A lesson in perspective...

[Tai]

@ReubenMchawk
I disagree, to me the OP is fairly obviously annoyed at ben now that the game is not to his taste, and i'll show what makes me think that.

To clarify; Ben pisses me off, but he is not indebted to me in any way shape or form. I am not entitled to this game; it's free. It just pisses me off when people fix something that isn't broken (and ignore the things that are broken, IE the terrible community).

The reason I liked AoS so much was because it was simple. If I got killed, I didn't care. It was irrelevant, because it was like Minecraft; fun. Now he's trying to turn it into a competitive, marketable item (even though personally I would have bought the game for 10 bucks in .70 with network optimization). Helicopters, sure, cool idea, just like the various mods for Minecraft were cool ideas, but it screws with the core functionality. The game goes from being about simple combat made so complex by the simple act of tunneling and building up, to a system of complex combat where building is almost an afterthought.

Ben hasn't given any plans for new building materials (despite pretty fervent support a few months ago for alternative blocks, IE some stronger, some weaker). Again, that's the issue; the original premise of the game that made it so fun and so dynamic was the building and destruction. Now that's just a nice little perk, so if you're about to get shot, forget it, dig down or throw up a 2x2 wall.

And FYI I brought up Goonhaven only as a passing reference. Even on GH the gameplay declined thoroughly with the introduction of .75, I just can't say I didn't have fun watching GH crash after having too much estrogen spawned in it.

[Fluttershy]

(and ignore the things that are broken, IE the terrible community).

How do you even fix a community?

[Tai]

(and ignore the things that are broken, IE the terrible community).

How do you even fix a community?

Well, a good way to start would not be implementing things that will attract players who are known to be annoying as hell (IE Helicopters/MGs and COD kids, respectively). I don't think we necessarily need to get rid of promotions, but if Ben did some network optimizations I'm sure we could attract more dedicated hosts like Goonhaven was, which would result in a lot more quality gameplay and and overall better experience. Promoting on Reddit (though I don't think Ben had anything to do with that) was a terrible idea.

Registration would phase out a lot of the more malevolent players (griefers, hackers) and make them easier to ban (obviously it will always be a problem, but it would help). It would probably also phase out anyone too stupid to learn the controls of the game.

Implementing a revival system or some kind of medic class might make people work together better. Social ideas in general that make it easier for players to interact would result in more social players sticking around longer.

I think the most important would be changing the votekick defaults. %50 is too much for a votekick; it doesn't factor in that most people don't vote. 8 should be the maximum, and ban times should be longer. When people vote, then disconnect, their vote is discredited, making it even harder to votekick someone (I haven't been able to successfully kick from any server for the last 3 months). Making the GBL official would be nice, too.

[HoboHob]

(and ignore the things that are broken, IE the terrible community).

How do you even fix a community?

Well, a good way to start would not be implementing things that will attract players who are known to be annoying as hell (IE Helicopters/MGs and COD kids, respectively). I don't think we necessarily need to get rid of promotions, but if Ben did some network optimizations I'm sure we could attract more dedicated hosts like Goonhaven was, which would result in a lot more quality gameplay and and overall better experience. Promoting on Reddit (though I don't think Ben had anything to do with that) was a terrible idea.

Registration would phase out a lot of the more malevolent players (griefers, hackers) and make them easier to ban (obviously it will always be a problem, but it would help). It would probably also phase out anyone too stupid to learn the controls of the game.

Implementing a revival system or some kind of medic class might make people work together better. Social ideas in general that make it easier for players to interact would result in more social players sticking around longer.

I think the most important would be changing the votekick defaults. %50 is too much for a votekick; it doesn't factor in that most people don't vote. 8 should be the maximum, and ban times should be longer. When people vote, then disconnect, their vote is discredited, making it even harder to votekick someone (I haven't been able to successfully kick from any server for the last 3 months). Making the GBL official would be nice, too.

I actually agree with just about everything you said in that post.

[Habsburger]

"Never the big changes will be made by words and elections , but by blood and steel." -Otto Von Bismarck.

Only if we could apply the blood and steel part , then our problems would be solved. We need a huge pop-up ingame with all the commands , shortcuts , the objective of the game and how to use click and drag in a box with the nyan cat music , then i think deuces will understand the game , rather than running around.

