AFA3 Preview

[Grunt11Bravo]

AFA3 is almost ready for community play.

Check the INF server thread for revised maplist (http://forums.beyondunreal.com/showthread.php?postid=1134469)

To request password send email to: afa-password-request@afa.recongamer.com

Please provide some feedback here.

Inital problems:

1. Binocs not working for some reason
2. Camo settings not being retained by server

[NTKB]

Grunt does this mean your actually going to have different camos based on the maps? If AFA3 does this then I must say w00t and its about time. One thing that pushed me to create GD2 a few months back was the damn camos. LOL

[keihaswarrior]

Why are the sniper, push, and farmland maps on? GD tried those out and they aren't very fun.

I suggest you post the camos for all the maps too.

If you are taking map suggestions:
Add:
DM-INF-ExtremePrejudiceNight.unr
DM-Dogtown_INF.unr
DM-INF-Nightwater.unr
DM-INF-DesertTactics.unr
Remove:
dm-inf-fmfarmland.unr
dm-inf-fmpush.unr
dm-inf-fmsniper.unr
DM-INF-TAS-Norwich.unr
DM-INF-BlackWater_TAS.unr

[Grunt11Bravo]

Bah!.. check original post.

[Midwinter]

I'll try this server whenever I fix my connection problems. I am getting a really bad ping on NA servers lately :(

[jaymian]

Why can't you post the password here?

[Shrap]

Why are the sniper, push, and farmland maps on? GD tried those out and they aren't very fun.

I suggest you post the camos for all the maps too.

If you are taking map suggestions:
Add:
DM-INF-ExtremePrejudiceNight.unr
DM-Dogtown_INF.unr
DM-INF-Nightwater.unr
DM-INF-DesertTactics.unr
Remove:
dm-inf-fmfarmland.unr
dm-inf-fmpush.unr
dm-inf-fmsniper.unr
DM-INF-TAS-Norwich.unr
DM-INF-BlackWater_TAS.unr

Do not add ExtremePrejudiceNight...it's ugly and slow as hell. And yes, Keihas, we all know that YOUR pc runs it perfectly, but for 90% of the people, it's too slow.

[Saladin]

...well, if you need more camos, you know i can hook you up.....

edit: Tested it alone tonight...found 2 problems, one possibly the maps fault

1) the voice binds in RD arent working, and i know mine work cause they work fine on GD4....and its the same binds from gd2......anyhoo itll just say the letters infront of the text like "SA blah blah blah"---

2)In andes, as long as you are not submerged in the water it doesnt hurt you, but that seems wrong to me, it should still take health even if ur head isnt in water....

edit 2: also tested the bullet lag increase caused by a person, firing a SIG on auto and emptying the mag saw a max jump 30 in my ping, min of 10 and mean of about 15........ not exactly a problem just wanted to point it out.

[keihaswarrior]

Do not add ExtremePrejudiceNight...it's ugly and slow as hell. And yes, Keihas, we all know that YOUR pc runs it perfectly, but for 90% of the people, it's too slow.
My fps on Ep is 37. On EPnight it is 28. Not a big drop at all so stop trying to play with a sliderule and get a real computer :p

[Keganator]

If you can figure out the problem with not getting the camos to work, please tell us all. My servers are having the same problem :(

[NTKB]

If you can figure out the problem with not getting the camos to work, please tell us all. My servers are having the same problem :(

yes PLEASE before I kill someone ;)

[Grunt11Bravo]

1. I may have fixed the camos.. I think. Test it and see For some reason, the server kept reverting to an old .ini file. Every time I'd upload the modified .ini file with the custom camos and then restart the server, check the .ini to be sure it took only to see it had gone back to the old settings. It took several tries but I think it may have worked this time. Don't ask me why, I don't know.

