Topic: Hello Boys, I'm BACK :)

[Gook]

The Looney Limey has returnethed..............

Now you have all had your holiday from me, LB5 is over and GW3 isn't going to start for 3-4 weeks, lets utilise the time to get stuff done <groans all round>

Firstly, what about a background server along the lines I put up. Is it feasible, can anyone put it up, does anyone want to. I am technically and kit challenged in these departments <insert dumb sh1t>, but a long term stock server for nursery and recreational use, may help. Any comments? or do we consign this to the dustbin?

To recap the server was to be stock (patched to 2552 obviously), have a biggish map, lots of neutral space and planets, probably simple VCs(but these may be superflous), shipping lanes and destructable bases, no other rules as such apart from no ALTF4. Game turns one year to a week (IRL so it lasts a year), start around 2550. Neutral hexes 5-10 DV, Planets vary from 20-50 DV. Edges of Empires weaker hexes getting harder as you move to the core.

Object, casual, new, or returning gamers have somewhere to try out game, and seasoned ones have somewhere to go without DLs etc, if they don't want to play other servers with new missions and shiplists. As its stock with the current breed of installers all should be able to play by just pressing uninstall X servers installs. When a "serious" campaign comes along if most hop out the remainder will not be able to overun it, as its to big.

Map, Triangle, Rooks or even AF in style if not quite in size.

If this is a Dodo, please say so and we will move onto the next topic

[SSCF-LeRoy]

Yes to background server

[Mog]

Might want to check your suggested start date of 2550. If you mean 2250, what will the Romulans be flying?

[KAT J'inn]

what will the Romulans be flying?

The usual, a 1978 Ford Pinto.   Hit it from beind and you get a big flaming Type R torp!

[Fluf]

Ill see what I can get together.  Gook send me the AF map so I have a reference. 

Litterbox 6 - Return to the Fire.  Should take me about a day to get together.

[Bonk]

Only problem with with a large neutral zone and no rules on OP is the neutral hex disengagement bug... You disengage and the DV goes down even if you don't win the mission, your glicko suffers but you can flip a DV 20 neutral hex in about 10 minutes singlehandedly... so look at a slightly different map for a no-holds-barred server.

Otherwise a good idea to have a stock server up, it will definitely encourage any new players to get into the D2 and give the connection challenged a convenient place to play...

[Gook]

Oooops start date 2250, sorry my error. If there are no warp capable Rommies at that date then push it forward to WE introduction.

As for neutral hex disenegement bug, I didn't know there was one. Gahhh, that puts the kybosh on that idea, any work rounds?

I did have a an AF.mmv, but when I opened it recently, it was empty. Anybody got Triangle, or a Rooks map, or even CW3 that was big enough, it doesn't really matter whose map it is as long as it can't be overun in a week with by 5 Nutters on the same side.

I am worried about the disengagement bug though, I had no idea.

[FPF-DieHard]

2263, this is the earliest you can go with the stock list.

[Gook]

How do we get round the disengagement bug in "normal" campaigns? Is it part a DL?

We can have a rule, but it would have to police itself.

[Bonk]

No way to avoid it. Just edit the map so that there are minimal to no neutral hexes or make a rule that forbids it... (shouldn't be a big problem I didn't see any of it on LB5, most players won't go there anyway as there's no PP in it and the glicko suffers - its a desperation move) I just thought I should point it out.

[Capt_Bearslayer_XC]

How about that PF server taht has been floated around?

[Gook]

No way to avoid it. Just edit the map so that there are minimal to no neutral hexes or make a rule that forbids it... (shouldn't be a big problem I didn't see any of it on LB5, most players won't go there anyway as there's no PP in it and the glicko suffers - its a desperation move) I just thought I should point it out.

Thanks Bonk.

OK we just ignore it and see what happens.

Now about that map, I remember someone posting they had a Triangle map, (that is the map file), If its not available does skull (or anyone for that matter) have any ofthe old CW maps which could be converted, if not what is the largest map available in recent times?

Anybody object to a 2263 start (just want it early so it carries on longer). If there are probs we can switch to 2267.

If its 2263-7 suggest drone speeds:

2263-2275 slow

2276-2286 medium

2286 on ward fast.

Also Restrict out X-ships

Thoughts anyone?

[FPF-DieHard]

If its 2263-7 suggest drone speeds:

2263-2275 slow

2276-2286 medium

2286 on ward fast.

Also Restrict out X-ships

Thoughts anyone?

Drone speeds are HARD-coded in the game Gook.   Not adjustable.

[Capt_Bearslayer_XC]

PSUEDO-FIGHTER SERVER!!!!!!

[Gook]

If its 2263-7 suggest drone speeds:

2263-2275 slow

2276-2286 medium

2286 on ward fast.

Also Restrict out X-ships

Thoughts anyone?

Drone speeds are HARD-coded in the game Gook.   Not adjustable.

Roger that, just a thought. Thanks for the info.

Bear The PF server sounds a cool project, but this one is just plain old, plainess to sit in the background.

[FPF-DieHard]

PSUEDO-FIGHTER SERVER!!!!!!

In all seriousness, I've made solo PF flyable in my mod.   It is funny as hell for about 5 minutes and then the novalty wears off. 

[GDA-S'Cipio]

PSUEDO-FIGHTER SERVER!!!!!!

As a matter of fact, that server I said I'd have up later this week?  Well.........

I'll get more info up late tonight.

-S'Cipio

[Lepton]

Two small issues I see with a persistent stock server.

1.  Right out of the box, people won't be able to find it.  They will need to get patched up.  Where will they go to find out where patches are?  They'd have to be very good with internet searches or stumble across this place.  So by default almost, people will end up here. 

2.  Then of course they will come to realize that no one is playing on the stock server and that an empty dyna is essentially just single player mode all over again.

Instead of a stock server that no newbie will be able to find and that, should he find, will be empty, I'd rather see a stronger set of ties within the D2 community that gets new players up to speed and integrates them easily into the flow of D2 servers.  Current mission packs and OP+ in an installer is all that is needed to give people a decent base to work from.  After that, it's up to them and to us to keep things clear about how to get onto a current server.  Need I remind folks that Bonk's Gravity Well server sits there basically unused yet is the sine-qua-non persistent server in recent memory. 

While a stock server may seem the way to go, there are plenty of servers that are up all the time that go unused.  How about backing these persistent servers (that suffer from lack of players) to get new people on board instead of relegating them to some stock server backwater??  If we want some sort of really persistent server, that is one thing, but I don't think that equates to the kind of thing that is going to be attractive to newcomers if it is empty most of the time like other persistent servers.

[Capt_Bearslayer_XC]

PSUEDO-FIGHTER SERVER!!!!!!

As a matter of fact, that server I said I'd have up later this week?  Well.........

I'll get more info up late tonight.

-S'Cipio

Sweet!!!!!

[KBF-Dogmatix_XC]

If its 2263-7 suggest drone speeds:

2263-2275 slow

2276-2286 medium

2286 on ward fast.

Also Restrict out X-ships

Thoughts anyone?

Drone speeds are HARD-coded in the game Gook.   Not adjustable.

However, prices are not.   Were one willing, one could, of course, regulate their use by exhorbitant pricing.