Kill the huge maps in off hours . . . PLEASE

[TheRapier]

I don't think it is a surprise that the number of players in the game has shrunk unless you only play at the peak times 6 pm - 10 pm EST.

The large maps were made at a time when the player base was larger and are really only effective when the number of players online reaches around 300. They are awesome if 350 - 1000 players are on, but we are not seeing that at all. At anything less than that number, finding people to interact with (this means combat) becomes progressively harder outside of peak hours. This is killing game play and I'm sure it has a major impact on the number of non-US players in the game (Europe or Asia) as they can't find anyone that makes paying their $ per month. I'm seeing fewer and fewer of these guys and they are playing less and less. All too often, two countries are having a fight on the other side of the map, leaving 1/3 of the players out of any kind of action.

Previously we had a map switch at about 11 pm to a smaller map. This kept game play alive for the off hours. The map size should be such that all three countries can participate in fights. This would help rebuild the off hours play. Right now its pretty much dead.

It is of course a business decision. Right now the large maps make this a 6 pm - 10 pm EST business. If that is the desire, then leave it the way it is. If the desire is to expand it, then there a number of options.

I'm sure its not surprising that great many posts here go nowhere because they are cluttered by noise. In the hope that this thread can actually help HTC to make decisions the maximum benefit comes if your post would gives the times that you normally play. That way your post can be weighted properly.

[Arlo]

 

Concur, sir.

[kvuo75]

I flat refuse to play this game from the highest populated side anymore.  so I don't play those hours.  (which would be any time before 4pm pacific, basically)

reducing the 12 hour country switch time would get me to play earlier in the day maybe 3 hours earlier.

the way it is anymore, I just wait till about 4-5pm pacific, because that's the predictable time bishops start becoming outnumbered.

so, essentially what I'm saying is the total population is being reduced by 1, for those hours.

I'm not even sure the maps matter.

[Delirium]

Tonight was very bad, gameplay wise. Not only were fights scattered but if you wanted to look around for a fight, you could not because of the 12 hour country change rule.

Something has to give, either change the country change rule back to one hour or give us small maps where no one can hide.

[kvuo75]

Tonight was very bad, gameplay wise. Not only were fights scattered but if you wanted to look around for a fight, you could not because of the 12 hour country change rule.

Something has to give, either change the country change rule back to one hour or give us small maps where no one can hide.

that works for me.

 

[ink]

Tonight was very bad, gameplay wise. Not only were fights scattered but if you wanted to look around for a fight, you could not because of the 12 hour country change rule.

Something has to give, either change the country change rule back to one hour or give us small maps where no one can hide.

 

[BnZs]

I think we can all agree this is a good idea. 

[Vortex]

Very good idea Rap.

I play between what would be prime time evenings (6pm - 10pm ish MST). Without question these large maps are a real wet blanket at these population levels, even during these peak population times. The uber-maps like the current one don't even work well in peak times with 300 people online. they're just so big that even that level of players is the very bottom of the required level needed to make gameplay flow.

However what makes them much worse is that their extreme size means they can't be conquered, so they stay until they timeout. Makes for long painful periods where gameplay goes into the crapper. Worse, the smaller maps that encourage the very activity you want to see (furballs, lots of activity over small areas with base taking, etc), roll much faster and thus push us back into the uber-maps.

So rather than keeping more of the smaller maps in the rotation more frequently, we have these uber-maps just sucking the life out of the gameplay for extended periods of time. It really is brutal, which is a shame because the game is a blast if you can get onto a smaller map.

[hlbly]

Time to go back to one hour. God I hate being left out of the fight. Almost as much as I hate having to be in the horde.

[artik]

+1 Huge maps are virtually impossible to play on at European hours especially during the day in European time zones

[Lusche]

Just logged in... 9 Bish 13 Knights 16 Rooks on Ozkansas with 204 bases... a single con on the dar every 100 miles...  

[bozon]

Some of the big maps really need to be taken out of the rotation. Even with 250-300 players online they feel empty.

[Randy1]

Just cut the fuel off at all bases except those on the tank islands during non peak hours.  One tank island doesn't have air fields seems like now that I think about it.  Tank island air fights gets exciting at times especially with all three countries.

I agree with the 12 hour rule.   One hour just isn't enough.  Had one player over the weekend change sides to seek revenge on a fellow countryman he got in an argument with over something.  Heard another player say he was switching sides because no one called a six for him.  I know some switch sides to find a good fight  but others would abuse a one hour rule.

[bozon]

I agree with the 12 hour rule.   One hour just isn't enough.  Had one player over the weekend change sides to seek revenge on a fellow countryman he got in an argument with over something.  Heard another player say he was switching sides because no one called a six for him.

So? what is the problem with that?

[Tinkles]

Just cut the fuel off at all bases except those on the tank islands during non peak hours.  One tank island doesn't have air fields seems like now that I think about it.  Tank island air fights gets exciting at times especially with all three countries.

I agree with the 12 hour rule.   One hour just isn't enough.  Had one player over the weekend change sides to seek revenge on a fellow countryman he got in an argument with over something.  Heard another player say he was switching sides because no one called a six for him.  I know some switch sides to find a good fight  but others would abuse a one hour rule.

While that is true that some would abuse the one hour rule. It is also true that those you mentioned would find out that they wouldn't get check 6's all the time on any of the 3 sides either 

On a side note: I do find it funny that some people say on here "it's my 15 dollars I'll play the way I want", yet nag at me if I don't check 6 them (even if I just got there!).