[Sivic]

I too would like to voice my concern.

As many others have said, SourceOP1 used to be packed 24/7, and SourceOP2 was not far behind in that metric. When I started coming back to the SourceOP1 servers last December (after more than a year of not playing) I thought me witnessing the server empty out was just a rare happenstance. As it turns out, it was a worsening sickness.

I really hate to see the server like this because I remember and love the atmosphere the players could bring to the place. I strongly dislike other servers not only because the player skill tends to be shit, but the people are either annoying twits or aggressive twats. At SourceOP there tends to be a much better balance of laid back chit-chat and focused teamwork. To see the servers keeled over and barely standing on it's own feet like this is rather saddening. Not only to me, but to other regulars - this and other threads of concern which have spawned over time is proof.

Here are my suggestions (most of which is just repeated information voiced by other Users):

- Remove some of the terrible maps. In my opinion Turbine and Junction are brainless meat grinders. Even when there is opportunity to complete the objective no one ever takes it because no one actually cares to pay enough attention. Although I actually enjoy Hydro, I do recognize that it's a map that kills the servers.

- Add some new maps. To be honest I'd be happy if just the really bad maps and server killing maps were removed, but other Users really want to see new maps and I can't see how a fresher map pool would be any harm.

- Revamp of the Reserved Slot system. Even as it stands now as someone with a Reserved Slot, it's almost impossible to get in during (what little) peak hours there are. Basically the only thing a reserved slot does for me is ensure I don't get kicked when I eventually do get in the server. I like the subscription based model where your donation is good for X months. It might just be better to remove Reserved Slots altogether, as one of the problems seems to be that new Users without a Reserve Slot tend to get kicked too quickly and too often and never come back because of it.

- Revamp the voting system. I can't remember what server I was playing on with some of the other regulars (probably Hyperion) but their system allowed you to vote for 4-5 different maps. I think a really good system would be this:

>Have a map poll to select, let's say 5 maps
>The winning map with the most votes for current poll becomes the next map to be played on and gets removed from the subsequent map poll
>The next poll has the 4 maps which did not win during the previous poll, plus a new (5th) map to replace the one that had previously won
>Any map which does not successfully win a poll via player voting within 4 map polls get replaced with a different map (to a logical maximum of 4 map selections being replaced at once)

Just to be clear, only 1 map poll per map will be made (as with the current system). If you wanted to add a second layer of detail you could do the above system except instead of doing 1 poll of a pool of 5 maps, do 3 or 4 polls which would eliminate the least popular maps up for election successively until there's a majority vote for 1 of the 5 maps.

- Give admin to someone who is constantly around. The obvious choice is Enforcer. Honest guy, likes the server, likes the people, the people like the server, the people like Enforcer. It just makes sense. He could separate the people causing problems (not going to name names but I'm confident anyone reading this knows the guilty parties I'm thinking of), kick them if need be, ban cheaters, change the map is something is REALLY not popular with the player base, etc.


- A nice to have thing would be the option for All-Talk every now and then. Truthfully I'm not a fan of it and sometimes even switch teams to avoid certain players, but it could be fun every now and then if sprinkled in. Again, I wouldn't be upset if the All-Talk idea doesn't pan out.


So as we can see, there are a number of problems and a number of solutions that would help this server come alive again. Realistically speaking, if Enforcer, Wolfpup, Loony2n, and a few others who send out mass invites didn't send out the invites, this server would have already died completely a few months ago.

- - - Updated - - -

again, not an admin nomination thread.

any custom map suggestions should keep in mind that this is a 32 man server we are talking about, so maps like mach 4 and haarp (which has a mess of bugs) aren't realistic.

Is this what you're looking for?

http://forums.sourceop.com/threads/14471...PS-NO-MODS

or this?

http://forums.sourceop.com/threads/14471...ost1507565

[blarky]

again, not an admin nomination thread.

Womb last time I checked it wasn't you who authored the OP for this thread.... so you really have no business proclaiming this.

On a very related note, I highly nominate Enforcer for admin. He's clearly a favorite as he's put a very considerable amount of time here and is highly respected. He has the best intentions in mind and would do an excellent job if given the authority.

On topic with the OP, I agree with Game's stance. The recent changes with culling out the bad maps had a positive impact, for sure. However, it clearly wasn't enough to resurrect the server to it's prior standing.

Things I am for:
- new maps (24-32 player friendly)
- new donation system for preferred members, that possibly involves monthly fees (per the point about having 3+ year donors still having power over noobs)
- new map voting system... give us a few more options besides "going to the next map", or, "skipping +1 map". I have played on servers that give you the option of choosing 5 or more maps
- new perks, such as god mod at the end of the round if you are a donor
- different color text if you are a donor
- team damage on during the first 30 seconds before a map restart... basically a really short minigame to kill your teammates before the real game starts
- more admins
- get rid of a few more of the server clearing maps
- more options for voting, such as for all talk

[Mr_Admiral]

SourceOP1/SourceOP2 were the only reasons I kept TF2 installed for the last few years. I quit playing about 6 months ago mainly due to the reasons Game outlined in the OP - the server was always either empty or packed and it seemed like you could almost set your watch as to when it was going to happen.

I got bored of waiting to join or waiting for other players and started playing other things, then the next thing you know I did what most people suggested I do anyway and uninstalled.

I think things like what blarky and Game have proposed would go a long way toward getting people to join and keep coming back.

[Killeemegee]

Womb last time I checked it wasn't you who authored the OP for this thread.... so you really have no business proclaiming this.

