[Asmo]

Word got to IRC-Junkie about the delink one of the last 2 client servers on Sorcery. This leaves the network now with 1 client server, 1 backup server and services, all being run from the same location.

Cookie.*'s admin announced the delink himself: "As of March 1, 2005, cookie.sorcery.net will be delinking. I've had a good time the 5 years I've been here. I've watched the network grow from a small one of about 12 users to a large one (in my estimation) or 5000 users. [...] I know that I am not able to add the value that this network needs, and 'm finding my attention drifting to other pursuits, so a graceful goodbye is in order, I believe."

We asked Sorcery's network admin Onno if running the entire nework form basically one machine can seriously affect the stability: "The obvious problem is the single point of failure. However, this has always been the case for our services and mailing lists as it's hard to make these things redundant. This means the only real difference is the number of client servers."

"If we'll end up with one client server, we'll have less netsplits than before ;-), but in case of an outage of this one server the entire network will be down. Fortunately, this server's connection is pretty reliable and I don't forsee any problems with it. More importantly, I don't think we'll get down to one server, so it's a moot point."

An application for a new client server last week was rejected 1-1. Onno however told IRC-Junkie that a number of applications for client servers have been received, of which one might be up and running beofre Cookie.* delinks.

During the period this article was forming Ryan, admin on DarkMyst, contacted IRC-Junkie; "The other day DarkMyst had quite a jump in registrations, apparently cookie.* plans to delink as of March 31, apparently many of the users intend on relocating to DarkMyst. Which means that, unless SorceryNet magically produces additional servers, the entire network will be operating on a single point-of-failure, and one has that proven to be unstable over the course of the past few months"

"A lot of ex-SorceryNet servers and staff have relocated to DarkMyst because of our level of stability. The users are following them. Not only server stability, but also administrative stability. There aren't the fights or politics that have existed on SorceryNet", Ryan continues.

Ryan additionally said to have been invited into a channel with channel managers on Sorcery to discuss moving networks. "Their intention was to move as a group, since so many roleplayers play in different channels."

When confronting Onno with the above, he replied: "for some reason they tend to see us as their big competitor that needs taking down, and think they have to interfere with everything we do. (behing our backs, preferably)."

"We don't understand why there has to be any hostility between different networks, and we're definitely not joining them in their attempt to spread rumours about the other and get as many users as possible to move over. To us, DarkMyst is just another network and therefore not relevant. It's our own network we have to keep running, not theirs or anyone else's.

They weren't relevant in any of this either, no matter how badly they want to. :-)"
_________________
Asmo

webmaster www.IRC-Junkie.org

[Ryan]

It's actually March 1 for the delink date, but that's my fault, I had typoed in my conversation with Asmo.

Also, in regards to Onno's comments: There is no real 'competition' nor is there any intended hostility against any network on our behalf. Me nor the rest of the DarkMyst administration were even aware that there was any hostility that apparently Onno sees. However, I do find it somewhat humorous that SorceryNet is pointing fingers for it's defense and are blaming others for their loss of users and servers, rather than admiting that it has some serious ongoing issues that have caused so many of their users and servers to leave the network.

Ever since some of the more significant servers -- with staff that were well respected and known throughout the SorceryNet community -- delinked from SorceryNet and decided on DarkMyst for it's new home, everything seemed have followed. More servers eventually came from SorceryNet after they became frustrated with the politics and flame wars between the administrators, and that is when users started noticing as well, because the news eventually got to them.

So, given the chain of events that has occured over the past few months, DarkMyst has been on the receiving end of these users and servers leaving the network, so it's understandable how SorceryNet could be unhappy with us and therefore view us as 'hostile'.

[Ib3N]

I find all this quite amusing..

Reminds me of the irc wars in the good 'ol 90's on efnet and ircnet

[Eric]

Currently, there are two former SorceryNet opers and only one server on DarkMyst. This server wasn't a "more significant" one, one of the reasons for its delink was not being able to handle the load of the irc.sorcery.net pool. Considered that you invite most of the rejected applicants and delinked servers to join DarkMyst, this number is actually surprisingly low.

[Ryan]

[Delta]

One of the major problems I found with thier policies, was their attitude towards spammers. Many of their users would come to my network and spam the living hell outta it trying to nab users.

Every time that one of my channels did this to them, they came and cried to me about it, and every time I suspended said users channel until they contacted me or another oper to resolve said issue. Yet, when some of their moronic users spammed some of my channels, they refused todo anything, saying that they won't stop users that try to bring users to sorcery.

I've been at the same point that sorcery was, where you have outside servers link to you, then a dispute comes up and screws said network up. Because of this i've made sure that my network owns (as in I pay the bills for) enough servers to keep us online and healthy. As of right now we only have one server that isn't paid outta my pocket, but he's one of my best buds so it's not going anywhere

I know sorcery adopts a almost efnet style policy where the opers don't deal with any channel disputes, rather jsut maintain the network. This worked when they were massive (5000 i think i saw?), But i think they have to re-think this, now that they're going down, population wise.

A shame really, sorcery used to be quite big, I thought i remembered seeing it in the top 25 at some point.

This is just my take on this all, though

~Francisco

[Snerf]

This is the reason why I stopped running a IRC Server. There is so much hostility between so many different networks, people dont want to just let others be. You grow tired of it after a while, when they come to your network, spam the heck out of it ("Join our network, its better") and when you go to that network and ask politely to stop spamming, they gline you.

[Delta]

[v0rtexio]

is this really worthy of irc-junkie ?? take your disputes to the non-public arena...

Anyhow...

Darkmyst:- seemed like a nice growing network last time i visited
Sourcerynet: last time i visited it also did ( obv not so much growing from the story)

These networks are well known for their individual qualitys

i am in no way affiliated with anyone from these networks, so i can speak on neutral ground, but i wish both networks luck in their future endevors, and show that the best resolution is 'time', as only time can tell...

Take care

v0rtexio
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[cl00bie]

[Ryan]