chivesontheweb

TF2 update. Looks like they added a way to switch between different loadouts faster, something I've wanted for quite a while. If it works like I hope it works going from shotgun to flaregun and back again will be much easier now.

Well, it depends. What fps do you usually get and how jumpy is it? Some people seem to play better with lower framerates than others. It also depends on what class you're playing and such. GI understand where you're coming from; TF2 on high settings and a good resolution is a very pretty game. But now that I can play Scout halfway decent due to a good fps(also, an awesome mouse) I don't think I could go back. This config I'm using now isn't nearly as bad as the one I used to use before I got my new graphics card. It was like TF2 on the N64...

It's definitely worth the decrease in visuals. I used to run the game on high visual settings and got a decent fps but having 60 fps consistently is too good to pass up. EDIT: By the way, I really like the Daily Awards on the the HLStatsX website. Do we control these or are they all HLStatsX, because if we do I'd love to see some more fun ones added. We probably don't but I thought I'd ask.

I love the Flare Gun but a few key things keep it from truly being an upgrade, even if you're pro with it. First off, it's a projectile. You can lead targets, yes, but you can't reliably hit them 100% of the time because they won't be that predictable. Just look at the Huntsman. The reload time is somewhere around 2 seconds, which is quite the punishment when you look at how easily you could have missed. Secondly, afterburn is iffy in effectiveness, especially nowadays. Medic, healthpaks, airblast, Jarate and water are what take care of afterburn. Water is rare so I won't go into that but it only takes one Medic to make your flare gun sniping efforts worthless. All you're succeding in doing is fueling the other team's ubercharge. Unless you hit the Medic, of course, but with the recent Medic regen buff the afterburn looses effectiveness. If I recall correctly, the regen brings the afterburn damage down to about 30, so coupled with the impact damage that's about 60 and that's if nobody puts him out, the other team doesn't have another Medic or he isn't near any medkits. This limits the usefulness of the flaregun a lot, in the long run. And it does too little damage in the short run to usually take out an enemy unless he's already hurt much. Thirdly, omg shotgun. It's a better general finisher than the flare gun, I don't think anyone will debate that. And being able to finish off those enemies escaping the short range of your flamer is important and the shotgun just does a better job at it when they are running out of your close range. It has a few drawbacks compared to the flare gun, mostly in long range fights and when on offense, spamming chokepoints, but the shotgun makes up for it with sheer survivability. I can expect to live longer and have better runs with the shotgun. Both have their merits, though and I love both. And as a rule of thumb you can be more badass with the flare gun than with the shotgun because you can use it more creatively than the basic hitscan weapon. That doesn't make it better, though. One more thing; airblast-to-shotgun combos. Makes it all worthwhile. Wha? Well, that's weird. I'll look into it.

Silly Tiger. It comes with instructions. Probably in the readme.

I knew I recognized that Huey Lewis person that dropped in last night from somewhere. He's one of those video-making Pyro players who has inspired me to play better, much like Don Newman and Bloodsire I think is the other's name. Anyway, just thought I'd mention it. I thought it was cool. I don't think he played any Pyro on the server last night. Just Scout. Speaking of "pro" Pyro players, why is it they always use the Flare Gun? I love the Flare Gun too but it never seems to flow as well as the Shotgun. Maybe they stick with it because it's a more pronounced weapon, or they just see more value in having a longer range weapon available. Personally, if I don't have a Shotgun I end up unable to finish off my targets. Then I get killed by a Scout.

Ugh, work as a team? You know what that means? Me neither, but it sounds dangerous. http://www.m0re.nocrits.com/index.php?site=files&file=8 But fair warning, this is pretty powerful stuff. Characters don't even have eyes, although if that bothers you could probably turn them back on. With this I get from +60 fps to +80 fps at the lowest(highest jumps around 140 and stuff like that) consistently on some of the main maps. So it worked for me.

I have a new video for you guys. It's a chilling docudrama about the effects of teamstacking on the OCR server, which you can watch here. Hahaha. Actually, that's a really good idea. I've never had to disable voice before but having a key bind or toggle for it sounds rather helpful. I might steal this idea from you. I wasn't literally saying to get out. I was just making a point that people with the exact opposite opinion frequent the server. People who get bored with serious matches and always play silly to a certain extent. I could name names but... And (going off-topic)why is playing Battle Medic such a big deal? Seriously, I've never understood this before coming from any server. Just because it's not the way the class was meant to be played doesn't mean it shouldn't be allowed. Could you be more productive as another class or by playing the class 'correctly'? Of course you could. Yet people get kicked for playing battle medic, at least on some servers (does that happen on OCR? I haven't noticed...). It's like people rage because someone went medic and isn't giving them the heals they feel they are entitled to. But anyway, enough of that. While I agree, they never have really worked in the past I think they are ideal for alltalk votes. We just have to put together the command correctly...or I assume that's what you do. I have no experience with running a TF2 server but could we improve on it? Like, three people !talkvote and a vote is initiated? If you can't I understand. That's just my ideal and it COULD work. You would just have to make sure the people on the server knew about it, probably through in-game messages in the chat area. Yes, I'm sure Brushfire would do that too.

