HyperionGaming.org
Team Fortress 2 => General Discussion => Topic started by: Christian on August 18, 2013, 09:21:45 AM
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So I would like to start an open discussion to gauge interest and get some ideas from you guys! We have been talking about adding new servers for awhile now. But before adding a 3rd server (or more) we have been thinking about how to change Server #2 which is currently an exact clone of Server #1. Phasma calls it "the waiting room" lol! Because people wait on #2 while on queue for Server #1.
Now the idea is to make Server #2 distinct, so that it has it's own regulars. I suggested that it be an all-talk server, since I myself love all-talk. It would cater to a different set of players. Maybe even add fast respawn to it, and dead talk. More of a fun, easy server.
Now there are also talks of a no-crit server. Perhaps we can have:
Normal Server - Current server #1 stays the same
Easy Server - Server 2, all talk, fast-respawn, etc
Pro Server - Server 3, no crits, 24 player max, geared towards more serious players
We also wanna be in the quickplay or matchmaking.
[big][big]How does the matchmaking work?[/big][/big]
You need to be running a Valve map to be matched, except:
- Any arena map
- cp_manor_event
- cp_degrootkeep
- koth_harvest_event
- tc_hydro
Servers should be running as "vanilla" as possible. In particular, these server tags (sv_tags) will disqualify a server:
- friendlyfire
- respawntimes
- nocrits
- norespawntime
- nodmgspread
- highlander
- noquickplay
Your server should not be password protected
Your server needs to have VAC enabled
Increasing the max player count above 24 will incur a matchmaking scoring penalty, but will not disqualify you from the list
(http://www.linkshells.com/discussion.jpg)
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Quick-play is affected if you disable random critz right? It is just my assumption & opinion, but I do not see the server #3 idea being very populated. I mean I could be wrong, but I think 95% of us that play are not pro or have any pro experience.
I do agree with server 2 seeming like the waiting room, but I think if you made server 2 to be control point/ctf of whatever it would be popular (leaving the mods and specifications like the main server). I think it would at least be worth an experiment for a month if you made it that kind of server to see how traffic flows.
These are just my thoughts though I'm sure everyone has a lot of ideas.
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Now there are also talks of a no-crit server. Perhaps we can have:
Normal Server - Current server #1 stays the same
Easy Server - Server 2, all talk, fast-respawn, etc
Pro Server - Server 3, no crits, 24 player max, geared towards more serious players
It all sounds good to me. I'd really like the "Pro" server. Random critz drive me bat poop crazy. If Valve had not added Mad Milk, Pee, Frontier Justice, and all the other mini critz BS I could possibly see them being useful, possibly, but with all that they have added, there simply is no need for randoms any more. It's nothing more than a clusterfrag of mini/random critz as it stands. 32 people, with whatever ratio they us (for 24 players) it's like 3/1 critz/normal death. (Random rough figure based off experience in game.) At least that's how it feels in game.
I want Valve to remove them officially, but they seem to think they are need (Paraphrase:)"to keep the pace up and the game moving along"......whatever.
P.S.
I'm sure I can drag a bunch of the formally SourceOP people to it, though I know some of them prefer 32 slot servers vs 24.
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Just to add a few important points:
1). The Payload server will not change (except new custom maps, and small tweaks).
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2). We can experiment with Votation/Server #2. However: this server already has a quickplay score/record, and it would be a shame to throw it out the window. I would really prefer to keep it Quickplay approved (https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2825-AFGJ-3513) (meaning crits on/spawn time unaffected).
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3). A third server is definitely possible, but it wouldn't happen this month. I need to solve a big issue with our NS2 server. Once that's done, we can add a 3rd server. On that server, I'll be willing to try non-Quickplay configurations.
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4). While it's possible to try different configurations every week on a server and see what sticks, it's always more beneficial to have a real plan and make sure there's a demand for it. Unfortunately, these forums are not attracting enough player traffic to get that data, so please ask your friends what kind of server they'd like to see.
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5). I respect everybody's opinions and ideas. Feedback is very important and I know everyone here only wants to improve the community. However, we can't implement all suggestions and the HG.org staff and I will make the final decisions.
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For Votation, the most obvious idea would be to try a similar configuration to Payload but with CP maps. I'm not sure if all CP maps work well with 32 players though. I must admit Payload is by far my favorite game type.
