Competitive Testing now Available Here!

YM

LVL100 YM
aa
Dec 5, 2007
7,135
6,056
Its because this service is new and isn't settled in yet. at later dates people will be able to use the system much more freely, at those times, we can't do anything to stop you not attending, since other people might want to play with 12 people that don't include you.

This isn't a permanent or formal 6v6 gameday setup, so don't get yer knickers in a twist over the fine details ;)
 

Shmitz

Old Hat
aa
Nov 12, 2007
1,128
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Would you agree that if two map authors want their map tested, and one of them can't be there, that the map whose author can actually attend should have priority? I personally think that's pretty fair, and given the sheer number of entries in the works, I can't imagine this ever NOT being the situation.

I think you're overvaluing the importance of "pro" skill levels in 6vs6 testing. Playing lets you understand the dynamic a lot better, and, more importantly, with fewer players it's a lot easier to keep track of WHY certain tactics are working and when they're being used. It's not the chaotic mess of 12vs12. The desire for "balanced" teams is understandable, but isn't so important that it overshadows the fairness of putting the time into testing your own map if you're going to ask 11 other people to do the same.
 

grazr

Old Man Mutant Ninja Turtle
aa
Mar 4, 2008
5,441
3,814
No, of course i can understand if an author is able to attend, that they would get priority over one whom cannot. For starters, they would presumably be organising it on the spot, which is the point of the tf2lobby; right?

I was just surprised such a rule was put in place. It seemed overly strict considering most things like this in the community self moderate; i would have expected the general rule of thumb to dictate such priorities naturally.

I don't mean to sound like i'm really bothered by it, it just sounded counter intuitive in the grander scheme of things. As such i didn't understand why it was in place.

P.S. I can appreciate the point you're trying to make here Shmitz:

but isn't so important that it overshadows the fairness of putting the time into testing your own map if you're going to ask 11 other people to do the same.

But when mapper's are putting in several hours a day, a week, essentially working for the competitive scene, playing a couple half hour PUG playtests is the least i would expect in return. It's not just a favour to us but themselves. It's up to the competitive scene to decide whether they want to play Badlands and Granary for the rest of TF2's life, or have more variaty. My point being, i've already spent around 25~ hours in Hammer making ctf_sabotage for the competitive scene and it hasn't yet seen a test. I don't mean to sound hung up about it, i otherwise wouldn't have mentioned it if you hadn't have said that. It just seemed like a moot point when the competitive scene is getting as much out of this as the competition entrants. I'm already putting in the hard work, from my perspective, the least they can do is test a map that they (presumably) want/need.

But that's just the other half of it i felt i needed to voice. I can see it from both sides. But spending hours on end in Hammer to make the comp scene a map and then being told i'm not doing enough/i'm disrespecting comp's is just a little insulting. The phrase don't bite the hand that feeds you comes to mind.

But I am more than happy to attend my own map in PUGs. I just figured i'd be able to use demo's as an equal resource like we have in the past. Sorry to pester you so about it.
 
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Flame

aa
Jul 19, 2009
368
865
welcome to competitive tf2 =]

STV Settings. throw these in the server.cfg

//SourceTV settings.
tv_enable 1
tv_name "The Announcer"
tv_password ""
tv_delaymapchange "1"
tv_delay "20"
tv_maxclients "10"

uhh 20 second delay. you can make this 0 though
map change is a big one. make sure its a 1 if you have any type of delay
max clients is how many people can connect to it (more than 10 without a relay is chop city, relays are expensive and unneeded for this)

you can set a password if you want, i didnt.

go crazy
 
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MrAlBobo

L13: Stunning Member
Feb 20, 2008
1,059
219
welcome to competitive tf2 =]

Not sure why but this seems like the perfect conclusion to the..."debate"
<_<

Anyways...you said you got sourcetv working on the comp servers...mind posting the how so we can get the relay working properly on the normal servers? Namely so we can actually connect to it and not get the "no relay available" message. I suspect there is just some necessary command missing...

EDIT: Hmm...it was my guess that some type of delay was required to get the relay working...
otherwise (from what i recall) the configs are pretty much the same
 
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Sgt.Sausage

L420: High Member
Dec 5, 2008
420
103
Sorry for the question, but i have some confusion with the testing. Obviously i dont want to submit a map as i dont map (maybe one day), but i would love to help test. I am a member of the steam group, and the servers are always password protected. The threads say join with the same info as last time. I would just like some clarification on how to participate, as i have comp. tf2 and l4d backgrounds, If it is invite only thats fine just curious.

Thanks
 

Cerious

L420: High Member
Aug 10, 2008
455
133
tv_autorecord 1

I think there are some settings that allow you to change the naming conventions of the demo files. Having someone simply downloading all the demos from the server, sorting them out by mapname, and then uploading them in a packs would be very helpful for map creators.
 

Armadillo of Doom

Group Founder, Lover of Pie
aa
Oct 25, 2007
949
1,228
Given the nature of testing comp. maps, I wonder if it's even possible to set official times like w/ our regular Gamedays. I worry that we'll eventually get so many entries as to overwhelm the 'testing by request' method. In any case, mad props to the TF2M staff for making it happen :D
 
Aug 10, 2009
1,240
399
Alright so provided I read this correctly, this would be what to do:

1) Have map is a playable state
2) Talk to Flame about a test
3) Test, somehow figure out the STV (which I don't understand atm)
4) Be grateful and re-iterate.
 

Shmitz

Old Hat
aa
Nov 12, 2007
1,128
746
Alright so provided I read this correctly, this would be what to do:

1) Have map is a playable state
2) Talk to Flame about a test
3) Test, somehow figure out the STV (which I don't understand atm)
4) Be grateful and re-iterate.

No, talk to a TF2M mod that is around and active in the chat.

Granted, if you can't find one of us, Flame does have his own resources, but I also can recall him griping about how he has five hundred people now messaging him for help testing maps, so I don't advocate pestering him unless he's a good buddy. ;)
 

DrHaphazard

L5: Dapper Member
Jan 6, 2008
249
12
I think its great that mangy and nineaxis helped to spearhead this tf2lobby thing. I have always thought that comp play got a bad rap on the forums, and i find it highly entertaining. This is perhaps because the comp play is a little more organized so as a medic there's less chaos occuring.

EDIT: Bah i rescind my question, having finally been able to connect to tf2lobby. Great work yall.
 
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Flame

aa
Jul 19, 2009
368
865
Id advocate messaging me but I do tend to prioritize whose map I play as well as when I can play. I have class and homework and whatever and dont really like testing in groups of people I do not know.

I may start a competitive gameday like 2x a week for 6v6 given myself and nine can find times when we're both available to make it happen. Only problem is the limited space to test unless we use both servers which may not be entirely out of the question.

I do have my own resources but I also have access to the tf2m servers to upload/start lobbies in them so I have around 3-4 servers I can rcon.

Ill see how practical scheduled testing is and talk to nine about it. On the tf2lobby thing there are no forums, you can bump some of the posts on SPUF, gotfrag, and etf2l if you want to add something you think is a good idea but FLOOR has a lot on his plate right now as far as projected updates so I wouldnt pester him either.