Pickup: Destroying fort since 2010!

[compguygene]

There is a very simple reason that I made ID's Fotress Server an 8v8 not a 9v9 server. When you are in G5's, playing 8v8, and 1 more person joins, people will immediately start to see more slides, etc. There are many, who like myself, have noticed a significant performance difference between an 8v8 and a 9v9 and above Fortress match. If my clan mates want me to make it a 9v9 server, I certainly will. Some of you may remember the days of 8v8 Ladles. There are valid reasons why this was chosen as an upper bound. My experience has been that those with <100 ping really don't see a difference with a 9v9, hence the reason why so many Euros are very happy with G5's no matter how full, and why for some on this side of the Atlantic, it gets to be rather slidey and unplayable at 9v9. This is why, to make as good as an experience for anybody playing, I have chosen to go with 8v8.

[apparition]

This isn't really a discussion about #players = lag, which has been around since forevs, man dude bro.

[compguygene]

I know, appa. I was just saying why its an 8v8.

Really, what 2020 has said, as usual, sums things up the best.

[Desolate]

I really haven't seen much of a difference, I haven't been active up until the past weekish, where I check the server list a few times a day. I see pickups a lot during the week when there are only around 12-15 people on at a time, but this weekend, I only see people hanging around MB53's Mega Fort Pro. The few attempts at starting pickup matches have failed.

[þsy]

I really haven't seen much of a difference, I haven't been active up until the past weekish, where I check the server list a few times a day. I see pickups a lot during the week when there are only around 12-15 people on at a time, but this weekend, I only see people hanging around MB53's Mega Fort Pro. The few attempts at starting pickup matches have failed.

MB53's has been popular this week, but only because of the cool colour scheme in the server name text. If it wasn't so groovy, half as many would go there

[Slov]

I still think they're ugly..

[Concord]

a couple notes to add

firstly, the facts do not support the argument that either pickup or authentication-required servers damage fortress. If anything, either or both of these have helped fortress. Ladle attendance has grown over the past year, and the number of new players has grown greatly.

fortress does have a steep learning curve. This is exactly why it's good that the server is called G5's Mega Fortress Pro. Compared to most other servers, fortress requires much more skill. The worst fortress players probably play fortress because they got bored at dominating in some other server. A case study is _~R~_Slick. He's no longer all that bad, but when he first joined _~R~_ he was down there at the bottom. At that same point in time he was winning dogfight tournaments. By calling the server "Pro" and locking most people out, we're communicating to all those players in other servers that once they get good and bored wherever they're playing, they can walk into a fortress player and get their ass kicked again. That wasn't always the case. We used to have to go find those players and tell them about fortress. (This is what actually happened between L16-L18, when pRu, Ww. ID and VcL started playing fortress. We just went out and found the best players from other servers.) Now they come to us.

Keeping complete newbies out also makes sure that everyone that sees or plays in a game of fortress sees or plays the right way. We model proper behavior more effectively than before. As a consequence, we have a much higher retention rate than before. Perhaps less people play a round of fortress than before, but way more people play a match, and more people play many matches.


this is the most important point. If you skip everything above, read this. It's better to keep out new players than to kick them out

two scenarios.

a.) completely open server.
Newb comes in, gets kicked out. Ouch. Newb feels upset because he got kicked. He's been punished. He learns a lesson. That lesson? Don't go into this server, they kicked me before.

b.) pro server.
Newb comes in. Nothing happens. Can't play. Stays a couple rounds trying to figure out why he can't play. Watches a couple rounds because he has to. Leaves by his own volition. No negative feelings towards the server, no reason not to go back. Might have even learned something from watching. Just needs to figure out how to authenticate. Even if he just goes into another server, he remembers that there was this one server where he couldn't play. He's aware of fortress in some capacity. The process of authenticating (finding the forums, making a forum account) gives him all the tools to join the community. If he goes into the server and gets kicked, he comes on here and asks about it. Fantastic, now we can tell him why and show him how. That's amazing, that's great

[Slickster]

.......I don't know how to respond to that...



P.S. I don't play pickup...

[Word]

Ok, what clans/teams are currently some of the best (or at least biggest) in CTF, HR and DF?

I can only think of U, HA, ph and rx....I'm going to ask them but perhaps someone with more charism should do that

edit: asked HA, ZG, ph, eS, vZ, V3, Apple and U

[compguygene]

Ok, Concord. I took the time to not only read your post and think about it, but to really look into the supporting facts. You have convinced me that I am wrong. You do raise many valid points. The best point I see is that it is better to keep noobs out than to discourage them by kicking them. I do appreciate a well-reasoned post that proves me wrong. Better that, than to be viewing things in a way that is less than accurate.

[syllabear]

fort is successful. Its successful because of the playerbase, and its maturity, and the fact we can coordinate well through forums, chat, ingame, etc. (globalisation anyone?)

If any of these parts fail, then fort will fail. Pickup doesn't ruin any of these parts.

[Word]

edit: asked HA, SW, ZG, ph, eS, vZ, V3, Apple and U

quoted to bump. maybe some of you know these clans more than i do and can guide them a bit.

we had 9 (active) members when we played our first ladle,
HA: 17
SW: 13
ph & U: 11
vZ: 10

[dariv]

If any of these parts fail, then fort will fail. Pickup doesn't ruin any of these parts.

but it does annoy lot of people...

[Basilisk]

I had heard of this pickup, so I thought I'd try it again, I think the idea is cool but what the hell is going on with the players?

I had read the rules etc. but things like the immediate left of the server I did not know.

instead of me to say something, I was offended that I'm a noob/newbie?

C'Mon guys..

[Titanoboa]

Good point, that should be explained somewhere. Maybe in round_console_message or message_of_day?