• From: So. Cal.
  • Registered: 2008-09-05
  • Posts: 43

Re: Advice on Server Map Rotation

That is what you tend to see in 2142. There are players that like Titan, players that like Armor, and the Infantry guys. That is why you see most servers set up to cater to a particular crowd and not many that switch between the different types of maps. The only problem here is that you just don't have enough crowds. I think if participation in the mod got big enough, you would see servers that play a specific type like mostly space, infantry, or combined arms.

Skates's Website

  • Twigs
  • Twigs
  • First Strike's Go To Guy!
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2007-09-28
  • Posts: 4,233

Re: Advice on Server Map Rotation

I have no qualms with server owners running maps as they see fit, if that means no space maps, fine. As Bandu says, it could end up being the most popular server. My main gripe with the OP is grouping everything together. If your going to play all maps, interspace them , infantry, space etc, and mix planets around as was also pointed out.Kinda dull going snow, snow, forest, forest, tatooine, tatooine....

Bite my shiny metal Tie Fighter!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/TALON_TAW/TwigsSIG.jpg
http://stats.fsmod.com/sig/pilot.JE_Twigs.png
  • From: So. Cal.
  • Registered: 2008-09-05
  • Posts: 43

Re: Advice on Server Map Rotation

Agreed.

Skates's Website

  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 1,058

Re: Advice on Server Map Rotation

I completely agree with skates. The problem with the space maps is that the fighters only rival the capital ships when there are lots of them. 20+. Until them they might as well not be there. I think new space maps should concentrate on attacking a space station or something like that.

http://www.fsmod.com/stats/fssig.php?player=btcc
Occupation: Hacker on steroids

INGAME NAME: btcc

26 Reply by FSDev| TALON (edited by FSDev| TALON 2008-09-15 15:07:07)

  • From: Manchester
  • Registered: 2006-11-03
  • Posts: 9,993

Re: Advice on Server Map Rotation

At the end of the day variety is the spice of life, and all server managers should feel free to set up their server how they see fit, like you say you could end up getting niche markets for these servers such as the aforementioned BF servers that specialise in Infantry only/Armour only/Titan only style maps, but I wouldn't advise that at this stage when we are still forming that ever important solid player base. However a server that runs its own favorite maps rather than the whole rotation isn't a bad thing, if every server offers something a little different (RT's current FF off policy for instance) then these subtly different flavours will gain their own following and players will naturally gravitate towards that, hopefully resulting in a wider range of servers being populated. I would however be against a server leaving all spacemaps out of the rotation (at least at this stage) as even though, yes we have been around for a year now, we still have new players joining every day, and we want them to be able to experience as much of First Strike as possible on any servers that they should choose to frequent, and I think it would be a servere loss for them not to be exposed to the excellent spacemaps as well as the other facets of the mod.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/TALON_TAW/TALONSIGNEWB-1.jpg
http://stats.fsmod.com/fssig.php?player=Talon-UK
http://stats.fsmod.com/sig/pilot.Talon-UK.png

FSDev| TALON's Website

  • Registered: 2007-10-02
  • Posts: 237

Re: Advice on Server Map Rotation

You hobbled your own argument when you admitted that you don't like space maps, Bandu!

Still, you raise a valid point. Having a third of all the FS maps being effectively flying only is a difficult issue to come to terms with when you know damned well that a significant minority of players can't, won't, or simply don't like to fly.

You shouldn't be surprised to learn that several RT members are not at all keen on space maps, but we want to give the whole mod a fair bash, which is why we run all the maps. We all have different favourite maps anyway, so we can't do much else! We try to minimise the 'pain' for the non-flyers by having the space maps well separated with at least two ground maps between each one. We've also added different size versions of some of the ground maps, so the ratio of space maps is one in four, rather than the one in three you get if you only have each map once.

You see? We do think about you!

