Right, let's get started then shall I...
It's great that Omni & others are so proud of this community that they are so proactive in keeping our servers busy. Thanks guys & girls, it really is appreciated.
I also agree wholeheartedly with everything that mode has mentioned regarding the server and suggestions etc. His closing statement is so so true, read it again and again.
With regards to Omni's concern over clan members not having the same privileges as the leaders and admins and the 'red-tape'. I don't understand that asking for something you want should be such a huge barrier. As it stands, no-one asks for anything (map changes, community events) so I don't know that there is a problem at all. Heck, if you ask - the absolute worst case is that I say no - but I'm not like that and if I do - it's because it's part of a higher thought process for the good of the clan as mode has said. I am very much of the opinion that if you keep asking me for something, I'll eventually get annoyed enough about it that I'll do something about it. I am trying very hard to describe my feelings on this in a way that doesn't sound me like a complete prick on a massive power trip because I'm not like that and I hope by now everyone knows that.
The leaders and admins have absolutely earned their positions within the clan for all the months/years of hard work they have put into the clan to make it what it is today.
== Server #1 / Public Play ==
I also agree with mode and Berath that TF2 as a whole is declining and that Server #1 gets less traffic than it used to. I feel that the there are still sufficient players to keep the server full 24/7, but that what has changed more is the ratio of clanmembers/regs to randoms. A long time ago the server used to fill exclusively with clan members and regs. I don't see this as worrying, TF2 is an aging game and is a very different beast to what it was. Some people go through phases of coming and going.
I wouldn't say the server has been any less busy in the last couple of months than it has been for the last year or so. In fact - since we enabled quickplay I think the server has seen more traffic.
Berath's thread in the members section is exactly the kind of thinking we need to and I encourage people to keep posting ideas and discussing it there.
When the Server is full I have no hesistation/doubts that our community won't continue to expand as players return for the excellent atmosphere we provide. I don't feel that we will give up having a public TF2 for a very long time. The horse is very much alive.
== Joiners Steam Group ==
For anyone that wasn't aware - other servers have community groups that are exclusively for people looking to get a public game of TF2 started. It was recently suggested that we could try the same thing.
With regards to the steam group for people that want to get the server going, for me this is the issue I am most in two minds about. The leaders are always more than happy to create an event in the main community group if you want to get the server going or set up a clan event (ship night, BF3, minecraft session etc.) and we expressly wanted people to if they want to get the server going. This works well to populate the server as has always been demonstrated by the frag fest and the two events that I created. I am disappointed that still, despite reiterating that I want people to do this if they want to get the server going, I have yet had someone ask me to create a community event. There are two downsides to the current method - the first one is that you have to ask one of the leaders to create the event (and we don't bite - promise!), the second one is that lots of events may cause people to leave the steam community group. I can't see any other downsides than those, so if there is something I have missed then please let me know. The advantages of this method are that we already have an established community group that's there to tell people about events etc. (otherwise what's the point in joining it?) and it was also to help us, as leaders, to understand the problem and find a solution.
I understand the motives behind it - to allow clan members to create events without requiring input from others (i.e. the leaders/admins) and you know that everyone who's in the group actively wants to be invited to TF2 sessions. I actually think the result is that it will further seggregate the community - which is an issue you actually raised by Omni.
Please don't see it as inaction on our part that this hasn't been implemented (I have no problems taking the time to set up the steam group and help populate it if we decided to do it), but I just don't feel that it's the right solution and no-one is seemingly willing to even try the solution that we put in place that has exactly the same effect as what is being asked for. It was never designed to be a permanent solution - my eventual plan was to allow those that are interested to create the community events themselves, but I wanted to trial it through the existing method (asking a leader/admin to create an event) to see how much merit there was in trying it. The other solution is to make all of the clan members officers in the community group so you can create the events yourselves which is another option I had considered. All I wanted was for people to *try* the method that we put in place because the result is exactly the same - just that you have to get someone else to do it which I don't think is that unreasonable.
The fact that I am the only person who has taken advantage of this - even having to ask Omni if he wanted me to create a community event (one of the people that was advocating creating steam events to get the server populated) after he sent around the invites last night. He could have just asked me in the first place?
