ThinkTanks Scrum League Thoughts and Suggestions
by S · in ThinkTanks · 05/28/2003 (5:42 pm) · 14 replies
To all who were involved with the inaugural ThinkTanks Scrum League game, thanks for all the great fun.
Now to my thoughts:
Lag
Basically, I think everything went fairly well. When we started getting hit by all that lag, a good decision was made to go to a HomeLAN server, rather than ditch the laggy players. With that said, we definitely need to get a good server to make sure we don't have any distractions like that in the future.
Line-up, Substitutions and Dropped Players
I know this was the first game and so the team line-ups were a little shakey. We had one player just disappears after the first game. I think that Highlanders played part of the first game with one player down. Hopefully we can get more stable line-ups in the upcoming games.
Camping
I'd like to know what the standard will be for Camping/Goaltending. I tried to avoid camping in the center of the goal, opting to guard the goal on the perimeter. Should camping be allowed or should it be discouraged? It is certainly an acceptable tactic, but I know a lot of Scrum players despise it. If everyone accepted it, then I would definitely go for a more camping-oriented tactic on defense.
Scoring System
I like the aggregate scoring system. It works well with the way goals are scored in Scrum. No complaints there.
Halftime
Problems with lag provided us with a break in between games. I think it would be nice to have a little break between matches so that teams can discuss strategy, reorganize or change tanks.
Maps
The Volcano map was a fun choice because neither side knew much about it. The second map was the more familiar Freudian one. I definitely think that one Frantic map should be used and then a Lush one.
That's all I can come up with for now. I hope everyone else enjoyed today's game as much as I did.
shoseph
Now to my thoughts:
Lag
Basically, I think everything went fairly well. When we started getting hit by all that lag, a good decision was made to go to a HomeLAN server, rather than ditch the laggy players. With that said, we definitely need to get a good server to make sure we don't have any distractions like that in the future.
Line-up, Substitutions and Dropped Players
I know this was the first game and so the team line-ups were a little shakey. We had one player just disappears after the first game. I think that Highlanders played part of the first game with one player down. Hopefully we can get more stable line-ups in the upcoming games.
Camping
I'd like to know what the standard will be for Camping/Goaltending. I tried to avoid camping in the center of the goal, opting to guard the goal on the perimeter. Should camping be allowed or should it be discouraged? It is certainly an acceptable tactic, but I know a lot of Scrum players despise it. If everyone accepted it, then I would definitely go for a more camping-oriented tactic on defense.
Scoring System
I like the aggregate scoring system. It works well with the way goals are scored in Scrum. No complaints there.
Halftime
Problems with lag provided us with a break in between games. I think it would be nice to have a little break between matches so that teams can discuss strategy, reorganize or change tanks.
Maps
The Volcano map was a fun choice because neither side knew much about it. The second map was the more familiar Freudian one. I definitely think that one Frantic map should be used and then a Lush one.
That's all I can come up with for now. I hope everyone else enjoyed today's game as much as I did.
shoseph
#2
05/28/2003 (6:14 pm)
There is a an IRC channel on maxgaming.net (called ThinkTanks) that might be useful for pre-game chatting. It also might be a good idea of for the teams to get their own channels to talk strategy at half-time, etc..
#3
As for camping.. hmm tough one. Part of 'Team Scrum' is that your team members can clear the goal area for the person with the flag. Its different (in that respect) to normal scrum where campers really are just trying to get something for nothing. Trying to impose any 'rules' on it like not sitting within the green goal area or whatever is kinda silly and difficult, especially as sometimes that can be a spawn point.
Halftime. Indeed seeming as the start of the game cant be precisely controlled, I think players should just go in, get organised on the right teams etc, and practice / chat etc until the current game ends and then start game 1 as soon as the next game starts. After that, when there is a change of map for the second leg - possibly even a change of server, the same thing should happen, using up whatever game time is left in the current game round for teams to discuss tactics / practice whatever. Game 2 starts as soon as the next round does.
As for chat room, until such time as one might get incroporated into the game, quite a few players use irc.maxgaming.net (#thinktanks) would be nice to see more people in there though.
-Z-
05/28/2003 (6:21 pm)
I too very much enjoyed the game. Thoroughly enjoyable despite having lag set in a short way through it. Not sure of the best solution there.. or whether it was just the time slot we used was a particularly busy one for net-traffic generally.As for camping.. hmm tough one. Part of 'Team Scrum' is that your team members can clear the goal area for the person with the flag. Its different (in that respect) to normal scrum where campers really are just trying to get something for nothing. Trying to impose any 'rules' on it like not sitting within the green goal area or whatever is kinda silly and difficult, especially as sometimes that can be a spawn point.
