From: bdhall@lucky.ecn.purdue.edu (Brian D Hall)
Newsgroups: rec.games.netrek
Subject: Re: Dogfight Size wars
Date: 21 Dec 92 01:23:58 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network

In article <wfB2Gn600YUoIa1lQH@andrew.cmu.edu> "Joseph E. Beck" <jb8n+@andrew.cmu.edu> writes:
>
>Ok, so you lowered the wtemp limit then.  It used to be an extra 10
>points per torp.  Since you can fire 2 full spreads I guess it is
>around 5 extra now.  As far as running goes, most clued players run
>when carrying armies if they're being seriously ogged. 
>

	Well.... no, not really.  I BELIEVE it's still at 10, but the idea is
that the wtemp flag does not come on immediately once you go over the max, so
(usually) when you fire, you put a full spread of 8 torps out at once, and 
you will get all 8 out for the second spread before your wtemp flag is set.


>> 
>>         Until we "cure" the TOTAL runnerscum attitude on fife, I believe the
>> mod will stay in place.  It's horrible to see 10 ships all in a circle 
>> spraying torps into the center and turn around to run.  Anyone got a better
>> idea to "cure" this problem?  We are open for suggestions.
>Seems kind of funny to improve the DD and then grumble about people
>running.  What do you expect people to do with the things?  Best way
>to cure a runnerscum attitude?  I assume you mean people who upon
>seeing an enemy ship will always run away hoping they will be chased
>(not someone who tries to bait people into chasing them to get a kill,
>or someone who runs with armies).  The best way to cure this is to get
>clued people.  They will laugh when everyone runs from them and
>procede to take/bomb without interference.  After several genocides
>people should begin to pick up what's going on.  

	Unfortunately this has not happened.  I often am in games where the
entire galaxy is taken in under 30 minutes.  They haven't learned yet.  As for
the "suped-up" DD's...  I personally think they are a bit much, but I am not
the OFFICIAL server god and never will be (the machine does not belong to
me).  Good point about the fuel though.  The reason it was changed in the 
first place was because the official server god is a real fuel hog and he 
wanted a bit more.  But on the flip side......  1000 fuel is only 4 torps.

>
>I am curious as to how you're defining "runnerscum" though.  I equate
>runnerscum with always runs no matter what.  Which is a clueless thing
>to do.  Some people equate it with playing smart and running for a
>reason.  Good players often run (more likely to SC bomb or carry
>armies), and for some reason people don't like it when people do...
>

	I define runnerscum as those who do not stand and fight, EVER.  I
agree that there are situations where one would want to run.  I do it all the
time when my ship is "important" to the team as-is.


>Also, the server patch that reduces server load on the machines would
>be *very* useful since fife has bad server lag.  That would encourage
>more people to play there.
>
>

	Actually, that mod was in place before it appeared here in the 
newsgroup.  Tedd Hadley sent me the mod personally a day or two before he 
posted it.  I put it in the code that afternoon.  Fife is still a bit slow,
but much improved.  What else can I say about a Sparc IPC that is OFTEN used
to run Matlab.



DISCLAIMER:  I did not personally make ANY of the mods to fife that have made
	it non-bronco, but I was not STRONGLY against any of them.  I did 
	manage to bring the torp strength of the DD back to the bronco level,
	since 35pts. (plus the extra 1000 fuel) made the DD too strong.  




   Brian Hall
     aka DarkHorse
     ASSISTANT Server god (fife.ecn.purdue.edu)