Features for Competitive Play

Mouse

<div class="IPBDescription">What would you like to see?</div>What features would you guys like to see in NS2 to enhance/improve/streamline competitive (read: organised) play?

homicide

built in pug system

Isamil

Less of a difference between small(6vs6) and large(16vs16) gameplay to make the transition from pub to organized easier.

An advanced tutorial showcasing some upper-level gameplay.(as well as a regular tutorial)

Less hostility from official NS people(see #ns ops)

tjosan

<!--quoteo(post=1640574:date=Jul 25 2007, 04:22 PM:name=Isamil)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Isamil @ Jul 25 2007, 04:22 PM) [snapback]1640574[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Less of a difference between small(6vs6) and large(16vs16) gameplay to make the transition from pub to organized easier.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

What he said. The games need to be the same and still be able to be played on different levels of intensity.

pSyk0mAn

Source TV with a lot of features like commander view, multiple (selectable) playerviews, in-game broadcast via voice and a lot more,
which keeps more players/spectators interested
attracts more players to ns and organized play
and gives (frag-)movie makers a lot more to work with.

sherpa

Something similar to the professional CS1.6 plug-ins- a constant reminder to tell you to say "ready" to start the game; a list of players who haven't said ready, time shown you've spent in warmup.

My biggest gripe with NS1 is the 2 hours of time it takes for 60 minutes of gameplay.

Oh and commander view on STV.

Alcapwn

I would think matchmaking would be cool for this type of game.

Though there's all sorts of issues with that, though. (I mean, who's server would you play on? A listen server? ha! Maybe if UW hosted there own game servers...).

Think about it; you and 5 other clamates want to get a little scrim going. Hop onto matchmaking, join a party, and search for a game under the "Clan Scrims" setting.

Within minutes (Not hours) you would be in a scrim. Too bad the feasibility of that happening is nill. I mean, if EPIC couldnt sqeeze MM into Gears of War because they were understaffed, then i dont think UW would get around to it anytime soon...

Sarisel

A league officially supported and endorsed by the devs.

Radix

How about a system to show the median skill level of a server at any given time, based on attributes aggregated throughout their ID's lifetime, thereby creating a bracket of veteran servers without requiring any overhead from the community?

You could add a cvar to lock the server to only similarly-skilled ID's (and slightly above, so that people could grow their skill).

badmoon

Easier pick up groups, and attempt to keep the strategies of a 6vs6 game the same as a 10vs10 game. While I think it's a generally bad idea to log and display individual player statistics, I think a system that would collect information on teams would be useful.

What would help a lot is:
-The ability to easily create a PuG team with your friends.
-A Natural-Selection (built-in or stand alone) chat client to give you a place to find, chat, or hang out with other players. A place to be between games, and to discuss strategies. Something more than people just selecting a server from a list and joining.
-The ability to get auto-matched as a team (not an individual) vs other teams, sent to the server, and ready to play with in minutes.
-Rating or record keeping of the teams for further matching or player enjoyment.

Although, a system like this would require a much larger player pool, but we'll get there, right?

Radix

<!--quoteo(post=1640823:date=Jul 27 2007, 10:43 AM:name=badmoon)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(badmoon @ Jul 27 2007, 10:43 AM) [snapback]1640823[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->While I think it's a generally bad idea to log and display individual player statistics, I think a system that would collect information on teams would be useful.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I think the master servers and server hosts should have access to individual player skill logs, but that information shouldn't be publicized along with someone's steam ID to the rest of the players, that will only encourage stacking and "follow the leader" effects.

<!--quoteo(post=1640823:date=Jul 27 2007, 10:43 AM:name=badmoon)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(badmoon @ Jul 27 2007, 10:43 AM) [snapback]1640823[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->chat client<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

We have this already with gamesurge.net's #findnsscrim channel.

<!--quoteo(post=1640823:date=Jul 27 2007, 10:43 AM:name=badmoon)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(badmoon @ Jul 27 2007, 10:43 AM) [snapback]1640823[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->-The ability to get auto-matched as a team (not an individual) vs other teams, sent to the server, and ready to play with in minutes.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I can see it now, the "autoscrim" button underneath "find servers". That's very interesting.

