Originally Posted by asch

Custom maps has been a topic of several threads here...

I personally enjoy playing custom maps, especially to get away from some of the repetition of the stock maps. However, since the server isn't strong enough in the TG community YET to make it private, we're still trying to attract the pubbies. Having custom maps makes that a little more difficult. If a public player doesn't have the map, he won't necessarily take the time to find the map, download and install it and then jump on the server. If he's already on the server for a stock map and then a custom map comes up, he'll most likely be frustrated for having been booted for not having the map.

There is then the problem of deciding which custom maps to install... how often to add / change them and having the community keep their own machines updated.

I've thought about this quite a bit since the topic keeps appearing... so here are my thoughts. Hopefully Apo will read this (are you listening Apo )

If server space exists, what would people think about having an additional BF server for custom maps only. This server could run both vanilla and DC maps. We could install all custom maps created by community members and then possibly vote on a few additional custom maps from outside the community. We could have TG map pack(s) for people to download and set some time frame that we will stick to the map rotation before adding new maps. I would also make this custom server for folks who register at TG (not necessarily paying members). This would have to be done to make sure folks download the map packs, read the rules and obtain the password.

Now for the problems with this...

This may still hinder us from attracting new members to play BF. If us TGers are on the custom server, the public server will be empty more often than it is now... and pubbies won't join the server, realize how great of a community this is and miss out.

I disagree with the statement that pubbies would not download custom maps. When I used to play MOHAA, I played on a server that ran custom maps. If I didn't have a map, I got booted. I would then download it and log back in. It was the people on the server plus the maps that brought me back. It made the gameplay unique to some degree and also made me pick that particular server as long as there were players on the server.

I think the same would hold true for BF1942 DC. If you have enough of the stock maps, flash an in game message about custom maps, and have it posted on the TG website, I would think that would not turn away too many people. I realize that one person turned away from TG may be too many but if you like the server and the players, you will get what you need and come back.

Look at Ghost recon. There is a link on the TG site to download a file with the necessary mods to play on the TG server. Do we lose people based on that?

I do agree that there needs to be some control on how often the custom maps are changed to new ones.

Maybe I was an exception but there sure were an awful lot of pubbies on that MOHAA server that was running custom maps. That's my two cents worth.