socomseal93

What I meant is many people that play on server one that are good dont actully consider joining TG even people on server 2 arent part of TG. Im not saying a player cant join TG on their own Im saying that after them playing a few times on the server and them not signing up for the forums we should invite them to join

AMosely

It just came to my attention that there are no SOP's associated with the password - all one has to do is click the forum thread and there it is. I think this needs to be changed when the password changes, either to a video password (like what Bamboo has mentioned) or a document that must be read and accepted. SOP's need not be any more than common sense - no lone wolfing, communications and teamwork required, use of air/armor only with commander approval.

This may only make a small difference in terms of players getting on the server, but I think it really helps admins when dealing with problem players because it can then be assumed that anyone on a passworded server knows the rules, therefore needs no warning when caught breaking them.

Xmaster

The problem we have with server 2 is that the password is given to anybody who's willing enough to dig in the forums.

This is how I see it:

Server1: Have a password that is GIVEN on the forums (just like we're currently doing for server2)

Server2: Here's the trick.
Password has to be EARNED...not given.

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Solution 1:
Yes the video thing (like PR) is a good idea. But to see a change we'd have to change the password on a constant basis...why?

Lets say "PlayerX" sees the videos and gets the password...yet he is not following the rules. He doesnt care since he's seen the video already and dont have to watch it again. If you change the password on a constant basis (lets say once or twice a month), our moron will have to watch the video all over again to gain access to the password...he will eventually give up and just stop bothering and go back to some public server.

"PlayerZ" is very interested in TG...most of the time smart players who are actually having interest in TG will watch the video again to get back on the server and have some quality play. I, personally wouldn't mind having to watch a video twice a month and its always a fresh reminder of our rules.

Or, alternatively, just have "quality" players having the password directly PM'ed to them when there is a change. "Non-confirmed" players would have to watch the said video. So people who really get involved on the server and follow our rules EARN the privilege of having the new password directly PM'ed to them while it encourages "non-confirmed" (IE: relatively new) players to work toward earning this privilege.

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Solution 2

This solution is a bit more harsh and would add some workload to the one responsible of doing it (note that It wouldnt bother me..hence why im suggesting this method.) and is more restrictive. Yet people really interested (usually people getting quality play on server1) would most likely go through the whole process.

Its the same technique as i've mentionned in solution 1. Its all about EARNING a privilege.

To start with, server 2 password wouldnt be available publicly.

In order to earn it, lets say "Player X", players would have to go through a multi-step screening process.

1st: Setting up their forum account.
When you make your forum account, you have to enter ingame name and player ID. So we can easily track and screen forum members at any time.

2nd: Make sure they are active.
For the good of this thread and make it much easier, i will refer the one monitoring and screening people as "SOff" for Screening Officer from now on.

And by active I mean on the forums. First thing you want the new "Server 2 recruits" (players willing to gain acess to server2) to read the ArmA SOP's and Tactical Gamer SOP's. In both thread they would have to post their forum name, ingame name followed by something like "Understand TG and ArmA SOP's and will support TG unique gameplay" or something along these lines. We'll call it the commitment post.

Then after this, you have to make sure they have a certain limit of postcount (its easy to screen member's activity, like the quality of their post, in their forum profile to make sure they havent spammed in order to reach their postcount) to be able to proceed to the next screening procedure.

3rd: Show their worth on the Server1.
By following TG and ArmA SOP's, promoting our way of play, stepping up for squad leads, etc...basically we want to see what they are capable of, show their worth.

4th: Here comes the final step.
After having gone through the previous steps, our "Player X" must send a well-written email to the SOff. This email would have to have the following structure:

5th step: Giving the server2 password
This is the last and easiest step.
The SOff just sends them a private message to their forum account with a short message telling them they'have acess to server2 (if not, explaining why their submission has been turned down and how they can get acess to it) and state that releasing the password publicly (Forums, Teamspeak, Ingame) is a ban-hammerable offence from the forums, teamspeak and both servers.

These four steps doesnt take ages. Yet you have to prove some sort of commitment and interest in the community in order to gain acess to the second server.

I've seen this kind of procedure a whole lot of time before. Be it for private forums, game clans/communities, private websites, private graphic communities...etc. It has been tested many and time and has proven its worth when its managed correctly.

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Its an easy process to see how people are interested in us, what they could bring to the others. It doesnt take ages to reach these requierement (usually 3 week max when somebody is really willing to get involved in something and in the meantime it gives them time to prove their worth on server1) and it usually doesnt ask a whole lot of work to the guy in charge as the most devoted will usually be the only ones willing to make through the procedure.

As I said, i know im no SM (not because I doesnt want to), but if nobody is willing to do this, i have no problems doing it. All it asks is a bit of commitment.

All you have to do is:

-Make sure Both TG and ArmA SOP's are stickied in the ArmA General forums
-Find a screening officer
-Set up an email adress (something like screeningofficer.TG@gmail.com)
-Make sure you have a sticky explaining how to gain acess to the server2 (Something like: How to earn acess to server 2).


Basically, both of these solutions are good options. The first one is the easiest one. We dont have much stuff to put up, its all to the players. Then admin have to root off those who are not following the rules and it might not considerably reduce their workload.

