Make one of the servers a gimmick.

[Isaacs Alter Ego]

Currently, 3/4 see a lot of use (better than the days of just 4) but 1/2 are typically just reserved to a sparse handful of people, mostly playing it like it's sandbox mode.

I propose instead, we take 1 and 2 and make it so server 1 is pure sandbox mode for people who want to experiment in peace or whatever, and make 2 a gimmick station of some sort- Lava moon station, ice moon station, mars, etc. I feel like that could make it enough of a novelty to draw a small portion of the population to it, reducing the high, laggy numbers and also just providing a fun thing to do. I heard there was a mars station gimmick a long time ago and from what I understand it was well received.

[Chrysalis]

That would be pretty sweet. And yeah, as someone who can't even play on the EU server because the ping makes it unplayable, having an US server with actual people on it would also be sweet.

[atomic1fire]

My only concern is that it will get a few updates and then die off, like mars station more or less did.


I think TG has two separate maps so it's not impossible.

That said I think underwater station would be cool.

Unlike space carp it would actually make sense if giant maneating fish bursts through a hole in the wall.

Also tasers and stun batons might be kinda dangerous to have in the water.

[Splatpope]

There should be a quota system so that you can not join a server if the others are too empty

[icarus]

That said I think underwater station would be cool.

Never forget Europa Station

idk how well using the old mars code/europa code if there is any out there would work since both were kinda underdeveloped but it'd be cool

There should be a quota system so that you can not join a server if the others are too empty

1) No

[Splatpope]

That said I think underwater station would be cool.

There should be a quota system so that you can not join a server if the others are too empty

1) No

ok then let's have eu full 24.7 and all the others with 5 players max yay awesome

[icarus]

ok then let's have eu full 24.7 and all the others with 5 players max yay awesome

a quota won't work because you'll have to either have it
a) low enough that every server is 10-15 people, making it pointless'
b) high enough that most people will just sit in the underpopulated server trying to connect to the main server, because there's 60 people there and 5 on every other server

servers #3 and #4 are starting to be populated at the same time too so it's not really necessary

[Dauntasa]

I'd be down for an Ice Planet station

[Splatpope]

ok then let's have eu full 24.7 and all the others with 5 players max yay awesome

a quota won't work because you'll have to either have it
a) low enough that every server is 10-15 people, making it pointless'
b) high enough that most people will just sit in the underpopulated server trying to connect to the main server, because there's 60 people there and 5 on every other server

servers #3 and #4 are starting to be populated at the same time too so it's not really necessary

ok, so then I suppor the gimmick server idea

[Archenteron]

Bring back Mushroom Station on a server

[Marquesas]

I like the idea of putting alternative stations on one of the server's rotations although do keep in mind what an enormous amount of work it'd take to make a bunch of those stations if it's not just a reskin of cogstation. And if it _is_ just a reskin, fuck that.

I don't support the idea of a permanent sandbox at all.

[Frank_Stein]

I like the idea of putting alternative stations on one of the server's rotations although do keep in mind what an enormous amount of work it'd take to make a bunch of those stations

I like this too, especially since it would allow designing different stations for different purposes. Since it seems like one server tends to have 40-60 people, while other ones stay at around 10-30, one station could be designed to be a smaller, with certain jobs departments or play styles represented more, less, or not at all. A research station focusing on learning game mechanics and testing out ideas. A mining station focused on exploration of environments and using teamwork against hostile NPCS and puzzles. A cramped station with no radios, no ID access, no security or heads or AI, with a faulty engine that has a lot of blackouts.

Heck, maybe all these stations exist on the same server, just on different Z levels.

Like Marques said though, this would be a lot of extra work, but I think it could be interesting and some ideas might spring out of it that could be applied to the main station.

[atomic1fire]

I think we already have a server for testing code changes, but I don't recall anyone using it that often.

That said a server where you could test out a new job or department and get some feedback over IRC or something would be cool, I think that's how new maps have been implemented.