It's not that I don't think that it's a good idea - I just think we already have a better solution that people can take advantage of.
== Scrim Team / Competitive / 6v6 Stuff ==
Please, stop looking at this as a 'higher level of TF2' and start thinking of the 6v6/competitive side of TF2 as a completely seperate game. Just like I will stop playing TF2 after the frag fest and maybe fire up SC2 or BF3, I might also jump on mumble and play in a mix/scrim match. I think if everyone just treats 6v6 TF2 as a different game, all the animosity/stereotyping/elitism etc. will all just go away - especially if you take note of the 'closed groups' section. The majority, if not everyone, who plays in mixes/competitive 6v6 in this community is willing to give up their time and support anyone that actively expresses an interest.
== Closed Groups / Clique-y-ness / The joy of talking ==
It was mentioned that it feels a like there are 'closed circles' - this is only as far as the games that people play go. Everyone who plays the 6v6 stuff is more than willing to include people and show them the ropes. Just like I'm more than happy to play any of the games in the GWIWPTPWM thread
if you drop me a message. The only forseeable time where this might happy is during an actual official league match or something like that.
The policy of the clan now is very much that we are more than willing to support clan members in whatever games they play and however they wish to play them. Want to join a serious 6v6 team - fine. Want to form a WDG team - fine. If there's enough interest in the clan then we'll look at doing what we can to support it (such as the BF3 serve or a CS:GO server etc.) So what you mentioned regarding having cake and eating it is exactly how things are now.
I really believe that the main way we can improve things here is by communicating better. Get to know your fellow clanmates. I for one, love talking to you all on Steam and if I'm online I'm happy for anyone to drop me a message and have a chat about TF2/the clan/life/universe/everything. Join the mumble server and see what people are up to. Join the IRC channel or steam community group chat on steam and just get talking to people. There are no closed groups in this clan - you just have to look for the door. I'm a sucker that when someone takes the effort to talk to me on steam to invite me to a game - chances are that I'll do it.
Mumble: Join the mumble server, talk to the people that are in there. If you don't know how, then ask someone or find it in the forums. Use it when you're playing games. There is one caveat to that which is that if you're on the public server #1 - we'd prefer it if you *didn't* use mumble. One of the highlights of our server is that we are active on voice-comms when in game and if everyone starts using mumble instead of in-game voice then we'll lose that great asset.
When you start talking to people you'll see that there is no elitism in the clan and that everyone is friendly and more than willing to include anyone in whatever they're doing and that there are no closed groups - just groups of people who enjoy playing different games together. After all, that's what we're all here for.
This also includes talking to the leaders/admins - if you want to get a game going, create a community event, ride a pony, have a chat, are having issues with other members, feel left out or have concerns then
talk to us. We keep saying it because WE MEAN IT. We care a lot, we want this community to thrive. I feel that this thread (and many others like it over the years) could have been avoided if it had been discussed with us directly and before it became such a concern. Omni even said himself that he didn't say anything - why?
Remember: We have a strict recruitment policy because it means we can invite awesome people into the clan. Therefore, everyone in the clan is awesome and the regs are alright too, I suppose. Get to know these awesome people by talking to them, playing games with them.
== The Future ==
I have no doubts about the future of the clan despite some of the unfortunate events that have occurred.
We have made considerable changes in the last 6 months or so to try and expand the community. We are actively looking at other ideas and avenues to this effect and we appreciate people making suggestions and ideas.
We also know that there havn't been that many 'special events' to bring clan members and the community together outside of regular gaming sessions. I'm talking about things like a WDG vs. T-Regs highlander (which I actually recently suggested in the shoutbox) and more internal matches (Team Thong vs. Team Sol?) etc.
We have a lot of great assets - so take advantage of them! As mode said:
All you need to do is ask.
== Final Words ==
I will be online all evening and will be frag-festing. I'll be in the community steam chat, the clan IRC channel and may even be on mumble. Send me a message on Steam, tell me how your day/week is going and what your plans for the weekend are. I mean it, do it now - as you read this.Also, if you're unclear about anything I have said here or feel that I have been unfair or missed the point then please talk to me.
P.S. NEVER vote 2fort.
P.S. Please stop headshotting me.
Total Members: 311
