And now.....from Meathook....it's the Map Of The Week.....

[TeaLeaf]

8O I'm pimpin away Oldie.......it's not going too bad, and it's not that long a stretch if you caught!

I agree that we need to balance access with interesting AND playable maps.  BUT I would also point out that we currently don't maximise the value of our MH-registered player email list.  So, at the risk of being set upon - can I suggest that we try the following:

First - Start to USE the MH mailing list to announce new maps and then follow it up with a number of options.  

Second - The 'new map' announcement should NOT be too regular.  Notice should be given to allow the below tactics to work.  Let's start with one map only and then see how it progresses.  We 'll adapt tactics later.

Third - We put the map in the DL section in it's smallest possible form for peeps to DL at their convenience.

Fourth - We offer a CDRW postal map service for peeps who have tiny little pipes (!).  I know someone has to fund this, but it is something like this that encourages players to come back and support MH.  So I'll volunteer to coordinate and fund (caveat here if too many people are on the mailing list) the initial CDRW campaign.  

The MH emailing could announce the map, offer (and push) the download, and then for peeps who really have trouble getting the map we could offer to send them the map on CDRW if they email me their name, address, and MH-registered WONID.  The CDRW could go out to them in a reuseable jiffy bag on condition that they return it to me for future map use.  If they fail to return it then won't get the next CDRW that they request! (I am aware I could be shafted here, but then it may be worth a try).

Fifth - We would need to support the above with a steady pimping of MH in a planned way.  This last part would need further discussion and development, but I refer the honourable folks to a thread some moments ago that raised the pimping idea.  It is no good firing off things in every direction - we need to agree how, where and when we are going to target people.  Word of mouth is just not enough to get a significant increase in the MH population.

Lastly - We are incredibly lucky to have the services of MH (and the late, great Hotel Gibb) and I think we all ought to be doing everything we can to promote -=[dMw]=-, MH and X-wired in a positive fashion as often as we can.

[Stryker]

simple answer, we need to introduce a second server for the novelty maps..... just like we had before.

[smite]

I agree with the back shooting one.......

[TeaLeaf]

I'm not convined that a 2nd server works - if we can't fill the first server a 2nd server is a waste.  Fill the first one, then think about a 2nd.

So how do we fill MH??

[OldBloke]

simple answer, we need to introduce a second server for the novelty maps..... just like we had before.

When you can't get on the MH cos it's always full is the time to think about a second server. If you put up a second server now and half the regulars play on it then on average i'd suggest you've got two 3v3 games going.

I'm with TL. If we can get ten more like Slowhand (for example) we've cracked it.

[MisterEggs]

Fifth - We would need to support the above with a steady pimping of MH in a planned way. This last part would need further discussion and development, but I refer the honourable folks to a thread some moments ago that raised the pimping idea. It is no good firing off things in every direction - we need to agree how, where and when we are going to target people. Word of mouth is just not enough to get a significant increase in the MH population.

Couldn't agree more.
Here's a couple of ideas to throw in the pot. Please bear in mind it's late, i'm very very tired and i could be talking absolute gobshite, so do feel free to point and laugh...but here goes...

A Public server strategy:

Someone (i'd do it if need be need be) goes around on all the main UK public servers posting up sprays, kind of an armed fly posting campaign. Generally they're full of people that cheat or those that hate the cheating but don't know any other alternatives. i've knocked a few examples up to show you what i mean, they're a bit brutal, but you'll get the picture(s);

http://www.planetash.net/mistereggs/i/flyp...s/flyposts.html

Include either just the "www.deadmen.co.uk" with a link somewhere on the main page for those interested to see an introduction to PCS,

or "deadmen.co.uk/pcs" like i've done that will have a page explaining what it's all about,

Whatever the location, the page would lay out the principles of PCS (along the lines as Oldie's post on ED) and if they're still interested they can either just join in the fun anytime they want after applying for the p/word, or they could apply for an 'Open PCS Evening'. What for the love of the sweet baby jesus is an Open PCS Evening? i hear you ask. Well, i'll tell you.

An Open PCS Evening (only open to those recruits who have succesfully applied);

First a dry practice game that follows a specific attack/defence strategy decided beforehand on a regular map (dust, assault, aztec or italy) It starts at a set time with a set number of new recruits as T's and CT's. Recruits must choose only one skin (say, Artic if T's) to differentiate them from admins (in Elite as T's for example). Both teams being led by at least one dMw admin/leader each.

