Community Poll: Second Server with Strongly-enforced Teamwork

[SharinganTH1422]

Originally Posted by WhiskeySix

I'd like to see TG have an UNRANKED server - where we can tweak it to be more to our liking - change ticket counts, vehicle counts, spawn times, unlocks available, even CP count and location.

It would be cool on a separate note, but not sure how it would help the problem.

[Zoraster]

Originally Posted by WhiskeySix

I'd like to see TG have an UNRANKED server - where we can tweak it to be more to our liking - change ticket counts, vehicle counts, spawn times, unlocks available, even CP count and location.

I love occasional unranked days on the main server as we can do things that keep it fresh. It's perfect for Wednesdays. But as mentioned before, a second server does not work no matter what you do with it. We can certainly set the second server to unranked. But will it fill frequently? I sincerely doubt it. Maybe for a week people will seed it. but then it will die the same death as the other fifty things that have been tried with the server.

[WhiskeySix]

Originally Posted by Zoraster

a second server does not work no matter what you do with it.

agreed. IMHO, the only way a different server would work is if the current server were to be taken down... as someone who's only been playing 2142 a relatively short time, I wouldn't mind this change - but I assume many would. For me, ranked is/was a necessary evil [unlocks + bringing players]. If we could solve both of those problems (TG providing the players and a mod/tweaking providing unlocks) I personally don't see a need for a ranked server.


[this is all with admin hat off - just speaking as a gamer]

[LogicalHarm]

Originally Posted by WhiskeySix

I'd like to see TG have an UNRANKED server - where we can tweak it to be more to our liking - change ticket counts, vehicle counts, spawn times, unlocks available, even CP count and location.

I'd like to see some custom maps being played. We could advertise to the general 2142 community that we're running some fresh maps and get the public involved. I think this would prolong the life of TG2142, and also address issues of players being burnt out with the game, and the effect this has on the community.

[DrBeat]

It sounds good on occasion, but like others have said I never think we will be able to sun two at the same time, and I don't think it is good to sequester part of the community off on a little server.

[Zoraster]

Originally Posted by WhiskeySix

agreed. IMHO, the only way a different server would work is if the current server were to be taken down... as someone who's only been playing 2142 a relatively short time, I wouldn't mind this change - but I assume many would. For me, ranked is/was a necessary evil [unlocks + bringing players]. If we could solve both of those problems (TG providing the players and a mod/tweaking providing unlocks) I personally don't see a need for a ranked server.


[this is all with admin hat off - just speaking as a gamer]

While I encourage picking a day a week or every other where we do different things (wednesday as it is), I think switching to unranked permanently is a very bad idea. In the short term it'll make it harder to seed and fill the server in those times before 90% are SMs. In the long term it will bring a slow death to 2142 by limiting new blood into the community.

it was roughly a year and a half from when I was a regular fixture/admin here and when I started up again a month ago.the server now is filled with TGers (and at least one admin) who had not been around when I was. Many are now even veterans of the server having played here a year. My point is that had we made the decision back when I was first around to go unranked, few of these players would be here now and the server may well be struggling. Instead, though some (see this thread) have legitimate frustrations, the server is strong and vibrant.

This is a suggestion that has been floated before -- especially by those who were involved with TG BF2 vanilla, but for the above reasons, I think it would be unwise.

[MrTango]

Originally Posted by SharinganTH1422

I personally don't know where I stand. I like to win while having fun, and I have fun when I'm winning, but that's the same with every TGer (I think), so these 2 groups that have apparently materialised at TG aren't as clear cut as it seems to be made out. We need to get it out of our heads that we are all very different, when in fact our aims are mostly the same - Striving for good gameplay while having an enjoyable time with awesome people.

I totally and completely agree with this.
Also, perhaps it may be a frustration with the skill sets of some of us, rather than our desire or striving to play at a highly competative level. I myself can relate to that. I can hold my own, but I would consider myself on the lower-middle level of skill in TG. I can see how that may sometimes leave a more experienced SM or SL frustrated, especially if I'm having an off night (like last night!), and wishing to play with a tighter, more experienced group. Rarely though do I find people intentionally disobeying orders(at least that's my perception), and I always strive to do so - again, I think it comes down to skill level. No one likes to lose, and most people in TG don't want to win while playing crappy either. Sharingan put the aims of most TGers perfecly. So I can see both sides of the coin, I think.
I don't know the solution, I'm just hoping to see all the perspectives.

[RoadWarrior]

Isn't password night the similar sort of thing you are suggesting Zho? TG members (and known regulars) are on the server and teamwork/tactics/strat is at it's all time high?

People follow orders, server rules are adhered to and the rounds are usually very close.

[Superfast]

Well the variation would be great for those interested, but i too think running it as a regular event would work best.