2. The report direction voices still aren't working properly. I don't know how to fix it. Can someone help?

3. Binocs still not working. Is there supposed to be a ServerPackage line? If so, what is it?

4. Need more testers ;)

[Keganator]

Well with the INI problem, I think I know what your problem is. When you shut down the server, it writes all the current settings to your server's INI file. That means if you change it before turning it off, all your changes get overwritten. Just make sure to turn it off before you upload your changes :)

[(SDS)benmcl]

Not sure if you know this but I get a mismatch on Report Direction. AFA 3 is the only server I have this problem with.

[Cleeus[JgKdo]]

@AFA admins: reportdirection is a server side only mutator and doesn't need to be in the server packages

[Grunt11Bravo]

thanks benmcl & Cleeus.

Checked the server version, the RD.u file was the wrong date. Uploaded the correct one, voices should be working again.

Still having problems with the binocs not working correctly.

[Saladin]

try reinstalling it?

[Lightzout]

Am I the only one who never wants to play Siberia again?

[(SDS)benmcl]

Yes I agree. Siberia can be retired. If you want give it a retirement then award it in the hall of fame.

Aztec to please. No hall of fame though.

[keihaswarrior]

Yes I agree. Siberia can be retired. If you want give it a retirement then award it in the hall of fame.

Aztec to please. No hall of fame though.
I don't know what you guys are talking about. Just because you have played a map a lot doesn't mean it isn't still a great map. Playing new custom maps is always fun for a bit, but then you start to see just how superior the classics are. Here's why

1) Siberia and Azteca have awesome gameplay and flow. Always lots of paths to any defensive position, enough cover for those who like to get in close, but overlook spots for snipers too, etc.
2) no map exploits (not even with ra286!!)
3) excellent performance
4) No line of sight spawns

These reasons may seem simple, but when you take a good hard look at other maps, almost all of them are laking in one area or another.

Here are some other maps that are on the same level as Azteca and Siberia IMO:
Chasm
Cuban Dawn
Scamble2003
Dogtown
Nightwater
SKtactics
Installation2002

Some good maps with one or two flaws:
EP (minor exploit to Mt. top)
Kazakastan (difficult but major exploit to building tops)
Kosovo (large exploit to outside level)
Terrain][ (pitch black tunnel ends unbalanced)
Vladivostok (exploit to outside map)
DesertTactics (perormance flaws, some LOS spawns)

[(SDS)benmcl]

You are right KW. The thing though is I never liked Aztec. No reason what so ever. As for Siberia it give that "oh no not again feeling." The other classi maps I do enjoy. Its not rational but its true.

And yes there are no exploits even with RA286. That alone should be enough to keep in the rotation except I ahve this ill rationaly feeling...

[(SDS)benmcl]

Ok I am having a problem changing maps on AFA3. I go on, no one is there so I vote another map. It just hangs there. I can't go to another server unless I go to console and disconnect. The map never changes.

[Grunt11Bravo]

Ok I am having a problem changing maps on AFA3. I go on, no one is there so I vote another map. It just hangs there. I can't go to another server unless I go to console and disconnect. The map never changes.


If AFA3 is on Peru.. then that means the server crashed. An AFA Admin needs to reset the mutators.

[(SDS)benmcl]

OK. That first night it was on Peru so that answers that. Last night though it was not. Damn it I can't remember what map but it wasn't Peru. Of course stupid me didn't check to see of the mutes were running.

[jaymian]

So basically a mapper must predict the future and make sure his or her map is to never be exploited? Sounds funtarded. Actually, maps don't even matter to me any more. I just want flesh and blood humans to play against. Ands right now that is asking too much. Flush...

[erehwoN]

So basically a mapper must predict the future and make sure his or her map is to never be exploited? Sounds funtarded.
That's why BetaTesters were invented. ;)

[keihaswarrior]

So basically a mapper must predict the future and make sure his or her map is to never be exploited? Sounds funtarded. Actually, maps don't even matter to me any more. I just want flesh and blood humans to play against. Ands right now that is asking too much. Flush...
Sorry Jaymain, but that's the harsh reality. Players will try their damnest to exploit maps in order to gain an advantage over the enemy (I try all the time).