Halftime. Indeed seeming as the start of the game cant be precisely controlled, I think players should just go in, get organised on the right teams etc, and practice / chat etc until the current game ends and then start game 1 as soon as the next game starts. After that, when there is a change of map for the second leg - possibly even a change of server, the same thing should happen, using up whatever game time is left in the current game round for teams to discuss tactics / practice whatever. Game 2 starts as soon as the next round does.
As for chat room, until such time as one might get incroporated into the game, quite a few players use irc.maxgaming.net (#thinktanks) would be nice to see more people in there though.
-Z-
#4
in other news, i agree. any restrictions on actual game-play are probably not going to go down, but things like switching tanks mid game, aggregate versus total win scoring systems, and class requirements should be addressed.
The league -i think- is trying to jump in bed with the developers to get us dedicated servers i think. that should fix the lag.
cheerio.
ps. nothing better than the chick you want on the east coast suddenly wants you. shame she tells you while you chat with her from california.
oot.
05/28/2003 (7:59 pm)
Z, some of us lack irc. is there an i.m. channel to that? do i sound like an idiot?in other news, i agree. any restrictions on actual game-play are probably not going to go down, but things like switching tanks mid game, aggregate versus total win scoring systems, and class requirements should be addressed.
The league -i think- is trying to jump in bed with the developers to get us dedicated servers i think. that should fix the lag.
cheerio.
ps. nothing better than the chick you want on the east coast suddenly wants you. shame she tells you while you chat with her from california.
oot.
#5
The IM client, Trillian (www.ceruleanstudios.com/trillian/index.html) can also handle irc channels.
-Z-
05/28/2003 (8:07 pm)
Tally: Just download mIRC (www.mirc.com).The IM client, Trillian (www.ceruleanstudios.com/trillian/index.html) can also handle irc channels.
-Z-
#6
We had a good turn out.
Lag was bad but we found a work around. A good league designated server with password would be nice.
Our team definately suffered from the lack of a medium tank.. who would have thought they would make such a difference. good job shoseph.
"Nice slide show"
Tank Dork
05/29/2003 (9:13 am)
For the first match I think it went very well.We had a good turn out.
Lag was bad but we found a work around. A good league designated server with password would be nice.
Our team definately suffered from the lack of a medium tank.. who would have thought they would make such a difference. good job shoseph.
"Nice slide show"
Tank Dork
#7
Unfortunately for me, I sort of favor the heavy tank. Which means, as soon as I get spawned ... I immediately head for the goal. When I do get there (after a lot of praying that nobody noticed that heavy tank making a beeline for the goal), I try not to sit inside the goal marker ... the problem is, I found out early on that a light tank would hesitate stealing the goal if I'm presenting my broad side to it while inside the goal marker.
If we have a concensus on what the rule should be on camping ... I'll respect it.
r/bathala
05/29/2003 (9:50 am)
I think we need to clarify more on the issue of camping.Unfortunately for me, I sort of favor the heavy tank. Which means, as soon as I get spawned ... I immediately head for the goal. When I do get there (after a lot of praying that nobody noticed that heavy tank making a beeline for the goal), I try not to sit inside the goal marker ... the problem is, I found out early on that a light tank would hesitate stealing the goal if I'm presenting my broad side to it while inside the goal marker.
If we have a concensus on what the rule should be on camping ... I'll respect it.
r/bathala
#8
If one team's heavy wants to sit in the goal, that's fine because it's just part of the game. Players will have to come up with new tactics in order to deal with goal tenders (e.g. use a heavy of their own).
As long as no one is exploiting a glitch or bug (and so far I haven't seen that) everything from carrier suicide to camping should be fair game.
Additionally, like -Z- mentioned, it would be a pain to referee games and keep players from camping if it were illegal.
Blue: "You were camping!"
Green: "I just ran through the goal to block you!"
Blue: "No camping!"
Green: "I wasn't camping!"
You get the picture. :)
:::Our team definately suffered from the lack of a medium tank.. who would have thought they would make such a difference. good job shoseph.:::
Thanks Chris, playing the medium was very interesting!
shoseph
05/29/2003 (11:42 am)
After thinking about it, the game should be played with an 'anything goes' sort of style.If one team's heavy wants to sit in the goal, that's fine because it's just part of the game. Players will have to come up with new tactics in order to deal with goal tenders (e.g. use a heavy of their own).
