What are server downtimes?

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first of all i havent gotten the game YET.

 

ok i realize a downtime means the game is unplayable on that certain server. but are these downtimes happening at specific known times or just at random and without warning? also, if the server u play on is currently down, can u take ur character to another server temporarliy? or can u start a whole new character on a different server without losing the progress on ur old one?

this will be my first MMO game so i havent expreienced this before, im used to creating my own server for smaller multiplayer games.

 

o and i wouldnt mind having downtimes to correct bugs and things, just as long as theres a warning so i dont lose any progress while playing. i have a tendency not to save in RPGs for long periods of time.