Topic: Asteroid Belts?

[Corbomite]

I think we should use them in the terrain mix. Asteroid fields get a little boring after awhile. We could even start using them now as they don't change any rules, just our options of terrain.  What say you?

[Kroma BaSyl]

I think we should use them in the terrain mix. Asteroid fields get a little boring after awhile. We could even start using them now as they don't change any rules, just our options of terrain.  What say you?

Works for me, but do they have a belt in a color that matches my shoes?

[TraumaTech]

I DISAGREE,using the belt as opposed to the field is basically playing with a bunch of small planets on the outside perimiter where as the field you are  are fighting between the rocks.i think it requires more skill and makes for a more interesting game,plus it defenately has the ability to change a game simply by having some one crash into them.just my opinion........peace

[762_XC]

More terrain = more tactics = good thing.

[Capt_Bearslayer_XC]

seems 3 yeas to 1 nay so far....  I agree with the yeas, but 762 & I are on the same team.

[Corbomite]

I DISAGREE,using the belt as opposed to the field is basically playing with a bunch of small planets on the outside perimiter where as the field you are  are fighting between the rocks.i think it requires more skill and makes for a more interesting game,plus it defenately has the ability to change a game simply by having some one crash into them.just my opinion........peace

I don't want to replace asteroid fields with belts, I just want to add belts to the mix of choices. Fields would still be there as a random option.

And Kroma, yes they do, as long as your shoes are grey.

[Mutilator]

I think we should use them in the terrain mix. Asteroid fields get a little boring after awhile. We could even start using them now as they don't change any rules, just our options of terrain.  What say you?

Any changes should have to wait until start of next cycle. Perhaps the two teams could hand skake the term to a belt if you so wish.

[Corbomite]

Any changes should have to wait until start of next cycle. Perhaps the two teams could hand skake the term to a belt if you so wish.

Sounds good to me. Can we handshake a nebula too? 

[Slider]

Most people would just fly outside the Belt, ignoring it.

Asteroid fields are one of the hardest terrains to master especially when you have 3 crazed Lyrans with loaded ESGs on your 6.

[Corbomite]

Most people avoid getting too close to the planets I'll wager, but that doesn't stop us from using them. I know I would use a belt to try to evade while trying to regroup or reload, especially if I had 3 crazed Lyrans on my 6! 

[Slider]

LOL

Your right, now that caffiene levels in my blood stream have normalized I see your post more clearly.

I think if possible all terrain types (ion storms, etc) excluding perhaps nebula which for our purposes would put most races in a disadvantage.

But yes, Im now in agreement with your position on Asteroid belts.

[Corbomite]

The only problem with the Ion Storm is the tiny map. Its even smaller than the small map. If we could get someone to make us a bigger ones I'd be overjoyed. To use the Star at present we would have to suffer a large map.

[Slider]

I guess maps are like ships, you have to decide which ones to use based on playability and fairness to the rules you are using.

[762_XC]

I'm all for ion storms. 

[Green]

Not really in favor of ion storms or Suns.  Damage should be done by the other guy.

Belts sound cool, but is there a problem with lag?  If not, then I'm all in favor of it (next cycle, as mentioned).

[Corbomite]

If there is no lag with an entire field, I don't see how a belt would be any different. There are less objects.

[Slider]

I think sometimes undue attention is paid to how to avoid lag in the game.

1. go into space dock and each player note who has the lowest ping to each player.
2. Exit space dock
3. Lowest ping host creates the room and hosts the game.

It really helps to take the 5 mins to do this.

[Green]

I think sometimes undue attention is paid to how to avoid lag in the game.

1. go into space dock and each player note who has the lowest ping to each player.
2. Exit space dock
3. Lowest ping host creates the room and hosts the game.

It really helps to take the 5 mins to do this.

Think everyone agrees.  But what if the lowest still has a 250+ ping to a player?

Corbo - I may be thinking of a different map then.  Might just be a D2 map, not a GSA one.

[Slider]

Green, its been my experience that the game ping settles down even more once the game starts. In past years Ive never seen a game where there are more than one or two people with high pings.

Host
A. Lowest ping to all players
B. Most powerful PC
C. Biggest bandwidth (ie DSL over cable, over TT Modems.)

[Mutilator]

Green, its been my experience that the game ping settles down even more once the game starts. In past years Ive never seen a game where there are more than one or two people with high pings.

Host
A. Lowest ping to all players
B. Most powerful PC
C. Biggest bandwidth (ie DSL over cable, over TT Modems.)

TT changed the hamster in his modem he is running rather well these days, hardly any lag to speak of. Now if our guys can turn off EM before attempting to fire ESGs we might be on to something. 