BCSeph

stratplan....nuff said

TOmekki

clean maps, without useless junk lying around like in some cs:source maps

N_3

would be cool to have like a panel or window you can bring up in ns2 that is advertising high profile upcomming wars, links to watch them (join hltv), links to the ns competitive scene and news etc. and a link to tutorials/guides.

also, i agree to some of the thoughts on statistics and player info. If stats are going to be taken only log from clan wars - pub stats are silly.

Underwhelmed

<!--quoteo(post=1640890:date=Jul 27 2007, 02:32 PM:name=Radix)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Radix @ Jul 27 2007, 02:32 PM) [snapback]1640890[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
We have this already with gamesurge.net's #findnsscrim channel.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Not everybody knows about this channel though. It took me months to find #nslearn because nobody ever bothered saying it was on Gamesurge. A significant portion of your playerbase might not have used IRC before.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
I can see it now, the "autoscrim" button underneath "find servers". That's very interesting.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe even an autopug function would be a good idea.

Radix

<!--quoteo(post=1641924:date=Aug 3 2007, 01:34 PM:name=Underwhelmed)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Underwhelmed @ Aug 3 2007, 01:34 PM) [snapback]1641924[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
Not everybody knows about this channel though. It took me months to find #nslearn because nobody ever bothered saying it was on Gamesurge. A significant portion of your playerbase might not have used IRC before.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

That's fair.

<!--quoteo(post=1641870:date=Aug 3 2007, 05:42 AM:name=N_3)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(N_3 @ Aug 3 2007, 05:42 AM) [snapback]1641870[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
would be cool to have like a panel or window you can bring up in ns2 that is advertising high profile upcomming wars, links to watch them (join hltv), links to the ns competitive scene and news etc. and a link to tutorials/guides.

also, i agree to some of the thoughts on statistics and player info. If stats are going to be taken only log from clan wars - pub stats are silly.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Two years ago I wouldn't have agreed with this, but now it actually sounds pretty cool.

Not that I play mmo's anymore (i'm not bad like doug) but when I played guildwars, there was a feature where you could view current pvp, and it had rankings, so I would go and spectate (and study) the top 100 teams. It was a lot of fun for me, and made me think "I want to play pvp".

Then the game required me to hunt & gather for equipment in order to be competitive, so I raged. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/asrifle.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::asrifle::" border="0" alt="asrifle.gif" />

MasterPTG

<!--quoteo(post=1641941:date=Aug 3 2007, 06:55 PM:name=Radix)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Radix @ Aug 3 2007, 06:55 PM) [snapback]1641941[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
That's fair.
Two years ago I wouldn't have agreed with this, but now it actually sounds pretty cool.

Not that I play mmo's anymore (i'm not bad like doug) but when I played guildwars, there was a feature where you could view current pvp, and it had rankings, so I would go and spectate (and study) the top 100 teams. It was a lot of fun for me, and made me think "I want to play pvp".

Then the game required me to hunt & gather for equipment in order to be competitive, so I raged. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/asrifle.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::asrifle::" border="0" alt="asrifle.gif" />
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

You do know that you can just PvP w/out lvl'ing in Guild Wars right? You just won't know how to use your character <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />. lol.

Scythe

Close integration with the new steam community features. They seem to be pretty handy.

--Scythe--

Radix

<!--quoteo(post=1641981:date=Aug 3 2007, 10:07 PM:name=MasterPTG)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MasterPTG @ Aug 3 2007, 10:07 PM) [snapback]1641981[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
You do know that you can just PvP w/out lvl'ing in Guild Wars right? You just won't know how to use your character <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />. lol.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

I remember that you need to go through and level to unlock things like assassin teleportation and whatever, which was an enormous pain. I could be mistaken..

*cough*

Sorry, please continue. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />

sherpa

<!--quoteo(post=1641860:date=Aug 3 2007, 06:51 AM:name=TOmekki)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TOmekki @ Aug 3 2007, 06:51 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1641860"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->clean maps, without useless junk lying around like in some cs:source maps<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

are you kidding skulk rolling around in generic space barrel would be winwinwin

Alcapwn

A built in replay system would also be very handy. Why should i have to manually start up a replay by typing its name in the console? Thats not very accessible.