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This is from Valve Quickplay:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2825-AFGJ-3513
Servers should be running as "vanilla" as possible. In particular, these server tags (sv_tags) will disqualify a server:
- friendlyfire
- respawntimes
- nocrits
- norespawntime
- nodmgspread
- highlander
- noquickplay
Increasing the max player count above 24 will incur a matchmaking scoring penalty, but will not disqualify you from the list
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For Votation, the most obvious idea would be to try a similar configuration to Payload but with CP maps. I'm not sure if all CP maps work well with 32 players though. I must admit Payload is by far my favorite game type.
This would be my vote.
Here is my thinking:
Our regulars hang out on Payload; we don't have a regular contingent on Votation. Any changes to Payload risks alienating the base.
If our goal is to have popular, populated servers, then we need to grow the regulars. Adding a new type like a 'cp' only server adds new regulars (hopefully) without disrupting Payload.
It very well could become a trademark: "Hyperion Gaming is proud to offer the finest individual payload and control point servers possible"
Thoughts?
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I would like a server with all non-payload maps so we can play some different maps.
The only idea that I DON'T like is the server geared toward "serious gamers" It seems
like this would create a Snob factor and be intimidating for a mediocre player like myself.
8)
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I think changing server #2 as a cp server would be great. Payload is my favorite but CP can be really fun too and it's a nice change once in a while.
If you set up a 3rd server you could always try a fun server with different game types like Dodgeball or Prop Hunt or Basketball style games, or a rotation of them for fun if you're not worried about the quickplay.
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I could very easily see myself switching from payload to cp and back depending on my 'mood' while playing. :)
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bump. so other ppl can see.
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I mentioned this to Chainspell yesterday, and a few other people chimed in on the matter as well: I would absolutely love to play some CTF or CP maps with the Hyperion crew! Some of the names that came up in conversation were:
cp_dustbowl
ctf_sawmill
cp_egypt_final
Injecting some of my personal favourites to that list:
cp_steel
cp_junction_final
cp_degrootkeep
It seems like this thread has many faces that are friendly to this idea. To piggyback on some of Sandie's ideas, maybe Saxxon as another game type on Server 3. I understand that custom obviously may not be as friendly, as it won't automatically be fed players by Valve.
With all of this said, I believe that Falconeer hits the topic right on the head: adding cp servers into the mix of our already very strong community of payload players might be short-sighted. We do not want to alienate these individuals, but reinforce the model of a server group like Hyperion having something to offer all players.
I personally do not like the 'pro' server idea for Hyperion. We horse around so much that I can't see it being very useful. Players that are ultra hardcore at TF2 aren't likely to be hanging out around Hyperiond 24/7 anyway. :)
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...Dustbowl?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jud4lvxB3SQ
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I did a poll in game asking:
[big][big]Do you like to play on all-talk servers?[/big][/big]
Result:
(http://www.linkshells.com/2013-08-26_00002.jpg)
I'll keep running random polls like CP maps, etc.
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Good idea!
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I would be cool with server 2 changing to quick respawn and possibly all talk, I like that sometimes. And server 3 being a cp/ctf rotation with regular rules. I would play all 3 if they were set up like that.
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I would be cool with server 2 changing to quick respawn and possibly all talk, I like that sometimes. And server 3 being a cp/ctf rotation with regular rules. I would play all 3 if they were set up like that.
what about a server that runs all or mostly all official maps. call it "all official maps server" lol :))
would be great for me when I start making videos again lol
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oh like cp, pl, ctf, ad, koth all in one? yeah I'd probably play it I like variety
my only concern would be server clearing maps
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Agreed about that. I'm afraid of that too. But it would be fun to play different modes all in one server lol. Don't think alot of people are into that. Most people leave if the next map isn't going to be the same type they're on already.
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Keeping a keen eye to what is clearing the server will be important. In the interest of keeping them full 24/7 though, I think it would be prudent to let respawn times stay normal and keep alltalk off. Not that I wouldn't enjoy those, but on a trial basis this might make more sense.
We can't be afraid to prune lackluster maps!
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I'd love to see a server similar to Payload in every way, except without PL maps ;)
It's been a while since I played CP or even CTF, but I feel we shouldn't combine too many game types on one server. We would also definitely need to remove unpopular maps, at least during late night/morning.
