TheVille.org's Customs Server!

[Masakari]

Hey everyone!

I think most of you already know about TheVille (Most likely from l3eeron), so I'll skip some of the stuff about us because people don't like preachy people.

Our customs server, after almost half a year of being neglected/mismanaged, is finally getting some new life shot back into it. A group of experienced admins (And myself, one of the newbies there) have started tweaking the rotation, settings, and all that kind of fun stuff and have brought back a little bit of life into it. As well, we're holding nights twice a week where the community tests out new maps to see if they can go on the rotation/voting or not. Feedback on most of the maps have been really good and usually fairly detailed, but I'm sure a lot of mappers around here might want to at least sign up to check out feedback on their maps as they get tested.

Our only conditions to get maps tested on nights or be contenders for rotation is that they must be in at least beta form. That means fully textured and no major design changes to be made. If anyone around would like their map(s) included on these nights - I'd be glad to get them included! We're always looking for new ones to test!

Our rotation (And it actually is a rotation now) is currently as follows:

pl_frontier
ctf_haarp_b2
cp_toy_fort
pl_great_heights_b3
cp_freight
ctf_avantiville_b32
plr_panic_b2
pl_downpour_pass_b1
pl_stovepipe_b3


(Thread about map feedback is here, and the server is located at tv2.theville.org.)

So yeah, feel free to either post maps here or contact me privately, and I'll do my best to help you out. I'm certainly looking forward to trying out some new customs!

--Masakari

 

[TMP]

If 13eeron is in your server, why not have avantiville instead of avanti? I mean really! Or at least have it as well!

 

[Masakari]

Last version of his map had issues with spawn rooms IIRC - there was a bug that basically gave blue a free capture because the red team was locked in. It was an odd bug too - he couldn't reproduce it on his own personal server, but it was creeping up on our server - not sure whether it was something as stupid as a SM plugin screwing things up or what. He fully intends to fix the map, but he's had some RL issues in the past couple of months that have kept him busy and away from Steam.

Trust me, I'd love to get his map to replace avanti_b1. The fact that we had to edit avanti's timers so that the maximum time you would have to defend is 10 minutes is annoying, unnecessary, and more of a pain than anything. Plus, B's on the same group I am in helping get new customs on, so I'm sure he'd crack the whip on us if his map was fully playable and we didn't have it up!:laugh:

 

[MrAlBobo]

avanti_b1
cp_broma
cp_corporation_b3
cp_desertfortress
cp_freight_final
cp_gydan
cp_observatory4
cp_toy_fort
ctf_system_b1
pl_cashworks_rc2
pl_dbheights_b5
pl_frontier
pl_halfacre
pl_rivercrossing_rc2a
pl_stovepipe_b3
pl_zig_z2a

Ive actually had this server on my favorites list for awhile, and I tend to join if there are people in it...and the tf2maps servers are empty. Anyways...id like to suggest some restructuring of the map list.

Remove:

cp_corporation_b3 - A beta that to all appearances has ceased to be updated, unusual layout on the last round, and the gameplay on it has always seemed a bit dull to me.

cp_desertfortress - Ive never really understood what people see in this map, the layout is massive, and the lighting is painful. Only good thing I can see is that it has some differing heights

cp_gydan - Better version of desertfortress...Im actually neutral on this one, If you want a map that has this type of game mode leave it, if it doesn't matter lose it.

cp_toy_fort - No explanation required

ctf_system_b1 - Which ctf system is this? If its the old one ravidge released a new one with a non conflicting name...and if it is the old one id still advise its removed.

pl_dbheights_b5 - ...honestly?

cp_broma - Have not personally played this map, though ive heard bad things.


Add:

cp_furnace_b4 - Visually stunning sky, interesting gameplay, effective gravelpit replacement

ctf_vector_b1 - Attack and defend ctf, impressive gameplay and balance, but final cap needs work.

ctf_haarp_b1 - Attack and defend ctf, 1st and 3rd rounds have good balance, 2nd round can be sentry camped.

tc_meridian_rc2 - Better tc then hydro, but massive file size can scare people away

hoodo, yukon - might as well add them, official customs can be very useful for drawing in people who hate downloading things

pl_frontier_b2 - seems to be highly effective at filling servers, people who have never seen the train before don't want to leave

 

[Masakari]

Thanks for the feedback MrAlBobo. I'll try and cover some of your points here:

Corporation, desertfortress, gydan, broma, avanti, and toy_"fart" as I like to call it are maps that we usually use to seed a server. Most of the regulars remember playing these maps back, and whenever these maps come on people usually join. That said, at least speaking for myself, I'd rather have new maps than to continue having to go down the legacy path.

ctf_system_b1 is Ravidges, but I don't see any newer version other than the one he links to in his sig (Which is the one we're using). Am I missing something?

pl_dbheights_b5 wasn't my idea, but again, it seems to keep the server full. *sigh*.

As for the additions....

We had furnace_b4 up there for a while, but people around our parts were never really big fans of it. It'd barely get voted in, and then people would bail. It's staying off for now, but nothing is set in stone...

