Time to review our servers? DoDs

by **GTFO. master.sar.fier** » 30 Apr 2011, 14:59

Time to review our servers? I know that there are less people playing now that summer is approaching, I am one of them. But we have six servers
* 1 dod donner
* 2 Avalanche
* 3 Flash
* 4 Rotation
* 5 Perlermo
* 6 Jag and Colmar
1 that was my favorite when I started playing is almost always empty.
2 is almost always empty
3 ok almost always full
4 not so good
5 ok
6 ok
When I look at the load on the servers I mean evening times working days and days and nights on the weekends.
My suggestion would be that we used
1 dod donner and Jag
2 Avalanche and Kalt
3 Flach
4 Rotation
5 Perlermo and anzo.
6 Argentan and Colmar
Would this be something for us, I personally think it is time we make a change. Would be fun, with more variation. Think it would be good to split Jag and Colmar, they are the only maps with blasting.
And forgive my bad English :mrgreen:

by **Rockford** » 30 Apr 2011, 16:01

A change up might really help get things moving on the other servers! Argentan would be great to separate out, maybe put with Donner? Both great maps. I would keep the bomb maps together as people tend to either like them or hate them. Its a shame Donner has gone quiet...its a really nice map when full!

by **GTFO. master.sar.fier** » 30 Apr 2011, 20:15

Yes you're right. We should probably keep Colm and Jag
Then it will be like this. 1 dod donner and Argentan. 6 Jag /colmar

by **GTFO. Kitten** » 30 Apr 2011, 20:21

I agree we could do with a change.
There are many maps out there so why not add one or two that are fresh.
Colonia is a good map, but is small.
Would have to keep Palermo for our one and only Tommy (or he is likely to sulk

)
Maybe we should get a list together of all the available maps and cast a vote?

by **GTFO. Gash** » 30 Apr 2011, 21:37

bring a list together and see what options are favorable... take note that some dods svrs may be removed (along with tf2 ones), if we are to consider bringin on brink server/s

by **GTFO. TommyBoy** » 30 Apr 2011, 23:46

I think the league maps should be on rotation on one of the servers, probably #1 as its always dead. Start off with Lennon/Harrington, should get good numbers as there are very few public servers hosting these maps.

by **GTFO. Kitten** » 01 May 2011, 09:49

With all of the updates for TF2 recently, this has also been affecting DoDs.
Is there any way, if we are swapping maps that we could put all of DoDs on one box instead of sharing it with TF2?
Flash seems to be on the box with the most popular TF2 maps and as Flash is the most popular DoDs map, when they are all full all seem to struggle.

by **Sepp** » 01 May 2011, 12:40

GTFO. Kitten wrote:Is there any way, if we are swapping maps that we could put all of DoDs on one box instead of sharing it with TF2?

By doing that you might lose players who only use the favorites tab of the serverbrowser.
They see their favourite server has turned from DoD into TF2 and vice versa and if they cba to do some research they're gone.
You should put announcements on the servers then to inform the players about the upcoming ip/port changes.

by **Photek** » 01 May 2011, 22:55

Hi,

When I first got into playing DoD on a 64k modem back in the day, one of my favourite servers was Kustom Kettle. They ran two servers with custom maps on and would have all of the custom maps for both servers in two zip files on their website. Every 3 months or so they would change the maps and update the zip files. I'm not suggesting you should do this but having custom maps would be brilliant in my eyes.

Photek

by **GTFO. Ragostini** » 01 May 2011, 23:12

We did have a custom map server back last year, but it didn't attract many players, but could be worth trying again.

by **GTFO. Avenger** » 02 May 2011, 05:10

Think proposed changes sound good.

Sepp does have a point, but i'm sure if we left enough time and spread the word enough people aren't going to miss out. Plus i'm sure most people would just find the server again if they thought it was good.

Photek, i'm liking it, we had a load of custom maps on our CSS gungame server and downloading each one when it changed was a pain in the ass. Having a download system would work for those that were regulars and on the forum and the rest can just wait for it to download I suppose.