Whereas option 2 needs a bit more work, yet, un-desireable players easily give away the screening process. People interested will most likely gain acess and in the end it will:
-Take some workload off the admins.
-Reduce the need of filtering through the players to root off the un-wanted
-Will give us more time to play ArmA like it should be played and less time playing the police on the server.

Sorry for the long thread.

My 0.02 cents

Keep in mind that both of these solutions can be considered as a draft, nothing is final

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Bamboo

Xmaster, option 2 is an interesting idea, but it how many of us want to spend all our play time in server1 looking for that special someone?

They are both possible options though.

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Xmaster

If server1 ends up with a password. I'm pretty sure we'll have more organized games going on since its gonna be easier, it will somewhat become the new server2. And the now existing server2 will become a bit more private, a bit more exclusive.

But in the end its just a matter of how open we are as a community...

I mean..if we want more players around its our job in the first place to, time to time, move outside our more private server (read: server2, if it becomes like my second solution) and make contact with the average player out there (server1).

I dont know if you see my point here. But we'll have to learn how to split in-between both servers.

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Kit Pig

I like both the idea's... You are right Xmaster, after reading what you propose I understand what you are trying to achieve. I feel that this is what ArmA is all about, a higher level of gamming / roll play, and I would be more than willing to take the steps to be given the opportunity to join the 2nd server.

Now here comes the 'dumb newbe' questions:

- What is a "Player ID" and where can I find it?
- What is "ArmA SOP"?

Cheers lads,
Kp.

beita

A "Player ID" is a number assigned to each copy of ArmA, it identifies the "owner" of the copy.

An ArmA SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) is simply a set of rules to play by that were decided on to mold the type of gameplay and players that TG is looking to have part of its community.



As for passwording Server 1 .. I am a little hesitant about that. Yes, it will make playing in it a LOT less hectic and nerve-wracking .. but you will instantly lose a LOT of players that may well go on to become quality members of TG. I'm sure it has been debated before (there was a poll IIRC), so I am going to stop there. That's just my opinion.

Kit Pig

Is that the 24 digit "Game Code" that you are talking about???

beita

Most likely.

Another thing the "Player ID" could be, is the session number of a player connected to a server. You can find this out by opening the Player Statistics window (think that is what it's called ..), or by using the #userlist command. It is used to vote someone admin or vote kick someone.


The one that is asked for in the User CP is the "Game Code".

Xmaster

- What is a "Player ID" and where can I find it?
Under your profile option in the game's main menu. There is your player ID. Which consists in a line of numbers.

What is "ArmA SOP"?
There is no dedicated ArmA SOP's (unless i've havent dug enough) but we still have the Operation Flashpoint (which is, at some point, the prequel of ArmA), the rules would be the same.
http://www.tacticalgamer.com/operati...ncements-sops/

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Xmaster

In my humble, passwording server1 could be a good solution.

It would, first of all, increase traffic on the website itself, people looking for a more organized game probably wont have any problem coming here to look for the password (with: "password on website" in the server name).

It would also give us a chance to make server1 a bit more organized, a lot less hectic. Streamlining the gameplay and making it more organized, à la TG, is good for both parties. Its good for the average player who came here, read a bit what TG is about and found the password. Its good for us as a community since we're already streamlining the playerbase, making the task easier for us, easier for the admins and more enjoyable for everybody.

Remember what I said about earning a privilege?
Its the same thing if we password server 1. "Player X" is aware that the password is on the website (with having it written in the server name).

He knows if he takes 10 to 15 minutes of his own personnal time, he will gain acess to a more private server. He will earn a privilege. Most pubbies are always looking for a way to play on private passworded servers, because they are the ones offering quality gameplay. To be honest, I wouldnt mind taking 10 mins to find a password on a forum if it gives me the chance to get access to a private server. I've done it before for other games and I wouldnt mind doing it again.

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Tripper

Perhaps we could leave Server 1 open for set times and dates, and have experienced players volunteer to come in and organize the gameplay?

I like the idea of more disciplined play and requiring folks to expend some effort to come and play on TG servers, but I've also seen Grunt, Blackdog, and Beta storm Server 1, whip the pubs into shape, and show them exactly what they will be signing up for. After one session in particular, within the last week or so, I saw 3 or 4 new players pop onto Server 2, raving about the quality in play. I'd hate to lose this opportunity to demonstrate the TG way and expand the ranks of quality players on TG servers.

tl;dr: Lock it down, but have an "open house" every so often.

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Xmaster

Well I was just taking a shower 30-some minutes ago and I was thinking (yes guys...I think of Tactical Gamer when I take showers) that leaving server1 open could also be a good possibility (due to what Beta and BD has done things a few times this week)

But changing the way we get acess to server2's password should be done.

As for server 2 I still propose my second solution mentionned 10ish replies above.

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Sc[ + ]pe

I think first step is to be extremely vocal about bad players in server 2. Vocal to them about what they're doing wrong, and why. Vocal to admins after a first warning to give them the boot. The password is like an EULA: you must follow the rules to continue playing.

jex

All can be found here KitPig.

Welcome to TG

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Jex