[Altoids]

it is hard to find a server without the BRs, griefers, and hack users.

Which is why I can't unrust.

[Varun]

I played a decent game with a couple of friends, like Kodiak and Mort. They made the game more fun for me, since it was a bit more challenging than fogline sniping the ordinary fools you see.

These days, I only ever have fun playing with friends. If I don't know anyone on the server, I usually leave.

[Fluttershy]

Implementing a revival system or some kind of medic class might make people work together better. Social ideas in general that make it easier for players to interact would result in more social players sticking around longer.

People are far too squishy for a medic in this game, and classes....really?

I think the most important would be changing the votekick defaults. %50 is too much for a votekick; it doesn't factor in that most people don't vote. 8 should be the maximum, and ban times should be longer. When people vote, then disconnect, their vote is discredited, making it even harder to votekick someone (I haven't been able to successfully kick from any server for the last 3 months). Making the GBL official would be nice, too.

So only half one team needs to vote to kick a dude? You see zero way of this being abused?


Im just curious btw, why do you hold Goon Haven in such high regards?

[Tai]

People are far too squishy for a medic in this game, and classes....really?

It's just an idea. Revival would work just as well. Classes force people to work into teams... six months ago, I would never have recommended it, but at this point the community is getting so bad I think it might only be a matter of time...

So only half one team needs to vote to kick a dude? You see zero way of this being abused?

8 was the old standard, it got changed in .75. As I recall it can be changed but it rarely is so a lot of the servers that are just set up and left open tend to be pretty impossible to kick anyone. I don't think you'll run into a situation where you could get 8 people to abuse the system. You're lucky if you can find that many just to vote.

Im just curious btw, why do you hold Goon Haven in such high regards?

Because it had a set of dedicated admins (Up until the end when they let Herp pretty much take over -_-) and it was about having fun. The map was good and simple, the community was full of regulars, and it was almost always online. These days there are hardly any servers with regulars because even Minit US goes down all the time for maintenance.

The admins were really what did it though. They had people in almost every major time zone so there was always someone online to kick, but that wasn't even a problem up until the community got really bad. LDR was pretty good as I remember, but I haven't seen them online in months.

FYI, Goonhaven was the only server where a cloud of estrogen would spawn upon yelling "THAL, YOUR DUMB". Just sayin'.

[EgO]

it is hard to find a server without the BRs, griefers, and hack users.

Which is why I can't unrust.

A bit off topic, but exactly! I feel the same way, I used to be much better before the sudden influenza of the above.


G'night guys:)

[Fluttershy]

Classes force people to work into teams... six months ago, I would never have recommended it, but at this point the community is getting so bad I think it might only be a matter of time...

solofortress 2 meets aos. But how would you suggest revival without it turning into Squads 2.0?

8 was the old standard, it got changed in .75. As I recall it can be changed but it rarely is so a lot of the servers that are just set up and left open tend to be pretty impossible to kick anyone. I don't think you'll run into a situation where you could get 8 people to abuse the system. You're lucky if you can find that many just to vote.

I seriously dont trust the people to do anything right with votekicks, which I suppose is a bad sign. Shit like "wall hack lolololol" pass and Ive even seen a "he killed me" vote pass.

The map was good and simple

I dont think "good" is a word Id use to describe:pinpoint rectangle edition.

FYI, Goonhaven was the only server where a cloud of estrogen would spawn upon yelling "THAL, YOUR DUMB". Just sayin'.

When I played on it once a few months ago all people seemed to be doing was exactly the same as on any other server. But you are right on active admins.

[TBS]

This always happens to small-time producers/artists/musicians/inventors when they start seeing the dollar signs...

This website doesn't even have ads...

[Tai]

solofortress 2 meets aos. But how would you suggest revival without it turning into Squads 2.0?

It's been discussed already. Just having to reach them would be challenging since it means people can't just run and gun while their teammates come "back to life" (respawn). It could take a set amount of time or could just be a touch of life.

I seriously dont trust the people to do anything right with votekicks, which I suppose is a bad sign. Shit like "wall hack lolololol" pass and Ive even seen a "he killed me" vote pass.