As long as no one is exploiting a glitch or bug (and so far I haven't seen that) everything from carrier suicide to camping should be fair game.
Additionally, like -Z- mentioned, it would be a pain to referee games and keep players from camping if it were illegal.
Blue: "You were camping!"
Green: "I just ran through the goal to block you!"
Blue: "No camping!"
Green: "I wasn't camping!"
You get the picture. :)
:::Our team definately suffered from the lack of a medium tank.. who would have thought they would make such a difference. good job shoseph.:::
Thanks Chris, playing the medium was very interesting!
shoseph
#9
05/29/2003 (12:23 pm)
good posts by sho. you can't limit camping. if you have to alamo it, you have to. that's all i have to say about that.
#10
Loler
05/29/2003 (3:58 pm)
I like a bit of camping personally. A scrum in front of the goal means that its not always the best player who can score, and plus, those scrambles are the best part of the game :)Loler
#11
Watch the scores. A constant camper will score less than a scrambler everytime. Camping is a way to score (thats why DEMOs use it) but not to win.
On the other hand.. some can combine both scrambling and goal tending strategies into quite a formidable game plan..
Tally ho being one. I have tried.. I get too antsy and charge off as soon as the scrum comes into view.
My opinion is this. With most sporting challenges that have goals each team is allowed a "goalee", why should we be any different.
Plus it is so much fun to ram the goal tender out of the way as your team mate zooms in behind you.
"Tank Dork has been eliminated by Tank Dork!"
Tank Dork
05/30/2003 (6:55 am)
I agree, although you will seldom see me goal tending (camping) because I like to chase. I like to make battle in the "field" that way if I make a stupid mistake.. I might be able to catch you before you make it to the goal. Goal tending (camping) is a valid strategy but those that know how to defeat it usually can.Watch the scores. A constant camper will score less than a scrambler everytime. Camping is a way to score (thats why DEMOs use it) but not to win.
On the other hand.. some can combine both scrambling and goal tending strategies into quite a formidable game plan..
Tally ho being one. I have tried.. I get too antsy and charge off as soon as the scrum comes into view.
My opinion is this. With most sporting challenges that have goals each team is allowed a "goalee", why should we be any different.
Plus it is so much fun to ram the goal tender out of the way as your team mate zooms in behind you.
"Tank Dork has been eliminated by Tank Dork!"
Tank Dork
#12
anyway, what am i replying to?
camping. o yes. didn't i already comment on this?
o right. why eliminate vlid strategy? camp on i say. myself, i never camp. i'm much too fond of liing up up the attacker, just missing, quickly 180ing and escorting on cat's bumper all the way to the goal. give it a go.
proper camping i do not do. but there are variations, which i cannot share at the moment because i hav eto use the facilities :). but what i think i do is someting more like vulturing. yesterday, i actually dropped off the side of a ciff onto the carrier's dome, which was quite thrililng. i find that if i linger too close the goal, the carrier's movements become sharper, more evasive, and then i end up chasing, which isn't so bad if he's been smoking.
the game is timing.
game on saturday?
05/30/2003 (10:15 am)
FIrst of all, why does nobody give td any love for the clever sigs? we loooooooooooove the clever sigs :).anyway, what am i replying to?
camping. o yes. didn't i already comment on this?
o right. why eliminate vlid strategy? camp on i say. myself, i never camp. i'm much too fond of liing up up the attacker, just missing, quickly 180ing and escorting on cat's bumper all the way to the goal. give it a go.
proper camping i do not do. but there are variations, which i cannot share at the moment because i hav eto use the facilities :). but what i think i do is someting more like vulturing. yesterday, i actually dropped off the side of a ciff onto the carrier's dome, which was quite thrililng. i find that if i linger too close the goal, the carrier's movements become sharper, more evasive, and then i end up chasing, which isn't so bad if he's been smoking.
the game is timing.
game on saturday?
#13
06/01/2003 (2:39 pm)
Tank Dorks Sigs rule.. they always crack me up
#14
01/08/2004 (12:53 pm)
-BUMP- 
Kimball Kinnison
have a chat room for eveyone to meet in before a match.
maybe i can get in later with the league, but right now it is too busy.
laters,
'Vanbuskirk'