Re: The decline of civilization as we know it and how to stop it

**Wookie** · 10-23-2008, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by oldirti

Probably happened sometime during summer after my Graphics card died, and i stopped playing PR. I officially apologize for the void i left.

agreed

**Charity Case** · 10-23-2008, 09:38 PM

Excellent thread Disposable. I hope the PR community realizes how seriously we take the quality of our server. Before I say any more, I would like to note two things: 1) Project Reality is an extremely complex and demanding game, and it has only become more so in .8. I think Bjoffe makes a good point in the fact that while the playerbase of PR is expanding, the number of competent squadleaders is probably decreasing. I think this is primarily due to the increasing difficulty of squadleading; but the alienation of veterans by gameplay changes is also a factor. 2) As Disposable said and subsequently reiterated: this is not an issue of how others can change to improve my experience; instead, this is an issue of how I can change to improve everyone's experience. So, with these thoughts in mind (and many others), I will now evaluate my participation in the TG PR community and consider how I can improve.

Familiarity breeds contempt.

This pretty much sums up my recent PR experience. After logging hundreds of hours on the TG PR server and countless more on the forums, I have become a respected (and, perhaps, admired) member of the community. But instead of feeling successful, I have become increasingly dissatisfied. I used to conceive of myself as an amiable and competent squadleader. But now I see an overly competitive player who is obsessed with kill to death ratios and personal success. My squads are extremely popular and filled with TG regulars. The side effects of this popularity are that my squadleading has been dulled through complacency and my expectations inflated by the veteran players I game with. So, when a new player does have a chance to join my squad, my laziness and high standards make me less than welcoming (e.g. I expect they won't take the sniper kit [without explaining so], and when they do I overreact and kick them from the squad). Recently, I found myself angrily exclaiming "Come on, move faster God dammit," when my squad failed to advance as quickly as desired. While this outburst may seem laughably mild to many of you; it's pretty extreme when compared to my usual, laid-back demeanor. Frankly, what I find laughable is the fact that I'm becoming emotionally invested in a game.

While my self-assessment is overly harsh, my point is that I have been slipping as a member of the TG PR community. This is partially due to real life obligations and partially due to boredom with PR. PR is (and will probably remain) my favorite game of all time. But, honestly, I wouldn't still be playing PR were it not for the wonderful community at TG. And because I value this community and the friendships it has led to, I'm going to step up, improve my game, and do the following things:

1) Re-read the TG Primer and TG PR rules (which I just did).

2) Play more often and during non-prime time.

3) Squadlead more.

4) Regularly play under an alias so my squads are not monopolized by regulars (thanks for the idea Oldirti).

5) Chill out and have more fun.

See you all on the battlefield,

Charity

**McGann** · 10-23-2008, 11:26 PM

To throw in a quote I know most everyone has heard before.

~ "Ask not what your community can do for you, ask what you can do for your community"

The bottom line is have fun. I have seen it so many times before. The minute you start playing in the pursuit of perfection and forget to have fun is when it stops being fun. Don't get me wrong I am all for trying to be the best you can...just don't let it get in the way of why your sitting in front of your computer in the first place... enjoyment.

**Sonic** · 10-24-2008, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by Charity Case

4) Regularly play under an alias so my squads are not monopolized by regulars (thanks for the idea Oldirti).

5) Chill out and have more fun.

Charity

I know some people who play under different names and I think I'll give this a try.

One thing I need to stress is to not play when you are stressed out or easily angered, especially when your squad leading. I've seen this happend many times and its even happended to me several times and I feel horrible. Squad Leading a squad can sometimes be messy and really stressful, combine that with a stressful attitude and you may end up snapping on one of your squad mates because you have made a wrong decision or one of your squad mates did something "stupid". This doesn't mean the squad member did anything wrong, he simply did something you didn't want him to do, but the SM isn't telepathic and cannot read the Sl's thoughts. So, you must be in a certain chilled out mood to SL effectively and in a manner that will want peopel to keep coming back. If not, don't do it, unless your level headed enough to handle the anger when your squad gets destroyed. I know I can't handle such stress, and I also know some SLs that can have a spaz attack because they had a bad day.
So, I want to apologize for any squad mates I had a little hissy fit on in the past, it was me not you...

**Warlab** · 10-24-2008, 12:45 AM

TG/PR ascendence....

Only one TG IHS tag on the list
I think that say's alot.

PS. Should you see these boys all on the oposing side ya, you may want to think teamstack. I'll give you that

**Wicks** · 10-24-2008, 03:44 AM

I disagree totally about typing childish, antagonistic and rude remarks in all chat in-game. I think that sort of thing is great and in fact I have it on good authority that Hitler shot himself in that bunker after receiving a telegram from Winston Chuchill simply saying
"!PWNED!".

No seriously, great post Dis, have read it and taken a lot to heart. Gonna try and SL 95% of the time again and do my bit.

**BigGaayAl** · 10-24-2008, 04:09 AM

I have 3 short remarks.

1) Stacking, even though it is sometimes over-discussed, is often a problem.