At least one of our unwilling pilots can be found in the top 10 of the pilots class, too, so there are advantages to sticking around! Believe me, once you learn how to fly, FS space maps are really good fun; joyous in fact. It is so worth the effort of learning (if you are interested, BF1942 Battle of Britain map on Co-op mode is where I honed my dogfighting skills - the physics are very similar to FS).

Don't forget that there is also a significant minority of players who are coming at FS with exactly the opposite viewpoint to players like Bandu and Gwynzer; those who've come for the space maps. When slots become available because a space map has started, we get regulars like those from the TRA clan coming on. They often (not always) leave when a ground map starts...

Point is I can never predict whether or not the numbers will drop when a space maps starts. Space map = empty server is simply not true.

I believe UKWF and Clan Mandrake both currently run ground-only servers, but I really hope the mod doesn't degenerate into a bunch of 24/7 Bestine servers. I really resented so many vanilla servers going to Gibraltar and Cerbere only, particularly as my favourite was Berlin!

One final thing – when you realise what a doddering set of old gits we are at RT, you can't really expect us to be anything but set in our ways! wink

http://www.fsmod.com/stats/fssig.php?player=RabidJohn
http://sigs.2142-stats.com/RabidJohn_player_555.png
Mmm... vanilla!
  • Bandu
  • Ron Paul for Prez!
  • Offline
  • From: Manchester , UK
  • Registered: 2006-01-15
  • Posts: 5,867

Re: Advice on Server Map Rotation

Safe-Keeper wrote:

The "problem" with space is that they require teamwork. Without teamwork, it's just spawn, fly at your target, get shot down, rinse and repeat, and of course that gets boring. Mos Espa, too, would quickly get boring if that's what everyone did - flung themselves at Slave Quarters and Junkyard one at a time, got a few shots off, died at the hands of pre-placed turrets and a squad of enemies, and did the same thing over again.

But once you've got squads formed and people actually stay together, they're fantastic. Yavin wouldn't "drag out so long" if the Rebels actually employed strategy and tactics to win.

And yes, I do indeed believe people can be taught this. If we throw Community Games and get some teamwork going on space maps with 30-60 people on, players will eventually realize that, hey, there is something to be found here, and the more people we got to realize that, the better space would be.

Im not here to kill space maps - otherwise I would be trying to get ground only servers, initially (that is plan B wink ).

Good thing you have a plan b, 'cause your plan a will very likely fail smile .

1. Taloraan loads up, player count maybe drops to 6, as you predict.
2. EfH loads up, people have no fun since only 6 people are on, more disappear. Map votes get spammed, but you know as well as me that those are totally unpredictable.
3. You're left with an empty server for hours.

THe problem you have is this mod wasnt built as PRmod, wasnt marketed as PRmod and therefore doesnt attract the PRmod type proffesional teamwork players.
Im a fan of PRmod, but I realise that no matter how much you whine about, and to, "pubnubs" they aren't  going to change. They wont suddenly all jump on TS, get in full Army gear and speak the battle lingo.
Teamwork in space, forgetting Taloraan, constitutes merely fighters covering bombers and I dont think you can compare that with ground maps, which have infinitely more teamwork possibilities, not to mention routes, locations etc.

* But like I said, this isn't about arguing over whether space is good, bad or ugly. You like space. Fine.*

As for my plan failing, If it did, so what?  Atleast I am trying to find ways to keep the server as full as possible for as long as possible, and not just moaning about everything not being PRmod - whether that be maps, features or players - or just hoping that it will get better, cos  month's of evidence points to the current poor stop-start player numbers continuing.

Even if by the time Hoth space loads up the server has few or no players, atleast the previous 8(16 rounds) ground maps would most likely have had a decent stable high number of players, which just doesnt happen ATM , with rotations as they are. That would actually mean success, as I am not trying to make space more intriguing for "ground pounders"(not my job anymore).

"Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavours to live at the expense of everybody else."
Frédéric Bastiat