Extremes For An Extreme Situation

[nifrek]

That's a great idea, I think this would be very helpful indeed.

I'll look for cvars that could be added with those 2 and maybe other people can think about it too, but really, that is definitely a good start. Maybe something that also tells when there is changes to the physics? Just so people know a server is using non-standard physics?

Btw, is that something that could make it in 2.5.2? I'm guessing it's very close to release right now.

[PinkRobot]

Thread intermezzo:

For those that have not been around that long, there used to be a Euro CTF server called Herforst Elite (this is what TVR was referring to earlier in the thread) that was very, very popular indeed. IIRC it used hook, low gravity and had a map rotation consisting of Egg & Bacon and Facing Worlds and nothing more. What I am saying is, every now and then you get servers with freak settings and they get very popular. Nexican is not the first and it will not be the last either (and it's not even the freakiest we've seen).

Now we'll continue with Serious Discussions:

[NightRage]

I tend to differ, I'm quiet most of the time as most Artist tend to do, I think the JetPack and "MiniMan" map go hand to hand, as like gasoline powered maps do too.

Every Server is different and thats fine, nobody wants the same bland gameplay all the time.

[divVerent]

Fact is however, certain servers get overly popular for no good reason.

But this is a social problem and cannot be solved by technical means.

[divVerent]

Also, you won't get us to PROMISE we won't touch gameplay settings. We certainly will if the situation demands it.

And last time, the situation that demanded it was CTF turning into MinstaGib due to Nex being overpowered and too easy to use. Ease of use of it cannot be changed, as it is by design an instant hit weapon (and it already takes up lots of ammo, so that can't be changed either). So only its power could be changed.

Another option would have been changing the maps CTF is played on, but that again was met by much resistance when just bringing up the IDEA to remove the Nex from certain CTF maps - much more than the Nex damage change, actually.

[Flying Steel]

Since I started playing in 2.3, the weapon balance has improved with each new version. So any time the dev team wants to rebalance the arsenal, they have my personal approval, because they've consistently done a great job.

And the new weapons work fantastically with the old and add more fun and tactics to the game. I feel the camping rifle is the best of these as well, really fun to use and especially effective within its nitch. It is the game's battle rifle while the nex is the game's sniper rifle. If there is an imbalance here (and there could be, I'm not saying there isn't) all that needs to be done is to bring the nex down to 100 (or 90 maybe, but no lower) and decrease the clip reload time of the rifle. Can anyone argue with me that the rifle would still be underpowered if it took half the time to throw in a new clip? What if there was no clip reload time and shots did 25% more damage? This weapon can so easily be rebalanced. And there is no rational reason anyone has yet presented to just remove it.

Physics are the same story of improvement, or at least are alot cleaner than previous versions in the 2.5 series.

Jetpack and Hook are both basically Mutator weapons, with sparse, weak and/or incomplete default implementations currently. So I find the folks who have a big problem with these Mutators and want them removed from trunk kind of strange individuals to be associated with an FOS game, since they seem to feel that they are elites who know better than others just how the game must be played and wish to impose their somehow better judgement on the majority, despite the majority not wanting to be limited to their narrow definitions of how this free open source game must be played. I mean, it is one thing to be concerned with balance issues, but if a balanced or balanceable mutator feature is just more appealing and intuitive to most players than your unrealistic trick jumps you have become accustomed to from decade old games, then that is your problem, not the game's.

I think maybe the problem is in the game's version numbers or how people see them; when folks see "2.5" they might expect alot more consistency and less progress than if they saw "0.8". But the game is still under development and evolution, and this will continue to be the case indefinitely. That's just the nature of FOSS, and alot of what makes it so powerful.

New physics, new weapons, new jetpack, new vehicles, new character class mutator- the simple fact is the game isn't static and isn't meant to be, and if anything it is even less static now and getting much better because of it. So just get used to this or play on your own settings, I say.

[master[mind]]

I have gotten so used to using the jetpack that sometimes I try to fire it when it's disabled. I have learned to use it strategically. I agree, jetpacking to the top of the level it dumb, but firing it in short-medium controlled bursts to aid movement is a different experience.
Weapons...I don't like the grapple weapon as it gets in my way when I switch, but the remainder of the weapons are good in their own ways. They add a new element to the game, create new strategies, and provide more of a challenge.
BTW...I go to servers that have a reasonable ping i.e. less than 100. I also go to servers with people. If there are people on NN Veteran CTF I will join there, if there are people on HOCTF, I will join there, if most people are on Nexican, I will join there.
In otherwords, I'm satisfied with the game and am looking forward to some of the new additions.

[The mysterious Mr. 4m]

The discussion here seems to be less about the game, but more about the likes and dislikes of people's behaviours.

Personally, i find it irritating that there is no visible difference in "official" (as in "provided / approved by Nexuiz") and "private" ("in the wild") servers in the menu. What i'm trying to say is that people are free to do with their server(s) what they want, but those who are new to online multiplayer may misunderstand the concept of "servers" and think ALL are "official" or they think that NONE are official, giving the impression to be at mercy of the server admins. Yet, there are some dedicated servers that try to present a reasonable game experience, but are ignored, because they don't appear "at the top".

I guess my idea is to start an "Approved Servers" initiative, splitting public servers into "approved" and "wild", or something like that.

Edit:
i think i may have "skipped" parts of the discussion.

[Samual]

The discussion here seems to be less about the game, but more about the likes and dislikes of people's behaviours.

Personally, i find it irritating that there is no visible difference in "official" (as in "provided / approved by Nexuiz") and "private" ("in the wild") servers in the menu. What i'm trying to say is that people are free to do with their server(s) what they want, but those who are new to online multiplayer may misunderstand the concept of "servers" and think ALL are "official" or they think that NONE are official, giving the impression to be at mercy of the server admins. Yet, there are some dedicated servers that try to present a reasonable game experience, but are ignored, because they don't appear "at the top".

I guess my idea is to start an "Approved Servers" initiative, splitting public servers into "approved" and "wild", or something like that.

Edit:
i think i may have "skipped" parts of the discussion.

We thought about this idea, to filter servers with significant changes to variables (All can be seen with cmd cvar_changes)...

[Gego]

I do not see why ppl are so upset by the JetPack.... I think it is a good thing to have on big maps/ terrain maps, but castle/space CTF maps is a no no with JetPack. [old Tribes man here]

HLAC, Seeker, and Camping Rifle : they are good wepons! HALC is relay good against turrets; Seeker: nice concept, interesting idea, it has a to high fire rate, that is all i have to say.... CR; that weapon is the pwn!

Physics: some one does not like the new Physics? .... am I the only one that does not like to feel like a brick? the "new Physics" was one of the biggest improvements so far if you ask me... (it allows me to ski! [man I miss tribes T_T ] ) (would like the friction to be closer to zero when holding jump on some maps though...)

Nex Nerfing And Replacement: *sigh* cvars.....

What the community wants?

We want to have a settings freeze.

....
n..-no..... that would be like stupid.... would the OpenOffice.org community say some thing like that? no.... why? then it would not be competitive....
and again cvars, look at them.

I'm sure there are other things people dislike, and I will add them as soon as I confirm them. As for now, this is what stands and what needs to be looked at. I want to note that a lot of things the developers do is for the greater good... even if the community may not like a feature, there is always a good reason we add the feature.

AMEN BROTHER! LETS SING FOR YOU, AND GIVE YOU A BIG COOKIE!.... (no that was not sarcasm) ---__---