Experiment: A few occasional custom dm maps

[VaeVictis]

Good stuff, now I can clean out the whole dm server we can have some more variety

i think match1 makes a good addition seeing as how it was one of the first dm maps released by id software for quake2

Actually it was the last, shows how much you know.

was before dm1-8 i believe i could be wrong though, im just going off what ive heard other people say, im not some quake patch history guru o.o

luckily, if you just add them to the mymap list and not the rotation, the anger that's generated (if any) will tend to be directed towards the guy mymapping stuff instead of the server admins.

 

true, so it might work, i do believe allowing mymapping a couple of those maps might be a little extreme though for classic dm maps.... q2rdm2, aerowalk, and ztn2dm3 are definately very solidified as golden classic maps of quake2, but something like grom_dm3 or the tastydm2 map :/ those are kinda out there

oh well, i wont argue it, i dont play on dm anyway

[peewee_RotA]

This download description says that match1 was packaged with q2 3.15 patch

http://www.filefront.com/1298290/quake2.zip

Also a PQ post about 3.15
http://planetquake.gamespy.com/fullstory.php?id=60261


The earliest thing that I can find that references any of the q2dm maps is the 3.18 readme when describing the sv_maplist server var
http://code.google.com/p/quake2android/source/browse/trunk/jni/src/3.18_changes.txt?spec=svn2&r=2
http://code.google.com/p/quake2android/source/browse/trunk/jni/src/3.18_changes.txt?spec=svn2&r=2

I can't find downloads for 3.17 or 3.18 to confirm. I'm fairly sure that 3.16 wasn't a public release.

[console]

This download description says that match1 was packaged with q2 3.15 patch

Yup.

And dm1-8 debuted in 3.12.

Quake II Version 3.12 Upgrade - February 19, 1998

Notes on the 'Point Release':
- We have included eight ( 8 ) new deathmatch specific levels in the Point Release; this should give you some more reasons to avoid doing your homework.

and

Quake2 3.15 Upgrade
-------------------

This upgrade addresses several features, including security, playability, and
enhancements.

A new map is also included (in baseq2\pak3.pak) called match1, Reckless
Abandon.  This map is designed for one on one deathmatch play.  It was built
by American McGee and Dave "Zoid" Kirsch.

Regards,

[VaeVictis]

oh well i knew match1 was pre 3.20 and was included in an official id software patch

pre 3.20 seems pretty early to me

[Er!c@]

aflkshfjfhkshfksfh FRDM3! 

[CodeBlack]

aflkshfjfhkshfksfh FRDM3! 

LOL it's a pretty fun map   

Dervish, so far iv'e mymapped almost every new map in dm, no complaints except for match1, because i hog the quad like a muthafucka! 

[yahoo]

maybe  aerowalk can also be added at vanilla

[Frank Burnside]

So while I have no doubt these changes were made with the best intentions, I ask if you could please consider just disabling this particular feature from the dm server. There are several different types of servers available if a player begins to bore of a classic dm configuration, and I think it would be better to have these players help populate a custom server than force everyone on a stock server to play their map of choice.

I think voting works better than mymap.  At least it gives all of the other players some choice in the decision.

I also prefer standard Q2DM1 and not the current one used which has a very poorly placed Quad damage right in the centre of the map. 
 

[quadz]

the vast majority of players seeking a 'dm' server are only interested in playing classic dm maps (q2dm1 through q2dm8).

I suspect there may not be a majority who see it in such black and white terms.

The times I've mymap'd grom_dm3 on the dm server, I've seen comments more like, "wow, cool map!" than I have seen "wtf!".

There are several different types of servers available if a player begins to bore of a classic dm configuration

In practice, it hasn't seemed to work out that way.

Personally, it's true that if both servers were equally populated, I'd probably choose mutant more often than dm.

But when I want to play on a reasonably full server, my choices become extremely limited.

Which sort of begs the question: is the dm server popular solely because of a /rigid/ adherence to dm1-dm8?  Or is there in fact some leeway for occasional quality custom maps that many players might find a reasonable addition?

I tend to suspect if I set up a GOTO PUREDM server that played only dm1-dm8, that the crowd would stay at dm and pretty much ignore the 'pure' server.  (I could be wrong, but I say that because of the way popular servers seem to have a certain inertia.)

BTW, I will admit, that since I personally enjoy an occasional custom map on dm, I'm not inclined to remove them.