How many slots though? Keep 32? I know some maps *dustbowl* don't work well at all with 32 players. And how to decide the nextmap? Same system as Payload, fixed mapcyle? Lots of questions ;)
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Personally I prefer CP to PL and I'd love to play CP on hypreion servers 8) And I believe I'm not the only one who wanna play CP here!
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How many slots though? Keep 32? I know some maps *dustbowl* don't work well at all with 32 players. And how to decide the nextmap? Same system as Payload, fixed mapcyle? Lots of questions ;)
Hmm, I dunno! I played on SourceOP before I played on Hyperion, and Dustbowl worked - albeit in a few areas that narrow down. We could try it with 32! Maybe we could experiment with configurations for a week or so at a time?
I think the current voting structure will work well on a CP rotation.
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And I believe I'm not the only one who wanna play CP here!
Seconded!!
As for a possible CP server, I'd keep it as stock as possible to start with. First, let's see if there's any ACTUAL interest (beautiful theories get screwed by ugly realities all the time) before a lot of time gets spent doing fancy configurations. :D Second, it will allow us to get some baseline idea of preferences on how the server is running and third, it allows people to get a realistic opinion on what they like vs don't like.
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I think a voice announcer, either male/female, announcing your kill streak would be interesting to see. I've always played on my favorite server back in CS 1.6, and several servers have this feature too 'til now. It's pretty fun to hear that you're dominating and such ;) Then again, maybe some people might get tedious with the voice announcer so, perhaps the players could have the option of enabling it on or off when they join the server(s).
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I think a voice announcer, either male/female, announcing your kill streak would be interesting to see. I've always played on my favorite server back in CS 1.6, and several servers have this feature too 'til now. It's pretty fun to hear that you're dominating and such ;) Then again, maybe some people might get tedious with the voice announcer so, perhaps the players could have the option of enabling it on or off when they join the server(s).
Haha I love this idea. Have you guys played on NO HEROES server? It is like that! I loved it. I even played there even tho I have 100 ping there. To see what I'm talking about: 64.34.175.210:27015
It plays "humiliation" when you backstab somebody lol. It's Unreal tournament voices lol. it says DOMINATING! lol so fun. or GODLIKE!
Haha i think that would be perfect for a fun server :)
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Haha i think that would be perfect for a fun server :)
Yeah i think if we had a fun server with like custom maps or settings and no worry of quickplay it would be great. On the main PL server supporting quickplay i think it would be a turn off for a lot of people. Plus on our main server we do get talkative and it could get kinda noisy so the option to turn them off/ on for each player would be important.
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haha found a video of NO HEROES server:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN4wEtCARpk
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I'd really like to see the Payload Votation server be filled more regularly before expanding the servers. It's a clone of the Payload one, but I hardly ever see anyone in it. Having both servers filled to the max on a regular basis would be awesome imo.
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I have a feeling it is empty for that very reason: because it is a clone of another server
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I have a feeling it is empty for that very reason: because it is a clone of another server
Agreed. Given the choice between Payload and Payload Votation I prefer Payload; the teams and player counts are more stable.
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I think someone called the Votation server the "waiting room" of the servers. Are there regulars who only play on the Votation server?
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I think you could do this to change up Server #2 without having to buy another server or getting it removed from quickplay.
1) You could set the random crit level lower, sort of like 99% chance or 90% chance.
2) Have it run, KOTH, PL, and CP (or other interesting game types, just go on the browser and see what maps fill quickly or something).
3) Make it all-talk and death-talk. Those will probably be the deciding factor in staying or leaving a server. I personally love all-talk as it's interesting, sort of like a new game-mode, you get to hear everything the other team is saying and it's funnier.
That's about all that I think you guys should do to Server #2. This would be if you don't really want to get another server, also if you guys do lower the chance of random crits, I'd personally be on it all the time.
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3) Make it all-talk and death-talk. Those will probably be the deciding factor in staying or leaving a server. I personally love all-talk as it's interesting, sort of like a new game-mode, you get to hear everything the other team is saying and it's funnier. [/b]
I agree with this one, all talk players is about half of the TF2 population. That's a huge chunk of players to be missing out on. I'm still doing polls but I'll make a full recommendation by Sunday (sept 8th). Our plan is to change server #2 by Sept 14.
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Our plan is to change server #2 by Sept 14.
Excellent! I'm going to be away from my machine (business trip to San Jose, CA) for a few days and didn't want to miss the opening. :p