A few more opinions now that I've a fair number of matches, not using the survey format since I already filled it out..

Attacks from below:
These are...a significant issue imo, even if it isn't happening in every game. I'm talking specifically about somebody using a waterfall down to the lava level, then bridging across from there. 9/10 times you don't anticipate it, meaning even vigilant players might not notice it. I play with Far render distance but I imagine a short distance might not even be able to see such a bridge!

Even if you do see somebody bridging across the bottom, that leads to an even bigger issue: how do you defend against it? Since you can not build down, you can't properly get down there to hinder somebody's bridging attempts or to scare them off. If you waterfall down there yourself you're still in a worse situation than they, because you need materials to build up to the level of their bridge, and even then it's a crapshoot; if you fail to kill them, they're in a significant position to win since you have to, once again, trek down the waterfall.

All in all, it's an overpowered tactic. No it's not perfect and it can theoretically be stopped (since it's never been done in practice). The only solutions I can think of is to lower the islands/raise the lava, or completely forbid bridging from the obsidian floor you create.

Second Node placement:
The most recent map might address this, but just in case I want to mention it. So here's the situation: I gather plenty of dirt, bridge to the first Node, then get ready to start bridging to the second Node closest to my team. But before I even start, I can already see the other team starting a bridge to the same Node I'm approaching.

Personally I think there's something wrong with that. If my team's second Node is so close that it's viable for them to approach it immediately, it needs changing. In the scenario I described above, I didn't drag my ass, I was on the ball and getting to the nodes was my top priority. I was going as fast as I could and they still almost beat me to the punch! I don't fault the players for this personally. Even a team on top of shit can lose valuable resources because the other team is going turbo speed. It's actually more worthwhile to at least try for the other team's second node than to go after your own.

So the Node needs placed elsewhere to fix this issue. I don't want it so that the other team can't get to it, but it needs to be hindered enough so that a team doesn't lose it for being only a quarter step behind the other team. Only real suggestion I have is to switch the distances of the nodes, as in make the middle node closer to the pillar while the off-center node is closer to the planet.

Mobs:
I have mixed feelings about this. The first game I played didn't have mobs and I thought it worked out great. Every game after has had mobs and I've had mixed results with their inclusion.

To cut to the point, Nighttime play is really stale at night because of mobs occupy the bridges, hindering progression. Nighttime quickly turns the game into pure resource collection because neither team can do a whole lot otherwise. Additionally, mobs spawning on the starter islands can be a real bother, especially Creepers. However, on the flipside of hindering progress, they offer a sense of false security. A team can reasonably assume the mobs will be enough of a hindrance to keep them safe from assaults, but a crafty/determined individual could fight across the bridge and make it there undetected (I've done this personally).

Combined with the above, there's a far amount of luck in play with this mobs as well, because one team might only have a few mobs spawn while the other team has their bridges/nodes occupied with lots.



Basically, I think mobs hurt OO:SOS more than it helps. I would either like them disabled or at the very least have the islands sufficiently lit from the get go so teams can at least have some security of knowing mobs won't be an issue.

Starting resources:
The biggest barrier to actually getting worthwhile production is actually getting some tools in play; even if someone is dedicated to getting wood, it can still be a bit before we actually get picks, and that time frame feels like an eternity if you've already bridged to the nodes.

So with that in mind, I'd like to request either starting each team off with a wooden pick or 2 logs.

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All in all, I would like OO:SOS gameplay to change so that games last longer, instead of the current trend where we do a series of short games. It takes awhile to organize teams, especially with all the dicking around that goes on (hint: if this is you, stop). It can also be confusing when you get teamed with somebody you just played against, I know I've personally attacked others and personally been attacked by players for that reasons.

I might add more but this is what I've got now. These are just my opinions, others may disagree and I encourage others to give their opinions on these matters!

Hi Veed I definitely agree with the attacks from below (we've discussed this at length on how to prevent people from doing this and we'll take your suggestions into consideration) and the node placement. We're talking about fixing things on skype at the moment.

However I have to disagree with the disabling of mobs. Currently our objective is to make the games last longer rather than shorter, so the danger of losing progress to a stray zombie is supposed to keep people at home and working on building up defenses. We'd like to encourage multiple styles of play and right now it seems that rush-heavy offense completely dominates everything (and for good reason: it's a legit strategy that focuses on constantly have people running all over the planet, forcing the opponent to chase after them [and distract them from running generators and farms] and sometimes sneaking people into the soil of the planet). However, if someone wanted to keep up offensive pressure they could easily do so with 60 coal from both node chests and turning them into torches to place on bridges leading to the enemy. That would allow you to access the enemy at all hours of the night. I understand that the enemy team can break bridges and disable torches but that's just part of the strategy of OO:SOS! We aren't completely opposed to the idea of turning off mobs so if we get a nice stretch of back to back games like last night we'll try it.