You could say the same thing about team-only talk. If they want to play super serious they can get out. And yes, there is a critvote but my point was that it wasn't automatically initiated at the beginning of every game. It only starts when someone has said they wanted to initiate said vote. That's the sort of system I'd like to see with alltalk vote; it's only brought up when requested and not systematically at the beginning of every map where it might not be neccesary. I'm kinda liking Tiger's suggestion. Make sure to leave all the weekend days alltalk and you have my support for a test run.

Since when did TF2 on OCR become so serious that we'd consider having a poll at the beginning of every single game to see if Alltalk would be on? I thought that was one of the features of the OCR group; it's, and I'm quoting players here, "notoriously goofy". Alltalk is one of the things that gives OCR that distinct no-seriousness aura. This isn't to say I'm against having normal team talk sometimes. I like to play a serious game as much as anybody else (did I mention I played as a ringer for a Scout in a scrimmage the other night? ). However, having to vote at the beginning of every match seems like a bit much and in the long run could be overkill. Why not have a way people could bring up a Team Talk vote, much like other commands on servers? In essence this is a good idea. I'd just like to see it implemented in a more pleasing and convenient way. If, at a specific point and time, a group of people want to start playing seriously without the constraints of alltalk there should be a vote on it. If nobody has come up and said they specifically want the vote I don't want to be bothered with it on my screen. Maybe we should also have votes on 100%-crits, fast-respawn and melee-only at the beginning of every match, just in case people want it.

In that case, lol.

I was playing on the server today and I ran into a number of problems. First and foremost, weird lag that made gameplay really jumpy. My ping was normal; the same I always play at without problems. Secondly, a weird bug regarding weapon switching. Sometimes when switching weapons, usually between flamethrower and shotgun, shotgun and flamethrower, the weapon I wanted to switch to is taken out for a brief second then it immediately reverts back to the previous weapon. This, combined with the jumpiness, made playing so difficult that I just quit. It's not me because I tried a few other servers and I don't have either problem. Did something about the server get changed recently? Is anyone else experiencing these problems?

Kay, I did record some OCR stuff today that will probably end up going Youtube. I haven't looked through it since recording it but I remember way too much fun stuff. HINT FOR THOSE WHO WERE THERE: cp_well

Considering I've never been on etg, I find this a bit funny. Suppose I'll never be able to check out irc. :/

This is my position 100%

I'd rather stats weren't reset but that's just me. I love cumulative stats with a passion. Seeing all the stuff I've done so far in numbers and such; it's great. I don't care about the overall score but I would be very sad for my stats to go back. What is reason for Brushfire (and other people) wanting to reset the stats? Have some people just got so high in score that other, newer players are hopeless to catch up?

Bad news. The whole "Indiana Jone" part wasn't recorded. A bunch of stuff I thought had been recorded wasn't. When I got off for a sec due to weird +300 ping I forgot to start a demo when I returned. Whoops!

Ah. Well, I guess I could try with Chatzilla. I don't use it anymore but it could work. Maybe. I got a ton of good recording from the server today. I will be making a video for sure so expect that sometime.

Tried to get on irc but apparently the server doesn't like me and blocks every attempt I make to connect to it. I'll save the information and try again later.

Since this 'themes' plugin was installed on the server my fps has become unreliable. It's jumpy where it used to be smooth. Since I changed my config I get +60 fps on most maps yet today on Granary it was jumping as low as 25. My ping was the same as normal. The only thing different was the themes plug-in. I do like the skybox changing. That's pretty cool. It makes the maps feel new again, almost. But the effects such as rain and leaves falling aren't that great, especially if they are killing my fps.

I too would like to see Hydro in rotation. Eventually we would get tired of it but it's been a good long while since I gave Hydro a chance. Besides, it'll give me a chance to practice my Scout. Hydro is probably my favorite map when it comes to appearance. I love the neutral, bleached-out concrete appearance near the main control points balanced with the blue blue sky and red rock. Anyone else feel this way? Probably not.

Okay guys, seriously. 2fort. In rotation. I don't like it. As far as I can tell nobody likes it. Heck, I'd rather see Hydro in rotation over 2fort. At least that could be interesting occasionally. (voice your objections.....................now!) EDIT: Those Spy pics are fantastic. Random map textures should be a multiplayer option.

Best in what way? Well is a great map for all the little things that make it different (large areas of water, setup killing, setup in a 5-cp map) but I've just never been overly impressed with it in the long run. It's was almost Medium for me but I guess I just don't like it that much. It does deserve to be in our rotation, though.

Hey, I like Yukon too. For 5-cp maps, here is my "tier list" on how much I like them. Top Badlands Granary Medium Follower Yukon Stag Freight Meh, but can be fun Well Fastlane Waste No way Black Mesa/Crappy Customs I tolerate all of these to some extent. Just because I don't like a map too much doesn't mean I can't enjoy myself. My experiences with Fastlane have been meh but perhaps if I played more of it I'd have a change of heart. As long as we don't lose Badlands and Granary I don't care which other 5 cp maps we have as long as we have some. And they can't be crappy customs.

Aw... I liked follower...