Thread: Priming Question

Originally Posted by ManOfDaHour

What are you talking about

Well TTP has three TF2 servers running. The best way to get people to play is to show a fairly full server, if nobody is on people arent interested. So we are trying out different ways to let people know that other's are trying to "prime" the server, like pumping gas into a lawn mower to help it get started easier

Player in-game menu and commands and how to use priming group
http://www.texasteamplayers.com/inde...2448#msg502448



I think Announcements just pop up and then fade away.
Events pop up and stay up until you click OK on it...so people who were away from their computer for a minute would still see the Event when the come back.

Groups are for sissies and lazies. Here's something I wrote for another server a while ago.

Prime:insert a primer into (a gun, mine, charge, etc.) preparatory to detonation or firing (Rhymezone.com)

Basically, priming is the act of getting enough people on the server so that when random players who don't have a normal server look through the list of active servers, they see ours and, because it has a certain number of players (I'll be calling this the critical mass), join the server and play on it.

It seems that the critical mass is around 16-22 players for normal (cap: 26) servers, and 24-30 players for larger (cap: 32) servers. So you may be saying to yourself, "Self, I am only one person. How can I prime by myself?" Unfortunately, you can't. That is where friends come in handy. I'm sure you all have been on the receiving end of Cuddy's "Let's get the server rocking!" messages. Basically, Cuddy sends it to everyone on his friends list. In a perfect world, they all join. Unfortunately, that tends to not happen and he gets anywhere from 3-10 people.

You may be saying now, "Anubis, if even someone like Cuddy can't get the critical mass to join, then the effort must be futile". Sorry to break it to you, but that's wrong!

You see, not everyone is friends with every Reg on the server. Also, not everyone plays exclusively on STNO's server. So someone who Cuddy invites might be able to invite 4 other people that Cuddy didn't invite. Even if only 2 of those people come, and they do the same, then pretty soon the critical mass will have been reached, and new players will join.

I remember when the server used to be full every night. I would have to wait for the better part of my game time in order to join the server. I haven't seen the server full in a very, very long time. So, if you see another message from Cuddy saying "Lets get the server rocking!", consider taking a short break from whatever you are doing and play for a little bit. Because remember, we need that critical mass as often as possible in order to convert more players to mediocrity!

TLR: Play on the server more.

We've found that it's a lot more effective and personal if you send people messages instead of doing announcements. It's easy to ignore an announcement - someone else will join, they don't need me - but when you send ONE person a message, they feel more obligated to play.

Say what you want Anubis, but it works. I've used several times successfully. I even primed a server a noon cst. But I don't remember you being there...