One idea I'm completely opposed to is the idea of starting tools. As I stated before, our objective is to slow the game down rather than have these 20 minute skirmishes that don't really feel all that fulfilling. Giving starting tools in the chest would allow teams to put off tree farms (or completely neglect them completely) which adds to the early game frustration of "FUCK WE DON'T HAVE ANY WOOD FOR SWORDS WHERE ARE OUR SUPPLIES???". I find the idea really hard to justify but if you can persuade me I'll consider it.

1) Upon playing for the first time, how well did you understand the rules/game objectives?
Fairly well; the list at spawn helped a lot.
2) What are your opinions on game length? At which (if any) point during the game did you feel either team wasn't making much progress?
I felt this mainly when my team's base was getting blown up by creepers
3) What do you believe is the most valuable resource in OO:SoS?
Wood, definitely
4) What do you feel is the most useless?
I'd say "sand", except it can be used as a filler. Food is my next pick.
5) What do you think is the strongest part of OO:SoS' gameplay?
Strategy and tactics
6) What would you say is the weakest?
Base building; it basically starts with the simple tasks that everyone always does in one or two ways.
7) How likely are you to play OO:SoS again?
How likely am I to be online when a game starts?
8) If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
Give us a few starting fortifications. Not much, but some.
9) Final thoughts about the game:
It would be even more fun if there could be other teams. I would love to see red v blue v green v yellow, for instance.

1) Upon playing for the first time, how well did you understand the rules/game objectives?
It was easy to follow.

2) What are your opinions on game length? At which (if any) point during the game did you feel either team wasn't making much progress?
They defiantly should be aimed to be longer. I would say towards the middle in some games the team wasn't making progress.

3) What do you believe is the most valuable resource in OO:SoS?
Dirt or cobble.

4) What do you feel is the most useless?
There isn't any resource that is useless. I can think of uses for all of them.

5) What do you think is the strongest part of OO:SoS' gameplay?
Blowing shit up.

6) What would you say is the weakest?
The amount of time it takes to pick teams.

7) How likely are you to play OO:SoS again?
If you are on IRC, you hear me say stuff like "Sal, get on damn it". I think this is a clear indication for a 10/10.

8) If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be? I would change the mob spawn rates.
We really don't need any mobs except creepers.

9) Final thoughts about the game:
It is the best game I have played.

1) Upon playing for the first time, how well did you understand the rules/game objectives?

Fairly well, I didn't know all the terminology as well as how to prioritize nodes, but I have PVP experience from other minecraft servers. Plus the whole concept of this game is reminiscent of those "defend the base from the bomb" gametypes in some FPS games I used to play.

2) What are your opinions on game length? At which (if any) point during the game did you feel either team wasn't making much progress?

It seems to vary heavily, perhaps too much so. If a team is not vigilant, the game could end in 10 minutes, but on the other hand, if teams are not taken out quickly enough, then both teams would endure a bitter stalemate for quite a while as then enough time will have passed for them to build up their defenses properly.

3) What do you believe is the most valuable resource in OO:SoS?

Cobblestone. You need near constant cobblestone production to maintain a steady supply of swords, which are essential for brute forcing your way to the opposing team's base. And since it is in infinite supply unlike dirt, it could be useful to build bridges in the lategame when dirt runs low.

4) What do you feel is the most useless?

Gold I guess?

5) What do you think is the strongest part of OO:SoS' gameplay?

The strategy aspect. Sure, long stalemates can be pretty boring, but in one such game, the opposing team cleverly built a bridge that was very high above the planet's surface, as this allowed them to access our base without being able to easily access theirs, let alone destroy the bridge in the first place.

6) What would you say is the weakest?

There are some balance issues. Firstly, bows are flat out too strong. It is impossible to cross a bridge straight to your opponent's base without taking significant damage when these are in play, but even making it across is also difficult due to the knockback. Secondly, the game encourages sneaking a little bit too much, you can't really brute force your way into the core of the planet due to the fast respawn rate coupled with the ability to spawn on the planet instantly with beds. I have actually found myself able to reach my opponent's base many times, but failed to reach the switch. Even though I had the advantage of being armed, unless I had at least Iron Armor, I wouldn't be able to kill the entire opposing team fast enough before I would die.

7) How likely are you to play OO:SoS again?

It was really fun, even with the balance issues it was quite intense!

8) If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?

See 6)
9) Final thoughts about the game:

ok I'm just gonna work on this in pieces...

1) Upon playing for the first time, how well did you understand the rules/game objectives?

dude, I fucking sucked in the first couple games I played. I mean, i knew the rules well enough, but not the game-play, so froks had me do trees...

2) What are your opinions on game length? At which (if any) point during the game did you feel either team wasn't making much progress?

The game varies in length enough to prepare for the future while staying aggressive, which i like. When the games go long, however, we seem to have stretches where neither team can do anything.

3) What do you believe is the most valuable resource in OO:SoS?

lava for making the
stone which is used for everything

4) What do you feel is the most useless?

gold, food, jukebox, leather to an extent

5) What do you think is the strongest part of OO:SoS' gameplay?

6) What would you say is the weakest?

7) How likely are you to play OO:SoS again?

very

8) If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?

