Archives: 1 - 15 September 1998
Quake-Related Software:
Every now and then during a SMS practice we switch to a blaster-and-railgun-only game that has become unofficially known as "Railgun Blues". I've found that it has improved my skills with the railgun, and makes the game a bit harder for everyone.
Apparently somebody else was thinking along those same lines when they created RailArena, a railgun-only server-side mod. Every weapon on the map has been replaced with a railgun, every ammo box replaced with slugs. Railgun damage has been reduced to 25 points but you get a point for each direct hit you score on an opponent...five hits in a row and you'll get a random bonus (ranging from points to invulnerability to a CTF tech/rune-like power).
Very cool, and an idea long overdue. After all, relying on rocket splash damage is a fool's game.... :D
Posted 11:1 EST by CPT Rantage
Miscellaneous Rumblings:
Hrm, what's this? A job offer, from Virginia? My reputation doth precede me...
Posted 20:23 EST by SGT Kreth
Surf's Up:
Contest Update:
No entries as of yet. Come on people!
Posted 12:13 EST by CPT Rantage
100% Nothing To Do With Quake:
Few things are as personally satisfying as submitting one's resignation to management and watching the entire project go to SPHINCTERCON ONE when they realize that there is no replacement available.
Posted 12:13 EST by CPT Rantage
Reading Material:
It will be interesting to see what A-Wal has to say about configs. I haven't overhauled mine since going to q2, and the beatdown last night showed me the error of my ways on weapon switching.
Posted 23:6 EST by LT Reaperman
Tempest's Ramblings:
Hehe, actually A-Wal Reaperman and myself finished with exactly 234 frags. You got the server address right but not the right port, the correct port is 27940. I've never gotten that high ever. Great battle.
- Hmm...not much 3D news lately. However, I did already see the display box of SiN and Half-Life at EB...definetly two games worth checking out, I'm looking for forward to SiN rather then Half-Life though...
- Been playing too much Parasite Eve and not enough Quake2 :D
Posted 21:24 EST by LT Tempest
Reading Material:
Man, I wish I hadn't ditched on the game last night. I had 120 frags while Tempest and ReaperMan had around 150, so if I had stayed I would have been right up there with them. :(
If you want to check out the server we were playing on, then plug this address into your book of numbers: 207.253.203.194 on port 17940. It has a timelimit of 0 and a fraglimit of 0, so if you don't like the map that is on then your gona be playing it for a long time.
I just wanted you to know that I am writing an article on how to design a good Q2 config. This is something most people take for granted, but can be a life saver if done well. I'm just now starting on it, so it will be done withing a few days. Don't expect any miracles, just good common sense.
Posted 18:33 EST by LT A-Wal
Surf's Up:
Quake House (no, I haven't heard of them either) is a Quake news site with an poll question: "Do you think that PlanetQuake has an unfair hold over then entire Quake world?"
Personally, I don't think they have an unfair hold (after all, we've all supported their website by going there and downloading games and reading news from time to time), but perhaps they have a dangerously large hold on the flow of information regarding Quake and similar first-person shooters....in a scary Microsoft or McDonald's kind of way.
You may feel differently....so go register your opinion.
Posted 14:37 EST by CPT Rantage
Battle Time:
So far tonight's has been kickass. Aside from some initial communications problems, the last server made up for everything.
At the end, the score was Tempest - 234, ReaperMan - 234, Hellbent - 167 (adjusted due to a disconnect) The total game length was upwards of 120 minutes. I believe everyone got at least 100 frags. Congrats to Tempest, A-Wal, Blakdeth, Pandemic, Hellbent, Kreth, Ace, and everyone else whose name I forgot for a damn good game.
Posted 0:55 EST by LT Reaperman
Tactics:
Files O' Plenty:
- Well, I finally got around to linking Purge's great trainee skin to the ZIP file, so you can now download it from the Skins page.
- Also, Buck (our man in Iceland) has completed a SMS skin for the "Astro" model. It too is now available for download from the Skins page.
