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Penfold · November 12, 2007, 05:39:52 PM

A few discussions were had to think up some fresh ideas for LAN XIII. This area is for people to jot down their thoughts so we don't forget them - ... I'll start with the stuff TL and I talked about.......feel free to add ..

LAN fees to be paid up front via paypal (or Â£more on the day) - to protect income.

More formal structure to timings and tournaments and list prizes?

Prizes from affiliate links?

Sponsorship / prizes ?

Venue (not going to happen for XIII but needs to be discussed)

PEN

Whitey · November 12, 2007, 06:51:54 PM

I think having a better structure to the gaming would definitely help. the best part of the weekend for me was when we were all together on the same game. Mainly just before and during the TF2 and CS Tourneys. The rest of the time we had a number on COD4, a few on CS:S, a couple on Gungame....

I also like the idea of paying in advance as people will be more likely to come and not drop out at the last minute if they have already paid something towards it.

In my opinion, the prizes should be small. We're there for the fun/gaming and if the prizes get too good, it may be taken too seriously.

Bastet · November 12, 2007, 07:03:48 PM

Publish results for matches / tourny on site somewhere, gets em a nice name up in the lights, and id play for that :norty: Bragin rights rock

Penfold · November 18, 2007, 10:41:40 PM

Ending time of the LAN.

Not unexpected, but there were some murmurings about the finishing time of the LAN. Mainly from the BIG fellas .

Although ending at 11 may be a few hours too early - I'm not sure that people would hang on and play much after lunchtime anyway. They never seemed to when we had no time limit ?

PEN

Dr Sadako · November 19, 2007, 07:47:25 AM

Quote from: Penfold;213379LAN fees to be paid up front via paypal (or Â£more on the day) - to protect income.

Pre paid by paypal is a good idea. Making it non-refudable is good in some respects but could it mean that people wait and sign up?

QuoteMore formal structure to timings and tournaments and list prizes?

Could be a good idea. Although from the LANs I have experienced I don't want it to be too structured. The LAN is more of a social event than a LAN in my eyes at least. If there was a schedule posted pre LAN of what to expect that might increase the interest for the LAN though.

QuotePrizes from affiliate links?

Sponsorship / prizes ?

I think that if someone would sponsor the LAN then I have no problem with it. If we start buying expensive prices and the tournaments goes from fun to life and death then we are going in the wrong direction.

QuoteEnding time of the LAN.

Not unexpected, but there were some murmurings about the finishing time of the LAN. Mainly from the BIG fellas .

Although ending at 11 may be a few hours too early - I'm not sure that people would hang on and play much after lunchtime anyway. They never seemed to when we had no time limit ?

LAN 3-5 ended 17.00 but no one stayed that long. I remember being one of the last out at those LANs at about 15.00 and people had been dropping from 12.00. 13.00-14.00 is maybe better? End the LAN with Lunch with all attendees?

Quote from: GhostMjr;213384A fun map server with maps and rotation. I tried my best but i wouldn't mind some help testing some maps. Maybe i could skype with someone and test some maps. I have a large collection i just need someones time to test them out and tell me their thoughts. ANyone willing to volunteer?

I made a number of suggestions on maps before the LAN. What happened to those? As far as I have heard they weren't played.
Regarding a "fun map server" I think you need to be more specific. What is the pupose of the server? Deathmatch or TCS? Decide that first then the map selection becomes easier.

Penfold · November 19, 2007, 10:17:50 AM

Quote from: Dr Sadako;213392I made a number of suggestions on maps before the LAN. What happened to those? As far as I have heard they weren't played.
Regarding a "fun map server" I think you need to be more specific. What is the pupose of the server? Deathmatch or TCS? Decide that first then the map selection becomes easier.

I think we did mess up on the map choices last LAN. It was unforeeseable at the time and the maps were agreed by several people present (myself included).

I'm not sure what happened to the map discussions and your suggestions, but with your unfortunate absence they didn't come off.

I think it would make sense if you co-ordinated it Mats as you and Whitey are forever discussing new maps in the CS Admin section. If Ghosty also chips in his ideas and then we can get them sorted well in advance... then perhaps we could invite people to play test them on Baldric or something.

I don't think we really need a dedicated fun map server... it just makes more work on the people running them. Having two game servers worked well and apart from when the comps is running - one could easily just have fun maps loaded on to them on an ad hoc basis.

Does that make sense to all?

PEN

Penfold · November 19, 2007, 10:19:53 AM

Quote from: Dr Sadako;213392LAN 3-5 ended 17.00 but no one stayed that long. I remember being one of the last out at those LANs at about 15.00 and people had been dropping from 12.00. 13.00-14.00 is maybe better? End the LAN with Lunch with all attendees?