9) Final thoughts about the game:

I love this game
1) Upon playing for the first time, how well did you understand the rules/game objectives?
I was shit, but rules were easy enough, only a few technical rules regarding core protection i did not get.
2) What are your opinions on game length? At which (if any) point during the game did you feel either team wasn't making much progress?
Currently i feel games are too short, i prefered earlier games where the average would be atleast an hour, now with better people and the very popular sky bridge a game can end in under 5 mins, and myself and the Pale Pass team found out.
3) What do you believe is the most valuable resource in OO:SoS?
Myself, nothing does better than a fist to solve all issues
4) What do you feel is the most useless?
Perhaps the potion items now, it has been a while since i have seen potions brought into a game
5) What do you think is the strongest part of OO:SoS' gameplay?
Skybridging, i tactic which was good in the beginnings and used by a few of us but now it has caught on and it is getting repedative
6) What would you say is the weakest?
Weakest issue...ah issues with the bed being on the planets, perhaps a platform/room in the stands? to stop the insta spawning whilst you are attacking.
7) How likely are you to play OO:SoS again?
If there is a game and i am online i play, no questions
8) If you could change one aspect of the game, what would it be?
In my opinion i think for a while, and this can be just testing but we limit block height to perhaps 20 above the planets, just to stop the OP and repetition of skybridging, i would like to see more of the obscure tactics emerge again
9) Final thoughts about the game:
Amazing game, hats of to the creaters and Sal for hosting countless games. We need a 20v20 game...i know its hard to orginize, but imagine it!

posting my outdated incomplete survey answers \o/

3) What do you believe is the most valuable resource in OO:SoS?
fish it's hard to peg just one. wood is probably the most essential, as you basically can't make anything at all without it. in absence of all other materials you could probably get by with wood alone, since it can be used for both tools and bridge-building, plus it's more durable, more plentiful, and obtained just as fast as (if not faster than) dirt. in terms of total value i'd say wood > cobblestone > dirt. if you had no cobblestone, you could get by with wooden tools. but if you had no wood, you'd be screwed: no sticks to make weapons, no picks to harvest cobble, no workbenches for complex crafts - your only means of combat would be punching; your only means of construction would be dirt harvested by hand. that said, since only a relatively small amount of wood is necessary to function, cobblestone and dirt are worth a lot more at the margin. as far as items go, mass swords and arrows rank highly, and i find iron and diamond to be widely underutilized - often saved for undefined contingencies that never occur.

4) What do you feel is the most useless?
gold is easily number one, its lack of utility is compounded by the fact there are only -- what, four ingots on the map? netherrack and soul sand seem like hey have potential for impeding early-game rushes, but i've never seen them implemented effectively. usually they get used for bridge-building when there's no time to collect dirt - and that's if they get used at all. same deal for cacti, minus the bridgepower (i often forget we even have them). still, i think a clever person could find effective uses for all of them.

while grown food is pretty worthless, i find myself eating pork chops whenever i'm alive for a long time, just 'cause it's a lot more convenient than stashing your stuff and killing yourself - especially now that most matches involve fending off a constant rush. you could probably get away with having, like, half as many chops available (per chest? i forget if any besides the starting chests have them). i also disagree with anyone badmouthing potions, i think they have a lot of potential, it just hasn't been fully tapped yet. mostly they get wasted on "the grind". ps why no ghast tears and magma cream? regeneration and fire resistance potions both have a lot of potential.

also, i forget what all is in the quality of life chests, but i'm sure there's some useless stuff in there. i rarely if ever see anyone go for them, since they're so far out and there's not much good in them besides cobblestone. it might be worthwhile to put some extra wood or dirt in there too? i dunno they kinda need some further consideration.

5) What do you think is the strongest part of OO:SoS' gameplay?
i am impressed that the game is so simple in concept and design, and yet incorporates so many of the game's elements. almost every available item has a distinct use, even if a few are only novel. the game lends itself well to a number of different strategies (if your team can coordinate well enough to execute them), none of which has proven optimal yet. in the twenty-some games i've played, the dominant strategy has evolved considerably: the first bunch of games were won by a lack of vigilance, jerks sneaking through the front door when nobody was looking. eventually (after some whining) we wised up, started keeping better watch, fortifying the front of the planet, and (after a few fatal incidents) not making contact before the you've slept. once players learned to deal with the direct approach, indirect approaches came into favor. now more bridges are being built at different levels - especially high ones, which are difficult for defenders to observe, provide a height advantage in projectile warfare, and can't be easily accessed from the enemy side. how these are countered remains to be seen.

and that, i think, is what the coolest thing is! the fact that the metagame is still evolving is proof of the game's richness. i have a dozen ideas for wild and wacky new tactics - i can't wait to play a dozen more games so i'll get to test them out. :>

6) What would you say is the weakest?
not sure yet. for now i'd say it's balanced enough, i wouldn't recommend making any more changes until the metagame changes for good.

7) How likely are you to play OO:SoS again?
like twelve hundred percent