What Next?

[Crono]

Originally Posted by seanthien

Crono, when was the last time you actively played Zone for more than a month?
Of course I haven't been particularly active, but I can at least say Zone has no metagame. The gameplay itself never changes. It's continuation of laming, and when a pvp event comes forth, any metagame is equivalent to laming.

You've been there for these updates, I think. What happens anytime a new weapon is released, a new planet? How long does that player count last? How long til someone pulls out a over-powered weapon and destroys the new community?

I'm almost always there for every update. Maybe deep down I'm still hopefully for the server, despite my pessimistic attitude for it. But, trying to please a player base you don't have is dumb. If you want to do small updates to maintain players, do it, but please attract players first, because without any real maintenance on the gameplay/weapons, you'll end up in a bigger hole.

The last time I actively played Zone was right after it died. There was no reason to stay there any longer so I left. The better question is, when's the last time anyone actually played Zone for more than a month?

How can you deny Zone's metagame? It used to have a pretty solid one revolving around countering weapons when people actually fought eachother. Laming wasn't a big problem and amongst the actual good sparrers it's not an issue.

Yeah, weapon updates tend to be overpowered but that's not the kind of updates we're talking about here. I also have ideas for zomg big updates but this isn't the place for that.

Originally Posted by seanthien

Adding easy and simple content isn't a way to start. You're just delaying the real problem itself.
Zone has plenty of content from what I know, but no player base to support it.

This might prove true to a server with a steady player count going for it, but not for one that averages 1-5 on a daily basis.

How is it not? Zone has always had problems and quirks, isn't it better to start with these simple ones then work your way up to the bigger ones? What ARE the big problems anyway? The answer will change between player to player but I found a pretty strong correlation between trials getting shanked and playercount dropping. Just sayin.

[seanthien]

Originally Posted by Crono

The last time I actively played Zone was right after it died.

That's not a precise time, and from what you say afterwards, I'm guessing it's a very long time ago, meaning you're slow on how the server's developed.

Originally Posted by Crono

There was no reason to stay there any longer so I left. The better question is, when's the last time anyone actually played Zone for more than a month?

Now, be reasonable, people do still play. I know some folk that log on at least once a day. Maybe not for long, but they do.

Originally Posted by Crono

How can you deny Zone's metagame? It used to have a pretty solid one revolving around countering weapons when people actually fought eachother. Laming wasn't a big problem and amongst the actual good sparrers it's not an issue.

This is what makes me think you haven't been updated on how things work.
As of now, too many players pull out an obsessive overpowered weapon and decide to lame players.
Besides, what's more fun? Everything Zone does, it always ends up with players on iricia laming the other base.

Oh, lets not forget how we'll gather up all our friends so all the "pros" don't fight each other and we're left getting kills and exp by newbies consistantly.

Crono, I was ET during the time period it died, I'd like to say I brought the server back (Seeing as a majority of the players online I had some connection with). I brought back the newer generation of Zone whilst doing so. I know what's going on.

Originally Posted by Crono

Yeah, weapon updates tend to be overpowered but that's not the kind of updates we're talking about here. I also have ideas for zomg big updates but this isn't the place for that.

It may not be, but Zone isn't the place to start off with simple updates either.
It needs a change, something dramatic.

Originally Posted by Crono

How is it not? Zone has always had problems and quirks, isn't it better to start with these simple ones then work your way up to the bigger ones? What ARE the big problems anyway? The answer will change between player to player but I found a pretty strong correlation between trials getting shanked and playercount dropping. Just sayin.

It's not, because Zone has no steady player count. Zone's reliant on players, meaning if you have players that are on for a time period doing something, a few others join, and more, a chain reaction.

Simple updates, like new weapons, vehicles, whatever, should be to maintain a player count the way Zone is. None of these will change the metagame for long, if it does, it'll make the game more horrid.

Trials getting shanked? I feel that's just your own personal vendetta since..well..that one time you logged on and realized what had happened.
I knew a bunch of trials that enjoyed being able to save now. They only lose so much now. Something most players would upgrade for. Otherwise they could play it out.

Player count dropping is because of many things.
Jesse's thread pretty much covers that portion.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by seanthien

That's not a precise time, and from what you say afterwards, I'm guessing it's a very long time ago, meaning you're slow on how the server's developed.

Um, I believe I quit in 2006 and stop by every now and then. Nothing really changed since then, arctic was used a laming map and cash shop gave noobs with no skills an advantage. A few events were added and planets no one goes on.

About sum it up?

Originally Posted by seanthien

This is what makes me think you haven't been updated on how things work.
As of now, too many players pull out an obsessive overpowered weapon and decide to lame players.
Besides, what's more fun? Everything Zone does, it always ends up with players on iricia laming the other base.

Oh, lets not forget how we'll gather up all our friends so all the "pros" don't fight each other and we're left getting kills and exp by newbies consistantly.

That is nothing new. Players always flocked to the most "op" weapon. In 2004 appirces were the de facto weapon yet people countered it with the lrpulsar and eventually aprippers. That's just an example. The metagame now may be broken but to deny that it exists is simply retarded. Ya I brought up the friends not fighting b/s before.