The ropes, and the showing of;
Each recruit is told what position to take up as defence, and where to go and attack as offence, and that they must not attack an admin. Nice and gentle and no shooting to begin with, so they don't start getting over excited all over the shop and start fragging each other. Admins walk the recruits through showing them the boundaries, and answer any questions. Everyone is warned that any recruit not following the rules is warned once, and if they still break the rules are then booted.

Once both admins are happy that all of their team are ok with what they should be doing and where they should and shouldn't be, a proper game begins. Same map is played for several rounds until admins believe that the recruits are starting to get the hang of it. Then repeat the same procedure with the next regular map, until all recruits are completely PCS converted and can do it by themselves, or are dead.

This might seem overly miltaristic and might put some people off, but if they can handle this kind of discipline to start with, then it might show that they would probably make a good clan member. Wheat and chaff, and all that. Also, it would give the admins a good idea as to who might be worth pursuing as a member and who might not. In a way, it's what already happens to an extent i suppose, only in a shorter and more organised way. This would only work of course if enough people showed interest to really make it worth it.


Whether this PCS Evening is a good plan or not, i honestly don't know. But even if it's not, the idea of watching half a dozen terrorists following their leader around a map like ducklings hanging on his every word, occasionally passing a bunch of counter-terrorists doing the exactly the same could be quite funny...  

And now, reading all that back it does actually seem like a stupid idea, but i can't bring myself to delete it all after having written it all out...  :oops:

Lastly - We are incredibly lucky to have the services of MH (and the late, great Hotel Gibb) and I think we all ought to be doing everything we can to promote -=[dMw]=-, MH and X-wired in a positive fashion as often as we can

Hear hear!  :lol:

[sheepy]

im in the process of puttin together a simple spray paint advertising the MH, if any one else wants 2 do a more elaborate 1 then i will probably pimp it with u.

[Stryker]

Those advertising sprays are a great idea.... esp as eggy's seemed to have a sleezy add style to them that will grab peoples attention.  Now is only I could see my sprays to make sure I'm spraying the right one :-)

I think its time the old chat engine (the default page on deadmen.co.uk) goes!  just have a page that does the job of giving first time visitors all the info they need to decide they like it.....

A successful page is one that has all the relevant info without the flannel and direct links to everything they need.....  at the moment the dmw site looks like a clan thats long since disbanded.  The old news pages are just damn confusing.

[sheepy]

agreed

[Doorman]

idea of watching half a dozen terrorists following their leader around a map like ducklings hanging on his every word, occasionally passing a bunch of counter-terrorists doing the exactly the same could be quite funny...

That tickled me.
All good stuff IF the people arrive. I'm trying to convert people but I get a lot of 'is that a new cs?' 'gi's the IP I'll give 'em a look' and the like.
Maybe it's the reading of the rules that deters folk. Perhaps the best way is to give a lecture to newcomers. Or hang around at spawn while they go rushing off. When they discover they're on thier own gently explain the facts of life to them. If they see the light we (sorry but I feel I'm part of this lot) want them, if they don't, who needs them?
That's probably 3 pen'orth but to hell with it.

[Anonymous]

I feel that if they cannot be bothered reading the rules then they probably won't want to follow them. In which case they are not the sort we would want round here (sniff).

I really like the people who play on Meathook. I would sooner see a small number of good (nice) people joining slowly than a hoard of the great unwashed arriving in a rush.

No offence to anyone who doesn't wash BTW :-)

[smite]

**Sh!t i need to take a bath**

[Sn00ks]

:idea:  Couldn't you just have a vote when there is a few people on MH and see if any of them fancy a different map? Last night there were quite a few ppl on and I would guess that most, if not all, had some, if not all, the maps in OldBlokes map pack?
I know I have  
Pimping for players might work but you could get some unsavoury characters who just want to wreck it. But then you could get some nice people like me    
(All down to OldBloke pimping on a works NG, so you can slap him l8r  :wink: )
How about tonight! Some one pick a map and we'll play it at 21:00. All the ppl who join the server before that can be told and they can download it if need be.
 :?:

[Dr Sadako]

:idea: Couldn't you just have a vote when there is a few people on MH and see if any of them fancy a different map? Last night there were quite a few ppl on and I would guess that most, if not all, had some, if not all, the maps in OldBlokes map pack?
I know I have
Pimping for players might work but you could get some unsavoury characters who just want to wreck it. But then you could get some nice people like me
(All down to OldBloke pimping on a works NG, so you can slap him l8r :wink: )
How about tonight! Some one pick a map and we'll play it at 21:00. All the ppl who join the server before that can be told and they can download it if need be.
 :?:

I like that suggestion. I know tho' that a saturday night in the near future is suggested for map night when we try out all six of the maps. Either way or both works for me.

[Anonymous]

de_predator pleeeeeeez???