Topic: SFCX OP Campaign: Your Thoughts? (Polls)

[jdmckinney]

I haven't discussed this with the rest of the SFCX crew yet, but we have been considering starting a campaign soon now that we seem to have a test server kit that improves hex defense value behavior. So, I thought I'd ask for some feedback before we get too far in our planning.

First, would people prefer to use the stock Taldren shiplist, or FireSoul's OP+ Shiplist?

Second, would you like victory conditions with points for territory growth and planet captures, or a simple non-VC invasion campaign?

Third, would you like teams or a free-for-all?

Any other feedback outside of these questions is welcomed.

Shiplist?
Taldren stock shiplist
FireSoul's OP Plus Shiplist

 

[jdmckinney]

Victory Conditions?
Territory growth and planet capture VCs for points
No VC points, but rather a simple invade and conquer the enemy campaign

 

[jdmckinney]

Teams?
Allied teams, between 2 and 4 teams of empires
Free-for-all with all empires against each other

 

[jdmckinney]

Oh, here's one more question, though I think it will depend more upon what custom missions are ready when we roll out:

Should we use Taldren missions only, Taldren and "Evil Dave" missions, or "Evil Dave" missions only?

Missions?
Taldren only
Taldren plus Evil Dave
Evil Dave only

 

[Dizzy]

damnit jd, I KNEW you would pull this [censored].

Get in line and take a number.

[FireSoul]

Please note:

We want information on buggy Taldren missions!
.. playing with ED's missions will.. well.. obscure that a bit, non?

-- Luc
 

[FPF_TraceyG]

Hey there JD, is this the series of mini-campaigns Mog was telling me about? Tides of War?

[CptCastrin]

Quote:
damnit jd, I KNEW you would pull this [censored].

Get in line and take a number.  

Diz, chill out.

We have no intention of introducing anything "in between" or durring the current scheduled SFC2 server campaigns. Nomad is only looking for input.

Geeeez.  

[CptCastrin]

Quote:
Hey there JD, is this the series of mini-campaigns Mog was telling me about? Tides of War?  

To be honest Tracy we're not sure, we're sort of in the info gathering stage right now.

There are a few ideas that we have including the original Tides of War macro-campaign and other less "ambitious" campaign ideas.  

[ZTempest]

Quote:
damnit jd, I KNEW you would pull this [censored].

Get in line and take a number.  

There are no OP campaigns planned or scheduled.  That previous scheduling  thread appears to ignore OP completely and focuses solely on EAW.  That is fine, and I think that it is a good idea to schedule these things..but some of us play only OP.  Sorry.  Not interested in EAW right now.

Not to start any flames, but we have a new OP patch, a new OP serverkit, and a very interesting shiplist developed by Firesoul (OP Plus).  We have the Evil Dave missions ported to OP.  

And yet if you go into the OP dyna, all you see is a test server.  Odd, eh?

Why not an OP Campaign?  Why not test the waters and see if there is an interest in this sort of thing?

No need to get so defensive, Dizzy.  The player base is there, and offering an OP alternative to just a test server seems appropriate.  I would like to have some fun too....playing OP.  There might be some others like me as well.

 

[FPF_TraceyG]

Regarding the SFC2 campaign schedule, the only reason why there aren't any OP campaigns listed, is because none were in the works. So, just to reassure you then, OP is not being ignored at all, and in fact, many are looking forward to a major OP campaign now that the patch is out.  

[Cleaven]

Sorry, I voted for stock plus ED missions, forgetting that you need info on stock missions. Best to stick with the stock missions. I think that an early shift to OP+ is a good idea though, and keep it as a standard, which is why I haven't tried the OP test server yet (I have to go back to stock ships).

As for the map, just keep minimal neutral hexes so we don't have to go stir crazy doing miles of solo hexes.  

[ZTempest]

Quote:
Regarding the SFC2 campaign schedule, the only reason why there aren't any OP campaigns listed, is because none were in the works. So, just to reassure you then, OP is not being ignored at all, and in fact, many are looking forward to a major OP campaign now that the patch is out.  

Understandable.  SFCX has had several campaign concepts in the works for literally a year or more -- we have been waiting for this patch and hoping for OP D2 fixes.  Tides of War, the Next Rooks Tavern, Badlands (it is listed..not sure if we have done any work on it lately or not), and a few other ideas as well.   I am not fostering an "us vs. them" issue between OP and EAW -- such conflicts are NOT in the interest for the future life of the D2 -- but there is (or used to be) a hard core of OP players that were not interested in EAW, and with the recent advances in OP, the fires of curiousity may once again be kindled.