GTFO. Gash wrote: take note that some dods svrs may be removed (along with tf2 ones), if we are to consider bringin on brink server/s

Why all of a sudden is a brink server popular? its not like the Brink thread is teeming with people wanting to play...
But if you/people think it is going to be a massive hit then by all means; might be worth removing some underused servers.

by **Rockford** » 16 May 2011, 16:42

well I see Donner is gone...Any news on any proposed map changes? Got nothing to lose!!

by **GTFO. Sammo** » 17 May 2011, 07:38

Yep, new map is called hunt Rockford the Canadian

by **Rockford** » 17 May 2011, 09:19

I'M NOT CANADIAN!!!!! :roll:

I do not have a flip top head for starters.... :lol:

by **GTFO. Sammo** » 17 May 2011, 09:37

Hmmm , you sound Canadian :roll:

by **GTFO. Gash** » 17 May 2011, 19:45

There is an anzio argentan

by **GTFO. Sammo** » 19 May 2011, 09:51

lets have some small match maps :roll:

by **Selkino** » 23 May 2011, 00:08

Argentan/Donner server is a great idea.

by **Secret Squirrel** » 25 May 2011, 19:18

Let's face it this was long over due, most of the regular players on Ava just ran and found different servers with either rotation or a change of map.
No idea where Scapel, Bandi, Tappi or any of the others are, I even play under a different name now :wink:

There has been countless threads about this..........

On a brighter note

Good News that you are looking at either having 2 maps per server or just spicing it up abit.

Changes always take a bit of time to kick off.

I always like to play flash at night then have the normal flash following or even flasher MG.
Must be loads of ideas in all the old threads.

by **Selkino** » 26 May 2011, 15:23

I saw bandi and tappi sesterday on Flash.

but we still need the map updates, guys!! it's almost june... we need a little refreshment:)

by **Secret Squirrel** » 02 Jun 2011, 08:24

Selkino wrote:I saw bandi and tappi sesterday on Flash.

but we still need the map updates, guys!! it's almost june... we need a little refreshment:)

^^ Indeed....but that was because the others were dead.

You need to get a grip before it goes.

Have you tried contacting regular players for feedback and such

by **Selkino** » 06 Jun 2011, 15:59

No. But that's a good idea.

by **GTFO. Sammo** » 07 Jun 2011, 08:27

Yep its needs refreshing, it is getting stale :twisted:

by **Secret Squirrel** » 11 Jun 2011, 13:19

How about try Lennon or Rails with Anzio.
Small maps, hit and run.
Might appeal to people

You had/have a rotation server but the problem is you had the maps that you already had on seperate servers, even by putting different maps in there you will still have to verbally rally players to fill it at first.

Try mass e-mails to members from the data base

by **GTFO. Avenger** » 23 Jun 2011, 04:32

Secret Squirrel wrote:Try mass e-mails to members from the data base

Not sure thats totally necessary or viable.

Anyway I came to say I have submitted some ideas for admins to consider and will be getting back to you shortly.

by **Rockford** » 23 Jun 2011, 09:13

Secret Squirrel wrote:
You had/have a rotation server but the problem is you had the maps that you already had on seperate servers, even by putting different maps in there you will still have to verbally rally players to fill it at first.

Try mass e-mails to members from the data base

Squirrel is right about rallying the players! TF2 admin often idle on the server to get the players in...same needs to happen in DOD. Now there may not be enough DOD admin, cant a few TF just cross over? They don't have to even play, just idle for a bit!!

Mass emails, might be a bit much, but announcing and sending invites, that new maps/rotation etc via GTFO steam members would be a GREAT idea. It already works for HG and a few other clans!!

I also agree a couple of small fun maps will really help kick start again!! easy to fill and create interest. There is a patch you can add that means flags can be capped according to the number of players (ie you don't have to wait for 2 players to cap middle if only 2 in!)

