I think Smolensk map should be tried out in CTF. The regular members it had have defected back to the tried and true Barby and Stock maps servers. It seems they won't be going back to Smolensk. If you like, I'll send you or post here the IP addy of a server running Smolensk CTF that I went to often which is full in peak playing hours [25 players] and could be fun as well as attract new arrivals and a new breed of regulars.

Yeah, the whole 'spawnraping' issue really killed the maps popularity - most people probably dont know of the fix to rectify the situation. I was able to get in there yesterday for a brief 6 vs. 6 game, but thats the busiest I've seen it all week. Ive had to go back to Barb this past week, which has been okay. I even tried my hand at stock maps for a short while (which I did not enjoy at all - dont like the weapon mod/or lack thereof?)

The .76 server needs life support. I think some sort of rotation would be good. Why not rotate between Barb and Smolensk between rounds and experiment with different gametypes again? That way those who like Barb will join the server while its playing and hopefully stay on for Smolensk... get 'em acquainted with the map.

Something must be done!

CTF would be fun, but do you think it would be better than Conquest?

I love map/game rotation, but wonder if it wouldn't be a real killer for a server's popularity (although, could the 76 get less popular?). There are a lot of players out there who don't bother to download a custom map, let alone two. Take a look at servers that rotate a custom map into a stock base assault line up and you'll see the numbers of players cut in half when the custom map comes up. A new map has to win a devoted following first. Barb is a prime example. The 76 problems may be an inherent problem with the design of Smolensk. I personally got tired of having to run so far to find action or armor. Not much fun to stand next to a base that is being hit by shells from across the map and not be able to find anything beyond my two feet for transportation.

I used to play on a server that would rotate between BA and CTF. I loved that rotation as both required different skills but, the same problem existed with rotating custom maps, you lose players. Most people search for servers based on game type. They'd find the BA server only when it was on the BA rotation.

For me, the answer is obvious ... WORK FASTER SCRAPYARD!!!

I'm positive alot better- even though CNQ is fun. Mainly it'd attract people who like faster rounds. As you may know, CNQ is 45 minutes of heavy duty playing and then x2 for an entire battle leaves you drained if you make it all the way through. Players will most likely leave after 1 battle. And if you know how I play lol, then if I'm whining about energy taxing gameplay.... The server where I played CTF Smolensk is a delight, players rarely use the entire map. Only once in a while do folks feel inclined to venture on flanking moves to grab/escape with flags. That server also rotates with Barby 1 CTF which is kind of fun too, but not as much. I hope it's given a trial run of a week or so at least.
I must re-iterate it's alot of fun!

I tihnk you may find probs with CTF on this huge map with someone getting the flag and hiding the whole time with it as there are a lot of hiding spots. making the game now TDM!!!!

Just my 2 cents.

On that note I love CTF and still would like to see a COD2 CTF MOB server

Going as fast as I can! Probably mid-late April until I can field the first beta of Tuchola Forest 1945.

I have my own theories as to why Smolensk is nearly empty. That spawn-raping pak40 is towards the top of the list. I think we might be able to kick-start Smolensk/BAS again, but it will require MOB members to log in there on purpose rather then gravitating towards Barbarossa.

Not a problem at all. Like I said I've been on a popular Smolensk CTF server and its full and fun... proven fact.
Also consider these.... even though you can assume a flag hider is difficult to find on a big map; it's actually otherwise- the flag cannot remain hidden forever, especially with alot of players- and only rarely can a hider not be found for a long time...and you KNOW a hider is generally very close to his flag. Even on a smaller map a hiding flag guy can remain untouched for a long time because he's holed up in a very defenable spot. Also, with few players, there's less opposition to face and more than likely flag capturers are racing to flags making for a very fast game. The CTF game on this map especially is fast paced, exciting and never boring.

You've sold me Hellfighter. I'd like to try it, if the Powers That Be are willing. A BAS/CTF rotation that includes a lot of MOB & MOB REGS would be fun. Hell, any map with a lot of us commited to fighting together is fun.

-Hamma

Great, hope we get more aboard! As some of us Limeys would say...."Nice one,son! Let's 'ave another one!"

I think this is important as well. Rarely ever see a MOB member in the .76 server. If the server looks full, more will join = better game for everyone.

OK FINE.

Since few are playing it anyway....

I:
- removed the deep pak40
- fixed the two terrain bugs near G3
- fixed the weapon clips in the treelines to limit pak shelling
- fixed the swamp pak issues

LAST CHANCE FOR MORE... I will compile and pack a v1.1 for immediate release. I'll give you guys about 48 hours to get me any final MINOR stuff, no major work requests, please.

Cool beans Slyk. Can you activate a second spawn point for the Germans for after the bases have been breached (a la Barbarossa)? Or else the same respawn issues may exist.

Thanks!

Glad to see you do this scrapyardbob.
Only question, did you ask Slyk about recompling his map.
I would prefer only doing it with his well wishes

Looks like someone is burning through the forums a little too quickly. That WAS Slyk who posted that message, not Scrapyard.

Slyk, just those few changes will help to quiet the complaints!

Thanks!

hmmm, ok the big guns came in but.... what about the CTF proposal ??? lol, the thread topic is a request to try out CTF on Smolensk.

