I've been doing a fair bit of investigating and thinking about the current server setups and this is the current theory I am heading towards. I'm getting some feedback from the ops before I proceed but I want some constructive feedback or issue/changes you have with the changes or just say if you hate them.

Flyboys will remain as is. Possibly with a Coral sea carrier bubble if desired.

Server 1 will be the fun server for the new guys and players just wanting an easy game. It will feature allmaps, be 1 round, 150%, friendly fire off, 30sec start round time, map vote will be on and set around 60% of server. Possibly with a death bubble.

Server 2 will be a return to something similar to the "ladder winners" of old, it will be for the those with specific tastes and a higher and more difficult setup for the more experienced players.
It will be 32P, FF/splash On, 100%, 30min time, 1 round, prematch 30sec, set to auto ptk (ftk to forgive), 3 ptks to kick, and a uncappable DEATH BUBBLE. Camping will be discouraged but not "banned".
I need feedback on 3 other things:
1) Berlin and stalingrad setup as Ghetto style (no nades, tanks).
2) A new setting is that rather than using FF or combined with is the "kickback" damage. for example, if you throw a grenade and it kills a friendly player, we can set a percentage of damage you will receive compared to how much you did to that player. This can be set between 0-100 and can be set for both bullet and splash damage weapons.
3) The maplist, currently I have suggested: aberdeen, bulge, battleaxe, berlin, bocage, elal, gazala, iwo jima, kharkov, market, stalingrad, tobruk and wake.

Edit: I've added a poll for simplicity of public desire, but feel free to comment, add suggests etc below.

1: no gheto is lame
2: no that sounds lame
3: map rotation sounds goodm maybe not el al though every always just waits for planes

Berlin and stalingrad stays nade'able.

The maps suck without nades.

I hate the guy who posted this thread. lololol ^_^

Server 2 should be your "server 1" ie no changes from now, except quicker rounds.

Server 1 should be ghetto + death bubble. 120%-150% tickets and 1 round. Kickback shouldn't be on, it's a horrible idea.

Yes, no nades on the tight infantry maps. If I had my way, I would remove grenades from every map to encourage less spam. Spammingrad and Berlin are improved tenfold without them.

Hmmms, in regards to the TK kickback...if its a 'pro' server then these things will happen. I'd say No but if the 'new player' server had FF I'd say Yes.

Map rotation I can't comment on as I only look for Infantry maps.

ILL BE HAPPY TO SEE CORAL SEA D/BUBBLED
99% splashback damage
all sounds good
thanks binstar

Worried where your kills will come from with no tanks?


Everything looks rather good to me, I'm liking it. Big thumbs up to death bubble on carrier for Flyboys, I might actually play there more if that's implemented.

just a question with the splash back damage, wasnt there an issue where people would stand infront of planes, and as the pilots take off it kills both the pilot and the player standing on the runway?

And if you were in say a tank or plane and you tked, you would basically die mid battle yeah?

ps. maybe split up el al and gazala in the map rotation also .

Good ideas, the splash back should be interesting but I see bison’s point about the planes.

nice work binny, a change is as good as a holiday (well, so people who obviously dont go on holiday much say)...

BIG +1 for ghetto maps, at least on the FF server since that many nades with FF is a nightmare...

quite like the idea of kickback too, although on the pop maps server it might be a bit much for the nublets (like neon, or so it seems )

personally i wouldnt mind having two rounds of each map at 100% on the pop maps server since it takes soooo long to rotate though the maps its nice to play 2 rounds of a good map once it comes along... but i suppose 2 rounds will make it that much longer to rotate.. another good thing about 2 rounds is that slow loading people get a chance to nab vehicles and stuff at the start of the second round while they usually miss out in the first because they are still loading...

and im all for bubbles around uncappables. It just makes it a bit trickier to camp & stops the maps getting competely destroyed by nooblets with no class...

