I have been playing Paintball since Quake1. Quake Innovations paintball. Wayyyy back in the day. And in my opinion, the way this topic is going. Nothing is going to happen out of this. It's just a waste of time. Now I'm going to try to be unbiased here. But I know a few very important people that were a HUGE part of this community. Now I'm not mentioning any names at all here, I know who they are, I have heard their thoughts, and they just don't care about DP anymore for various reasons. Alongside with me, these people feel exactly the same way. l won't join a 32 player server unless only about 12-16 are on them.
What GT's point is, is that their servers are usually always played on and their 32 player servers are used most frequently. They see no need to change this because people play on them. So in retrospect they are providing a service to the community.
Everyone against the 32player limit also have valid points. Most maps are not designed for a 32 player limit. Maps are not equipped for enough items for 32 players to fully enjoy. This is just logic. Considering, there are a select few maps that could actually be playable with this many people... (brainstorm ect...).. 32 players on blitz is ridiculous. It's ridiculous even to think 16 people on blitz is ok. We had this problem with pbcup/blitz when most servers were only 16 players max. 32 player servers should be only running maps that support.. well 32 players. Other wise half of the people are running around using PGP and just end up dying anyways. Shazam, blitz, pbcup and 95% of the other maps run on these servers is just not plausible. Most people who play on these servers now (i have been to them quite frequently lately, are new.) I don't recognize 3/4 of the people who play on them. I'm pretty sure jits only added the 32 player support for maps that would support 32 players.
Now, new maps are being made.. not very frequently but they are. I have yet to see a single map designed... yes.. DESIGNED for 32 players. Except brainstorm. I don't even know if brainstorm is well equipped for 32 players. The fact of the matter is, there isnt many maps that actually support 32 players... and everyone starting out with autocockers, or other weapons is NOT designed for 32 players. I have been many things over the years, i have mapped, i have been a server admin, i have contributed directly to the paintball 2 game (me & 4thX implemented the loc support, and fixed the bugs), I have been in clans. I have been freelance. And I have been around since Quake1. And I'm telling you.. people like me don't want to play on servers with 32 player's when the map is NOT designed for it.
Many logical points for this;
- Not enough supplies to go around comfortably.
- Starting out with full equipment isn't very skill full. Also, takes strategy and intensity from most maps.
- Not enough space for people to play and move comfortably.
- Takes confrontation out of the map.
- Takes skill, out of the map. (Spraying into a crowded area isn't very skillfull. Also, note tossing grenades into a heavily populated area.)
- Most importantly, it eliminated the team effect that paintball has had. Let me explain this.
When DP first emerged way back. There was I think a 12 player limit or so. 6 per team, 12 per map. When there is 6-8 people on a team, they actually have to WORK together in order to succeed. Play off each other, watch what other people are doing, and be aware whats going on. Not just running somewhere and shooting into a cloud of the opposite color. The strategy of the map's that most maps were designed for is eliminated. And it just becomes shoot across the map, hope for the best.
The bottom line is, if it's not designed for it. It shouldn't be used that way. You wouldn't take the paintball client and try to play half-life in it. It's just not plausible. Although could probably be done, it's pointless when you could just play half-life. (big reason why half-life source was a huge failure, only people who didn't play the original half-life even cared.)
Now the point of matching. Yes, matching is different from public play. But public play is supposed to teach you and train you, for matches. And let new player's get the feel for the game, and the intensity it was designed for. Most of the new player's don't get this, so they do not join a clan. If we had 20 or so, 6-8 player clans. Everyone would be much happier. There would be more variety and clan styles. Not just a few big clans with 10-30 people in one clan. This takes up most of the matching community, and really.. diminishes it. Considering there are only a few big clans with a large amount of players, no variety, and not much matching goes on except with those clans. Kind of pointless, if you ask me. 2vs2 matches are also pointless. It is not a TEAM effort. If we had 20 or so 6-8 player clans than we might actually need 5 match servers.
Anyways, in a really old vet's opinion. Which i rarely play anymore because DP just isn't what it used to be. I think this needs to change. I have been asked to join many many clans since I came back a few months ago, and I just have absolutely no interest in it anymore. Sadly. Server's need to be set for the maps. Maps need to be made for certain server's. Server's should run 16 player limit's, on 16 player maps. 32 player limit's should be running 32 player maps. If people want 32 player games, then the community should be making 32 player maps. But you now what, the Quake engine isn't really designed for this in the first place. But, load up brainstorm, take a walk through it. And, take notes. That's how its done. By the master. jitspoe. Who I bet would agree with me, and who designed the game for what it is. Extending player limit's, I bet in his mind, was for people designing 32 player maps. He has worked hard at this game for so long, and has worked hard to give player's what they want. And all this time has heard complaint's from more then half the people in this game about various issues. And he still stays strong, trying to provide everyone with a game they love. When he could have just said here.. here's digital paint for Quake 2 v1.51 or 1.6. I'm moving on to bigger and better things. People just don't want to take the time, to design something as masterful as brainstorm. Take some time out of their lives to give back to jit what he has given so much of. It's a lot of work. I certainly have tried, and failed miserably. But there are some talented mapper's out there at the moment. Who would rather make many small maps, and release them buggy, then work hard on a map like brainstorm, or shreds. And create a masterpiece. And until that happens, In my opinion. 32 player slots should go.
But I think the last thing I'm going to mention is this;
Instead of making posts like this, and fighting about the hard pressing issues, why don't you guys take some time out. Setup a room on IRC, and go over it with jitspoe. You guy's never consider his opinions on anything anymore, and expect him to consider your requests. He made the darn game. Respect that. And others whom are not in your clan. Setup a meeting. darn.. I bet you'd get a lot farther.
And next time you see jitspoe. Tell him thanks. I haven't seen anyone really be truthfully thankful to jits for what he has accomplished with this game in such a long time. Respect him like I said. Do something to better the community. Not make it worse.
Thanks.
