NS2 gathers @ www.ensl.org
weezl
Join Date: 2008-07-04 Member: 64557Members, Reinforced - Shadow
Join Date: 2008-07-04 Member: 64557Members, Reinforced - Shadow
<div class="IPBDescription">you guys know about them, right?</div>Try a higher level than public play!
Play with the competitive players!
The gather system ENSL is intended to get a group of 12 together into two teams (6v6) who play in a much more organized fashion than the typical pub play.
More info in swalk's <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=115706" target="_blank">thread</a> over in the <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showforum=109" target="_blank">Competitive Play</a> forum section.
Since it might be perceived as a little bit of hassle to get started, I'm thinking of explaining what's needed.
Once it's done, it's very easy and natural to get an organized match going.
This is how it works:
<b>0.</b> One-time preparations.
<b>0a.</b> First of all, you have to register an account there. (you don't need to confirm via e-mail)
They do ask for your steam ID, make sure to <u><b>ex</b></u>clude the "STEAM_" part, only include the "0:0:1234567" part.
<b>0b.</b> Get <a href="http://www.teamspeak.com/?page=downloads" target="_blank">Teamspeak 3</a> to later join the server "ensl.org" with password "europe".
<b>0c.</b> Custom maps. Until UWE implements automatic map/file downloading from servers it has to be done manually.
Duplexgaming is hosting files (maps & mods) in their <a href="http://www.duplexgaming.co.uk/downloads/" target="_blank">downloads section</a> (the 5 most popular), and all maps in the <a href="http://www.duplexgaming.co.uk/downloads/maps/" target="_blank">maps section</a>. (while I'm at it, <a href="http://www.duplexgaming.co.uk/downloads/mods/" target="_blank">mods section</a>)
The maps go into this folder:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\natural selection 2\ns2\maps
Now you're all done and ready for gather play!
This is how the gather process works:
<b>1.</b> You click <a href="http://www.ensl.org/gathers/latest/45" target="_blank">NS2 gather</a> and you'll be taken to a sort of lobby with 3 lists. Then you click the join gather link and your account name pops up in the list. Now you wait until 11 other players do the same.
<b>2.</b> In the server list you can vote for 1 server which you'd like to play on (there are both EU and US servers).
<b>3.</b> In the maps list you can vote for 2 maps which you'd like to play on.
<b>4.</b> When 12 players are gathered, a fitting music track will play to get in the right mood for battle ;)
...and also to alert you that the gather is starting...
<b>5.</b> Now you can vote for 2 players in the players list to be the "captains" of the two respective teams.
<b>6.</b> Next the captains take turns picking 2 players at a time into their teams.
<b>7.</b> Now you know which team you're in, and can join the appropriate subchannel in TeamSpeak, and go join the server that was voted.
(<b>8.</b> If anything is unclear - don't worry! You're on teamspeak with the other guys who can lead you through the process and help out!)
Play with the competitive players!
The gather system ENSL is intended to get a group of 12 together into two teams (6v6) who play in a much more organized fashion than the typical pub play.
More info in swalk's <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=115706" target="_blank">thread</a> over in the <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showforum=109" target="_blank">Competitive Play</a> forum section.
Since it might be perceived as a little bit of hassle to get started, I'm thinking of explaining what's needed.
Once it's done, it's very easy and natural to get an organized match going.
This is how it works:
<b>0.</b> One-time preparations.
<b>0a.</b> First of all, you have to register an account there. (you don't need to confirm via e-mail)
They do ask for your steam ID, make sure to <u><b>ex</b></u>clude the "STEAM_" part, only include the "0:0:1234567" part.
<b>0b.</b> Get <a href="http://www.teamspeak.com/?page=downloads" target="_blank">Teamspeak 3</a> to later join the server "ensl.org" with password "europe".
<b>0c.</b> Custom maps. Until UWE implements automatic map/file downloading from servers it has to be done manually.
Duplexgaming is hosting files (maps & mods) in their <a href="http://www.duplexgaming.co.uk/downloads/" target="_blank">downloads section</a> (the 5 most popular), and all maps in the <a href="http://www.duplexgaming.co.uk/downloads/maps/" target="_blank">maps section</a>. (while I'm at it, <a href="http://www.duplexgaming.co.uk/downloads/mods/" target="_blank">mods section</a>)
The maps go into this folder:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\natural selection 2\ns2\maps
Now you're all done and ready for gather play!
This is how the gather process works:
<b>1.</b> You click <a href="http://www.ensl.org/gathers/latest/45" target="_blank">NS2 gather</a> and you'll be taken to a sort of lobby with 3 lists. Then you click the join gather link and your account name pops up in the list. Now you wait until 11 other players do the same.
<b>2.</b> In the server list you can vote for 1 server which you'd like to play on (there are both EU and US servers).
<b>3.</b> In the maps list you can vote for 2 maps which you'd like to play on.
<b>4.</b> When 12 players are gathered, a fitting music track will play to get in the right mood for battle ;)
...and also to alert you that the gather is starting...
<b>5.</b> Now you can vote for 2 players in the players list to be the "captains" of the two respective teams.
<b>6.</b> Next the captains take turns picking 2 players at a time into their teams.
<b>7.</b> Now you know which team you're in, and can join the appropriate subchannel in TeamSpeak, and go join the server that was voted.
(<b>8.</b> If anything is unclear - don't worry! You're on teamspeak with the other guys who can lead you through the process and help out!)
Comments
I'm very happy that the gathers have turned out to be as popular, as they have been so far.
And yet, the golden days is still to come.
@UWE or put it up on frontpage :)
Recommend for everyone
It's not about your skill level, it's about your willingness to take part in a team effort, with organised tactics rather than the random chaos of pub games, which is great fun in it's own right :)
Sounds like fun! I'll give it a go.
List of all such "guides":
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=115706" target="_blank">swalk</a>'s
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=118750" target="_blank">weezl</a>'s (this one)
<a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=119466" target="_blank">rantology</a>'s (most pretty one :P)
(post if there's more)
That is plenty of info for the new aspiring players to get into gathers - an environment in between public and competitive where you can learn and practice to get into the competitive scene. Though it's absolutely not the only way, it's a very good way.
Try exactly now, 9 out of 12 :D
And going back today, I see there's been like 6-7 gathers, so just join, leave the page open, and wait for the gather-music to start playing when all 12 have joined...
<!--quoteo(post=2009831:date=Nov 4 2012, 06:48 PM:name=Live_Feed)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Live_Feed @ Nov 4 2012, 06:48 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2009831"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->i'd love to do it but i can't guarantee mic usage :/<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I doubt that would be a problem, played many times when I couldn't use mic :)
Join me right now for my second gather today =)
I do however have to ask, why is the only interface option for this a website? Every gather I've ever played on has been through IRC, why is there no IRC option here? I really cba to have firefox sitting open in the background forever.
Are you sure you didn't misunderstand a joke? Was it directed at you?
Because that sounds incredibly worrying! I've never witnessed anything but friendlyness myself.
I really doubt that duplex would be so unclassy...!
Give it a go during the evening american time, then the euros are sleeping :)
One question though.. since I'm not always able to commit huge chunks of time at once to play, what is the accepted etiquette of leaving in the middle of a game and how do others look at it?
edit: well problem solved, the website don't allow me to register