BIG +1 for the ghetto maps on FF server (just in case u missed it

yes to uncapable death bubble.

The idea of kickback is just that, it'll only go on if there is decent support for it. As for issues about plane blocking and planes/tanks being emptied mid battle, thats not necessarily a real issue for 2 reasons.

If you do want it...we can just turn it on for splash damage or for normal damage. Or with whichever it is on for its not necessarily at 100% kickback. Ideally something like 33% max for splash damage and maybe 40-50% for normal FF. So in otherwords you wouldn't get kicked out of a plane or tank unless you tk'd 3 people in 1 flight.

As for ghetto, we'll wait and see if more or less want it. It'll only be for stal and berlin if it is added. Don't forget with a bubble those maps will now have protected tank spawns (so no more loss of berlin tanks in 1st 15 sec).

As for the maplists, feel free to add/remove maps and then once its set we can mixup the order.

Changes I would suggest -

I'd like to see the swap sides setting relaxed, half the time it doesn't allow u to change teams when u want (nothing more boring then playing on a side that has all the flags).

+1 for bubble

2 rounds per map is good.

FF 100% on one server (would be interested in trying kickback idea).

Full credit for suggesting change Binstar.

hear hear! would be great if the autobalance feature kicked in at 2-3 players difference instead of just 1... or was off until it noticed a difference then turned itself on. that way a couple of people can change sides before it is set off. its fun to be able to swap and fight back if you cap it out one way

Bloody superb stuff Binny !!...I can now see why The UN want you as their Military Advisor in The Middle East.
I'm for bubble,ghetto, & kickban for tkers.

I guess roo hasn't seen Binstar play GRAW yet....

"OOOH PRETTY TANK! rub rub" blamo.

ghetto style Stali/Berlin - A big no to this... when Ihug did this things would get pretty lame...Eg: the entire Russian team going sniper and staying in their base for the entire game. Anyone who complains about tanks obviously doesnt enjoy the challenege of taking them out.

deathbubbles - these get a bit lame on ihug, the only maps in my opinion that actually need them are Omaha (the last six rounds of this map that I have seen have been pointless due to Axis on beach) and possibly Coral Sea. my opinion is that if a team is hopeless enough to be driven back to their flag then they deserve to be camped

server 1 all maps - its great to see a server will remain with all maps as sometimes one person's "favourites" can get pretty boring for others. like some others have mentioned I would be keen to see 2 rounds for each map... personally I like the challenge of switching teams to the losing team in the second round or using a different class/vehicle for a change (Eg: fly a B17 one round of Bocage and Snipe on the second)

Firstly I'd like to add Kursk to the Pop Maps rotation, its a great map, and if bubble is in place its easy to fight back from having no flags ( plus its the only map designed for effective AT ).

Secondly, the ghetto maps are great for Berlo and Stalin, it makes the maps a test of skill, not just a random spam off which it currently is.
It brings the middle flag back into play on Stalin and brings the main road back into play on Berlin, when usually these woudl be no go zones due to the barage of nades. I'm certainly not against tanks as taking them out is my major pastime, but it definitely improves gameplay on those particular maps.

Lastly the "kickback" idea sounds great, will assist greatly in educating the masses against irresponsible spam and has my full support. Now if only we could introduce a benefit for healing other people.

Thanks Binstar for listening, asking the players opinions, and putting in so much effort

I'm up for Ghetto inf maps, works on iHug. Only twist will be ff on, which will make people consider their surrounds.

Bubble - bring it on.

Kickback - no experience with it, don't know how it would be realised ingame.

Maps, hate El Al. Suggest it goes, Gazala has plenty of action usually. I'm with Antman, Kursk with Bubble on.

Personally, 2 rounds better than 1 - if the map rotation is ok. Why not have Allmaps ONE round?

- Add both the death bubble and ghetto maps

Dont actually mind too much about death bubble but you gotta put ghetto on!!