Vector and HAARP I'll gladly give a shot. I've been patiently waiting for some of the contest entries to reach beta. A little bit closer to the contest too I'm also considering making an event in our community to do a huge group of testing on those maps and get some solid feedback to help you guys out!

tc_meridian_rc2 I had suggested but was swiftly shot down on by the other admins.

And as for hoodoo/yukon, we've found with Valve community maps is that it draws in a different crown that true customs. Before the change, we had turbine on the server (Bad example I know), and it'll fill up quickly, but empty as soon as a "true" custom came on.

And we already have frontier on the rotation/votelist. Great map!

 

[MrAlBobo]

Corporation, desertfortress, gydan, broma, avanti, and toy_"fart" as I like to call it are maps that we usually use to seed a server. Most of the regulars remember playing these maps back, and whenever these maps come on people usually join. That said, at least speaking for myself, I'd rather have new maps than to continue having to go down the legacy path.

A solid point, though i still say desertfortress is a terrible map, the others for the most part are manageable. And toy fort...meh, its a gimmick...not necessarily a bad thing...but a gimmick none the less, may want to reconsider it.

ctf_system_b1 is Ravidges, but I don't see any newer version other than the one he links to in his sig (Which is the one we're using). Am I missing something?

The one in his sig should be fine, its just he released a map awhile back called system, dropped it. Took the name for the current map, basically just confirming which one you were using to avoid file conflicts.

pl_dbheights_b5 wasn't my idea, but again, it seems to keep the server full. *sigh*.

still...supporting remakes...meh

We had furnace_b4 up there for a while, but people around our parts were never really big fans of it. It'd barely get voted in, and then people would bail. It's staying off for now, but nothing is set in stone...

To be fair I don't recall b4 ever being up, I know b2 was up for a long time after b3 was out...and maybe it was updated eventually...

tc_meridian_rc2 I had suggested but was swiftly shot down on by the other admins.

Were any good reasons listed? Or was it just the standard "this is too big"?

And as for hoodoo/yukon, we've found with Valve community maps is that it draws in a different crown that true customs. Before the change, we had turbine on the server (Bad example I know), and it'll fill up quickly, but empty as soon as a "true" custom came on.

Very possible, but I find its useful to draw those people in, as a good portion of them tends to stay and may enjoy the customs.

And we already have frontier on the rotation/votelist. Great map!

<_< bit of a fail on my part

 

[l3eeron]

avantiville is now in the rotation as well.

 

[Zwiffle]

I'm still iffy on the customs server - there was a point where I liked every single map on the server, but the reintroduction of some of the most unfun maps I've played (toy_fort, corporation, dbheights, avanti - NOT avantiville! ) I lost interest in it again. They also tend to be some of the most popular ones, but they force me to leave. I hate playing toy_fort, more so than playing Turbine.

There are some really good ones out there though, I think gydan and broma are underrated. The rest on there are adequate, but I think there are probably more deserving maps out there.

 

[grazr]

I'm curious as well regarding why meridian has not been put on rotation. As far as i've experienced it's a solid custom map, even if the final points arn't given enough time/are easily defended.

 

[l3eeron]

We gave meridian an honest attempt. Believe me, we're all tc_ fans. Sadly, the majority of players don't. I watched that map kill our server a few times.... not because of the map being of poor quality, but because the players just couldn't get into it/don't want to take the time to learn it. It's a curse I tell ya.

 

[Furex]

Add:

cp_furnace_b4 - Visually stunning sky, interesting gameplay, effective gravelpit replacement

I agree, add furnace, one of the most beautiful maps ever!

 

[Masakari]

The original list up there was actually outdated - we recently changed to a 9 map rotation instead to allow us to weed out some of the poorer maps. Rotation now is currently:

pl_frontier
ctf_haarp_b2
cp_toy_fort
pl_great_heights_b3
cp_freight
ctf_avantiville_b32
plr_panic_b2
pl_downpour_pass_b1
pl_stovepipe_b3

As well, we've changed out IP. However, to make things easier for everyone, we have a DNS address that will point you to the server (And keep it in your favourites if we ever move it again!)

tv2.theville.org

As well, and map suggestions/replacements/comments on the rotation we have right now is welcome. I'm still trying to look for a good plain ol' CTF map!

 

[MrAlBobo]

The original list up there was actually outdated - we recently changed to a 9 map rotation instead to allow us to weed out some of the poorer maps. Rotation now is currently:

pl_frontier
ctf_haarp_b2
cp_toy_fort
pl_great_heights_b3
cp_freight
ctf_avantiville_b32
plr_panic_b2
pl_downpour_pass_b1
pl_stovepipe_b3

cough cough

 

[Masakari]

Sad reality is that it's still fairly popular (But dying down, admittedly). You have to give me some credit - I managed to get avanti and dbheights off the server!

 

[MrAlBobo]

well...avanti was subbed with l3eerons version, which is much much better, so...he gets the credit for that one

but fine, getting dbheights and that other fail almost fullbright map off is progress