Exploding our player base with AutoLaunch Server

EndTheFed4 · Post by **EndTheFed4** » Sun Jun 03, 2018 3:12 am

The main problem most online games have is that there is some barrier to playing. In allegiance the barrier is the huge obstacle created by the need for two willing commanders...before a real game cam launch. This is what has kept our player base low. As a solution, What if we were to set up a server that operates a bit like the Perpetual Bot DM server, with a couple differences... PBDM was a great step forward but maybe too repetitive to actually play much.

I call my idea "AutoLaunch Server." Its objecitve would be to increase the number of active players with the absolute minimum programming effort. As I brainstorm it, there would be little difference between ALS and a normal game...the only real difference would be that the game starts by itself. The most popular, common settings should probably be left in place... i.e. map con high, FF off etc. And the game would relaunch with those settings immediately every time a game on that server is won or lost. This worked great in Starship Troopers Battlespace.

If the game launches with no one around, it mostly just sits there until someone pops in to the command seat. If only one person is playing...then i guess they can conquer the map alone if they wish...knowing that they'd better do it fast because anyone can join at any time. I suspect what would happen in practice... is people would flock to the game in acceptable numbers, nearly all hours of the day. There would sometimes be enough people around to start games with more unusual settings if that's your thing. Because they would know there's always a game in progress. I know my hours in the game would probably increase by 1000%. Wouldn't yours?

What do you think? I think this is the simple improvement we need to turn Allegiance from a fading star to a timeless gem like chess.

Post by **zombywoof** » Sun Jun 03, 2018 4:00 pm

I think you greatly misunderstand what it is about Allegiance that made it as popular as it was back when it was released and back in its silver age of 2006-2009.

EndTheFed4 · Post by **EndTheFed4** » Sun Jun 03, 2018 8:57 pm

Do you have better ideas? All I care is that I can play 2000 type Allegiance any time I want...if you have an idea that gets us there more effectively, I'd probably support that instead.

peet · Post by **peet** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 2:04 pm

A commander needs other skills than a fighter pilot. It's ego that "X killed Y", or "X destroyed base Y". Nowhere in the game is any mention of who commanded. No scoreboard of "X bases build", "X tons of He3 mined" or "Best Tech Researcher of the year".

It's the same no one wants to be a medic in TF2. They all want to whore and be on top of the board.

Someone who sucks as a pilot might be a great commander, it's a different task needing different skills. A commander can be a great planner, strategist and psychological expert. It's often a modest, calm and slightly under the radar type of person which might be a good commander. Handling commanders as useful slaves to assist the pilot on his route to glory does not attract managing types I think.

Perhaps improving the value of a commander ingame might help. Put him on a silver platter once every now and then. Use it as an advantage to attract "managing types" of players.

Mastametz · Post by **Mastametz** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 7:23 pm

Point based ranking system really discourages commanding. But BT says it's the best system for encouraging gameplay and BT is always right.

TheAlaskan · Post by **TheAlaskan** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 8:34 pm

How hard would it be for everyone to see themselves as #1 on the post game rankings? Vets will know better but new players would feel mightily happy with themselves and stick around longer.

raumvogel · Post by **raumvogel** » Mon Jun 04, 2018 11:37 pm

Being a medic in TF2 is a great way to learn the maps.

Post by **Dome** » Tue Jun 05, 2018 2:07 am

It's a good idea.

We don't have active administration though, so the road to implementation seems bleak.

Wasp · Post by **Wasp** » Tue Jun 05, 2018 1:27 pm

Tards, the lot of you. Quit blaming BT. He put the game on Steam (that you all declared would save Allegiance), and now you're blaming him because it didn't save Allegiance!

Has nothing to do with stats, ranking or rewards ffs. New players don't stick around because they simply don't know what the hell is going on in the first few hours of game play.

Three hours of "what am I supposed to do?" isn't going to retain anyone.

Post by **zombywoof** » Tue Jun 05, 2018 3:56 pm

Wasp wrote:QUOTE (Wasp @ Jun 5 2018, 06:27 AM) Tards, the lot of you. Quit blaming BT. He put the game on Steam (that you all declared would save Allegiance), and now you're blaming him because it didn't save Allegiance!

Has nothing to do with stats, ranking or rewards ffs. New players don't stick around because they simply don't know what the hell is going on in the first few hours of game play.

Three hours of "what am I supposed to do?" isn't going to retain anyone.

It's fun when Wasp starts quoting me.