Current mapcycle (maps_cycle.ini):
Current mapvotes (maps_vote.ini):
All maps (maps_all.ini):
Prophunt maps (ph_mapcycle.txt):

Mapcycle is what the default rotation is; mapvotes is all the choices when the voting comes up.

When I make changes, I'll update this post. You're welcome to discuss changes here, but keep in mind that this post will always reflect the *current* mapcycle/votes.

Is that vote list missing a map, or did you not make cp_meleebarn voteable?

That map is fun sometimes with just a few people on.

I guess it wasn't; added now.

Meleebarn was awesome last night! There were 6 of us, and it was all kinds of Bonesaw-Baseball-Punch-Bat-Axe-*splorch-thud* action.

I don't know how he did it, but Chron kept hitting me at the maximum reach possible with the Bonesaw. I'd seem to be out of reach, and the saw wouldn't look like it was hitting me, but I was still taking damage as I was backing away from him.

Chron is bonesaw king.

I think he bonesaw hax =)

Total hax0r

<whew> glad chron can take the haxxor torch for a change

Its not the length of a man's bonesaw that matters, but how he uses it.

I read the list a few times, and I'm not entirely sure I understand what the difference is between the "Mapcycle" and "Mapvotes" is. If the first is in the order of what the auto-rotation is, then I would be surprised because that is not the order of maps I have observed. When the votes came up one night while playing ctf_convoy_v2, the 5th choice (always labeled "next map") was not ctf_impact2 as the list would say, but instead it was cp_shock. If the "Mapcycle" list is accurate in its contents yet incorrect in it's order, that's cool, it's just a good thing to know.

I guess I'm still wondering how the server decides how to put any particular map into the mapvote we see in-game.

Both are supposed to be random.

The mapcycle determines the list of maps that will be switched to if no voting wins (so the default next map comes out of here).

The mapvotes file determines the list of maps that will be nominated for the map vote.

Either way, the selection of the next map in the cycle, and the list of maps in the vote, should be random.

Here are changes I see to our map cycle and mapvotes:

Proposed Mapcycle:
cp_aqua
cp_castle4
cp_floodzone_him_a3 - Out (to Admin only)
cp_labor
cp_roswell
cp_smbcastle2
cp_steel
cp_vertigo_beta3 - Out (to Votes only)
cp_wolf2_b1 - Out (to Votes only)
ctf_chaos - In
ctf_convoy_v2 - Out (to Admin only)
ctf_impact2
ctf_mach4
ctf_quarry
ctf_turbine
ktf_chemistry_v1 - In
ktf_science_v1 - In
pl_badwater
pl_dustbowl_b4 - Out (to Votes only)
pl_frontier_b1
pl_goldrush


Current Mapvotes:
cp_aqua
cp_beach_invasion - Out (completely)
cp_blackmesa
cp_castle4
cp_cowpath_b3
cp_egypt_v2
cp_floodzone_him_a3 - Out (to Admin only)
cp_labor
cp_roswell
cp_smbcastle2
cp_steel
cp_vertigo_beta3
cp_wolf2_b1
ctf_barn
ctf_convoy_v2 - Out (to Admin only)
ctf_impact2
ctf_jinxed_b3
ctf_mach4
ctf_office_extended_v5 - Out (completely)
ctf_quarry
ctf_turbine
koth_ziggurat_b2 - In (new)
ktf_chemistry_v1
ktf_innercity_v2 - In (new)
ktf_science_v1
pl_badwater
pl_cranetop_b7 - In (new update)
pl_dustbowl_b4
pl_frontier_b1
pl_goldrush
pl_hoodoo


Current Admin Only:
cp_floodzone_him_a3
ctf_convoy_v2
pl_cashworks - In (new)


Mapcycle: default rotation
Mapvotes: is all potential choices when the voting comes up
Admin Only: maps that can only be chosen by an Admin force-changing the map.

Some of the changes I made are due to my personal bias, some due to DD's suggestion over in another thread, and some due to the size of the map (both for players and downloading). Please feel free to discuss any of my picks.

Chron, what total list of maps, so we can see if any other maps we have on the server than could fall into any of these categories?

I might be the only one, but I would rather quarry not be in the mapcycle, it seems to be a serverkiller

I like quarry, but I agree it should probably leave the cycle.

I think pl_dustbowl_b4 is a fun map that should stay in the cycle.

The other changes look okay to me. I don't know if I'd put both ktf_chemistry and ktf_science in there though. I'm not sure how many people like those or know how to play them.

I like the suggestions-- I'll get on that tomorrow as well

I can get the whole list of all maps up as well.

So, a longer post describing my reasoning...

Two maps I never want to play ever again: cp_beach_invasion and ctf_office_extended_v5. Both are poorly conceived, confusing, badly put together, and unbalanced, and on top of it, office is poorly textured. Please no one argue with me, and we can say goodbye to these maps for good.

Convoy: People (namely DD) are tired of it. We can remove it from the standard cycle and the vote list so we'll never accidentally play it, but it can stay on the Admin list so that someone can request it specifically and it can be played.

Floodzone_Him: Same as Convoy, though mostly it is Chron and I that are tired of it. We can bring it back when we want, but I don't wantto play it unless someone REALLY wants to.

Cashworks (payload): I played this on another server and it's fun. Unfortunately it's HUGE, and if we happen to only have 6~8 people on, I don't think it should be able to come up in the votes and get chosen, it'll feel very empty. By keeping it admin only, when the server fills up to 16~18 we can put in in manually if people agree.

3 new maps to try out: koth_ziggurat, ktf_innercity, pl_cranetop. These are my most recent suggestions for maps to be added to our line-up. We don't know who likes them yet, but we should give them a test drive or two to see if they are worth keeping. Currently in mapvote only and not in active rotation.

I moved 3 larger maps out of main rotation, but still in mapvotes. I like playing both Vertigo and Payload-Dustbowl; often times I'll vote for them when they are in the choices, and even though Wolf isn't my favorite, I don't hate playing it. However, I think they can't sustain a beginning group of people (4~9), which makes them feel lonely and empty, or too one-sided. I feel these three should stay out of active rotation so we don't just show up at them by accident without using an RTV (when there's only a handful of players).

The 3 maps I moved into the active rotation are smaller maps that encourage close quarters fighting. When the server is light, I think finding yourself at Chaos, Science, or Chemistry isn't that bad of a thing, and it can be fun for 2~5 people. When the server picks up, these might end up in vote option 5 "Next map" but, with several other choices won't get chosen. I don't think we'll see them obnoxiously often (or I hope not).

I have no particular love for quarry. If people want to see if leave, I'm fine with it.

One thing to discuss is Valve Standard maps. We market ourselves as a custom map server, but I don't think having one or two standard maps is a bad thing. When we do end up playing a standard map we usually fill up with new people, and I feel this is a great way to energize the server before moving to another less known map that is just as good. We have several choices of "bait" to bring people onto our server with, so it comes down to, are there any maps that Valve has produced that people really like to play that we can keep on our server?

I personally am partial to Hydro and Badwater Basin. What do the rest of you think?