The problem is this, though.  The SFC2 EAW campaign schedule is booked out for a good chunk of the coming year.  Should a future OP campaign server wait six months or more before running any sort of campaign or even a light campaign server because of a major EAW campaign?  I don't think so.  In some cases, the player base does cross over.  In others, there is no crossover.  Some OP players would like to have something to play on also.  Is it fair to have these players wait for a server to play on because another game that they do not play has a server running at the same time?

Just my opinion.  Might be completely wrong and perhaps the OP D2 is totally dead after all of this time.  Perhaps that is what Nomad  is trying to find out.  Regardless of the outcome, I support and applaud his initiative with this poll, and I think that rather than divide the community further, we need to be supportive of ALL efforts, EAW and OP alike, because for some players, OP is the game for them, not EAW.   I know it is for me.  I support enthusiasitically the servers that are running on the EAW D2, and I even drop into them from time to time, but OP is my preferred game, and I think it would be neat for an OP server to come up for us to bang around on.  Why can't we all just support every D2 effort, OP and EAW alike?  

Because I will tell you now.  Our player base is slowly shrinking, and we did lose some players to SFC3.  Plain fact.  It is time to unite and recognize all efforts, not be divisive and arguementative.    

[Dizzy]

Quote:
 Ztempest:

No need to get so defensive, Dizzy.  The player base is there, and offering an OP alternative to just a test server seems appropriate.  I would like to have some fun too....playing OP.  There might be some others like me as well.

   

1st off, dont tell me about being defensive. You have no idea.

2nd what player base? You think you know something about having 2x servers up and having adequate players for both servers? If so I'd like to know.

3rd, I dont care where you have your fun as long as it isnt on a competing server to whats already planned.

4th, SG3 would be an OP server if OP D2 actually worked, which it doesnt.

[Fluf]

Go for it guys!  We could use a good OP campaign.  I was thinking of putting up one myself, but with all the D2 campaigns and working on the next LB3 for the D3, I dont think I  could manage it right now.  I voted for the Stock Taldren missions too, just for testing only to check the new server kit.  Lets take baby steps with this thing.  We can work the rest of the missions and shiplist in later.  Lets find out what works right first. Then go from there.  

[FireSoul]

well.. me..
.. I just want to be able to help fix the damned thing.
-- Luc

[ZTempest]

Quote:

Quote:
 Ztempest:

No need to get so defensive, Dizzy.  The player base is there, and offering an OP alternative to just a test server seems appropriate.  I would like to have some fun too....playing OP.  There might be some others like me as well.

   

1st off, dont tell me about being defensive. You have no idea.

2nd what player base? You think you know something about having 2x servers up and having adequate players for both servers? If so I'd like to know.

3rd, I dont care where you have your fun as long as it isnt on a competing server to whats already planned.

4th, SG3 would be an OP server if OP D2 actually worked, which it doesnt.  

Geez Dizzy?  Are you bllind?

I have been in this community LONGER than you have.  You have a short memory.  Remember when you and I played Hydran together in a major campaign?  It was even an OP server!  You were the Race Moderator/Commander, and I was your second in command.  How easily you forget.

I was one of the FEW who defended your views in times past, when you were being a bit over the top.  I guess you have forgotten that as well.  

And this arguement about servers is an old one, and you know it.  Can two servers exist at the same time?  It HAS been done in the past.  

Why do you have to take everything to the next level?

As far as where I have my fun at....well, that is my choice.  Why do you have to make this into some sort of negative competition -- isn't this type of thing what got you in trouble ages ago in the first place with this community?  

Chill.  

     

[Dizzy]

Quote:
Ztempest:
 ... and perhaps the OP D2 is totally dead after all of this time.  Perhaps that is what Nomad  is trying to find out.  Regardless of the outcome, I support and applaud his initiative with this poll...    

It...is...not...a...poll. It is a server planner for JD that I already quoted him on saying it was 'comming soon'.

You are seriously twisting your words around. Not being argumentative and divisive, eh?

Tell you what... You fix the DV issue with OP and I'll take SG3 there for ya, k? I'm no stranger to OP. But if the OP DV issue is still a problem, then all this BS needs to stop with this post. All future planners for an OP server can just STFU until OP is fixed, thank you very much.