Something like Starcrafts, C&C3, or any modern RTS game's replay viewer is needed. Along with full functionality and control (Seeing comm view, fast-foward, pause, rewind, etc)

MasterPTG

<!--quoteo(post=1645530:date=Aug 26 2007, 10:12 AM:name=sherpa)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sherpa @ Aug 26 2007, 10:12 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1645530"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->are you kidding skulk rolling around in generic space barrel would be winwinwin<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

...As funny as that might be, I somehow don't think that'd help competitive play any--nor public play any, except for people who want to ruin the competitive atmosphere of an entire game by launching an ad-hoc game of "which skulk can roll the space barrel to marine start first and live while doing it."

I don't think random junk laying around the map would help the game out any. I think, if anything, some seriously thought out objects that might be totally moveable would be cool. Think about something like a futuristic kiosk on wheels or...a bookcase on wheels or...a smelting ore container on wheels...or a track or something that can be propelled by marines/aliens alike.

A few, select dynamic environments (read objects and/or rooms other than and apart from the dynamic infestation, weldables etc) that are well planned out w/ the entire theme of a map would be nice.

DRagon

automatic ready would be nice, something like that works fine in et:qw(beta) so you dont have to wait half hour to start a game and tbh playing advenced life forms such as fade or lerk should be more difficult, at this point average pub player can carry as fade, in the past fading required a lot of skill same was with the lerk, now every newbie can become a superb player at pub and carry.

Prefix

I love the idea of autopug and auto scrim buttons.

I really hope this is done.

The client could also be linked to commonly used irc channels so you dont have to minimize

DooGie

A system where you can add yourself to a team and join instantly a game is really a good idea. It could be kind of a Battlenet stuff, when you can see actual rooms with actual players, you can watch the game or join the server and play with them, stuff like that. A player/team Stats system would be nice, but I think it's hard to mantain (servers, databases, broadband...) anyway I'd like to know how it works first .

Prefix

nah i dont like the player stats idea,
battlefeild has it, its just a way to give people who have played the game longer better equipment and stuff,
it gets boring and annoying after a few weeks.

Insanehl

<!--quoteo(post=1641860:date=Aug 3 2007, 05:51 AM:name=TOmekki)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TOmekki @ Aug 3 2007, 05:51 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1641860"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->clean maps, without useless junk lying around like in some cs:source maps<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

This is supposed to be a realistic map. You think the people that originally cleaned up before the aliens invaded? HELL NO! they ran as fast as the wind. There would be stuff lying around, rolling off shelves, and boxes just lying around. So random stuff laying around is good for the atmosphere.

Isamil

<!--quoteo(post=1649856:date=Sep 16 2007, 10:49 AM:name=Insanehl)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Insanehl @ Sep 16 2007, 10:49 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1649856"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->This is supposed to be a realistic map.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
No, this is supposed to be a fun, balanced map.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->You think the people that originally cleaned up before the aliens invaded? HELL NO! they ran as fast as the wind. There would be stuff lying around, rolling off shelves, and boxes just lying around. So random stuff laying around is good for the atmosphere.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I agree, we should be sure to add this stuff to any NS movies/cinematics.

DethGaunt

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->clean maps, without useless junk lying around like in some cs:source maps<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

agree 100%

MasterPTG

From a different thread:

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Load the training level or even a real map.
Select your load out or kharaa upgrades and the computer just spawns bots with whatever loadout or abilities you choose.
So say you want to practice being a fade with celerity and focus, you can if you die you just respawn, but you can continuesly spawn with those upgrades so you cna consistenly train and learn how to counter certain enemies with certain upgrades of your choosing.
Would probably be handy way to find bugs and exploits too.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yes, this would actually be very GOOD, b/c Ns actually penalizes you for dying w/ a higher lifeform. This would enable you to practice some basic moves b/f getting slaughtered in multiplayer. At least you would KNOW why you died so fast as fade or onos, if you had a chance to kill some random sorta-good-or-bad bots in a minimal confined space with perhaps 3 rooms total. Also as a marnie, you could practice killing some skulks or lerks or whatever.

Select what you want to kill, select your side/class/weapon/armor/whatever, and kill them. . rinse, repeat. Also, have a short & concise video tutorial for the game as a whole and for the commander (and maybe gorge too). Videos can convey information much faster than just text or a tutorial map.