@ Snail ... Yep, that's pretty much the same conclusions I came to. I guess I was hoping that given your experience and knowledge of realm mechanics you may have some insight that I missed which would enable the changes.
Maybe Zentetsuken is right and it would be better to just remove realms altogether.
Thanks though for your response.
Just one other thing I wanted to say ...
When you're getting raided does it matter to you which realm the raider is associated with?
On one level then no, at the time all that matters is that you are getting raided but on another level, I, personally, do feel that it is worse to be raided by the leaders of the realm you live in and contribute towards (with authority and with your presence) than by someone else. Providing ofc that you have not done something to warrant it. I've heard enough from other players who also share this feeling to know I'm not alone in how I look at it. I guess I feel there should be some kind of loyalty towards the people that enable you to have a successful realm.
Saying that ... I just want to point out that I am aware that the use of botting, heavy questing and some other practises severely lowers the need for actual active players. And that the rulers don't care about the people living in the realm is not a good thing either and part of what makes ppl want the realm mechanics changed.
Btw, I
did care about the ppl in my realms ... when I formed RecoNKuista it was at the end of a world, I took over what was left of NK after it was raided - in doing so I obviously had to destroy border cairns and left over idols and menhirs, the players living there were naturally upset at losing what little bonuses they had left despite me telling them that I would replace them. I went all out with trade, borrowing and begging to give them back full realm bonuses at great cost to myself purely because I cared.
Previously when I had Deka, I formed that realm as a safe haven for new players and players that wanted to return after being raided, I spoke to the other realm leaders and asked for them to leave the realm alone in return for me not trying to expand into their territories or causing any problems to them. Not only did they agree but I got a lot of help from certain players in AD and Dis with the planning of the realm and materials for the new and returning players. I had players actually move from other realms to come and live there. So, not all realm leaders are the same.