That happened even before hand. It's an issue of people using their votekick properly. What the 50/50 system doesn't take into account however is that there are AFKs, people who don't speak English, and people who simply don't give a shit. Every single public server. No exceptions. It's virtually impossible to get a kick anymore.

I dont think "good" is a word Id use to describe:pinpoint rectangle edition.

I'm assuming you hang out in build servers and Aloha Hallway, huh?

When I played on it once a few months ago all people seemed to be doing was exactly the same as on any other server. But you are right on active admins.

Goon was one of the only servers that made their own scripts (besides SLoW before he... disappeared?). It was dedication. Thal certainly acted rashly but I have no sympathy for Stack, who was bequeathed a "community manager" and yet doesn't even play AoS. Can't tell you the last time I've seen him on the forums, either.

[Fluttershy]

It's been discussed already.

On this thread? It actually hasnt.

Just having to reach them would be challenging since it means people can't just run and gun while their teammates come "back to life" (respawn). It could take a set amount of time or could just be a touch of life.

Touch of life would be horrible, if there has to be revival or squads in general it has to be a timed thing of several seconds so people just dont stand next to each other to instantly revive each other.

I'm assuming you hang out in build servers and Aloha Hallway, huh?

Right, I clearly play on an inferior building mechanic and one of the most spawn campiest maps in existence. I have a general idea of what makes maps good, flat maps such as goon haven assult (I think thats what its called?) completely goes against what makes aos aos by forcing you to stalemate. Whats worse is that while you should be able to flank, people started crying they couldnt just look forward and snipe continuously and so they introduced damaging water. What next, indestructible terrain with no building? (Cough, Arena)

EDIT:Actually in retrospect the only aloha server I play on now is zombies, but saying now isnt exactly true. I quit a few months ago because its so horribly skewed in favor humans (often being a ratio of about 3 humans to 1 fully functional zombie) and squads often lead to humans spawn camping the zombies. Not to mention that despite being a domestic server it lags terribly.

Goon was one of the only servers that made their own scripts (besides SLoW before he... disappeared?).

Do the scripts Homps make not count?

[Tai]

On this thread? It actually hasnt.

There was an official thread months ago. Nitpicking.

Touch of life would be horrible, if there has to be revival or squads in general it has to be a timed thing of several seconds so people just dont stand next to each other to instantly revive each other.

Standing next to someone to revive wouldn't work. You'd respawn aiming at a neutral plane (Just like normal), and you'd always be aiming in a certain direction, which wouldn't be in the direction of your fellow players because they'd be on the ground. If you got like 16 people pancakes together, yeah, it might be a skewed mechanic, but I think we've pretty safely established it's impossible to get more than 8 people to really do anything together. The timing mechanics of the game suck as they stand right now. Beyond that, standing around a dead friend wouldn't be a good idea because you'd get picked off just as easily. Go look at ARMA2, the medical system in that game is just a really really advanced version of what we're talking about here.

Right, I clearly play on an inferior building mechanic and one of the most spawn campiest maps in existence. I have a general idea of what makes maps good, flat maps such as goon haven assult (I think thats what its called?) completely goes against what makes aos aos by forcing you to stalemate. Whats worse is that while you should be able to flank, people started crying they couldnt just look forward and snipe continuously and so they introduced damaging water. What next, indestructible terrain with no building? (Cough, Arena)

Goonhaven was filled with some of the most skilled players (besides private servers of course). What YOU think makes maps good is irrelevant; Goonhaven was popular, because it was always changing. You couldn't play the same map twice even though the whole thing was predicated on sameness. Go play any given Gen-server. If it's been on more than three hours I guarantee you there's at least one mountain missing from the map. That was never an issue on Goonhaven. Playing with indestructible terrain was fun, too (on veterans day they built an American flag out of God blocks). Those positions become tactical, and you fight over them. You aren't forced to fight over anything in other modes because you can just build a strongpoint whenever you want, and it's not different from digging a trench. And again, say what you will, but arena is tons of fun. It's about a varied game environment. On a side note, we need varied block strengths.

Do the scripts Homps make not count?

I have literally no idea what you're talking about, and I have a feeling I'll regret admitting it later, but I don't care.