Laming has also always been present but there was a time when laming and actually playing arctic were two seperate things. The same applies to sparring, where it matters the most.

Originally Posted by seanthien

Crono, I was ET during the time period it died, I'd like to say I brought the server back (Seeing as a majority of the players online I had some connection with). I brought back the newer generation of Zone whilst doing so. I know what's going on.

lolwat

Originally Posted by seanthien

It may not be, but Zone isn't the place to start off with simple updates either.
It needs a change, something dramatic.

There's no denying that Zone needs a big change. I'm saying that this isn't the place for the "big" stuff yet, for whatever reason Stephen has. It's obviously more efficient, due to the complete lack of developers, to start with small things that can actually be done as opposed to giant updates that will never surface.

I'm pretty sure Stephen has some "big" plans, he just hasn't presented them yet.

Originally Posted by seanthien

It's not, because Zone has no steady player count. Zone's reliant on players, meaning if you have players that are on for a time period doing something, a few others join, and more, a chain reaction.

Simple updates, like new weapons, vehicles, whatever, should be to maintain a player count the way Zone is. None of these will change the metagame for long, if it does, it'll make the game more horrid.

Trials getting shanked? I feel that's just your own personal vendetta since..well..that one time you logged on and realized what had happened.
I knew a bunch of trials that enjoyed being able to save now. They only lose so much now. Something most players would upgrade for. Otherwise they could play it out.

Player count dropping is because of many things.
Jesse's thread pretty much covers that portion.

I'm fully aware of the playercount chain effect, it's been like that forever. According to your logic, when the "big changes" come in, these small updates will help players stay so what's the problem? I haven't suggested anything to change Zone's metagame yet, however small weapon balancing should not take much effort and would help to fix this. I was always a VIP when I played Zone, meaning trial on weekdays and "p2p" on weekends. I for one found Zone more tolerable when I was on an even field with everyone.

[scooter123]

Give trials more freedom like they used to have. Bring some of the old stuff that made it great back.

--New--
-Maybe add a new vehicle like a truck on Ircia? (Only 1 in a random location with a turret on its top?) Maybe noobs will like shooting people with the turret?

-Maybe remove bunker planet? (If possible) Why keep it if no one plays it. Try and keep a low number of planets that people play. Ex: Koth, Spar, Ircia, DM and the Events Planet for the newbies.

-Putting in more achievements/medals? I mean when I was getting medals it was kinda fun.

-A more squad based/team based Ircia? Maybe each Ircia team can be divided into 3-4 squads. When you die and go in the portal, if you have teammates still alive you could respawn in their location to help them out?

-When you run out of ammo with a weapon you could press P and punch people? Lol I think that'd be funny. Punches should do 15 damage. It'd be hilarious to watch.

-Maybe for each team, 1 member is chosen at that particular round to be the leader. This "leader" can make himself invulnerable for 4 seconds (He can't move though) if he's getting damaged and waiting for backup. The "leader" can only do this once every round. Once a team wins a new leader (for each time, of course) will be chosen randomly again to use it again ONCE (Per round)


-Make the roll make your energy go down. You don't have any kind of cool armour on that will make you stronger. Your a human in clothes in Zone in a futuristic time. Rolling should make your player tired, thus making your energy go down.

-Capturing a base. Most bases, you will just stand on top of it and capture it. In base 1, however, because there is a bunker, you should have to go into the bunker and destroy some kind of computer device kind of object by shooting it. It has some health so you have to destroy it. Once you destroy the computers controlling the base as one team, the guy on top captures the base. Once they capture the base another team must come in and destroy the computer device and then go on top and re-capture it.

-Maybe putting turrets on Ircia that don't shoot lasers would be okay. Like they shot bullets like a chaingun, the same speed, just less bullets so its fair. And while you turn the turret it slows down its gun fire and has to be powered up again.

-Add a new kind of thing to get in the Zone-Money shop to get. TNT! Players can buy TNT (Only holding 1 at a time and they have to come back to buy another after they use their first) . They take their TNT out on the icy land of Ircia and plant the TNT. The TNT has the same explosion as a mortar but you can carry it while being any class. You just press D and it plants down on the ground and it has a time limit. Its almost like a proxmine. If someone steps on it, it'll explode. It can be seen like a proxmine from a speed bike.

-Put mini map back!

[Shadow5596321]

Originally Posted by scooter123

Give trials more freedom like they used to have. Bring some of the old stuff that made it great back.

--New--
-Maybe add a new vehicle like a truck on Ircia? (Only 1 in a random location with a turret on its top?) Maybe noobs will like shooting people with the turret?

Depends on how much health it has.

-Maybe remove bunker planet? (If possible) Why keep it if no one plays it. Try and keep a low number of planets that people play. Ex: Koth, Spar, Ircia, DM and the Events Planet for the newbies.

People only play Koth and DM if events going on. So by your logic, they should be removed? No. Improved? Yes.

-Putting in more achievements/medals? I mean when I was getting medals it was kinda fun.

Agreed.

