Decreasing playerbase

[Earl_Vencar.:LLS:.]

Already removed Downtown, the latest version is obviously superior.

But the point of this is not to improve gameplay; we need to halt this steady decline, and this is just one of the trials we could/have implement/ed. If this stablises the playercount then it should be considered a success. We won't be adding any maps that are considered utter bollocks.

I think clearing the map 'deadwood' will ultimately be a more successful tactic however; purging those maps that are not suited to BW, and are in any case never played (who has ever played PhilaeIsland for example!?), should hopefully encourage players to vote for maps that are, at present, rarely played but good nonetheless. The map list at present is a tad overwhelming (I'll post the maps I think we could do without before any action is taken).

And I know the server admins are useless, but we can't all be <----next level

[bOnO]

Change the rules of permanent banning (Emax ... bombom). It's too much to ban them for life because they camp! even if he is a recidivist, take a week at most each time.
permanent ban only to those who use cheats or something very serious.

I want to reply to this: we leave 4 chances per annoyance category for people to understand. If they are dumb enough to do the same mistake over again, they are hopeless. They break the rules, they pay the price. Permaban can seem extreme too you, but after 4 trials what do you want to expect from them. We're already generous compared to other servers I think...

[Stanky]

Well, with the average peaktime playercount looking extremely sorry for itself (10-12 players for a couple of matches is the May norm), I think we've got to the stage where we need to discuss actual solutions, rather than earmarking the blame on this or that. The issue of maps is a debate we can all easily contribute to:

With regards to the lastest lull in numbers (March to present), the feedback I've been getting is that players are bored. So my proposal is thus - freshening up the map list by adding a couple of old maps back per week, then removing them and adding a couple more the following week, and so on. I know the argument regarding map fixes, and I would agree fully were the server populated (the latest UrbanHotZone is my favourite map, but is sadly never played), but judging by the ingame conversations we are fairly close to losing the core of our community.

Additionally I still think we have a plethora of good, yet rarely played maps on the server, which are hidden under deadwood. Perhaps removing some of these would freshen up things and drive away the boredom.

OMG, I think I'm gonna faint... Finally a voice of reason, although my approach would be to list every map you have and remove maps that are rarely played. If they are rarely played, it's not because players are too ignorant to try them out... it's because NO ONE LIKES TO PLAY THEM... and there are plenty of them currently out there. It's not like this is a new version of UT FFS... players know what maps they want to play, and what maps they don't want to play.

In regard to permabans, unless a player is somehow cheating, I would vote to lift permabans on all of those who aren't. I think I've been banned two or three times, but had no idea why I had been banned, because I don't always pay attention to the texting that going on, so I didn't realize I was doing something against your "rules". I would suggest that if you're going to ban someone, make sure they are reading your warnings... or slap them or something first.

In regard to players like BomBom and eMax(?), is it possible that they didn't understand your warnings or "rules"? I think it's very possible. People like Michie are just dumbasses and probably should just be muted, but I did find his ignorance to be fascinating. Just sayin.

[focus]

My 2 cents.

1st, about situation. Imo, it should be understood, that what we have here, is not
just a server in the internet, but system, which consists both of server and players around.
And when general interest of players is down, its kinda hard to return it all back.
Just like relationships with friends or family. And i dont believe that its possible to
return 'good old times'. Only something different.
Admins had to be smarter long time ago, when downturn only started. Sorry.
We have an long list of players, who dont appear frequently online anymore.
just to name the few: xerx, KEEPEr_Rus, bombom, Pekaboo, Black, Tiadoro, enerchi, UiUi, spin, Checkmate, siskodagamma,
sol, Stradler, VolleyPoweR, wumwum, etc. Already 15 names. They were here almost every day.
They are lost for us i think. Did anyone was tracking how many players we were losing?
And due to what actions?

2nd. I believe, its simply necessary to start something different at the server. New kind of game.
New people. Something fresh.
I told it already many times. People is simply tired of ballistic Weapons. How many years its here?
People have grown up a little bit. Different interests, things to be busy with. Things which caused
enthusiasm, now its a burden.

3rd. Since people is the most important thing around, banning people to the left and to the right
is simply unwise. Especially banning core players. I dont believe that the strict adherence to rules worth
permanent banning. Maybe simply constant repeated 30-day ban will be more suitable?

4rd. Players attract players. So, banning one player could easily mean losing 0,5 of other honest player.
Total price of action: -1,5 players. Is it worth it? Ban 4 players, and you will lose additional 2.
Or maybe, factor is not 0.5, but whole 1.5? Or even 2? Measurements of objective situation could help.

5th. Think about that lots of players do not leave any traces on the server. They dont talk. But they are
very real, sitting somewhere on the Earth in their chairs. And their decision to stay depends on what they
see and think about all of what we have here.

6th. Maybe rollback to the previous state of maps will help? Even more. Try an experiment. Return everything
to the state of 2011. I wonder, how many players would return. Not very much i guess.

[Capaco]

without reading everything here, i still suggest not to permaban anyone and anymore on BW server anymore, cause there are already that less players, u cant allow to drop the player count even more by banning, although the player failed 4 times.. Give them a week of ban. No one is cheating here.

[Butcher]

I think there are many of us that have other stuff to do... My personal case: I'll be off for a while. I'm taking a Parental leave outside Germany. But I'll be back to blow your heads...

To regain Players I suggest:
- Unban Emax, bombom,and the rest.
-Send a message inviting them to join the game, You have been: unbanned. courtesy of LDG community. Change rules to maximum 30-day repetitive bans for most (except Nazism and cheating). I suppose, even if they like to camp the teleporters or teamkill or whatever they do to get a ban: 30 days are enough to annoy'em.
-Set muting bans in the rules for the "Michie" type of regular abuser.
-Send a message to old registered users inviting them to join.
-Use Youtube to advertize, tag videos, make a LDG channel...there are some of us that have some footage we can share... is hard to find videos related to LDG, even searching!! Try to google "LDG" and you get everything except the gaming...

Lets try to use the advantages of playing UT2k4 to attect some new users:
-Its easy to get it for free (5 € or $ if you wanna buy it)
-Has online/offline gaming
-Has BW mods an gametypes
-Has FREE active servers where you can compete.

[focus]

What is most important, its necessary to have someone to care about whole thing. And to do things. Have anyone left?

[iRobot]

Remove all bans and relax all the rules!

[Skaldy]

I'd agree with undoing all the permabans, if you're desperate. And clear out the massive or unpopular maps.

While behaviour like camping/mining portals/lifts can be annoying, they are easily avoided during the game once you see them, even if they do restrict the map flow. Only cheating should be permaban. Use mute bans in preference to server bans.

[focus]

Actually, i dont think undoing bans would help much.
Those guys certainly have found long time ago things to do besides playing here.
Why they would return?
Only fresh things could save us.