However, if there is a sense they are being played too often, I would consider reducing the frequency that they are available.

Currently a minimum of 5 standard maps are slotted between any custom.


Regards,

quadz

[no_life]

Hi, I haven't been in the game for quite some time due to the lack of the "old classic DM feel". I came back here after like 5 or 6 years of not playing and saw that xquake had turned into a whole set of servers, with an active server that ran q2dm maps and was glad to see it. The fact that there still is one at all is very fortunate for the game.

I suspect there may not be a majority who see it in such black and white terms.

From what I gather since coming back here, the majority does like to play on regular q2dm maps. I've seen the server population drop when those custom maps come on. The numbers and population clearly show that on the spleen server that just runs q2dm maps, there is so much more activity. Server is full a lot.

Personally, I've played this game since it came out. Everything. Used to spend ages on it. I've tried every single type of game play and I have to say the all time favorite would be regular DM, like Kansas style. Aftershock, "Quake II DM" server style. 
If too many changes pile up, the server no longer even feels the same. People quit between rotations instead of playing it all the way through.

Personally, it's true that if both servers were equally populated, I'd probably choose mutant more often than dm.

That right there should tell you everything you need to know. DM is more populated for a reason.
Because it's plain DM.

..

On a positive note, thanks for helping keep the game alive. I do remember you from when I was playing quadz. Good to still see you here.

[quadz]

From what I gather since coming back here, the majority does like to play on regular q2dm maps. I've seen the server population drop when those custom maps come on.

I'll concede I've been astonished to see as much as a third of the dm server go into DNLD state because they didn't have the map.

(On the other hand, I've tended to view this like virginity: a temporary condition, easily remedied.)

If too many changes pile up, the server no longer even feels the same. People quit between rotations instead of playing it all the way through.

Hmm, interesting.

It hadn't occurred to me that some players would take the view of 'playing through' the rotation.

I don't currently have the ability to only allow a custom map to be scheduled in between dm8 and dm1, but, it might be interesting to try.


Regards,

quadz

[[BTF]Defiant!]

Opinion:  I like the extra maps; but, I don't mind not having them and going to Mutant.  I leave it up to the quadz.

[VaeVictis]

well...

its only mymap, its not like the custom maps are in rotation, and the custom maps chosen are all quite classic

obviously some people would like to play a classic custom map every now and then on dm (even if its just to mix things up) or else no one would be mymapping them

[Punk_FAS]

I'm with Ely.  Please have a DM only server (Like we already had).  Classic DM, dm1-dm8.  These servers existed in abundance at one point, and to my knowledge, there isn't really a well-populated one in existence today, in the US anyway.  Tastyspleen is like the last real US-based haven for Q2'ers these days, and I'd hope there would be room for a traditional Q2 DM server.

Wasn't mutant created for the very purpose of playing custom maps?  If you want to mymap a custom map, then go to mutant.  It has a reasonably steady population (thought not as high as vanilla or DM typically), so you should have a reasonable number of people to play against.  Also, the players on Mutant know it's all about custom maps, so it's kinda a given that maps will be mymap'd in.

I don't think voting is necessary either.  The mymap command basically forces whoever is playing on the server at that time to play the map choice of, potentially, a single person's choosing, or disconnect.  With voting, at least it's a "majority rules" kinda situation.  Though I prefer no map voting at all on a DM server; DM referring to q2DM1-q2DM8.

Another thing to consider, is one of the most popular Q2 FFA servers that I can remember, was the q2dm8 ONLY Mage warehouse.  I'm pretty sure the main reason that server went down the tubes, was not due to lack of popularity, or growing tired of one map (hello TDM?), but because the server didn't have the proper backing of its admins, and it would frequently be down for months, if not longer, at a time.  The server occasionally switched to the map "levels" as well, I believe, and while that was occasionally interesting, it often resulted in lots of disconnects, and a significant interruption of the flow of the current action taking place.

Was there something wrong with the tasty DM server anyway?  Was this change thrown in because of a perceived lack of interest in the server?  I really think this is a case of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", and apparently the idea came to mind that the DM server was broken.  Clearly, the "fixes" have ruffled more feathers than any perceived flaws the server was thought to have had.

[reaper]

I'm sure it's hard to please everyone.  My 2 cents would be to take the quad off dm1, leave quad on all the time, and get rid of mymap on the dm server.  Also to replicate the mage warehouse conifguration for a second FFA server : ).