Tf2maps server...

[MrAlBobo]

Just wondering...does anyone ever try to populate it on non gamedays?

As ive seen anyways, this site seems to act as a standard of quality for mapping , namely, I have not played a map posted on this site that i truly despised (not to mention ive seen a few maps get knocked down quite painfully). Most of the other servers I see that run custom maps either have a terrible selection, or have painfully high ping. So, if this server is used a bit more frequently, and perhaps we get some regulars that come for the gaming instead of mapping help, then this site could be known for more then just help. (lost my train of thought here so it likely sounds a bit rough)

Anyways...the speech aside, what we should try to do is get a few volunteers to populate the server everyday.

Generally speaking ive found that 4 people on dustbowl (most people fear to leave the stock maps) is the magic number to fill a normally empty server. However, as most people are reluctant to play maps they have never played before, more people may be necessary. Along with that, the average person is not willing to wait overly long for a map to download, so map size should be limited. And finally...if it has not already been done, we need a permanent (sort of anyways) map rotation to use during the week (non gamedays), this is mostly to dazzle that same average person with well made, completed maps; enough that they might come back again.

So...yeah...I realize I probably should have put this in the suggestions area...but when I started I was not intending this speech...

 

[DJive]

I agree with you 100%.

I think the problem a lot of people will have though is most are busy with mapping and testing that they need tf2 to be able to do a quick run through and are unable to sit in the server for a few hours.

I have a second PC but i do not have tf2 for it =( or else i'd have a 24/7 sitter although we could "bot" it =) heh

 

[kimangroo]

Yeah I wrote a post related to the problem here. Although I love the idea of site members being on the server 24/7, there's nowhere near enough members to do this. I'm sure there must be some good way to try and integrate the site and playtesting on the server though. Maybe some kind of karma system (I hear that's been change too often already though), or maybe a "timetable/calendar" where members can easily say where they will be playing and when and server owners can easily set up small events... Or a mini gameday that is more regular. Every Tuesday & Thursday afternoon/evening with no admins necessarily. Just some regular time where you know there will be at least a few site members on the server would be good.

 

[MrAlBobo]

well...if no one objects I have alot of free time (or at least I will after teh stupid social assignment is done) and I can enter the steam chat every so often and see if I can get people to join me in populating the server, then I also have my friends list to call upon, where about 10 people are there just for the purpose of helping me populate servers
so...yeah...generally speaking though, ive found servers fill alot faster if there is an admin in the game to fill peoples needs with map swapping and similar things

and ive found the whole sitting in the server thing simply doesn't work, if people join they see that person is a spectator and just leave, its far better to get 4 people and have a mini game

 

[MrAlBobo]

well...my internet is mostly dead right now, as in i can do little else then browse forums, so i figured id bring this back into the light

anyways...lets come up with a standard map rotation, basically, if you see this thread name a custom map that you find very impressive, no need to name maps that have already been suggested...Ill start
dom complex (new game type may intrigue a few people)
torch (just a fun map to play)
siege (awesome game play and has a very small file size)

so...yeah...those are my suggestions for a rotation, continue the list