The problem is that hotel want that room for lunches on the Sunday so the 11am get out is their timing, not ours. I can't seem them waiving it as it would cost them quite a few covers.

PEN

Dr Sadako · November 19, 2007, 10:34:02 AM

Quote from: Penfold;213395The problem is that hotel want that room for lunches on the Sunday so the 11am get out is their timing, not ours. I can't seem them waiving it as it would cost them quite a few covers.

PEN

Ok, but if we make a deal with them that we will have 30-40 for lunch that day they might extend it to 12.00? Then the LAN is over after that lunch. Could be a nice finish to it.

TeaLeaf · November 20, 2007, 07:28:51 AM

Re lunches:

Sorry, but in imo everyone is so dog tired by Sunday that all they want to do is get back in their car and get home, not stya on for an extended Sunday lunch. The last few LANs have basically stopped when the first person leaves on Sunday. That invariably means 12.00pm, so we took the decision to officially start earlier on Friday (because people were turning up then anyway) and to finish at the point everyone left on Sunday, 11.00am. I simply do not see a Sunday lunch working.

TL.

smilodon · November 20, 2007, 08:27:12 AM

Fridays used to be the slow build up with people arriving throughout the day. The LAN didn't officially start till Friday night and some would say Saturday morning. If we are going to officially begin on Friday morning why not give people the option to arrive Thursday night making Thursday the new Friday. I don't imagine everyone would come Thursday and some could not stretch to three nights hotel bill. But it might make life easier for our growing overseas attendees and allow us to get set up officially (servers, switches etc) so we can get going Friday morning?

I was seriously considering coming on Thursday rather than setting off at a ridiculous hour on Friday, and I'm only travelling from London. The idea of a slow drive up late Thursday afternoon, a good meal with a few beers and a reasonably early finish is quite appealing

Penfold · November 20, 2007, 11:22:33 AM

I've moved the discussion on maps to the games thread to try and keep them separate.

I agree that few, if any, will want to stay for lunch on the Sunday. Most people have a good few hours driving and like to leave. I can't see it really happening.

I'd like to extend Sunday by and hour or so but, really, people just tend to pack up and leave.

I'm sure it's not a problem to stay on the Thursday night so long as we pre-empt it with the hotel. However I normally arrive by about 10.30am and it didn't take too long to get everything up and running...... certainly the network was on by 11.30am .... and still only half a dozen or so people had arrived.

TeaLeaf · November 20, 2007, 02:30:23 PM

I reality most internationals arrived Thursday or earlier anyway, so I see no problem in allowing people to turn up on the Thursday night and just have beer - we couldn't stop them anyway! We won't get the room until Friday morning, that's the only difference.

TL.

Penfold · November 20, 2007, 03:57:27 PM

So long as the hotel is prepared to honour the special rate for the Thursday night then happy days.

PEN

GhostMjr · January 06, 2008, 02:10:39 PM

Right chaps lan is 3 months away so we need to try and work out a few things:

Is the early arriving time of Thursday possible and if so can equipment be set up or left in the room till Friday? If this goes ahead can we have the dmw rate for those who stay at the hotel? Numbers to be counted
Will the proposed lan deposits be put in place to prevent late pull out by potential attendees to secure monies to dmw fund?
Sunday lunch possibility to be confirmed by hotel poll for possible numbers to be passed onto hotel
Steak night. Numbers to be counted and sent onto hotel asap to prevent the misfortune of the last lan.

TeaLeaf · January 15, 2008, 11:29:09 AM

Quote from: GhostMjr;217764Right chaps lan is 3 months away so we need to try and work out a few things:

Is the early arriving time of Thursday possible and if so can equipment be set up or left in the room till Friday? If this goes ahead can we have the dmw rate for those who stay at the hotel? Numbers to be counted
Will the proposed lan deposits be put in place to prevent late pull out by potential attendees to secure monies to dmw fund?
Sunday lunch possibility to be confirmed by hotel poll for possible numbers to be passed onto hotel
Steak night. Numbers to be counted and sent onto hotel asap to prevent the misfortune of the last lan.

1. No. Leave it until Friday.
2. When bookings formally open to Charlie Company the LAN Admins will have implemented their strategy for booking.
3. Discussed this already and declined the idea of a formal lunch on Sunday. If you want lunch then by all means book at the hotel in advance as it gets very busy at that sitting.
4. LAN Admins will handle the steak night as usual.