The majority being mostly Lurians or have you actually talked with everyone who has played in the last two years, including the dozens who quit the game entirely?
To say that the map design has no effect upon the game and realms that form is just plain silly. It very much directs the flow of troops and some areas can be easier to hold on to multiple cities than others. Not that players can't still deadlock things, but the narrowness of the east island is a major problem. It's also equally silly saying that travel times had nothing to do with it. Travel times were a huge complaint in the war with Luria and definitely, going to or from Morek was basically an all month commitment IRL to get ready, sail there, land, do a few things, fight one maybe two battles and then go back. Swordfell's mountain range makes for a nice divide to separate spheres of influence, but it also means there are few possible realms in the north let along ones for the existing ones to fight with (Morek is basically dead, Antiquallia is... IDK what they're hoping to do, they could have ended the war a month ago and not wound up a 1 province shut in).
I agree that the western half being closed is a major factor (the entire thing was unfortunately badly handled and bungled by both the players and devs), but it's closed and there are no signs of it reopening again anytime soon. I thought it would be clear that I was talking more about the east island since that is the only part that is actually relevant to BM today. The west still had some issues with realms stretching from coast to coast so the only directions they could fight were north or south which greatly limits how many nations you can be at war with.
Morek's break up was largely OOC too, though more a decision by a player who is playing an insane person who doesn't really need in-depth IC reasons to do things. It wouldn't be too hard to reform the Morek Empire either eventually, and then what? You're left with fighting Swordfell (extremely defensive position) or Astrum (only real other target) unless you continually decide OOC to enforce there being smaller realms. It also relies on everyone playing ball with the idea and being in on it, that's not going to happen.
Then yes of course you enjoyed it, Luria is powerful, rich and and had lots of smaller realms to fight with for ages. It was significantly better off and more enjoyable than most of the realms it was fighting against. There's a reason why it's the largest nation by far and almost the only one that didn't have a lot of players just quit the game completely.
You realize that I've never played a character in Luria, and have played with people in realms from Xinhai and Morek Empire to Farronite Republic and Barca, right? You realize that most of the people who quit were new players who had joined western Dwilight realms and felt they had gotten screwed by the Monster invasion, yes? I witnessed it first hand, it actually made me quit temporarily! As one of the people who quit Dwilight (and the rest of the game) for a short time, I can tell you it wasn't the map or the large realms that hurt it. It was the near-helpless situation that people in the invasion were put in, not because of any player-caused event, but because of NPC rogues that were pretty much unstoppable.
Oh, and if you're having issues with travel times (like Luria Nova and Morek Empire were) that's entirely the fault of the ruler for not declaring war on a local realm.
Dude, I was in Morek for the break-up, and I met the player who initiated the break-up personally using their ruler character, afterwards using steam (found out we were both furries :3). I and two to three other nobles were responsible for the whole thing happening. It was not at all OOC. Indirik, Lapallanch, and I all began protesting the ruler (and General) because they wouldn't stop the war with Luria. After some time doing that, the ruler exiled (not banned) us all. We all laughed this off ICly, and began to prepare for a party in the capital to mock her. After a bit, she gave up, resigned from her position as Grand Mistress, and proceeded to secede from Morek Empire, thus forming Helyg Derwyddon (I've finally memorized the name, took a while). At this point things went crazy. I believe it was Urtagoth (Lapallanch's character) who won the throne, angering the traditionalists (he is playing an insane character after all), who were led by Helm, the General. They proceeded to secede and form Arnor, taking with them the majority of the northern regions. Antiqualia seceded as well, taking with it the Springdale duchy. I at some point among all this joined Helyg Derwyddon, became general, and basically became the power behind the throne, having the ruler declare war on Morek Empire before declaring peace and turning our attention to the south, to take Caiyun from Astrum.
So please, the next time you claim something, have some proof for it.
Oh by the way, the wars versus Astrum on the west island were not north to south, save for Farronite Republic. Asylon and Niselur were both to the west of Astrum.
Also, judging by what's going on with East Island and the glaciers there, I can safely bet that the monsters on the west side are likely to weaken. Even now the spawn rate for the monsters on the west side is no higher than the east side I believe, so really the only thing stopping realms from going to the west are the current conflicts.
