Free Allegiance Forums

Hello!

It's been a long - LONG - while since I've played Allegiance! In fact, it was late 2000 when I stopped playing. I was one of the orginial members of the Black Shadow Squad, and I left just after Eric.

Anyway, here lately I've been itching to play again! I've learned from some old friends that people have kept this game alive, and I'm looking to reconnect! After some searching, I've found this forum.

I have several questions, and I'm hoping that you guys can help me out:

First, how active is the game? Back in beta, we'd have matches with tons of people. On average, how many people take part in bouts?

Second, is the Black Shadow Squad still around? I'd love to see if some of the original people are still around...

Third, are those stupid Devistators still in the game? I can remember that they nearly destroyed the game, will all that entry-camping. Is the game again tactically sound?

I've read that the source has been released, and I was wondering how coherent the development of the game is. Is there a small group producing high-quality refinements? Or is it going all willy-nilly?

Well, that's probably enough for now. I look forward to hearing from you guys who still play, and I hope that things will be as exciting as they once were. And if there's any BS guys out there, gimme a shout!

rushl

General history at Allegiance Academy:
http://www.alleg-academy.org/community-generalhistory.shtml

Squad Rosters:
http://asgs.alleg.net/asgsweb/squads.aspx

Probably between 20-25 people/team average during prime time, 5-10 off hours. We've tried to get big games going but they nearly always result in server crashes and don't work out so well.

Development got off to a fairly slow start but after the first new release it's been going pretty steadily.

Cap ships are rarely used and when they are they hardly ever are effective. As for tactically sound.....

How active is the game? The community is perhaps 300 members active. It's not large by any means, but tends to consist of very dedicated vets and many new people who find it too frustrating and leave. Sometimes they are driven away by people being stupid, but the ones that do stay are generally the cream of the crop.


Black Shadow is still around, more or less active (often less); you can find their roster here: http://asgs.alleg.net/asgsweb/squads.aspx


Devestators are still in the game, but they are no longer cheese. In fact, shipyard as a whole is often not a viable tech path because games tend to be too small to use it effectively. Tactically sound is always a big issue with allegiance. There are currently about 5 cores that are in active play, each with a different philosophy to balancing the game. Dark Nebulae (DN) has added several new factions (with three more in the works), as well as different tech and so on, but it has more balance issues. GoD II (Good Old Days) harkens back to an older style of gameplay, while PookCore II returns farther back to just four factions (no Rix) and adds some tweaks. Edge Of Reality rips the old model to shreds and starts from square one, with vastly different armament and balancing style.


A small group is indeed producing high quality refinements. Thanks to the release of the source code, we have finally managed to compile and release our first community client, known as FreeAllegianceZone. With this client, we are updating the network interfaces to Dplay 8, allowing those behind NAT (many college dorms for example) to play again. Plus, new directx sound is in beta, as well as real high-resolution textures. See the FAZ/Misc. Development forums. Of course, there are many mods by individual users as well.


Welcome back. I hope you enjoy your stay.

Thanks for the replies!

So, does everyone agree on a Core before the game starts, or do certain servers run specific cores?

When I log in, am I presented with a server list, or do I need to find the servers beforehand? 10 people on a side seems like that would again be fun. Of course, the more the merrier!

I'm looking forward to getting home tonight and giving the new game some time!

I would just install the game and jump right in. Just don't tell us you are a returning vet and should command because you used to be good at it. /laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":lol:" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" />

rushl wrote:QUOTE (rushl @ Oct 2 2006, 12:14 PM) Thanks for the replies!

So, does everyone agree on a Core before the game starts, or do certain servers run specific cores?

When I log in, am I presented with a server list, or do I need to find the servers beforehand? 10 people on a side seems like that would again be fun. Of course, the more the merrier!

I'm looking forward to getting home tonight and giving the new game some time!

the server list consists of the cores, there are generally 1 or 2 games going on at the same time. you will usually find everyone at on the the DN servers, you will be able to sort by players.

IMO, this game has been takes well beyond what MS did. The dev here have made the game much better that it was when i left, just before it went to crap from what ive heard. I used to play under the name Canadian_woody, BS is still strong and you will probably recognise alot of the names.

The community is much larger than 300, but there are a core of about 300 who you will see more often than not.

yes, @BS are here:). `4, `4. I'm only on during lunch hour right now (no inet at home, remedied as soon as my house finishes building - I DARE anybody to ram MY constructor . haha).

oh yea . .

www.blackshadow.org:)

To Ozricosis:

/mrgreen.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="mrgreen.gif" /> While at one time I was an excellent commander (I was a Squad leader in BS) I don't really feel like I'd know what was going on. It seems soooo much has changed! Right now, I just want to dogfight!

To FingerBang: I believe I remember you Woody! Have you been hanging in the whole time? I read that history that Next posted - wow! It seems like things got much much worse before they improved! I'm looking forward to playing!

One more question: To play a Core, is that a seperate install? Or is there a switcher? Or just an option while the game is loaded?

Thanks for everyone's response!

rushl

cores are included with the main installer and all updates come through a process someone (Pook? Thalgor?) wrote called auto-update. you'll get a rather large update on first run (if you haven't already) that contains everything up to this point.

once updated, you login, hit "free games" and choose a server. Each "server" runs a specific core (which you already have on your local machine). As someone stated earlier, DN is the most popular core and will likely have anywhere from 10-25 people on during US day-time hours and 40+ on most nights (esp weekends).

Saturday/Sunday afternoons seem to be a great time for everyone and games may have 80+ on occassion.

When the new dplay8 development is finished, you'll likely see the community grow exponentially and we'll probably almost always have multiple games going on:).

that help at all?

rushl wrote:QUOTE (rushl @ Oct 2 2006, 01:28 PM) One more question: To play a Core, is that a seperate install? Or is there a switcher? Or just an option while the game is loaded?

Thanks for everyone's response!

rushl