[SharinganTH1422]

A weekly PW night? Sounds cool to me. Would also require those who enjoy playing on our servers nightly (or thereabouts) to visit our forums and to become a member to take part in these weekly PW nights.

[Zoraster]

Frankly, I like the way Wednesday has been lately. I don't want to hamstring it into only PW, but I like to think of it more as "variation wednesday." For example, NS was played. Cool (though I get unmodified...). But it's also a great slot to put in variations with passwords, unranked, etc. My impression was that this is exactly what had been going on with wednesdays.

I don't think we need to create yet another day for something special.

Alternatively, we could replace armor fridays!

[LordKelvin]

We are not replacing armor Fridays. :|

Anyway, I think dedicating the second server to the "in-crowd" is counter-productive to the quality of gameplay on the main server. If you are seriously annoyed by not being 'challenged' enough or feel you don't have enough opportunities to scream at your SMs, I guess you can go to the second server which is empty all the time anyway, but dedicating it to that is not a positive. If you need competition, organize inter-IHS scrims or something. Don't alienate the rest of us like this, unless you're trying to say that your intrisically better than us, in which case you either need an attitude adjustment or need to leave.

~LK

[daithi1]

This is a really, really bad idea in my opinion. My thinking is very similar to Zoraster's i.e. it will split/break up the community.There simply isn't enough active members to sustain this.

In my eyes there are three alternatives to this.

1) The main server becomes more strict.

Pros: Appeases (what I think is) a large majority of the community.
Will encourage more skilled people from other clans to play on TG (maybe).
Cons: Very bad for TG recruitment.
The more relaxed in the community will despise it.

Overall a poor idea.

2) A weekly or bi-weekly night when the MAIN server becomes passworded. Password is only available in the forums or TS. This would be similar to the CS lockdown nights. The reason this would be on the main server is that when it's a password night on the second server numbers are low.

Pros: Somewhat appeases people who want this.
Cons A small sacrifice for relaxed community members.

3) Someone creates a 'competitive' IHS. I play TF2 competitively in Europe I practice Sun-Thurs 8-10pm. If that could be done in the comparatively small 2142 American scene then it's a viable option. I'm just not sure if there's enough clans left playing competitively. Again this is less than ideal because this is less than ideal because this is nowhere near what Zhohar envisages. This squad would probably be seen by the community as elitist. Whether or not that's true is subjective.



Overall I do not like this idea. I know where it's coming from and I'd love it but I think it would ultimately break the community.

Ninja edit: Need to read more.

[MrJengles]

Mmm tricky...

Certainly lots of good points going on here. I agree with Sharingan that TG is about the fun AND the teamwork; no fun and it gets boring, no high degree of teamwork - at least sometimes - and it doesn't give people as much of a challenge. Thus, a more challenging server appeals to all, and there are not 2 seperate groups wanting different things.

I was just wondering about another idea to throw into the mix...about limiting the second sever to 22 (+2 for SMs to join), and then leave that open to the public and anyone who joined would have to obey everything very quickly, as well as learning what TG is about just as quickly.

I was thinking along the lines of...if you assume some "pubbies" ended up on the second server, perhaps there would still be enough TGers on the first (+ "pubbies"), at prime time anyway. The rest of the time one server is probably always going to be empty whatever we do.

Then I thought of another idea, if we don't have enough people for that either, what if we limited both servers as an event night once a week/fortnight, say to...32 (+2) each? This would make 2 seperate servers playing more scrim style gameplay, passworded or unpassworded, not sure.

The fact that there are 2 servers could be ideal to implement a low population count because, on top of the better tactics it delivers and less frag/rocket fests, people won't be left out (as there is enough room for everyone between the two) AND both servers might be full for once. It's just another thought...feel free to blast it out of the water.

[Onoobiwan]

Originally Posted by Zhohar

The main server remains as-is -- enjoy quality TG gameplay and get the benefit of the admins who administer it.

Second server is ranked, but with a much more strict set of rules. Its core audience is experienced players looking for team-based challenges.

The aim is to please the very competitive segment of TG, and allow them to take teamwork to the very next level. There would be active encouragement of players scrutinizing team-mates and asking them to change their playstyle, actions, and tactics if they are being detrimental to the team.

Would you want to play on this server?

I like the idea, however I can see where it can turn into a "split" in the community. Having played multiple games in the past, some players will always want to get more out of their experience. This is not a bad thing, but the trick is not to do outside of the community or leave anyone out. If this happens, then it is the start of where things will turn bad.

Scrutinizing or criticizing people isn’t bad as long as its constructive, put in a way that isn’t demeaning and also in a way that they understand. I have thick skin, but not everyone does.

Fun for me isn’t winning per say, although I try to win every time and have more fun doing it. Fun for me is competitive games and being in a squad that works well together. Losing just means the other team played tactically better.

I like the idea of the server, but it can’t turn into something exclusive.