Decreasing playerbase

[iZumo]

It more looks like that BW today has become a noob bash, my steps would be:

1) Set a cap on the initial DL and cut any content not making it into that (without mercy), identify how much diversity I can maintain to stabilize the changes (BW has lived many month before just fine when there were no changes)
2) Thawn players get fully restocked
3) Players can thaw frozen players immediatelly (no minimum time)
4) Identification of the reasons why skill based handicaps have to be present, look on solving those and removing the handicaps
5) Elimination of any "force aim" switches and similar "antispam" measures that have been implmented, every single one, since they were implemented out of arrogance and not reasoning
6) Since many of the map fixes reverted spam and lamery, look for ways how to reintroduce them, since maps are the way how it can be controlled

Most of recovery changes would indeed be targetted towards less skilled players.

[SageOfSixPaths]

Some of the reasons I'm less motivated can be dealt with, others can't.

- Constant bitching, especially from certain players, with no ability to do anything about it
- Being blamed for loss of players with no or spurious evidence
- Reversion to crap maps
- Responsibilities in another community
- Loss of giZmo- A feeling that all the effort spent attempting to innovate is wasted since complaints are the only result
- I'm not learning anything from coding for 2k4 anymore, and that's pretty much all I'm good for in the team

What happened to gizmo??

I think you guys just have to accept that people move on. The game is too complicated for new people to get into and harder now since there less players. Making any changes would just be like trying to save a drowning ship with a bucket. Too little too late..

[iRobot]

No regimes last forever, Sage.

[Butcher]

So, why don't you play anymore Robot?

And also what happened to Gizmo?
when is he coming back?
a) never
b) maybe in couple of months/weeks
c) soon
d) No idea

[Earl_Vencar.:LLS:.]

We don't need radical changes, and it certainly isn't too little, too late. The popularity of the Invasion server (the majority of these players have never joined the Freon server) can be provided as evidence stating that there is still an appetite for BW among the general populace.

As for 'constant changes', I think the opposite is in effect; the static balance discrepancies are now being discovered and exploited, whilst luck and 'spam' are being inadvertently rewarded to the detriment of precision shooting. Many players are simply getting bored and frustrated.

And so players leave. I stand by this opinion. The balance is broken (following is not a critique, trying to provide evidence):

• A73 Skirth Rifle alt-fire - 'ramps from 75 damage to 205 damage over 0.7 seconds' (https://ldg-gaming.eu/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=3171). Highly hip accurate, even whilst in mid-air. Can fire 6 bolts per magazine with a high fire-rate. Good players have easily dominated maps using this, especially when combining the powerful primary and melee capabilities.
• Longhorn primary fire - Capaco was shot down, but he's essentially correct. A direct hit of 150 damage, with the majority of shots from hip (the 'luck'). Failing that, the clusters strike (the 'spam'). The most popular weapon on the server for that reason, and it's frustrating a number of players.
• M46 Combat Rifle mines (https://ldg-gaming.eu/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=3147) - 120 damage when attached to a player, with no hope of avoidance. The explosion radius is too high. High damage, with multiple mines stacking (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXvQV6dSv-k). Explosions on death also attribute to the 'luck' factor.
• XMV-850 - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvb9oiOkPVs#t=101), with 1200 RPM and aim. Has contributed considerably to my personal frustration and boredom, especially when it's more efficient to move and spam than deploy.

And yes, it is easy to point towards my suggestion of adding back old maps while pointing to the list above, and cry 'hypocrisy'. As for the 'reversion to crap maps', I'm disappointed that you, Aza, highlight such as a reason for losing motivation whilst earlier giving your blessing for such to happen. Maybe gameplay will suffer a wee bit, but I'd rather try to stabilise the population and enjoy my evenings rather than continue to help finance an empty server.

[Skaldy]

Let's face it, too many of us are at the "acceptance" stage already and so I suggest that the talented among you put your valuable time & effort into UT4 from now on.

I'll be straight back here when it comes out, to see if you're hosting it, and hopefully we can all just have some fun again. Although, next time, be a bit more proactive about muting whiners!



bfn

[iRobot]

So, why don't you play anymore Robot?

Two reasons for me - I never did solve my PC issues so I would crash out of 1/3 games and it would be frustrating, and also the lack of equal level opponents. It's not really fun just killing more casual players over and over. I don't get anything out of it, they don't get anything out of it.

The changes to the game or the maps have absolutely nothing to do with it.

[Azarael]

I'm disappointed that you, Aza, highlight such as a reason for losing motivation whilst earlier giving your blessing for such to happen. Maybe gameplay will suffer a wee bit, but I'd rather try to stabilise the population and enjoy my evenings rather than continue to help finance an empty server.

I'm not sure I understand your point. I can accept that restoring crap maps may be necessary, if it is proven that they have a positive effect on the playercount (which I believe is certain.) I can give my blessing to this while simultaneously stating that my own desire to play will be reduced - or would you prefer that I lie outright?

As for the balance, I don't have any aversion to allowing you to tweak it. So far, nobody's expressed any willingness to do that job.

[Earl_Vencar.:LLS:.]

It wasn't my intention to further lessen your motivation by adding these maps; after interpreting your post I felt I may have done so.

[Azarael]

Keeping the server alive comes above my preferences.