10-Map Campaign Servers are Lame!!!!

(Digm) #21

If there were no XP ET would be exactly the same game it is now, except each player on the server would only have their own natural abilities to rely on, rather than be assigned additional abilities by the game simply for being on the server for a certain length of time.

You aren’t assigned anything for being on the server for a certain length of time - you are assigned additional abilities for completing tasks: whether it’s fragging, constructing, healing or supplying. If you do nothing you get nothing. And, with the exception of a 3 star field ops holding an entrance or a medic with adrenaline and 4 star battle sense, I don’t exactly see what the huge advantage is. If you can hit heads and do your job, you’ll catch up.

And besides, not everyone is into playing a head to head test of skills… the vast majority of people just like to run around and frag. They like to gain xp and new abilities. The proof is the simple fact that there are only a handful of servers dedicated to sw/lms/obj. The game means different things to different people. No way is more “right” than the other. I play enough SW during matches - campaign is just mindless fun & practice.

(Kendle) #22

But you’re assigned XP for doing these tasks regardless of whether they’re in your team’s best interest of not. Most people are going to “do something” as opposed to “do nothing” and so are going to accrue XP, and, if they’re on the server long enough, are going to accrue lots of XP. However they can still do so without helping their team very much. That’s the fundamental flaw in the XP system.

So you’re another one who would defend XP on the basis that it’s “mostly harmless”? What’s the point of having XP then?

I’d never suggest otherwise.

Unfortunately real life prevents me from having enough time to devote to Clan matches. I gave that up earlier this year. Publics are all I have, but coming from a more “serious” competitive background they’re not just mindless fun for me. Like you say, different people, different outlook.

(Digm) #23

But you’re assigned XP for doing these tasks regardless of whether they’re in your team’s best interest of not.

Give me an example.

So you’re another one who would defend XP on the basis that it’s “mostly harmless”? What’s the point of having XP then?

“Mostly harmless” and “mostly helpful” are two different things. With rare exceptions, xp is harmless. Almost always, it is helpful.

Like I said, if you can hit heads and do your job for your team, you’ll catch up, and not be at any real disadvantage. If you don’t like long campaigns don’t play them, if you like SW use the filter and find the servers. I just don’t see how 10 map campaigns are inherantly “lame”.

Publics are all I have, but coming from a more “serious” competitive background they’re not just mindless fun for me.

I understand, but realize the majority of your frustration is due to the fact that most people that play on pubs aren’t as concerned with objectives. Hell, people complain when the match ends too quick! If there was no xp, I don’t think there would be newfound teamwork. Unfortunately, I think it would still be 80% mindless fragging.

-j

-j

(Kendle) #24

Allied Medic on Battery: You’ve made it to the Gun Controls and there are 2 dead team-mates in front of you, 1 is the Engy who, if you revive him, blows the Gun Controls and wins the game, the other is a useless Covert-Op. Assuming you only have time to revive 1, which do you revive? The “right” thing to do is revive the Engy, but the XP system will give you EXACTLY the same points whichever you revive.

Axis Engy on Goldrush: The Allies are storming the Tank, without which they can’t win. The “right” thing to do is defend it (and,as you’re an Engy, plant mines around it). But you can run off and build Truck Barrier #2 (which the Truck may never reach) and you’ll still get EXACTLY the same XP for it as you would if the Truck was approaching Truck Barrier #2 and there were only 30 seconds left on the clock.

Covert-Ops on any team and map: You get 5XP for taking a uniform off a dead body, regardless of whether you made the kill or not (hardly requires skill does it) and then go take another uniform off another dead body a few seconds later (i.e. without using your disguise for anything useful). I’ve seen Covert-Ops jusy stealing uniforms for 30 minutes and not once throw smoke, not spot a single mine, not make a single Sniper kill, and still end up top scorer and get a shed-load of awards at the end of the game.

Would you like me to go on?

XP is harmful because it gives people something to play for other than the team, which in a team based game makes no sense to me. Yes it’s helpful too, but it awards people with skills beyond their natural abilities, which also makes no sense to me.

Nor do I, but I know how most people here feel about my opinions on things (XP in particular) so was deliberately trying to provoke a response.

Anyway, gotta go home soon so might not get the chance to post more. Digm it’s been a pleasure debating with you this afternoon. :slight_smile:

(Eyes of Texas) #25

I’m addressing the “hacking” of .pk3 files.

If the game’s developer didn’t want people changing around .pk3s, then why did they make them in plain text? They could have used some sort of encryptment or coding to make things a bit less “user-friendly.”

That’s just my .02.

(^POTATO) #26

I like 3 map campaigns, but I never see them on servers anymore. I look for “so and so’s server, 3 map campaign” but alas, the servers are always empty.

(Roeligan) #27

Hmm not too sure what to think. I play all servers, 3/6/9-10 maps i don’t mind as long as there’s TP and fun play.

I agree that you have a disadvantage with XP and as a result in level skills. This however makes you fight harder and be more cunning/stay sharper than the others.

On the one hand it’s no standard, on the other hand…how will you become a general in a 3 map cmpgn :???:

(Kendle) #28

Who cares? I thought the game was about one team achieving an objective and the other trying to stop them, not about becoming Generals.