Posted 9:22 EST by CPT Rantage
Quake-Related Software:
Amazing. Zoid actually releases something on time. Almost. I have
3.19, and it is good. That update zoid made is a fix that only the server-gods need to worry about, and I'm not d/ling another 6 mb patch for 5k of code :P
Posted 2:54 EST by LT Reaperman
New Patch:
On the virge of the normal 3.19 release comes a whole crapola of Linux released. Zoid has completed 3.19a for Linux, I'd post the link but there too many. If your using Linux just go to Blue's and snag the download there. (Nudge Nudge LT Reaperman!)
- On another note, the SMS servers (let's hope there up soon) *have* been upgrades to 3.19, so if your gonna play on the servers, you'd have to download the new patch. I'm just wondering if ID will release a new set of DM maps when 3.20 rolls along, just have to wait and see!
Posted 18:54 EST by LT Tempest
New Patch:
Ok, just to clarify things from my last post.
- The patch is *NOT* beta, however, there is a beta version available. You can grab the non-beta of 3.19 here(737kb). Expect the SMS servers (whenever Nick brings them up again) to be upgraded shortly. Thanks...
Posted 19:54 EST by LT Tempest
New Patch:
Yup, ID Software has released Quake2 3.19. You can snag it here. You can read the changes on Blue's. I'm not exactly sure if it's a beta patch, there was mention of it somewhere in the changes, but they also said they'd release the full thing later tonight...I'll post another update bout this later if that's true. Again, let's wait before this becomes more universal before downloadin'...atleast until the SMS server has them!
Posted 18:52 EST by LT Tempest
.plan Watch:
id Software's own John Carmack made a .planfile update yesterday in which he reveals nothing about the upcoming Quake Arena nor any stunning discoveries.
It doesn't stop the fanboy pages from eating that shit up with a big ol' spoon, though.
Aren't you glad we're here to filter the meaningless shit out? No offense to Johnny C., of course...
Posted 22:34 EST by CPT Rantage
Miscellaneous Rumblings:
Good practice tonight. Those of you who stuck around long enough got to experience railgun ballet when we switched to a blaster/hand grenade/railgun-only set of CTF rules.
Posted 22:30 EST by CPT Rantage
Quake-Related Software:
Another venture into the team-communication realm in Quake2 is Conference Kill. Its goal is to allow teammates to send private text messages (like the IRC
/msg
command) and prerecorded sounds (as in LMCTF Tournament Edition) to one another.
Personally, I'm all for better team communication, but IMHO it won't get off the ground until id Software actually codes it into a game.
Posted 22:28 EST by CPT Rantage
Miscellaneous Rumblings:
Well, the summer is finally over. I'm heading back to school in a few hours....damn (Lets just hope the teachers strike in my area again). It was good while it lasted...
Posted 22:50 EST by LT Tempest
The Fragboard Race:
Thought I'd pint this out, even though I have been really really busy I spent this weekend doing a little fragging and have jumped from non-existant to 12th on the Fragboard. Keep Practicing Nubies Funkinator is back!!!!!!!!!!
SSgt. Pfunk out.......
Posted 20:56 EST by SSG PFunk
SMS 'Fairness in Competition' Alert:
I don't like using the bigger Quake news pages as a reference for content here, but I felt that something posted on PlanetQuake would be of interest to any of you into the whole so-called "Professional" Gaming Leagues or tournaments:
Liga.net, the once somewhat respected Quake 2 1 on 1 leage, is having some "issues." Kimble, league organizer,
reportedly lost a match to the highly skilled immortal, and proceeded to kick him out of the league and accuse
him of using a bot. Others in the league that spoke out against Kimble were kicked out, as well. The IRC log listed
earlier has since been removed.
Posted 18:5 EST by CPT Rantage
Quake-Related Software:
Are you ever tired of waiting for models and skins to download when you join a server? Well, your wait is over! There is a group that has collected all of the publicly released models and skins, and packaged them into a nice easy download. I may be the only person in the world who has auto-download turned on, but for those who don't this is an easy way to see all the nice stuff people have made.
Here is the site:
www.planetquake.com/q2pmp
Posted 2:10 EST by LT A-Wal
Surf's Up:
I don't know how many of you have seen my webpage, but it's not very good. Since I officially start my computer science classes in two days, I have decided that my webpage needs a facelift. In fact, it needs a face to go with the facelift. :) It will take some time (after all I have homework to do), but I plan to totally redo my webpage. I'll let you know when it's done and updated to the web, but 'till then this is just just me saying "If you build it, they will come!"