 

[FPF_TraceyG]

Quote:

Quote:
Regarding the SFC2 campaign schedule, the only reason why there aren't any OP campaigns listed, is because none were in the works. So, just to reassure you then, OP is not being ignored at all, and in fact, many are looking forward to a major OP campaign now that the patch is out.  

Understandable.  SFCX has had several campaign concepts in the works for literally a year or more -- we have been waiting for this patch and hoping for OP D2 fixes.  Tides of War, the Next Rooks Tavern, Badlands (it is listed..not sure if we have done any work on it lately or not), and a few other ideas as well.   I am not fostering an "us vs. them" issue between OP and EAW -- such conflicts are NOT in the interest for the future life of the D2 -- but there is (or used to be) a hard core of OP players that were not interested in EAW, and with the recent advances in OP, the fires of curiousity may once again be kindled.

The problem is this, though.  The SFC2 EAW campaign schedule is booked out for a good chunk of the coming year.  Should a future OP campaign server wait six months or more before running any sort of campaign or even a light campaign server because of a major EAW campaign?  I don't think so.  In some cases, the player base does cross over.  In others, there is no crossover.  Some OP players would like to have something to play on also.  Is it fair to have these players wait for a server to play on because another game that they do not play has a server running at the same time?

Just my opinion.  Might be completely wrong and perhaps the OP D2 is totally dead after all of this time.  Perhaps that is what Nomad  is trying to find out.  Regardless of the outcome, I support and applaud his initiative with this poll, and I think that rather than divide the community further, we need to be supportive of ALL efforts, EAW and OP alike, because for some players, OP is the game for them, not EAW.   I know it is for me.  I support enthusiasitically the servers that are running on the EAW D2, and I even drop into them from time to time, but OP is my preferred game, and I think it would be neat for an OP server to come up for us to bang around on.  Why can't we all just support every D2 effort, OP and EAW alike?  

Because I will tell you now.  Our player base is slowly shrinking, and we did lose some players to SFC3.  Plain fact.  It is time to unite and recognize all efforts, not be divisive and arguementative.      

I agree wholeheartedly with everything you've said Tempest. I'd like to see some major OP campaigns as well.
Now, the EAW server schedule, can be considered a SFC2 schedule incorporating both EAW and OP. SFC2.net is also considering hosting some OP campaigns as well. As you say, it is in the best interests of the community that players arent forced to choose between major campaigns, hence the schedule. However, there is no reason at all why a test server or 'minor' campaign can't be run simultaneously. By minor campaign, I mean a fun server.
My suggestion then, is this. I'd like to see an OP fun server put up for at least a couple weeks as soon as one is ready. It can go up at anytime, no need to 'slot' it into the schedule. SFC2.net has left the 7.35 server up as a fun server or practice server, and I'd like to see something similar for OP as well. This gives players the choice of always having somewhere to go.
About Tides of War, as has been mentioned, albeit, only in conversation, if its a series of mini-campaigns that say go for 2 weeks, I think these would run very well by placing them in between other major servers. It gives people 2 weeks off from and ensures that a major server is always available, as well as offering the variety of both EAW and OP. This was something that's already been discussed and so far seems to be a good idea. I don't want anyone having the impression that a small number of players or people have a monopoly over any campaign schedule, and working things out like this of course requires cooperation and compromise from everyone, but I have every confidence that what we, the community and the players, can come up with, will be the best that we can. SFC2 (both EAW and OP) is going to be around for quite some time, and with recent developments, I don't think our playerbase will shrink, if anything, it may increase.
 

[ZTempest]

Dizzy, Dizzy, Dizzy.

At least you brought out a chuckle or two.

First off, YOU do not determine what does or does not happen in SFC D2.  If someone wants to put up a D2 OP server, you can't stop them.

Secondly, stop with the profanity.  I don't like it, never have.  It is something that people have warned you about before.  I don't appreciate it, and I don't want to see it.  Take a deep breath, and if you can manage to make a post without the acronym vulgarity, then do so.

You are quickly pushing me into wondering if this game is worth playing anymore, if this is the attitude that characterizes your group, and the philosophy behind your campaign.  Sorry.  Had to say it.  We are all ambassadors of goodwill and those of us who plan these campaigns do it for the benifit of the community, not to fight amongst one another.

The OP DV issue is workable.  We need to test it some more...but our initial impressions (and most of us are in the testing group, incidently) have found that the DV might just be able to work correctly.  The fixes have to take place in the map design phase from what I understand, and maybe some server side stuff as well.  Nomad and Castrin are smarter on those sorts of issues in SFCX than I am.

In any case, get a grip, please.