On a very related note, I highly nominate Enforcer for admin. He's clearly a favorite as he's put a very considerable amount of time here and is highly respected. He has the best intentions in mind and would do an excellent job if given the authority.

On topic with the OP, I agree with Game's stance. The recent changes with culling out the bad maps had a positive impact, for sure. However, it clearly wasn't enough to resurrect the server to it's prior standing.

Things I am for:
- new maps (24-32 player friendly)
- new donation system for preferred members, that possibly involves monthly fees (per the point about having 3+ year donors still having power over noobs)
- new map voting system... give us a few more options besides "going to the next map", or, "skipping +1 map". I have played on servers that give you the option of choosing 5 or more maps
- new perks, such as god mod at the end of the round if you are a donor
- different color text if you are a donor
- team damage on during the first 30 seconds before a map restart... basically a really short minigame to kill your teammates before the real game starts
- more admins
- get rid of a few more of the server clearing maps
- more options for voting, such as for all talk

This would be ideal. I can't add anything further so this is my vote for a brighter future... Wait I can... autogag Dan on join. (love you babe)

[blarky]

This is the message that was sent:
***************
Dear blarky,

You have received an infraction at SourceOP Forums.

Reason: Shitposting
-------
admin nominations clearly aren't the point of the fucking thread, and it's plain you knew that since you said "on topic with the OP" AFTER your admin nomination.
secondly, it's definitely my business making sure the thread stays on topic with suggestions to help the server as a whole instead of an enforcer for admin circle jerk.

-------

In response to the above PM I received from Womb:

1) Admin nominations were indeed on point with respect to the thread, please reference this quote from Game's OP:

i think the best way to go about this is if possible, giving access to an trusted admin, who would be able to make changes that the community would like to see.

So my comment about admins was certainly on topic.

2) Yes it is your job to police the threads, but you are pretty much censoring/squelching people from honest discussion when you make proclamations such as "not an admin nomination thread". The topic of server admin is definitely a concern here and why you try to censor it, or at least make it difficult to discuss makes no sense to me. I click on Sivic's name above and find out he is banned by you for trying to make an admin thread. It's like having an open door policy to talk about things, but the other side of the door leads off a cliff.

3) Finally, yes we all want to make the server better. I hate to see it the way it is. I've been around this server since 2007, and if someone as well liked and well respected as Game316 is making a thread about the server, that says a lot. There have been many other threads about this as well from other well respected members here too. We are just trying to throw ideas around to help keep the interest in the server.

[LZRgandalf]

First time poster, fairly regular Source OPer...

Yes on:

• new maps!
  
• better map voting system!
  
• better perks for donating, like colored font!
  
• Enforcer as admin/mod
  

I would also like to nominate Fusion, Dan, & jollyjello for the position -- the more the better!

[Warren-Maximillion]

any custom map suggestions should keep in mind that this is a 32 man server we are talking about, so maps like mach 4 and haarp (which has a mess of bugs) aren't realistic.

That doesn't mean that we don't want them in the first place. Sure, some maps might end up being horrible choices in the end, but an admin could easily respond to problems with buggy and crowded maps (i.e. Rid of them after complaining). The admin just has to want to help.

Pointless ranting aside, I wouldn't mind pl_mill or pl_swiftwater. They were fun when I played on them with various SourceOP members with little complaint (if any). I encountered no noticeable bugs. There were 32 players when I was on the map. I must say that the grass is greener in custom server land (mainly because valve maps have little grass).

[HappyClown]

I have to echo what Game, blarky, Deadroot, Warren, and many others have posted here. Having said that, it seems to me that if we are to remove maps from the server, they should be replaced with other maps; otherwise they shouldn't be removed at all. With things as they are, I log into pl_badwater only to end up again on badwater 2 hours later! This is partly the fault of the voting system as well.

I'm afraid I don't have any solutions. I can only say I love the community and hate how the servers have become desolate with very strict map rotations which also aren't very welcoming to new players, I might add as well.

I too want an admin that plays the game with us (Dopp does a great job but he's only one man) and yes, I second/third/tenth Enforcer for the job.

I would gladly give up my reserved slot (seeing as it does jack since the few precious times the server is full everyone has a reserved slot) for more player benefits.

Anyway, my 2c. SourceOP must be attractive for new players as well the old, be wary of getting stuck in the rut of its precious few beloved maps (including the 20 minute krit fest that is dustbowl 3 and the inexplicable love for junction), and get real powers to active players who actually love the community or the server will die.

[Sugga the Frog [EMC]]

For the record I'm counting 15 nods to that great, bad toothed, 2nd rate, British, poofda named Enforcer for a admin/mod help with this idea.

Any feedback on the maps I proposed?

- - - Updated - - -

The fonts idea is a great one. That could bring in fresh $$ from people who haven't donated in a long time.

[Qwo]

The simplest solution (for DF or whoever is in charge these days) to this issue is to make Enforcer an admin and then dump a whole bunch of the more popular custom maps on the server rotation. That way, for now, there doesn't have to be a huge discussion on what maps will drive people towards or away from the server - we can have a testing period with active admins guiding the rotation and keeping an eye on which maps work.

It'll be less work for now just to have some new maps and new admins.

- - - Updated - - -

Speaking of which,


SourceOP.com TF2 24/7 2fort [NO MODS] [NO BS]
SourceOP.com TF2 [VALVE MAPS #2] [NO MODS]

SourceOP.com TF2 24/7 Goldrush [NO MODS]

SourceOP.com TF2 Pro Rotation [NO CRITS]

Don't need to exist anymore.