2) I believe a player that takes a sniper, gets kicked from -in this case- my squad and then joins another squad or makes one, should be kicked. I've seen this so much that they just go sit in a disorganised squad or make a one man squad that becomes the trashcan of the team. These players (often vets too) should be halted. I believe the rules do allow for them to be kicked. If correct, I would encourage people to start weeding out those bad apples. The important thing is to send the message that command structure applies to everyone(!) and not just from CO to SL.
The best mindset to me is, have ultimate patience with people that try but fail, have none with people that do not try (to follow orders/do teamwork).

3) A very good point disposeable made is about the childish comments.
I too CRINGE severely every time I see "pwned", "fail" or any such immature comments on the server.

A good example is the jdam. Every time someone drops it, there are some people that feel the need to state in childish terms that it didn't kill the whole enemy team. As stated I think it is really stupid and silly, and shows poor sportsmanship.

It's entirely different if this kind of comment is exchanged between friends. Then I would call it funny smacktalk. To players you don't know (in PR you never know who your opponent is) it is just ..meh.

Ah a 4th argument still:
4) I find it very hard not to kick everyone in my squad too often. It seems when I kick everyone that can't take an order, I'm pretty soon playing alone. Soo often people take an order as a personal offense. I don't know the solution to this, but it is problematic to me. If I want to play a good game, an I have to choose between headless chickens with 1337 aim, or quitting.... I often quit and go play COH where at least the squads follow orders

.

**Wicks** · 10-24-2008, 05:15 AM

On a more cheerful note (well for me anyway), I feel I must point out WARLAB that some of us change our name regularly and my overall position on Gametracker for PR is 4th with, I kid you not 666, 191. How cool is that 666!

Pointless boasting over, sorry.

**Fighter** · 10-24-2008, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by BigGaayAl

Ah a 4th argument still:
4) I find it very hard not to kick everyone in my squad too often. It seems when I kick everyone that can't take an order, I'm pretty soon playing alone. Soo often people take an order as a personal offense. I don't know the solution to this, but it is problematic to me. If I want to play a good game, an I have to choose between headless chickens with 1337 aim, or quitting.... I often quit and go play COH where at least the squads follow orders

.

On Road to Ky'ongani (or watever the heck its called) I found myself SL'ing and just boiling over, kicking everyone, and leaving. Some guy used language I dont find acceptable and I told him to cut it out please and then the whole squad started yelling at me and wondering why I did that, using remarks such as: well he's just an 8-year-old telling you what to do, dont listen to that kid, etc...

I didn't kick him, i just asked him to please dont do it again.

I too often (not much anymore) find myself flying a choppa. I have tried to knock it off, and Im going to leave it at that.

Dispo. made some excellent points and a huge point as a whole. All of this NEEDS TO STOP NOW!

**joe98** · 10-24-2008, 09:41 AM

Thing were marginally better on Kashan last night but please keep it all in perspective, its a game lets have fun. Who in their right mind wants to spend their time logging on to see a bunch of whining and general bad manners? Not me, thats for sure.

As an Englishman, I believe good manners are second only to decent cup of tea

Anyone for a brew?

**Jeepo** · 10-24-2008, 10:26 AM

Usually im an infantry only kinda guy, but more and more recently, i have been in armour squads and im loving it. I WOULD branch into the air, but its not worth the risk! Mr.Fighter, if you get in that situation again, i would have no hesitation kicking them, if they do not show respect and follow orders, its their problem, and they find themselves squadless. Im ok with this, as im a crap SL in PR anyway!

This is TG, not some pubby server, and everyone on here gets equal respect. Even if you are only 8!

**browna3** · 10-24-2008, 11:20 AM

i have also been playing armour alot on the armour maps, until i realised that if i didnt squad lead on al kufrah oilfeild that we would have no infantary squads. i think disposable that this thread has opened our eyes to what needs to change. i have found myself lately playing and thinking that if im going to continue to enjoy playing that i should play by the tg rules and try to encourge the public gamers to do so too. this way we can all have fun and get the server back the the standard it was when i started playing back in .7

**Danolboy** · 10-24-2008, 11:44 AM

seeing as the majority of people that will read this thread are not those responsible for the behaviour talked about I guess we need "boots on the ground" to correct it when it happens. Can't be just be left to the Admins, they can't see everything all of the time.

It's got to be a joint commitment from everyone to take back the server.

**Fighter** · 10-24-2008, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by joe98

Thing were marginally better on Kashan last night but please keep it all in perspective, its a game lets have fun. Who in their right mind wants to spend their time logging on to see a bunch of whining and general bad manners? Not me, thats for sure.

As an Englishman, I believe good manners are second only to decent cup of tea

Anyone for a brew?

Things went extremely downhill this morning on Qwai. I know Dispo was shaking after that one. I counted at least 2 bans, more kicks, really cracking down. I reported twice for tk's. I was under the cover of smurfness. I really like how we're cracking down, but I know how hard it is on Dispo.

**browna3** · 10-24-2008, 12:11 PM

this is why the other admins are around, i know dispo seems to do more than the others (please if i am wrong please correct me) from my experience. but i think that the other admins are just as great. We owe the quality of the server to these guys.
i think this should be done more often.

Thank you Disposable, Nardini, Cola, Cougar and ollie for keeping the server as it should be. Your countless ours watching the chaos that has resently been erupting on out server and for your quick and decisive punishments for those few people who try and ruin it for everyone else.

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