What is and what isn't a map exploit is always debatable, but even the ones in the gray areas can change the gameplay on a map for the worse. It can turn great urban fighting maps into a roof hopping exercise. Or it can turn a map that should be fun and fair into a game of constantly keeping your eyes peeled on BSP holes, sniping spots from outside the map, and one way see-through textures.

In order to overcome the exploits on maps, fair minded players must communicate to each other which are exploits and which are simply creative use of the map. Then the players must self-monitor and agree among themselves to not use the exploits. This all requires a degree of organization and consensus that just isn't consistantly achievable on public servers.

An unexploitable map is not impossible to achieve (shown by my previous post). If a mapper must resort to invisible walls or large cliffs to keep the players inbounds, it is better then allowing the map's gameplay to be destroyed by exploits.

*edit: An example of a great map ruined by exploitation via ra286 -- Sicily

[das_ben]

Could someone explain to me what kind of exploits only happen in RA and why?

[sublime]

RA286 added climbing, which makes all of the hard work you mappers did to prevent people from getting certain places rather pointless. =\

[Grunt11Bravo]

RA286 added climbing, which makes all of the hard work you mappers did to prevent people from getting certain places rather pointless. =\


Just wanted to clarify:

This only occurrs in RA286 ( more popularly referred to as "Duke's RA" ), NOT RAv2 ( more commonly referred to as "Yurch's RA" ).

[(SDS)benmcl]

Jumped on AFA3 last night. All the mutes were up and running. No one there so I of course changed the map to Dog_Town. Wouldn't change. The other RA servers had crashed.

[jaymian]

I think the password is hurting AFA3. It seems all the RA servers are now using passwords. So unless you come to these forums frequently, you won't know the password.
Still on the subject of map exploits. What I meant was, a mapper can't predict what a mutator might do later on. And even if you beta test now, later a mutator will come out with different features which them makes you map "unplayable". Thats the same issue with newer versions of INF too. It kind of gets irritating when a new version of INF or RA makes you maps obsolete.

[Grunt11Bravo]

Recon Gamers only had private servers available. Didn't have a choice regarding the password.

As for the maps not changing.. I don't seem to have a problem changing to to various maps. I'll check anyway.

Update:

Server goes into a loop when I try to switch to Dogtown_INF. Anyone know what the hell quickbro.umx is and where it's supposed to go?

[Midwinter]

umx... it's a music file. It should go in the music folder

[Grunt11Bravo]

Thanks Mid!

Should be able to switch to any map now without looping the server. I also removed Binocs (MrJ_Optics) because I can't seem to get it to work properly.

[(SDS)benmcl]

Ok it works now. :) Thanks guys. AFA 3. Dog Town. Life is good.

Now if I can only get a red headed chear leader.

hmmmm maybe 2.

[-=SDS=-Coop]

w3rd ben! that sounds like a plan.

/me also wishes for a redheaded cheerleader or two

[(SDS)benmcl]

Was actually playing on AFA3 last night. The server did that thing where you have unlimited health. Fixed it by a map change. Thought you should know.

[(SDS)benmcl]

Can we try Crowzes new mutator on AFA3 please. Its for communicating. I would really like to try it.

SpeechPad v0.2 (http://forums.beyondunreal.com/showthread.php?t=111578)

Thank you.

[Grunt11Bravo]

It's on there now.

[(SDS)benmcl]

Thank you

[CERT]

With the combatmaps server down I can't dl several of th emaps I need to play on AFA3.

Does anyone have them all hosted where I can grab them?

Thanks!

[Midwinter]

Have you tried AFA homepage? I remember they had some of the maps there...

[CERT]

Not so much...

[Grunt11Bravo]

I'll work on getting the maps uploaded somewhere. Give me a couple days to get it all in one place.

Oh and BTW, SpeechPad v.30 is now on AFA3.

[CERT]

Thanks AFA6bG11B!!