[KBF-Butcher]

Bandwidth is overestimated!
In order to play multplayer games with no lag problems or crashes the ping u got with the others is what it really matters.
Bandwidth doesnt affect so much the ping as u may beleive.
The ping depends of the number of hops(routers) it has to travel to reach the others pc.
Number of hops depends mostly of the location and the provider.
For example europeans has lowest ping when play against europeans and highest pings when they play against poeple on the other side of the Atlantic.
Ping is actually a test between 2 nodes.
It sends icmp packets and waits to see the time response it has with the other node.
So if the ping is high then during the game the time response someone has is big and then his pc is buffering as it tries to synchronise with the other pc causing the lag.
Its better to have 128k leased line than 1M adsl.
64K or 128K is enough bandwidth to play multiplayer.
Dialups 56k - (no isdn ) ofcourse have several problems cause of the low bandwidth but mainly in 3v3 games and map terain with planets,asteroids etc.There r also very unstable internet connections
This is a result not only of the bandwidth but because  modems use the cpu and  in some cases cpu cant handle the processes and shut down the internet connection.
This can be happen (rarely) in adsl modems as well thats why adsl or isdn routers r better in multiplayer than modems(with the condition ofcourse u know to forward the right ports) cause the process for the internet connection is handled only by the router cpu and not the pc's.
Bags worms trojan backdoor can cause crashes as well thats why u must have your pc cleaned always,specially in dialup users.
If u cant have your pc cleaned by those sh*t then do a partition in your hardrive and back up your full new win setup(with all the programs games u use) in that partition  with ghost.exe.Then u can restore all your windows in no time .

btw speed 7 prevents dial up users from crashing or lagging a lot.

[KHH Jakle]

btw speed 7 prevents dial up users from crashing or lagging a lot.

...which also happens to be the default match speed.  Dial Up users should insist the default be used.

[Dfly]

Green, its been my experience that the game ping settles down even more once the game starts. In past years Ive never seen a game where there are more than one or two people with high pings.

Host
A. Lowest ping to all players
B. Most powerful PC
C. Biggest bandwidth (ie DSL over cable, over TT Modems.)

The idea that DSL is always better than cable is not always the case.   In my area, there are virtually no users of cable and my speeds most usually are better than DSL.  It depends on your areas, the use it is receiving(in the area), and many other factors.  It may be true that in most areas DSL is more stable due to unchanging speed(most times) whereas cable slows if many in your neighborhood is using it.  I do agree that it is a bit  more difficult to host 6 players on dialup, but there are a few areas that it can be done.  If at all possible though, a more stable faster connection would be best.  I do think that most of you guys here who play regularly know most of this already.

[Slider]

I presented 3 scenarios not.

Lowest Ping to each player.

The person with with lowest ping to each player ie the person with the best result of hops and internet congestion should host.

Biggest PC.

Barring connections the Host handles alot of the processing of game data. Usually any speed above 800 mgz is good however as a rule he with the biggest pc shoud host just to avoid problems. However I believe that lowest ping is a better if not the best barometer to play a game.

Bandwidth.

Barring Pings, I guess you have to go with who gives you the most stability as a host. Most games are within the 256k range but  not all bandwidth is equal. Most DSL is best effort which means that upload speed might be impacted by downloads or vice verca. Cable is shared. Modems are powered by hamsters. T-1s are perfect however they cost 1k a month.

[FPF-DieHard]

On my cable modem I can host a 40+ person D2 server, a web server for my stupid pictures, share bandwidth with my roomates, play many stable 2v2 and 3v3 fights on D2 (which is way worse than GSA/IP), and downloads streaming porn.

Can DSL do that?   

[KBF-Butcher]

On my cable modem I can host a 40+ person D2 server, a web server for my stupid pictures, share bandwidth with my roomates, play many stable 2v2 and 3v3 fights on D2 (which is way worse than GSA/IP), and downloads streaming porn.

Can DSL do that?

DSL has the capacity to transmit data at speeds as fast as cable.Some dsl technologies can transmit even faster.
Dsl is far better and more advance internet technology than cable.
Cable is a shared network, unlike DSL which offers a dedicated line for each user. When too many users in one neighborhood try to share the same cable, performance can suffer dramatically and even grind to a halt as users compete for the limited resources one cable can afford.
There are also certain security risks which can make users more vulnerable to data interception, unauthorized monitoring and hacking from other users along the same cable network.
 

[Capt_Bearslayer_XC]

My bandwidth during peak playing hours (1900-2300 EST) rivals T1 speeds.

I am quite happy with my Road Runner.

[FPF-DieHard]

DSL has the capacity to transmit data at speeds as fast as cable.Some dsl technologies can transmit even faster.
Dsl is far better and more advance internet technology than cable.

I get 20 MS ping times with people in England and California.  762 and I have the same ISP and usually get around 15 MS ping time to each other.

Cable is a shared network, unlike DSL which offers a dedicated line for each user. When too many users in one neighborhood try to share the same cable, performance can suffer dramatically and even grind to a halt as users compete for the limited resources one cable can afford.

Um, the WHOLE INTERNET is a shared network   

There are also certain security risks which can make users more vulnerable to data interception, unauthorized monitoring and hacking from other users along the same cable network.
 

Let them hack my streaming pr0n!!!