Oh, if you hadn't noticed, I'm Lt. A-Wal. SMS's newest Lietenant. Kreth put up a good fight, and although I was happy being a Sergeant, there are also some upsides to being a Lietenant. :) I also salute PingPing for his promotion to Sergeant, and I feel we need a few more Sergeants in our ranks. The regs don't say anything about how many Sergeants we can have. Promotion isn't easy though, as you might have noticed.
Posted 1:41 EST by LT A-Wal
Roster Changes:
A couple more things I'd like to add to LT Tempest's last update:
- Purge is now a full member of SMS, after his great work on the trainee skin (found in the Files section).
- Yes, I know I've been promising this for a few weeks now but: I will be opening the "Join Us" section again to accept applications from a wider range of players.
Posted 0:25 EST by CPT Rantage
Roster Changes:
Well, the FFA to fill the empty LT and SGT position went on last night. Congrats to LT A-Wal and SGT PingPing. They both played admirably. Congrats! Also attending the FFA were...well we just had a good turn-out! :D
- The new SMS Bauul skin is now ready for download, grab it from our new Files Page. It's a very well done skin, check it out!
Posted 22:50 EST by LT Tempest
Gentle Reminder:
Guess Nun will have to get another e-mail address.????
Posted 16:46 EST by SSG PFunk
Actually, she and any other SMS members with similar addresses will fall under the grandfather clause that I mentioned below. The e-mail restriction will not apply to them. Besides, I can keep my eye on her in real life. -- Rantage
Roster Changes:
Quake-Related Software:
Lots of Quake2 mod news recently. Here's a few that caught my eye:
- PainRift features a buttload of new levels and weapons (including one called the Maelstrom). Careful though, it's a 17MB download...painful for us 28.8 folks.
- BraZen adds realism to the Quake2 engine: weight, bleeding wounds, kicking, concussions...all those things guaranteed to make the "weaponstay" guns'n'glory crowd scream with horror.
It's only version 0.3, but AirQuake II looks like a winner. What sold me? Loops and barrel rolls! Full freedom of movement! Yeah, baby, yeah!
Posted 15:53 EST by CPT Rantage
Battle Time:
Well, it was only a few days ago that I opened the door for SMS to receive challenges again, and so we have... Clan FK has challenged us to a battle. SMS has accepted, details are pending.
Posted 23:19 EST by CPT Rantage
Miscellaneous Rumblings:
Hey...the page loads faster! Yep, I've moved the old news into the Archives.
Posted 23:17 EST by CPT Rantage
Quake-Related Software:
Jailbreak Gold has been released. New maps (good thing, the last round of maps blew goats IMO), new sounds, new graphics. You can find all the download links here.
Contest Update:
Frag.com has posted the info about the new Contest. However, I'm dissapointed that Neither Blue's News or Gringo's Hut hasn't posted the info yet. I'm still waiting for that first submission. Guess it takes longer to create a skin/model rather then a banner. I'm thinking of increasing the deadline slightly.
Posted 20:5 EST by LT Tempest
Ace's Ramblings:
Well the server is back to version 3.17now.And when DR NICK switched it back I got on and there were 8 people on it,Wow I haven't seen that many for a while.Guess it was ver 3.18 keeping the people away.
Posted 18:57 EST by XO Ace
Roster Changes:
- I am sad to report the resignation of LT SCSI-Terminator. SCSI cites the onslaught of college activities for the downfall of his free time. More on this in a moment.
- I will be adding a new area to the Roster section for what I am calling Reservists. Reservists are SMS members who, like SCSI, still wish to be affiliated with SMS but cannot attend regularly enough to meet the specified requirements. Appointment to the SMS Reserves is up to the Captain and XO based upon the individual's prior contributions to the clan. It is not an automatic position for those who just don't want to attend practices. Reservists will be taken off of the normal e-mail rosters but will be informed of major SMS activities from time to time.
- Details regarding a FFA to fill the empty Lieutenant position will be announced soon.
Posted 15:14 EST by CPT Rantage