Context:
Skial's votemenu system for maps has a limit of 5 options, which was described as a limitation of wanting to use the darkened menu built into TF2 as opposed to the dynamic transparent menus with orange text (as you could see if you were to do !servers or !nominate). Under specific circumstances, the amount of options can be reduced to 3 maps if the current map loses extensions or if a leader map is not nominated. Compared to other games that also have the ZE game mode, this just feels abysmally low in comparison especially given the variety of the map pool.
Problems with having a small map pool:
- It discourages exploration of other maps by limiting the amount of maps that can be viewed and picked during map vote
- It sometimes kills the server if all the randomly chosen maps are unwilling to be played on by the current set of players
- It is the antithesis to variety, which is one of ZE's key aspects given the plethora of maps provided
Solutions:
There are a couple that I can think of that can either keep or change this system.
1. Keep a limit of 5, but randomly fill in open slots if necessary.
For example, if you were to lose extensions on a map but nominated a "leadernom," you would have 4 choices becuase the "Extend Map" option usually occupies the first slot. Simply add a random non-leadernom map in its place. If you lose extensions and have not nominated a leadernom map, you could replace these slots with random maps as well. Personally, I would try having it such that a non-leadernom map would replace the Extend Map slot and a random leadernom replace the leadernom slot if the current leader has not chosen one. A solution like this appeals to both newer and more experienced players by expanding options for new players and rotating in potentially unplayed leadernom maps for the experienced ones. If you really want to avoid the potential going back-to-back on leadernom maps if leader maps are on cooldown, then simply fill all slots with casual maps.
2. Expand the map pool to 6-8 and use a different menu system.
This solution may require more effort but may help players explore relatively underplayed maps through variety. It would work the same as the current votemenu with: 1 slot for extension, 4-6 slots for casual maps, and 1 map as leadernom. Alternatively, you could further give special privileges to the leader with the option to add several leadernom maps into the menu (e.g. 3) OR the ability to reopen leadernoms for all players (if leadernom maps are off cooldown). The reason for this is to give more choices to players if they cannot decide on which map to transition to. I have noticed the past few months that restricting choices somewhat discourages players from staying or usually leaves them in a state of indecision. One of the things to look forward to in ZE used to be being able to choose your desired map and seeing whether or not people wanted to do it with you. It at least gave them hope to potentially play their map and encouraged them to play on. The current leadernom system negatively affects this aspect, but this solution mediates between the two.
Examples:
So, combine solutions 1 and 2 and let's consider some scenarios if we had 8 slots.
With leadernom maps off cooldown, we could have:
- Extensions + 0 leader maps nominated: 1 extension, 4 casual maps, 3 random leadernom maps
- Extensions + 1 leader maps nominated: 1 extension, 4 casual maps, 1 leadernom map, 2 random leadernom maps
- Extensions + 2 leader maps nominated: 1 extension, 4 casual maps, 2 leadernom maps, 1 random leadernom map
- Extensions + 3 leader maps nominated: 1 extension, 4 casual maps, 3 leadernom maps
- Extensions lost + 0 leader maps nominated: 5 casual maps, 3 random leadernom maps
- Extensions lost + 1 leader maps nominated: 5 casual maps, 1 leadernom map, 2 random leadernom maps
- Extensions lost + 2 leader maps nominated: 5 casual maps, 2 leadernom maps, 1 random leadernom map
- Extensions lost + 3 leader maps nominated: 5 casual maps, 3 leadernom maps
With leadernom maps on cooldown, we could have:
- Extensions: 1 extension, 7 casual maps
- Extensions lost: 8 casual maps
* Note: Casual maps would also be randomized if not enough casual maps are nominated by players. This is already how the current system works, so it is not explicitly mentioned.
Skial's votemenu system for maps has a limit of 5 options, which was described as a limitation of wanting to use the darkened menu built into TF2 as opposed to the dynamic transparent menus with orange text (as you could see if you were to do !servers or !nominate). Under specific circumstances, the amount of options can be reduced to 3 maps if the current map loses extensions or if a leader map is not nominated. Compared to other games that also have the ZE game mode, this just feels abysmally low in comparison especially given the variety of the map pool.
Problems with having a small map pool:
- It discourages exploration of other maps by limiting the amount of maps that can be viewed and picked during map vote
- It sometimes kills the server if all the randomly chosen maps are unwilling to be played on by the current set of players
- It is the antithesis to variety, which is one of ZE's key aspects given the plethora of maps provided
Solutions:
There are a couple that I can think of that can either keep or change this system.
1. Keep a limit of 5, but randomly fill in open slots if necessary.
For example, if you were to lose extensions on a map but nominated a "leadernom," you would have 4 choices becuase the "Extend Map" option usually occupies the first slot. Simply add a random non-leadernom map in its place. If you lose extensions and have not nominated a leadernom map, you could replace these slots with random maps as well. Personally, I would try having it such that a non-leadernom map would replace the Extend Map slot and a random leadernom replace the leadernom slot if the current leader has not chosen one. A solution like this appeals to both newer and more experienced players by expanding options for new players and rotating in potentially unplayed leadernom maps for the experienced ones. If you really want to avoid the potential going back-to-back on leadernom maps if leader maps are on cooldown, then simply fill all slots with casual maps.
2. Expand the map pool to 6-8 and use a different menu system.
This solution may require more effort but may help players explore relatively underplayed maps through variety. It would work the same as the current votemenu with: 1 slot for extension, 4-6 slots for casual maps, and 1 map as leadernom. Alternatively, you could further give special privileges to the leader with the option to add several leadernom maps into the menu (e.g. 3) OR the ability to reopen leadernoms for all players (if leadernom maps are off cooldown). The reason for this is to give more choices to players if they cannot decide on which map to transition to. I have noticed the past few months that restricting choices somewhat discourages players from staying or usually leaves them in a state of indecision. One of the things to look forward to in ZE used to be being able to choose your desired map and seeing whether or not people wanted to do it with you. It at least gave them hope to potentially play their map and encouraged them to play on. The current leadernom system negatively affects this aspect, but this solution mediates between the two.
Examples:
So, combine solutions 1 and 2 and let's consider some scenarios if we had 8 slots.
With leadernom maps off cooldown, we could have:
- Extensions + 0 leader maps nominated: 1 extension, 4 casual maps, 3 random leadernom maps
- Extensions + 1 leader maps nominated: 1 extension, 4 casual maps, 1 leadernom map, 2 random leadernom maps
- Extensions + 2 leader maps nominated: 1 extension, 4 casual maps, 2 leadernom maps, 1 random leadernom map
- Extensions + 3 leader maps nominated: 1 extension, 4 casual maps, 3 leadernom maps
- Extensions lost + 0 leader maps nominated: 5 casual maps, 3 random leadernom maps
- Extensions lost + 1 leader maps nominated: 5 casual maps, 1 leadernom map, 2 random leadernom maps
- Extensions lost + 2 leader maps nominated: 5 casual maps, 2 leadernom maps, 1 random leadernom map
- Extensions lost + 3 leader maps nominated: 5 casual maps, 3 leadernom maps
With leadernom maps on cooldown, we could have:
- Extensions: 1 extension, 7 casual maps
- Extensions lost: 8 casual maps
* Note: Casual maps would also be randomized if not enough casual maps are nominated by players. This is already how the current system works, so it is not explicitly mentioned.