This map is a great small map.... dod_inside_arena_[hcm]_b2. Avenger - you know I have plenty of suggestions and map ideas, please do pm me.

by **Selkino** » 04 Jul 2011, 21:25

any news on this? not much as I can see

by **Rockford** » 04 Jul 2011, 22:31

Come on GTFO anything is better than nothing now

by **GTFO. master.sar.fier** » 05 Jul 2011, 11:15

I totally agree, something must be done. Right now it is being discussed on the Members Only section.
If it leads anywhere, who knows?
Thanks to all of you involved in this issue. Continue to speak up.
And a big thank you for your suggestions Rockford

by **Secret Squirrel** » 05 Jul 2011, 11:55

Unfortuately things and topics can get stuck in the members section, it needs people who are interested in Dods to start kicking things about.
There are many options open to try to start filling your servers again, your old customers are only going to UKCS and the likes, just contact them and communicate!!

Small amount of fake clients
1 man cap till certain amount of players are in game
instant respawn ( it seems that it takes longer now to respawn ) or 3 seconds
Different map rotation
Map vote

I always like the idea of having a Ava server with all the different Ava maps in it but the HG were always Donnor mad

by **GTFO. Avenger** » 05 Jul 2011, 15:49

Squirrel I am doing the best I can to get things moving and am kicking it about :wink:

, I only recently put in my suggestions to members because I hadn't had time to finalize my topic.

Most of the things you put I have suggested.

Once they are approvedish i'll post them in a new topic so you can tell us what you guys think.

by **Secret Squirrel** » 05 Jul 2011, 18:25

And Avenger I did not know your progess on this, you hadn't posted.
So my apologies there.

I tried to spec in the Ava server and got kicked in under 6 minutes, so I could not even idle in there.

by **Rockford** » 11 Jul 2011, 09:55

Squirrel raises another point....that I skirted around in an earlier post. TF2 admin are very good at idling on TF2 to help get the server going. As a regular, I've been doing this on Flash most days. However the reduced spec time meant I gave up trying to do this on Ava, Jagd etc cause it usually takes longer than the allotted time. Now I love that there is a time limit, but I wonder if Doners maybe should have a longer spec time to help with this situation, or as mentioned before, some admin can idle on DODs for a bit?

by **Secret Squirrel** » 11 Jul 2011, 15:33

Rochford I agree.........

Guys we are not knocking you as a group we are just trying to light a rocket under your arses to do something, Dods players are still out there you just have a hole in your net atm.

by **Selkino** » 21 Jul 2011, 18:51

do something guys up there!

we need the change
and this game is still the best next to CS

by **Rockford** » 31 Jul 2011, 08:45

Bump! - Hiya guys...still no changes. Anything happen with Avenger's proposals? Even Flash is dying now :/

by **GTFO. Luckyg** » 31 Jul 2011, 11:03

Rockford wrote:Bump! - Hiya guys...still no changes. Anything happen with Avenger's proposals? Even Flash is dying now :/

I promise to take a look this afternoon and make changes.

Busy this morning hopefully buying a car!

by **Rockford** » 31 Jul 2011, 17:05

good luck with the car!! Sorry to be a nag...

by **GTFO. Avenger** » 03 Aug 2011, 02:01

You need nag no more.... :mrgreen:

Just point us in the right direction now :arrow:

by **Rockford** » 03 Aug 2011, 09:01

GTFO. Avenger wrote:You need nag no more....
Just point us in the right direction now

I'm confused...isn't this what this thread has been doing? :roll:

If you need something else, post on the forum what you are looking for, there are clearly some passionate DODs players that will answer the call. I can certainly direct my friends to post.

Things that make a difference imo:
Map Choice/Rotation - the odd map change here and there to keep it fresh will help
Admin presence - is it any coincidence that maps that are used are the one's with admin
Capping flags according to players (ie 2 people playing should not have a 2 person cap)
Rates - Restriction of rates? This was trialled and then disappeared.

As for map choices: I would have a comp map rotation; A small map rotation (for easier play with less numbers and becomes fast and furious when full), a bomb maps section; and maybe favourite map area. The map voted the best last month becomes this months 24/7.

Why does TF2 work? I think it is because there are plenty of admin, admin that are technically very capable and response to problems are quick. The reverse in these areas, imo, is the reason your DODs area is struggling. With this in mind, here's an off the wall suggestion, how about talking to map builders and seeing if they want to run some of their maps? Showing off their maps and investing their time, some of these might end up as great admin ! Keeps the rotation fresh too!

There's my initial round up!