Re: Ranked Server? Frank Discussion.

**ThePenguineer** · 08-02-2006, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by cantpicknameiwant

Population helpers - LEARN TG squads and not locked squads.

I sure liked those LEARN TG squads.
I think those would help rather than hinder 'our numbers'.

I have a few comments regarding LEARN TG squads.

1) They tend to get filled by TG regulars very quickly because they see a good SL
2) They don't exist 99% of the time
3) Visiting players get kicked for being squadless instead of joining the LEARN TG squad.

Now, I think all of these things can be fixed by everyone being a little more helpful. First, take an initiative in starting them if it seems like there are a lot of new faces on the server. I ran one a week ago (on Vanilla night?), although I'm not the best SL, I wanted to help out the pub players in one-man squads running around getting killed. Then, my squad got filled by a bunch of regulars who didn't want to play in a pubber lead squad.

So, let's restrain ourselves from falling back into TG comfort zones and get to meeting and greeting new people. If you see someone new in a squad by themselves, join the squad or invite them to your own. If you're an SM who notices the impending kick message, notify your SL so they can extend an invite. I have noticed that recently we have been getting a lot of new faces, but they get kicked very quickly for being squadless. If we can get them to squad up and stay, then our population will grow.

You can't know if they're a smacktard pubbie or not if you don't give them a chance and play with them. Even if they are, they may be motivated to change by our attitude towards them. I remember a few of our current members were a bit disoriented when they first found the server, but now are very vocal about the TG attitude and upholding it. You never know, the next pubbie who joins may become a future admin.

I've been called a TG snob by my sister many a time, but I do believe this in part because I've been isolated from the pub community by TG for a while. We do need to remember that many of us were pubs once upon a time and that we shouldn't discount them because they haven't found us yet.

Wow. That was kinda long.

**carRamrod** · 08-02-2006, 05:11 PM

Great thread. Thanks, NorCal for starting this because I was thinking the same thing.

FullContactWar is the de facto TG server most nights (> 9PM Pacific time) when I get my window to play BF2. Just last night, we had 2 full TG squads on each side playing. The gameplay on FCW is very good but could be impoved by giving it some TG flava (no bunnyhopping etc). FCW has realtively good admins - players must wait in line for vehicles and they do kick for being squadless.

While I've read the (valid) concerns about the problems and issues with starting a ranked server I'd like to think the quality folks that make up this community can solve this problem standing on their head. I'd like to think we can offer gameplay after 9PM Pacific that far surpasses FCW.

I really like the ideas from TYBALT and Sumluv a lot. Count me in for any "partial admin" duties if we ever choose that model.

Side note: In my very early stages of playing BF2 I stumbled onto a TG server with global unlocks turned on. I was a pig in shizzle wit my new toys. That is what initially got me playing on the server and sent me on my TG way. Can we try that again or did a patch take it away?

**WhiskeySix** · 08-02-2006, 05:16 PM

Unfortunately, enabling global unlocks gets the server delisted from the server-browser...

unlocks require ranking, which requires you pay EA a monthly fee.

**El_Gringo_Grande** · 08-02-2006, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by JMJ

That's not a rank, that's recognition from your peers for outstanding play in game.

Both are ways to recognize individuals. Only the mechanics determining who should be recognized is different.

In one it is purely a numbers thing. The other has more to do with social standing.

**jmaker** · 08-02-2006, 07:15 PM

As Kilroog already mentioned, it would not behoove us to add a ranked server with 2142 lingering. Let's be honest, how many of you are going to buy it? I for sure am and would love to play it at TG the very same day it's released.

Tempus also pretty much nailed it on the head. No Inishail Forest? Or even other custom maps? All that hard work goes for naught. I don't know about anyone else but those custom maps are better than stock maps from the developer.....*cough Taraba Quarry, Smokescreen cough*. The cons simply outweigh the pros to becoming a ranked server, or even adding one.

**Snail88** · 08-02-2006, 07:28 PM

i like smoke screen :-P

**Sumluv59** · 08-02-2006, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by sordavie

We have barely enough to fill half a server on any given night. You're suggesting two servers?

Um...yes. Build it an they will come. If you have a better idea...have at it.

**sordavie** · 08-02-2006, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by Sumluv59

Um...yes. Build it an they will come. If you have a better idea...have at it.

That I think an idea is unfeasible does not mean I have a better idea. That I don't have a better idea dosen't mean the idea that I think is unfeasible is feasible. If the point is to try and maintain a higher average population on server 1, I think switching back to vanilla maps is probably a better idea. If the point is something else, then I don't know. But that's for the other thread.

Let's suppose we can fill a ranked server with pubbies and what not. Who's going to want to play with a couple of people on a second sever. I take it that a good number of bf2 players here go pub raid when there are few people left on server 1. Won't this be the same situation? "Pubraid" on a ranked server 1, leaving few on server 2.

How is this suggestion any different than merely suggesting that we have a ranked server? Having one ranked server and one unranked server is not a compromise between the original suggestion of having a ranked server and not having a ranked server if nobody is going to use the unranked server.

A second server just cannot sustain a population here ranked or not. Consider even when server 1 was at full capacity 8 months ago, a second server could not sustain a population. Seriously, who is going to want to play with a few others all the time on a second server? Not even serious BF2 TG style players will do that for long. We saw this with a second tac mod server. We saw this with a second SF server. A second server just isn't feasible unless you can consistently fill both of them to capacity. I take it, we are trying to think of a way to consistently fill just one server to capacity.

**Sumluv59** · 08-02-2006, 08:19 PM

Originally Posted by Sumluv59

I know I’m no expert but maybe my dumb suggestions will lead to some good solutions.

I read a lot of complaints and not many suggestions on how to fix the population problem. This was my attempt to get more ideas thrown out there. Sure the idea is poor but maybe it may inspire a great solution from someone else.

**icky** · 08-02-2006, 08:51 PM

After a discussion with Frank, I don't think a ranked server is likely at TG.

**Dick Blonov** · 08-02-2006, 09:16 PM

I'm quite new to TG, and honestly, teamwork brought me here. All I want to leave you all with is food for thought.

Would ranking our servers foster this behaviour ?

DB

**UnDeaD** · 08-02-2006, 09:21 PM

Depends on if you like that behavior.

**thegreatnardini** · 08-02-2006, 09:30 PM

I think ranking the server would have its benefits, but the cons outweigh the pros greatly. when you put the fact that the games will be much shorter, the lack of lone wolf kick, and the fact that everyone will have ridiculous weapons like the g36, l96a1, g3 ect, teamplay even on TG will decrease drastically, not to mention the "negative crowd" ranked servers bring and so on and so forth

this is sort of off topic (but not really,)

is the bf2142 server at TG going to be ranked? it seems that you lose alot of the game when if you play an unranked game of 2142, whereas not as much when you play unranked bf2, but then again if EA's rules for ranked servers are as stringent as those from bf2...

**UnDeaD** · 08-02-2006, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by thegreatnardini

this is sort of off topic (but not really,)

is the bf2142 server at TG going to be ranked? it seems that you lose alot of the game when if you play an unranked game of 2142, whereas not as much when you play unranked bf2, but then again if EA's rules for ranked servers are as stringent as those from bf2...

Read the 2142 forum. Short answer is, its hard to tell at this stage.

**Nikolas** · 08-03-2006, 12:26 AM

I really think we should look into having a themed Ranked Night and then see how it goes. I don't see any harm in it. The difference in cost is, from what I can tell, not giant - especially when one considers how many servers we have sitting idle. I hate to be 'that guy' telling another person how to spend their money, but that's how it appears.

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