Sorry for any confusion from my earlier post.
I had LASIK done to my eys today and have to wear shields which blocks most of my vision.
The shields look like bug eyes with little holes in them to see through.
I completely overlooked Slyk was the one who made the post I replied to.

CTF in rotation perhaps?

You sound desperate!

Lol the 'big guys' came in and didn't refer to my request at all though!

WOW!! That's one terrific explanation. We'll all be anxious to hear how you make out post-recovery (except Hellfighter, as he still thinks this is a thread about CTF!! lol)

I've got an idea, lets turn this into a discussion of WHY THE HELL ISN'T HELLFIGHTER A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY?!?!?!? C'MON MAN, YOU SHOULD WEAR THE TAGS!!!!!!! I'll bet that we could work out a deal. You don the tags and we'll run CTF on Smolensk. Deal?????

Now, lets loop this thread back over to the MOB REGS discussion of Scrapyard's INCREDIBLE new winter map. His latest idea of incorporating variable fog levels with wind/blizzard sounds is going to make us forget all about CTF or CNQ and instead, we are just going to want to wander around taking pictures ... kind of like what he has been doing most of the time lately. LOL

Did someone say something about CTF?

-Hamma

I never like the Russian "final" spawn in the woods. You have to literally seach around to see if a tank is available. I also hate that you can spawn in the house without the rocket launcher, so you have to reverse to it to get it. In all the Barbarboosa spawns the rocket launcher is either right beside you or in front of where you spawn. So, my personal requests would be...

1. Line up tank spawns at the woods "exit" so they are easy to find and jump into if they are available.

2. Add a rocket launcher spawn nearer woods exit.

Until the spawnrape exploit was used, I thought the Russians were at a disadvantage for having their spawn so far from any base if there isn't a jeep available. Russians best base to defend is 1, but it is near impossible to get to in a short time. Compare that to the Germans being able to defend 2 easiest, and you can run to it from spawn. It takes time, but if you are running with your handgun you can get there in time to defend if you suicided once it started getting planted. Russians and their 1...no such luck.

Not many people have expressed similar requests, but since Slyk is back, I thought I'd share mine now and hopefully others will add whether they think these ideas are good or unnecessary.

Capt. Canuck made the request will all want already. Second spawn for German.

Thanks for listening. It is a shame the spawn rape situation scared people away so fast. I warned about it doing just that, but didn't realize how quickly it would take effect. But like I said, most people don't read forums. They don't know it is "fixed". One spawn rape situation was enough to put me off the server completely. Now I don't go in because no one is there! Maybe after the edits you should call the new map "Smolensk-fixed" or "SomlenskV2.0" or "SmolenskRedux" to let people know it is different.

Oh, and a final thought. I don't know how "spawning" works, but what I'd REALLY like is if every second Russian spawned in a spot other than the forest, perhaps near house behind the 1? Is that possible to do? Don't know what the "triggers" are to determine where you spawn when there are 2 spawn points.

MoD

Heh, if you can't find a rocket box near the russian spawn... check both the spawn tunnel and the defensive trenches just west of the spawn. There are about half a dozen rocket boxes in there.

The germans have a disadvantage in that they don't get a satchel within spitting distance of the spawn. Russians have two satchels in their spawn (one in the house, the other in the tunnel exit into the defensive works).

...

Spawn logic in BAS is as follows:

- It attempts to put you as close to teammates as possible. Spawn points near teammates get a higher weight. This is why, on Barbarossa, Germans will spawn at G1 if everyone is on offense (and nobody stayed back by G2 / tank park). Smart german play is to keep someone back in the tank park (both to defend the spawn and to spawn germans in the shed). Same thing with Russian #3, someone should always stay back and guard the area around R3 to give better spawns to their team.

- It attempts to put you away from any enemies. However, it only checks a 1000u radius (the distance you can throw a grenade) around the spawn point before weighting it downwards. So if you're camping the German spawn shed, make sure you're outside of the 1000u radius.

- It weights any recent kill spawn points downward.

- You won't spawn on top of a blocked spawnpoint.

- If it can't find any spawns that it likes, it randomly picks one.

I can redistribute the German base spawns throughout the barns/houses a bit. For the Russians, not so much. If I move them further from the vehicle main spawn, I have no vehicles to give them. There are only so many vehicles allowed, and pak guns and mortars count as vehicles. It's tapped out atm, without axing those weapons from ALL gamemodes...it doesn't just count what is 'in' for base, it counts ALL of them from CNQ, CTF and BAS.

As for rockets, there are plenty along the way for the Russians...they are far better off than the Germans, but that sort of helps balance their longer run. It's takes a bit more time to reach a base, but you can arrive more heavily armed.

i would enjoy CTF

I just would like the pak in the samp fixed... maybe close off the trainyard for ba

... and some more satchels near German spawn, please!

Unlike Barbarossa (which uses removable models to close off the very east portion of the map), Smolensk really isn't designed in a way that would allow the railyard area to be closed off. It would require way too many models to do it (and I'm pretty sure Slyk is already at the limits of CoD:UO).

I feel like wallpaper in my own thread
I guess I should've titled it more specifically!
CTF

I think Smolensk is a great map it just needs a little more time for people to get used to it as Barbarosa did, now that server is full all the time and maybe Smolensk will in time. CNQ is a great game type for this map as well as BAS. I would play more Smolensk if there was anyone in it. I think all After-hourz maps are excellent. Just my humble opinion.