Alternating mapcycles

[Rogan]

I don't think we're getting as many players as we could. IMO we're losing players on map changes due to compromises in the primetime cycle.

ATM we're trying to make a cycle that's interesting as well as not having shit maps. The thing is there are only say 4 maps which aren't considered shit - dust2, azzy, italy, office - all the others are pretty much borderline.

I was thinking we'd do better to rotate full cycle (using the old arrangement method) with a popular cycle on certain days. I dunno how we'd go about this. Maybe we'd make Tues and Thurs full-cycle days and have the rest popular cycle days. Then promote the full cycle day on the server using adverts.

If full cycle became more popular then we could add another day and so on.

I say this because as we all know 'shit maps' can fill the server sometimes - assault for example fills it, so can havana, even bloody tides can fill it up. I think a large cycle will kill the server initially - but only on 1 or 2 days a week; we’d still be getting people coming on for the popular maps on the other days.

Thoughts?

[Caveman]

im up for whatever works and gets people on, so long as we dont end up with a 4 map cycle at primetime.

[highside]

From a regulars point of view IMO a larger map cycle is bestest, there has been a few complaints since the server reinstall with just standard maps because you are seeing the same map twice in a gaming session. So bravo for adding a few more recently.

Another problem, and I don't know what causes it is when the server loads a map then changes and loads another, change in map cycle??, this has been happening a fair bit lately.

And train is wank

[^Lucy^]

Put on aztec, prodigy,dust,dust2,office,italy, that pirana level and chateau on for a week and watch the server being full all the time, as they're popular maps, 45 minute time limit not 15. No1 plays the other maps, not compound or militia it clears the server out like they where called de_i_have_aids. My old server I had that rota full all the time. Yeah it may suck for some people because they don't like the maps in that rota, deal with it tbh! They will be the 1 sitting in the server when it say 0/32 because no wants on those maps, which sucks worse. I think you should just set a popular rota which the entire community plays if people want another map not in the cycle let them vote it. Though I can't see anyone voting de_tides or the unbalanced assault in panic.

[antonye]

This:

No1 plays the other maps, not compound or militia it clears the server out like they where called de_i_have_aids.

contradicts this:

Yeah it may suck for some people because they don't like the maps in that rota, deal with it tbh!

HTH.

[^Lucy^]

Um, when I had my server antonye, it had that map rota, rogz and a few others hated it because dust was on it pretty much all the time. But guess what? It was full all the time even in the early hours of the morning. It was a great compromise a few people it sucks for the majority it rocks for, beggers can't be choosers, when you're talking about player numbers.

Call it a contradiction, but thats a fact antonye no one is gonna like the map rota that you put up, you cannot please everyone. But if it works, you cannot fault it. For example all the others maps usualy clear the server out. And the worst thing is to keep changing the map rota all the time, having just a normal rotation and change the order every 1-3 months is far better otherwise you get people leaving due to unpopular maps being on.

I know this from the past and I have told Rogz months ago to get rid of these maps, and just have the rota that worked back in the past. I know because when B33f was around the samething happened got a rota that worked without the crap maps and it was popular, so popular in fact they had a second server which was 32 player and was full. People complained about it but got on with it, that server didn't get a high ranking for having the poopy maps on. With the otherway, if you put on maps that you "guys" like no1 will play, I look at it from a realistic angle worked for B33f worked for my server not a coincidence popular maps are just that popular.

[antonye]

I wasn't talking about maps.

In one sentence you (to paraphrase) say "nobody plays these maps, so you shouldn't put them on", while in the next sentence you say (again, to paraphrase) "put what maps on you want and the players will have to get used to it".

I was simply pointing our your contradictory stance between these two sentences.

For the record; I really don't care what maps are on the server, nor could I care whether it's full all the time, some of the time or never full. I would rather see a handful of decent players (non-cnuts) rather than it full with 11-yo whingers. It's the quality of play rather than the quantity which sets ID apart from the rest.

[^Lucy^]

I rather have a full server then an empty server, quality comes from the admining, and great games come from the quanity of players, or we should reduce the server number from 28/32 to standard 16 which would fair better.

I said take maps off that no1 plays period pretty much 0/32 cause cbble is on atm. Ofcourse it contradicts itself but I know that only a small majority probably 10 of you complain, but it makes sence to me because there is more pro's then con's. Like when I had my server up Rogz and someone else hated the map cycle, it was full! I'm not gonna change the cycle just to fit someone elses needs which empties the server makes no logical sence.

