leave them, let them rest just in case you decide, one day, to go back? If you transferred a character remember that you can always go back in a months time if things don’t work out!

It takes time to get back to where you were - I’m only now, after half a year, getting settled with my new server, new role, new people. I miss my old friends, my old characters, but not so much that I have to go back to them. I sometimes ‘visit’ my old character and server - pop on to say hello to anyone who happens to be online at the same time - and catch up on what’s been happening but I have no urge, now, to go back and build things up again on that server.

Good luck to anyone who makes the leap and starts over, I hope my last few posts can be even a little helpful!