New Server?

[captainAngry]

I have been thinking a lot about adding a new server. I think that eventually we will need one and I think that with the right addition to our server line up, we could bring in more members to the community. We also need to balance out this new wave of people from the fun server

The challenge for me was trying to come up with a new server that wouldn't take too much away from the other servers. What I have been thinking about recently is adding a server that has a very limited map rotation, or even none at all. Maybe one week (or one day or a few days) we run a 24/7 Orient or Matterhorn (or BOTG I guess) server to get people interested in the maps. Maybe the next week we run a 24/7 Cyberpunk server. We could run just contest maps in a rotation for a week or one day a week so we don't have to play them during play tests.

With something like this I could promote both our favorite maps and promote our community with special events (like the contest rotation above).

I am open to your opinions at this point. With a few recent donations from awesome people we have the funds to run a new 22 man server. I am also open to opinions on where to open the new server. I always went with Chicago because it is kind of in the middle but I am open to moving this one somewhere else. It can always be changed.

[GrimGriz]

Portland!

I think if you pick REALLY good maps (not botg), you could do 1 featured per week and it'd be pretty cool. I'd do a rotation of like: goldrush, dustbowl, badwater, featured custom...or something...

+1 vote for alltalk off too

[g_e_oos]

I say the new server should be in either Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, or Illinois (south, not Chicago). Since most of our members are either near or in Canada, or in Texas or Florida. That would be the middle.

[captainAngry]

The options would be:

• Atlanta
• Chicago
• Dallas
• Denver
• Los Angeles
• New York
• San Jose
• Seattle
• Washington, D.C.

[coolbreeze]

i know for sure that when ever i play on dallas server my ping is usually 49-52
and i am from Toronto

[Thursday]

Chicago.

And maybe we just pick the best playtest map THAT ISN'T IN ALPHA.

[RandomGuy]

id say atlanta.

[GrimGriz]

In regards to server location, you can stick with what you have currently and make sure current members have identical ping on all 3 servers...or you can try to get new members from other locations. You'll get less of a player split if current members have a worse ping on the new server.

[4most]

Chicago or someplace in the Midwest...and this sounds like a really good idea just dont pick crappy maps

[captainAngry]

I'm thinking Denver would be a good place. A little bit further from Ontario but a little closer to the West coast and Texas.]

Does anyone else have any feedback beyond location? I suppose you guys just want me to do it and get it over with already.

[Divine Fate]

What I have been thinking about recently is adding a server that has a very limited map rotation, or even none at all. Maybe one week (or one day or a few days) we run a 24/7 Orient or Matterhorn (or BOTG I guess) server to get people interested in the maps. Maybe the next week we run a 24/7 Cyberpunk server. We could run just contest maps in a rotation for a week or one day a week so we don't have to play them during play tests.

I think the location should stay the same as the rest of the servers, but beyond that the limited rotation sounds good. Maybe include a few valve maps plus a map-of-the-week to increase it's popularity. Basically what GrimGriz said: Locked Rotation with 4 Valve maps + 1 Map of the Week. Alltalk? Maybe.

[Riftoff]

What I have been thinking about recently is adding a server that has a very limited map rotation, or even none at all. Maybe one week (or one day or a few days) we run a 24/7 Orient or Matterhorn (or BOTG I guess) server to get people interested in the maps. Maybe the next week we run a 24/7 Cyberpunk server. We could run just contest maps in a rotation for a week or one day a week so we don't have to play them during play tests.

I think the location should stay the same as the rest of the servers, but beyond that the limited rotation sounds good. Maybe include a few valve maps plus a map-of-the-week to increase it's popularity. Basically what GrimGriz said: Locked Rotation with 4 Valve maps + 1 Map of the Week. Alltalk? Maybe.

I would very much like this configuration.

[g_e_oos]

Sounds good.

[HurTmePlentY]

chicago or dallas.

all talk off.

[Twister]

I think all talk should remain on, because when you have it off there is more strategy but at the same time there isn't much humor or conversation making it a less "fun" experience.

And, Chicago should be the server location.

[g_e_oos]

Nope all-talk needs to be off. That is what most of the complaints I hear are. We have two servers with it on, this one needs it off.

[captainAngry]

I am thinking allTalk off, limited rotation of valve + featured custom or something with only a handfull of maps. I am still thinking Denver would be a good location but I might end up sticking with Chicago.

[GrimGriz]

Sounds great, especially the Denver part. I'm curious how you plan on deciding the maps

[g_e_oos]

my suggestion would be to take the highest rated map from the playtest the week before and promote the heck out of it. If no good maps came for playtest, promote a map we've done before. Start with Orient.

[captainAngry]

We would have to just pick one. I would open up a forum for the new server and take suggestions, make a list and a schedule.

[Riftoff]

my suggestion would be to take the highest rated map from the playtest the week before and promote the heck out of it. If no good maps came for playtest, promote a map we've done before. Start with Orient.

I'm thinking we all agree on a schedule each week. Four valve maps and a finished (or at least feature complete and textured) custom map that hasn't had a lot of attention. (Like Orient, Repository, or Ghost Town when it gets out of beta)

[AgeNt_]

...custom map that hasn't had a lot of attention. (Like Orient, Repository, or Ghost Town when it gets out of beta)

whenever original is in the server thats all we play... besides that i think we should have map of the week with no repeaters, thats so if some guy gets a good map and he wants to really promote it he can have his map on the server for a whole week and it also wont let the good custom maps hog the server.

[Liquid Death]

+1 for Dallas
+1 for map custom map promotion

[Ghost]

how about a 24/7 cp_heroicassault new york server? eh?

[Thursday]

Moneygrubbing solution: Have a mapmaker pay five bucks to get his map on the server for a week or something.

[VillageSavant]

Sounds like fun, beng in PA I seem to have 50 ping no matter how far away or how close I am to server location.

[PhrozenFlame]

my suggestion would be to take the highest rated map from the playtest the week before and promote the heck out of it. If no good maps came for playtest, promote a map we've done before. Start with Orient.

this=

[AgeNt_]

i say we turn the custom maps server into a 7 day a week deal and this new server into a playtest server for 7 days. it would draw more mappers to the community IMHO

[GrimGriz]

I disagree. tf2maps has playtest servers and the typically empty. The best way to get average gamers to accept custom maps is to mix a small amount in with official release maps.

[captainAngry]

The server we have now does about as good as we could hope for for getting map makers interested in the community. We do have a good amount of those guys around, although I am probably one of the few that notices it. That and adding new maps every day and then posting demos of everything would kill me dead.

I am not certain that Grim is 100% right as of yet but I am leaning towards that being a good idea. It will probably take a little while to get a good regular rotation down, but I can definatly see how a rotation of Goldrush, Badwater and Repository would do a good job of both populating the server and promoting Repository. Promoting something that is a little more out there gameplay wise won't be as easy until after the server has a following.

Also, I can promote this server and the community by running the contest maps on this server for a period of time. Plus, if I could get the server populated during that time, we wouldn't have to play the contest maps on the regular server. Only one or two have gotten past the ratings so far but we have to test them as a contest sponsor.

I'm planning on getting this non-alltalk denver based server going this week at some point so stay tuned.