The only real complainers are a small group of players, who play unpopular maps so, the real contradiction really is putting on a map cycle like it is and expecting it to be full when the majority hate them, so put on one that the majority like. Makes logical sence to me, ofcourse people won't like it and have to get used to it, the difference is there are people in the server compared it not.

[antonye]

I've read that four times now and it still doesn't make sense

[^Lucy^]

Everyone I showed understands what i mean.

1.) Current rota no1 plays it bar a few, bad!
2.) Use a rota that has popular maps only a few upset, get a full server good!

Doesn't take a mathmatician to work out whats best. It's worked in the past and i know it works. Maybe it's time to resurrect the second server on 10 player with my rota and see if it works again? Last time I had control of that server it was more used then the main. *lol* Go figure.

[antonye]

Everyone I showed understands what i mean.

Actually, I was referring to your poor use of English, but I'll let it slip.

[The_Eliminator]

Is this some friendly banter or talk about alternating mapcycles?

Personally i agree with what lucy said at the very beginning:

"Put on aztec, prodigy,dust,dust2,office,italy, that pirana level and chateau on for a week and watch the server being full all the time, as they're popular maps, 45 minute time limit not 15."

These maps are the popular maps so you will not likely lose so many players, maybe the time limit is a bit long but i do agree with increasing it.

[highside]

I would rather see a handful of decent players (non-cnuts) rather than it full with 11-yo whingers. It's the quality of play rather than the quantity which sets ID apart from the rest.

I agree with AntonyE on this point. Of late the server has been full at iD prime time 2130 - 1130 which is good but you do tend to get some idiots on there now - spamming the mic, flashing spawn, TWing on purpose etc etc which we never had a couple of months back when custom maps were a big part of the cycle. If I remember correctly the server had the standard maps put back on due to lag, not neccessarily due to popularity.

IMO with a few custom maps this helped keep the idiots away leaving you with mainly regs, you could have a bloody good game with plenty of co-op and a good laugh too. Yes admins are there to sort the problem ppl out but I am sure all admins would prefer the play rather than sorting these idiots out.

To solve this surely the solution would be to only have popular maps running between midnight and say 2000 then add a few customs in during prime time for us regs.

[Kittenbait]

iD, correct me if I'm wrong, is running something of a gaming community nowadays rather than a competitve clan. Not only do we have plenty of members, but we have lots of regs who are the sort of people we want, and add to a healthy and convivial atmosphere. What is clear is that the balance of regs like a good map choice, and a map length in the order of 15-25 minutes. There are quibbles over what maps and fine tuning time length, sure, but what on earth can the point be of not satisfying to a decent degree the bulk of people who are already here? It's pretty much the epitome of chucking out the baby with the bath water.

As for reducing the server size, well, sure that'll make sure the server is full more often. In much the same way that we could reduce its capacity to 0, then we'd never need to worry about it not being full. Furthermore, as server capacity can easily pass 16, we're effectively forcing people off the server, which does nothing to get more people.

[^Lucy^]

That doesn't make any sence. *lol* When we had the custom maps on, tons of people complained there was custom maps on. They would play a native map then leave when a custom came on due to not liking it or not having it installed, and cba downloading it. It cleared everyone out not just idiots.

I have said about the Admins months ago that, when idiots come into the game, Admins have to stop play to kick them or warn them. I said it's hassle it's why I said I let somethings go. But everyone was like thats cool, she doesn't know what she's on about we admin the server goood, now it's a problem, uh huh? Sometimes i don't understand some of the things said on here, like I say to disable in-game sprays so admins don't have to warn those players or even deal witht hat problem, this to me is common sence!! People say naw it's cool, LOL then people spray porn and poor Admins have to stop play to kick/warn the players. Sometimes i think you bring on your own frustration and pain.

I don't see the problem, If it attracts players whats the matter? Admins are there to police the server, they said so 2 months back and where fine with it, even when i reminded them about increased hassle. I mean if you rather have far more mature players then cocks, reduce the server size to a reasonable level like 8 vs 8, instead of 32 which IMHO 32 is hard to police due to the number of players, and trying to find that needle in the haystack cause so many people. 8 vs 8 would give you fun gaming and easy to police.

You need to look at the pro's and the con's, puttin unpopular maps hardly anyone plays, custom maps unless popular gets no1 either usualy clears the server for two reasons stated. Putting on popular maps gets more players but you say idiots yet you can kick and punish. The other thing is if they come on the mic and annoy you, do the simple thing of disabling them, otherwise you frustrate yourself like I say above.