Keeping Desert Combat Alive (and Thriving)
Posted: December 4th, 2016, 11:26 pm
The title may seem hyperbolic, but that was meant to capture your attention
Realistically, server population has been on the decline across all BF1942 servers, not just EA117. It's a 13+ year-old game, and that's an unavoidable reality. However, time notwithstanding, there is a lot we can do to keep DC in general and EA117 in particular alive and well for as long as possible.
To preface, I'd like to express my appreciation to the admins for doing such a standup job over *more than a decade* managing this server. Y'all do an oustanding job and I know I am not alone among the regulars for being grateful for your work. This message is merely the suggestion of a frequent player wanting to help out.
1) Map Rotation.
Trench did a phenomenal job recently of renovating the map rotation once again. Hats off to Trench! Everyone enjoyed the resurfacing of novelty maps (e.g., DC Cornered, Inshallah, etc.) that we hadn't been played in some time, particular CQ maps.
That said, there are many times when many of the maps in the new rotation do not facilitate significant server population. During off-hours, or even peak hours during the week when there simply aren't a lot of people online, the specific map can hamper, rather than encourage, people to sign on. To list some examples: DC Urban Siege, DC Bocage Day 2 CQ, DC Cornered CQ, Kharkhov CQ, DC Coastal Hammer. Essentially, large CQ maps.
To be crystal clear: some of these maps are among my favorites!! DC Urban Siege is one of my all time favorite maps. So is Coastal Hammer. But so is Invasion of the Phillippines. And realistically speaking, these maps, unless there are already ≥20 people online, are going to be a detriment, not a facilitator, of server population.
No one wants to play Kharkhov with 6 people. It's just not that fun.
I recommend the following solutions, please feel free to disagree or offer alternatives and we can discuss:
(a) A rotation consisting of a core of smaller CQ and CTF maps.
CTF: Al Nas, Lostvillage, Sea Rigs, Bocage Day 2, Basrahs Edge.
CQ: Lostvillage, Caen, Weapons Bunkers, Basrah Nights.
This is *just an example* to illustrate the point. Feel free to adjust at will. Just a suggestion.
The point is: a rotation only of maps that are fun regardless of server population.
(b) when admins are online, at the discretion of admins we play novelty maps, e.g., Bocage Day 2 CQ, DC Desertshield, DC Battle of 73 Easting, No Fly Zone, Wake, Bridge CTF, Coastal Hammer CQ, etc. I'm *not* saying *don't* play these maps. I like them a ton too. What I am saying is they should be played only when the admins think it's the right time.
(c) Map Vote on by default. When admins are on, turn off map vote. When admins are offline, the online players should get to decide. Tonight, there were 5 people on Kharkhov CQ. It was painful. This issue could either be mitigated or resolved completely with map vote.
The alternative to (c) is to add more admins. But my gut says that the current admins aren't inclined to agree, so (c) is a good compromise.
2) Recruiting.
A lot of people here, EA117 admins and others (DAGL, ATF, etc) are part of the old guard of BF groups. Reach out to the older/former players, and see if you can get some of the old regulars back!
Also reach out to your friends IRL and try to get them to play. It's $10 to get a new BF CD, that's it!! If they're technically challenged, install the game for them.
3) That's all I got for now. Please keep the ensuing discussion CIVIL. We appreciate the work the admins have put forth over the years, and we need to respect that.
Let's be real. EA117 is the ONLY American DC server left. The alternative is the Ukrainian-Russia server and the ping there is nearly unplayable for anyone not in Eurasia. EA117 is our only hope to keep our favorite game alive. We are all in this together. Let's keep our favorite server alive and well.
Thanks for reading,
JMB
Realistically, server population has been on the decline across all BF1942 servers, not just EA117. It's a 13+ year-old game, and that's an unavoidable reality. However, time notwithstanding, there is a lot we can do to keep DC in general and EA117 in particular alive and well for as long as possible.
To preface, I'd like to express my appreciation to the admins for doing such a standup job over *more than a decade* managing this server. Y'all do an oustanding job and I know I am not alone among the regulars for being grateful for your work. This message is merely the suggestion of a frequent player wanting to help out.
1) Map Rotation.
Trench did a phenomenal job recently of renovating the map rotation once again. Hats off to Trench! Everyone enjoyed the resurfacing of novelty maps (e.g., DC Cornered, Inshallah, etc.) that we hadn't been played in some time, particular CQ maps.
That said, there are many times when many of the maps in the new rotation do not facilitate significant server population. During off-hours, or even peak hours during the week when there simply aren't a lot of people online, the specific map can hamper, rather than encourage, people to sign on. To list some examples: DC Urban Siege, DC Bocage Day 2 CQ, DC Cornered CQ, Kharkhov CQ, DC Coastal Hammer. Essentially, large CQ maps.
To be crystal clear: some of these maps are among my favorites!! DC Urban Siege is one of my all time favorite maps. So is Coastal Hammer. But so is Invasion of the Phillippines. And realistically speaking, these maps, unless there are already ≥20 people online, are going to be a detriment, not a facilitator, of server population.
No one wants to play Kharkhov with 6 people. It's just not that fun.
I recommend the following solutions, please feel free to disagree or offer alternatives and we can discuss:
(a) A rotation consisting of a core of smaller CQ and CTF maps.
CTF: Al Nas, Lostvillage, Sea Rigs, Bocage Day 2, Basrahs Edge.
CQ: Lostvillage, Caen, Weapons Bunkers, Basrah Nights.
This is *just an example* to illustrate the point. Feel free to adjust at will. Just a suggestion.
The point is: a rotation only of maps that are fun regardless of server population.
(b) when admins are online, at the discretion of admins we play novelty maps, e.g., Bocage Day 2 CQ, DC Desertshield, DC Battle of 73 Easting, No Fly Zone, Wake, Bridge CTF, Coastal Hammer CQ, etc. I'm *not* saying *don't* play these maps. I like them a ton too. What I am saying is they should be played only when the admins think it's the right time.
(c) Map Vote on by default. When admins are on, turn off map vote. When admins are offline, the online players should get to decide. Tonight, there were 5 people on Kharkhov CQ. It was painful. This issue could either be mitigated or resolved completely with map vote.
The alternative to (c) is to add more admins. But my gut says that the current admins aren't inclined to agree, so (c) is a good compromise.
2) Recruiting.
A lot of people here, EA117 admins and others (DAGL, ATF, etc) are part of the old guard of BF groups. Reach out to the older/former players, and see if you can get some of the old regulars back!
Also reach out to your friends IRL and try to get them to play. It's $10 to get a new BF CD, that's it!! If they're technically challenged, install the game for them.
3) That's all I got for now. Please keep the ensuing discussion CIVIL. We appreciate the work the admins have put forth over the years, and we need to respect that.
Let's be real. EA117 is the ONLY American DC server left. The alternative is the Ukrainian-Russia server and the ping there is nearly unplayable for anyone not in Eurasia. EA117 is our only hope to keep our favorite game alive. We are all in this together. Let's keep our favorite server alive and well.
Thanks for reading,
JMB