First Play-through

[Drakmon]

Finally played a couple of matches last night. This wasn't my first play-through ever... just the first full game I've played after a multi-year gap. Not having really played much since retail, I was a bit concerned I would be stomped on. Thankfully, that only happened once.

All that being said... man, it feels good to be back.

I spent about an hour last night, prior to actually playing, mapping my keys. Yes, I am a little bit obsessed, but it makes a difference

Once I found myself in-game I proceeded to reacclamate to the interface. I jumped in an int, since that was where my comfort zone was of old. Immediately after launch I proceeded through the nearest aleph and dropped into the middle of a serious furball. I proceeded to kill 3 enemy figs and help clear the sector. Of course, just after that there was a successful vote to end the game, so I didn't get to do much beyond make a few kills. My old dogfighting skills started to come back a bit, though, so not too bad of a first showing.

The next game, I was on a team with GOD as com. I jumped in a scout loaded with probes and dropped them as I proceeded through sectors while grabbing all the cash I could find. After losing my scout to a couple of figs, I jumped in an int again and helped defend miners and constructors. It wasn't too long before GOD was churning out caps, so after dying to a Sfig I jumped in a Skycap turret (LCrus) and paved the way for taking out an opposition Outpost. Although the LCrus died soon after, there were BS turrets needing manning at that point, so I jumped right in those.

Of course, the game ended right afterwards.

The final game of the night was a 3 team game, and didn't last too long. I stayed as scout most of the game, harassing the enemy carrier, killing their scouts/probes (and dropping my own) and hunting down their miners and constructors. Most of the opposition were actual real newbies to the game, so the end didn't take long after that

I was temped to command in the last game, but I decided to hold off for now. I need to re-familiarize myself with the tech trees and command interface before I jump back in that pool.

Overall, it was a great night. I can't wait till next time!

[Phalanxe]

BUUUUURRRRNNN THE FAKE NOOOOBB.

[Dorjan]

was so tempted to say "in before the fake / overly helpful posts" earlier xD

[raumvogel]

So, after a "Multi-year gap" you are saying that anyone who knows too much or is too helpful is a fake? What would he get from trolling?

[Broodwich]

the only part that leaves doubt is he isn't saying how terrible alleg is

[Drakmon]

QUOTE (Broodwich @ Mar 5 2012, 03:48 PM) the only part that leaves doubt is he isn't saying how terrible alleg is

It was only truly terrible in retail when all the pick-up games were essentially the same game, repeated over and over again ad nauseum. That was a function of the community at the time, though.

Now, the community is small/dedicated enough that games, when they do occur, are full of crafty, experienced people (if what I saw last night is any indication). Either that, or they are full of new players, which is an entirely different sort of entertainment...

I'm speaking in broad strokes here, though. I'm very new to this iteration of the community, so I still have a great deal to learn.

[Elzam_]

Exp every game whut?

[Picobozo]

QUOTE (Drakmon @ Mar 5 2012, 04:15 PM) It was only truly terrible in retail when all the pick-up games were essentially the same game, repeated over and over again ad nauseum. That was a function of the community at the time, though.

Now, the community is small/dedicated enough that games, when they do occur, are full of crafty, experienced people (if what I saw last night is any indication). Either that, or they are full of new players, which is an entirely different sort of entertainment...

I'm speaking in broad strokes here, though. I'm very new to this iteration of the community, so I still have a great deal to learn.

Funny how opinions differ. In reflection I much preferred Allegiance when it was in retail. One of the biggest wishes I ever had about a video game was that Allegiance stayed popular enough for MS to keep the community running for a few more years.

Maybe only a few of the dozens of games running at the same time were played at a high level, but if you were in a game where one team or the other was stacked you could just leave and go play on a different server.

And the squad play was much more fun back then too. We frequently had squad games of 30+ players on a side, several times per week. That feeling of a true presence of your squad has just never been matched.

[Drakmon]

QUOTE (Picobozo @ Mar 6 2012, 05:44 PM) Funny how opinions differ. In reflection I much preferred Allegiance when it was in retail. One of the biggest wishes I ever had about a video game was that Allegiance stayed popular enough for MS to keep the community running for a few more years.

Maybe only a few of the dozens of games running at the same time were played at a high level, but if you were in a game where one team or the other was stacked you could just leave and go play on a different server.

And the squad play was much more fun back then too. We frequently had squad games of 30+ players on a side, several times per week. That feeling of a true presence of your squad has just never been matched.

That was probably my problem... I wasn't really involved in squad-level play at the time. It was more of an accident when I happened into a truly competitive game. I guess I didn't realize that there was an organized community. It wasn't obvious how to get involved back then.

There were a good number of players back then... I'm sure there probably could be again. I hear a lot of folks say this game has a steep learning curve, which is why it is hard to get newbies to play... I just don't see it. Maybe it's because I've played before.

I almost feel inspired to write up a proposal for how to restructure the pre-flight UX and toss a few thoughts out about binary distribution (all with the aim of making the game more accessible to a larger audience without diluting the depth of the actual gameplay), but I'll hold off. I get the feeling that I need to catch up on some history first

[Broodwich]

that history being every other noob to find this tries to do that