-A more squad based/team based Ircia? Maybe each Ircia team can be divided into 3-4 squads. When you die and go in the portal, if you have teammates still alive you could respawn in their location to help them out?

Other words, you want iricia to be like Battlefied?

-When you run out of ammo with a weapon you could press P and punch people? Lol I think that'd be funny. Punches should do 15 damage. It'd be hilarious to watch.

Hotkeys fixes this problem (Should be removed...)

-Maybe for each team, 1 member is chosen at that particular round to be the leader. This "leader" can make himself invulnerable for 4 seconds (He can't move though) if he's getting damaged and waiting for backup. The "leader" can only do this once every round. Once a team wins a new leader (for each time, of course) will be chosen randomly again to use it again ONCE (Per round)

Sounds alot like Armor Lock in Reach.

-Maybe make the whole "combatknife" even better to use? A player could either stab with his combatknife or chose to "Throw it". Throw the knife in all directions. Would be fun seeing people "throwing knives in spar or Ircia.

You know you can already throw the knife in any direction?

-Make the roll make your energy go down. You don't have any kind of cool armour on that will make you stronger. Your a human in clothes in Zone in a futuristic time. Rolling should make your player tired, thus making your energy go down.

Agreed.

-Capturing a base. Most bases, you will just stand on top of it and capture it. In base 1, however, because there is a bunker, you should have to go into the bunker and destroy some kind of computer device kind of object by shooting it. It has some health so you have to destroy it. Once you destroy the computers controlling the base as one team, the guy on top captures the base. Once they capture the base another team must come in and destroy the computer device and then go on top and re-capture it.

Depends on how much health the computer device have.

-Maybe putting turrets on Ircia that don't shoot lasers would be okay. Like they shot bullets like a chaingun, the same speed, just less bullets so its fair. And while you turn the turret it slows down its gun fire and has to be powered up again.

Put this in the iricia bases, shoot the enemy team automatically. 100 Damage. Prevent base laming.

-Add a new kind of thing to get in the Zone-Money shop to get. TNT! Players can buy TNT (Only holding 1 at a time and they have to come back to buy another after they use their first) . They take their TNT out on the icy land of Ircia and plant the TNT. The TNT has the same explosion as a mortar but you can carry it while being any class. You just press D and it plants down on the ground and it has a time limit. Its almost like a proxmine. If someone steps on it, it'll explode. It can be seen like a proxmine from a speed bike.

No, if you're facing a team of Dutchies, it'll be over for the other team.

-Put mini map back!

Do this.

[pooper200000]

Originally Posted by scooter123

Give trials more freedom like they used to have. Bring some of the old stuff that made it great back.

--New--
all ideas except invulnerability idea

I agree, these are excellent ideas. It would be interesting if TNT could make traps in the ground (Pit of death, ankle injuries from rough ground (Speed reduction), lava flows revealed to possibly change the map (That'd be a bit far fetched)). These types of ideas in a group update could be a wonderful breath of fresh air. I'm not sure on the minimap.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by fowlplay4

If they are ever going to help a server it should be the golden ones.

They're for playerworlds, I don't want them on a Gold servers. They cannot develop anything but trouble.

Originally Posted by scooter123

-Maybe add a new vehicle like a truck on Ircia? (Only 1 in a random location with a turret on its top?) Maybe noobs will like shooting people with the turret?

I like the idea of team vehicles, which I think is already mostly developed as "Super Bikes"... but I have a lot of doubt in legacy content quality.

Originally Posted by scooter123

-Putting in more achievements/medals? I mean when I was getting medals it was kinda fun.

Achievement definitely need to be improved and I'm pretty confident it would be a focus in core revisions... but we're not at that point yet.

Originally Posted by scooter123

-Capturing a base. Most bases, you will just stand on top of it and capture it. In base 1, however, because there is a bunker, you should have to go into the bunker and destroy some kind of computer device kind of object by shooting it. It has some health so you have to destroy it. Once you destroy the computers controlling the base as one team, the guy on top captures the base. Once they capture the base another team must come in and destroy the computer device and then go on top and re-capture it.

Bases need to be refocused as a central part of the gameplay, although I don't think this is the right solution right now. Additionally, I don't think it's the "first move" we should make - maybe later on.

Originally Posted by scooter123

-Add a new kind of thing to get in the Zone-Money shop to get. TNT! Players can buy TNT

That's a similar line of thought to my initial suggestion of sticky grenades. I think we need something a little bigger than a new weapon, even if it's an effective system revision.

[Shadow5596321]

Originally Posted by Stephen

They're for playerworlds, I don't want them on a Gold servers. They cannot develop anything but trouble.

I'd rather have something, than nothing.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by Shadow5596321

I'd rather have something, than nothing.

That's cute, but I'd rather have half of a kick ass project than a full half-assed project. No more discussion off topic, please.

[Shadow5596321]

Originally Posted by seanthien

Crono, I was ET during the time period it died, I'd like to say I brought the server back (Seeing as a majority of the players online I had some connection with). I brought back the newer generation of Zone whilst doing so. I know what's going on.

You were ET when it was DEAD. The players that logged on were wannabes.