Played a round of berlo other day on one of GA servers and it was ****!!
Tard nades and tanks everywhere, spammers in control!!
Makes u sick to even witness it, actually just mentioning it now is making me crook!!
if you put ghetto on I'll prob go back on for a game.. cough..

Also while Im talking **** I'll throw this one in..
Dont know if its around or not but a ghetto Omaha would be damn tasty too!!

Fair call, but part of the point of the death bubble is to prevent camping at any stage during the game. Nothing is lamer than when you have an enemy tank sitting on your runway when his team is capped out. (or the game is still open) But yes, it's definitely needed on Omaha because like you say the last few games I've played of it have been absolutely ridiculous, leaving those on axis with the choice of doing the respectable thing and sitting up in the bunkers not even getting a shot at the enemy, or going onto the beach with the tanks and other inf to try and make some sort of game out of it for themselves. This of course ruins it for the Allies completely.

on it, but lasy...

Or the Omaha version that iHug has with the destroyer + a carrier with mustang(s?) and SBD and AA guns up the axis end of things.

Pretty much ensures no tanks get a hold on the beach or prevent the inf from getting close to the bunker.

nah that mods no good... you end up with half the allied team sitting on the carrier waiting for planes...

I like this option:
Add the bubble and ghetto maps and kickback in some form

Lets start out with all the features turned on and work backwards if necessary.

Thanks Binny (and anyone else who worked on this) for putting alot of time and effort into investigating our options.

You have my 100% backing (for what its worth)

I can remember playing with the kickback on a LAN server. I like it, if you accedently tk someone you only lose half health (with it set to 50%) so its an insentive not to tk without being too harsh.

However if kickback is on then auto ptk needs to be off. I think it should be off anyway, people are more likly to type in ptk when they are annoyed then type the other one ( I dont even know the name) when they want to forgive, meaning 99% of the time your getting a 60 second spawn.

I will also try to answer or incorporate as many of the ideas and opinions brought up in this thread as change is only good if its what the players who use the servers want.

Ghetto and bubble for #2 will depend on the results of the votes.

Kickback issues, I hope I settled with my 2nd post, btw if you want to try it and then we decide we don't like it, it can be turned off or even up in damage.

Rounds being 1 or 2 and tickets at 100% or 150%, really comes down to popular demand, some like 2 rounds of the maps they like but can't stand having to play a 2nd round of those maps they don't. So I suggest either 1 round 150% or 2 round 100%. Probably best suited with the former for allmaps and the latter for the smaller pop map rotation.

Autobalance as far as I'm aware without tracking down some mod from somewhere it is either on or off. For the server to function properly it needs to be on.

I don't see how ghetto changes the number of snipers in the main, the bubble may aid that though. The issue with the tanks is with them being naded and stolen on berlin (which the bubble should fix).

Deathbubble although to most only some maps NEED the bubble you need to ask yourself which maps would suffer or be worse with the bubble on. If there is a specific reason for some maps then it wont be used on those.

Kursk I left out due to it being one of the maps most likely to have a side shut out especially early in the round regardless of the use of the bubble as realistically plane camping is not really affected by it. If there is a demand for kursk it will be added into the #2 rotation.

ELAL same as for kursk, will go if supported as such, hopefully there is less waiting with a 32P server (4 planes, 4 tanks at main plus if capture 2 flags you'll get 2 flaks, 2 jeeps and 2 more tanks) so 16 per side shouldn't have too much waiting.

The issue with ftk/ptk is that the vast majority have no idea either exists and then feel helpless to deal with tk'rs. Whether or not we default it to forgive or punish, I'll discuss with the other ops.

So feel free to post the ticket/rd setup you would like for both servers, whether you would like kurks in and elal out. Any other changes?

for those of u who dont like tanks, go play css u nubz

I’d rather kursk gets left out but I know some people like it. Leave the death bubble off market garden and cean because people can bloke the bridges with wreckage, there might be other maps with this problem I can’t remember.

spoken like a true ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? Neon!



binny good job
all sounds a lot better

To everyone who voted ghetto:

Congratulations, you ruined the maps for AT'ers.

Won't someone please think of Eags? PLEEEAAASSSEEE!!!?

There are antitankers??

Isn't that the kit you pick up after you shoot an AT'r, blow up the tank and grab your medic kit back?

bubble on any map with uncappable flags. The bloody games about fun. The bubble stops enemy from camping INSIDE... ill say it again ...INSIDE the enemys uncapable flag. I dont care about tanks or inf outside the uncapable shooting in. U stand half a chance. But a roaming tank on an arifield or in a uncapable on any map is a pain in the butt. The game is about winning sure. But its also about giving the losers at least a chance to come back at u. Tobruk eg is great fun with bubble. Allies cant run their inf to steal tanks. Gives axis a chance to regroup and attack the front line again.

^^^ Spot on Dazza

gotta get fraps running for coral sea for the first few games

lolol

Flux i am aware of that issue, not sure if its greater than the stealing tanks in the AXIS main and runnign amok or panzers on the US airfield.

PS: i usually got AT as Allies on Berlin and Stal and utterly love the ghetto mode as you can get up close to the action for easier AT shots without worrying about being exploded.

If a round on OMG goes for a while the bridges get completely blocked so no tanks can get out making it impossible for axis. Camping isn’t a big problem on liberation of cean but with the bubble you can get the same problem as on OMG. I think Berlin had the same problem on ihug too when there was still vehicles, someone would drive the apc into the allied main and people would die when they spawned because of the wreckage.

Please implement the bubble on flyboys ASAP
its an absolute joke

bailing deckcampers are more prolific than pilots ffs

whats worse half of em are clans who should know better

please load up the bubble!!! NOW

ill come ova der n run u ova with my f**ing Jeep

well since I have been back playing for a few weeks on these servers (after a few years off), let me add my 2 cents

GameArena BF42 #1 Pop Maps FF - excellent server.
GameArena BF42 #2 All Maps - excellent server.

GameArena BF42 Flyboys - crappy server. The map selection is terrible. Coral Sea turns into a spawn killing fest on either carrier. Battle of Britian is one sided, because of course all the flyboys want to play as Axis (as Allies you have to drive a long way to the airfield). Find some custom airplane maps please (I'm sure there are some out there).

GameArena DCF #3 - Mixed FF - Not good. I can add some suggestions later.

------
As for the argument about grenades on Berlin/Stalingrad, well I firmly believe they should be banned. Firstly because the map turns into a massive grenade fest EVERY time, and secondly it takes more skill to shoot someone than throw a fricken grenade. Get some skill!

I do not like "death bubbles" - spawn campers are easy to fix - you just kill them. But if one of the servers has one to stop people whinging about being killed at spawn then so be it.

long time fraggie
good to see you back

as for you cayden ! running ppl over in a jeep is probably your only hope of getting a kill!

then ill run u ova in me jeep and watch ur blood splatter all ova da place and hear ur bones crak through ur skin and laugh.

I disagree Eags old Chap.
Like you I play exclusively AT and have loads of fun popping inf on the ghetto maps. It is the perfect weapon for destroying all those proners on the main road on Berlin, or the same at the middle flag on Stalin.

ill stab u wit my nife and steal ur tank

Hahahaha, I'm likin it.
And when caydens behind the wheel, you wont be complaining. You'll be dead

*Roo offers Chump a bribe for the key to the TOG Medicine Cabinet & tries to slip something to Cayden...Ooops.they are Diaretics!!!!

Who you calling old?

You all are out to get me.

wtf is going?? First I asked to 'fix' the engineer exploit (exppacks), and in reply I get 'ghetto sytle' maps? let's screw over ATs even more. Let's take away their rockets as well.

Is that possible. Can we take away rockets please. Its rather embarrasing being killed by them. Can we please..