(Roeligan) #29

I know… i’m no XP whore, i always get low xp 'cause working for the team iso blasting away… just saying that the game offers such high rankings, in order too achieve them, more than 3 maps are neccesary ergo 6/9/10 map campaigns are created.

This is just one of justifiable (is that a word?) reasons for these cmpgns.

(senator) #30

there is one simple reason why 10-map campaings (or anything longer than a 3 map campiagn) suck: The maps are designed to be played with lower XP and can become grossly unbalaced if one team has it’s abilities leveled out. Ever tried attacking at Battery against a team of Lv4 FOs and PF ?? Good luck avoiding the constant artillery barrages at the assault ramp construction site and the rapid fire PFs

(SylverDragon) #31

Actually, yes I have. More recently (before I moved) I spent a lot of nights on Terminal Insanity West’s 10 map servers. Also, if the teams are equal I tend to pick the allied team (I like throwing myself at a wall repeatedly), so I’ve played the Battery map in that situation. And I have still seen it go both ways, its harder, sure; and if the allies don’t push and aren’t willing to die over and over again, they will never get anywhere. But, that last time I played that way, we were able to build the ramp, as a covert I grabed a uni in the confusion at the top of the ramp, took an couple of engy’s to the back (and a medic), we went in and blew the gun controls. When the XP is pumped all to hell like this, the allies must work as a team, or they will never get very far. The time I just mentioned the allied team was just clicking. We had an engy build the ramp, 1 or 2 FO’s (I don’t recall excatly) pounding the top with arty, and a well timed AS, and when the ramp was finished, people actually charged up it. With 3 people up there shooting the axis team, I was able to grab a uni and slip off. The ramp was blown, by the axis, shortly afterwards, but that ended up not mattering.
In all, I find 10-map campaigns fun when I just want to blow an evening. Most evenings, you’ll find me on one of the TI West 10-map servers (there’s 2 as far as I can tell). I’m usually on the allied team, and normally an engy. I’ll usually play to the end of a campaign, unless its already close when I join, in which case I usually play to 10 or 11 PST ( GMT-8 ). At least, you would but…well, read my sig.

(senator) #32

True, but try this against an organized Axis team and you don’t stand a chance. All it takes are 2 Lv4 FOs, staying save somewhere and doing nothing else but ordering Arty on the assault ramp construction boxes and you can forget about repairing the ramp. 1 FO = 8 shells and after 6 shells he has enough energy to order another strike, 2 FOs and there is no surviving near the boxes. As your team was able to build the ramp and you even found the time to steal a uniform on top of the cliff I can only assume that the axis team was playing disorganized.

It takes just 1 sec to quickly peek out the bunker to order the Arty, no PF is fast enough to kill them before they order the strike.

So my point stands true, against a decent axis team with Lv4 FOs Battery will be won by the axis in 95% .

(Machine for to kill) #33

Kendle dude…we get it…you don’t like XP. We already had a big thread about this a while ago. How many times are going to have this same argument.

This thread doesn’t even make sense. Since you hate 10 map servers you probably never even played any of them. So why would you talk trash about something that you haven’t tried for too long. It’s like me coming here and talking bad about the limited lives system just because i like to have infinite lives. I’ve never even played limited lives servers (though I’m thinking about trying them out).

Waste of time…

(Wils) #34

/me wades in

I think this thread is relevant for Kendle primarily because he feels there are enough big campaign servers around that he has difficulty avoiding them - I’m sure if he could just play on other servers easily this wouldn’t even be an issue.

The comparison between XP/no XP and the size of campaigns isn’t a strictly fair one, however, because (by design) XP is meant to be an integral part of the game (it’s one of the more major additions to the original RtCW game-play).

Campaigns, however, were designed flexibly precisely so the community could make their own campaigns of various sizes. My own personal opinion is that a ten map campaign is somewhat excessive, but if you have time to sit through all ten, go for it (but also consider spending more time away from your PC… not that I’m one to comment).

(Ifurita) #35

I don’t think he is necessarily against XP, but rather XP in excess. I have the same take on it, which is why i prefer objective and SW servers. XP is like panzers, in moderation, they are an integral part of the game but in excess, I think it takes something away from the fun and experience, for me anyhow.

Personally, when everyone is a 3-star general running around, you might as well be playing Quake 3. In fact, there is a quite excellent mod called Excessive for those people who like constant arty, automatic panzers, and 150 HP regenerating meds

(Kendle) #36

This thread was started with tongue very much in sarcastic cheek. I’m always being told I’m not allowed to criticise XP because it’s “part of the game”, so I thought I’d criticise something, that exists purely to whore XP, that isn’t “part of the game”.

Besides, I’m usually hyjacking other peoples thread, so if I start one of my own I can’t be accused of hyjacking it!

But as it happens, yes, there are far too many big Campaign servers and not enough small SW servers. But my Clan have just switched to ET and we now have our own server, and I can guarantee you it will never host a 6-10 map Campaign!

(Sauron|EFG) #37

Just say the word (or IP even) and I’ll help you keep it populated. :smiley:

(Kendle) #38

As I type this it’s so full I can’t get on myself, even in a private slot!

But for what it’s worth:- 217.158.150.50:32050

Had some fantastic games on there tonite, all good players (I’m by far the worst player in my Clan), good spirit, no lamers, no xp-whores, heaven! :smiley: