Password Server(s)

**TheBigC** · 04-20-2008, 12:29 PM

Based on some comments from various threads lately I am asking for feedback from the community here. I want to hear what you all think about either making one or both servers pass worded.

I will give you past information that may influence your choices. Read the info below before voting on any options.

Historically:

A passworded server means less traffic.
A unpassworded server leads to the introduction of more players to TG, broader audience.
A passworded server leads to fewer issues with things like idiots and even possibly hackers.
A unpassworded server can be more exciting
A passworded server can lend to more complex missions, due to better leadership
A unpassworded tend to be larger scale
A passworded sever usually is smaller (player count) in nature

Each option has its advantages as well as disadvantages. I encourage each of you to vote and then discuss what YOU would like to see from TG and ArmA.

*As a reminder Server 1 is setup for large scale CoOp missions only. Server 2 is setup for small unit scale missions, up to 20 people.

Vic · 04-20-2008, 04:43 PM

After extensively experiencing this evening the joy of lonewolves & imature players, I'll have to say both should be passworded. The black sheeps also almost ruin the game for the ones actually trying to coordinate something (I'm pretty sure B was quite disturbed because of them this evening, even if he did his best to coordinate the missions; the same probably goes for many of the teamplay oriented players)

Only mention I'd have: maybe it would be a good idea to (again) state in the server name that those interested can look for the password in the forums.

**tHa_KhAn** · 04-20-2008, 06:04 PM

I voted for both servers to be passworded. I think the small amount of time you have to invest once every few months to get a password would cut down on randoms joining and having to be told about teamwork.

Elwenil · 04-20-2008, 06:13 PM

You could rotate and do "PW Nights" like the PR server does. It seems to work ok to limit the amount of fools, but it's a bit of work for the admins to set up and keep changing the password so the fools don't get it through Google or their friends. I would support a motion to fully password the servers since it definitely keeps out a lot of the undesirables, but it may cut down on the activity and popularity. It's a gamble either way. I'd password it for a week and see what happens. If it kills the server, try to go to a PW Night a few times a week and try that. Just my .02

Welcome_To_Hell · 04-20-2008, 06:43 PM

Yea i think servers should be passworded, and there should be 200ms ping limit.

fuzzhead · 04-20-2008, 11:16 PM

I think you should keep one server open, otherwise you will never expand your playerbase IMO...

the new players are what keeps this game interesting and by closing it off before you have a decent playerbase I think youll kill the opportunity you have to really increase this community.

So 1 password / 1 no password I think is a good solution.

Krako · 04-21-2008, 12:41 AM

I tend to agree with Fuzzhead. But, what do you think will happen to the unpassworded server if all the regulars go play on the passworded one? it will fill up with a$$hats and that won't be a good publicity for TG.

That's why I think that Password nights is the best way to go. Just like they do for PR. 3 or 4 days a week with a password would be nice. Post a new password every now and then in the SOP section so that people have to visit the forums.

Jakerod · 04-21-2008, 12:55 AM

I think that they should both stay the way they are. It is very, very rare to have problems on the servers. I have never seen a cheater on one of the servers. It is also very rare to find people who won't follow orders. There have been only one or two people that I have seen recently that have not followed orders and they both got themselves killed in about 5 seconds. I think passwording the servers would make you lose a lot of potentially good people to play with. Had the server been password protected I wouldn't be playing on it right now which is a very sad thought to me since I love it so. I hope that you guys also consider that to be bad. Those are my thoughts.

Vic · 04-21-2008, 01:32 AM

Jakerod, it depends on the time you play.
I've been playing in both early GMT and late US. Much less smacktards in the second timezone.

**Gogeta** · 04-21-2008, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tHa_KhAn

I voted for both servers to be passworded. I think the small amount of time you have to invest once every few months to get a password would cut down on randoms joining and having to be told about teamwork.

Totally agree. I dont get to play as much as I used to... and it seems everytime I join, there are people cussing on teh mic, sprinting off alone, picking a slot alone in a squad, not communicating wortha damn, the list goes on...

As far as having a PW night like PR..... we've all seen how well that works.

Redd_Wiggler · 04-21-2008, 06:16 AM

i voted one open one locked, but i see the points in arguments for just about every choice...perhaps password nights are the way to go. the PR password nite was what finally got me to visit the forums. i wanted to join the server...it was locked, and i was like "WTF? maybe i should check out the TG website and see whats up..."

now you will NEVER get rid of me :P

jex · 04-21-2008, 08:26 AM

I think it's important to keep one server open because that's the way we gain new players. Even though we get the smacktards joining, we also get decent players. We've seen some really good players join in regularly and that's due to the open servers. Those players that enjoy teamwork and tactics get an idea of what TG is about and will probably sign up on the forums and from there they can get a PW for the other server. Regulars can even promote the other server by talking to those players we see as being the better players and pointing them in the directions of the forums.

I think having an open server allows us to screen players so we end up with better players.

Vic · 04-21-2008, 09:59 AM

Jex, you have your point, but things might linger towards most of us using only one of the servers.

On a second thought, I'm more & more sold to the idea of passworded nights (preferably covering both GMT and U.S. nights). Having 2 passworded nights a week would most likely convince players looking to play the TG way to come to the forum.

**tHa_KhAn** · 04-21-2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic

Jex, you have your point, but things might linger towards most of us using only one of the servers.

This is exactly what happens. This happened in the past when we were a small community when the game was first released(prior to US release). Then we went to a SM only server and it too caused the same kind of issues. The SM's didn't want to deal with smacktards so we all played on the SM. That lead to the creation of the COOP and persistent servers, which again everyone gravitated toward one or the other, in general the persistent which created issues with people trying to find a different kind of COOP or TvT and still having the population to do so.

From my experience here(European English release), most people prefer to play the more populated server and only switch when a limit is reached. The last few days I've played on the small until it maxed out then switched to the large to accommodate. Population will always be the attractant to the server. If we have the website in prominent display on the server name, then players should be able to find their way to the password. I do understand there are players that would see the lock on the server and move on never to try a TG experience, but I think having both passworded leaves a better possibility for high quality players running quality games on both servers instead of people bailing for the passworded one when some noobs show up.

Shafik · 04-21-2008, 03:41 PM

Both servers passworded, passwords should be changed monthly. With TS no longer a requirement, we have no way of knowing if a player has actually even been to the site, or even read the forums and the SOP's. And during the hours I play, it was evident that many newcomers just found the server in the browser and joined in.