RO2 Classic Mode Vs. RO:OST

[mattlach]

hey all,

So I am curious. If you are still playing RO:OST instead of RO2, even after the patch that brought us Classic Mode (which is fantastic, btw.) why is it?

I'm not trying to create a flame war, but rather trying to understand what still keeps some people playing RO:OST

IMHO, Classic mode has addressed all the concerns the community had with RO2, and I have been having a blast with it.

[AsoBit]

You know, RO: Ost and RO2 are still very different games and that's cool. I feel there are still plenty of reasons to be playing RO:Ost as it does offer different gameplay with so many maps and vehicles and whatnot.

I am disappointed that the only decent ping server in Ost for me is a 24/7 Danzig server.

I probably have well over 300 hours playing RO: Ost and about 110 hours playing RO2, and I still see room for both in my life.

[Barber[FG]]

As I stated in the BETA a couple of months ago… my entire WWII blank fire reenacting unit completely ditch RO2 only a month after release. It was not the game we had expected to come from Tripwire.

Furthermore, the entire Freelance Gamers Group, Veterans of Darkest Hour, even had run our own server and custom maps, ditched the game as well because it carried very little over from what was excellent about the original Red Orchestra.

Now, after play testing the live R02 Classic mode I must say I’m very happy with it and I think it has a huge potential to be a great game mode for the future of all Red Orchestra Ost Front Vets, like myself.

I personally predict that a bunch of us old time RO OST Front vets will be returning to play RO2 Classic mode in the coming months!!! Right now however, we as a community could really use access to at least one more tank and one light armored transport so that we can utilize custom map conversions from the original Red Orchestra Ost Front.

As it is now, the current maps are a bit congested comparatively to some of the great maps in Red Orchestra Ost Front.

Anyway, the Freelance Gamers will be playing RO2 Classic mode in the coming months. Right now we have to re-organize our group and allow members to re-try the game. A few are really bitter with regard to the original release of RO2. However, this re-release or major patch I believe will set the stage for a big return of the player-base. Perhaps not immediately evident at this time… but in the coming months surely numbers will increase.

[mattlach]

Originally Posted by Barber[FG]

t a bunch of us old time RO OST Front vets will be returning to play RO2 Classic mode in the coming months!!!

I certainly hope so. I have to admit that my hidden agenda in starting this discussion was to get RO1 vets who have tried RO2's classic mode's input to try to convince more people to try it, as unfortunately classic mode player numbers are dwindling.

I would LOVE to have an active classic mode community.

[Barber[FG]]

Originally Posted by mattlach

I certainly hope so. I have to admit that my hidden agenda in starting this discussion was to get RO1 vets who have tried RO2's classic mode's input to try to convince more people to try it, as unfortunately classic mode player numbers are dwindling.

I would LOVE to have an active classic mode community.

As far as my group of contacts is concerned, we only just started to get the word out this past week to our clan mates.
Thursday evening: (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) A few of my Clan mates and I plan to play for four or five hours; possibly starting around 5:30pm. If you can join find us on one of the Classic Servers, join in! We will be the dudes with the [FG] tag at the end of our names. There might only be four of five of us this time, but that number is likely to grow until we decide to get a server of our own or not.

[mattlach]

Originally Posted by Barber[FG]

As far as my group of contacts is concerned, we only just started to get the word out this past week to our clan mates.
Thursday evening: (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) A few of my Clan mates and I plan to play for four or five hours; possibly starting around 5:30pm. If you can join find us on one of the Classic Servers, join in! We will be the dudes with the [FG] tag at the end of our names. There might only be four of five of us this time, but that number is likely to grow until we decide to get a server of our own or not.

Well, for now, you are more than welcome to join me on ours:
[2.FJg] Tactical Classic - TE : IP: 70.42.74.114

Oddly enough, all last week the server would fill up at 64 players every day for several hours, but suddenly on Sunday player counts dropped, and haven't recovered since. Trying to understand why so suddenly...

There are a few people on now, so I plan on hopping on.

[Floyd]

Originally Posted by Barber[FG]

As far as my group of contacts is concerned, we only just started to get the word out this past week to our clan mates.
Thursday evening: (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada) A few of my Clan mates and I plan to play for four or five hours; possibly starting around 5:30pm. If you can join find us on one of the Classic Servers, join in! We will be the dudes with the [FG] tag at the end of our names. There might only be four of five of us this time, but that number is likely to grow until we decide to get a server of our own or not.

I'm running the three custom maps that are out for the new version on a customized classic server. Feel free to try it out as well. The server options are VERY customizable now.

[Flogger23m]

Originally Posted by AsoBit

I am disappointed that the only decent ping server in Ost for me is a 24/7 Danzig server.

Same for me. If this was not the case I would play RO OST more.

As for the games I much prefer RO OST. RO2 Classic is good, but still has some bugs, feels a bit clunky in some areas, and made some changes I don't like. There is also a lack of servers and good content.

I could probably grow to really enjoy RO2 Classic assuming the bugs get fixed and more people started playing, but I doubt that will happen.

[REZ]

The interplay between the differing mechanics in Ostfront was pure gold. It was the way they fit together, the symbiosis of how the disparate mechanics played on one another is what made it so great. They could have started there and then added mantling, bullet penetration and the smoother MG mechanics and they would have had a near perfect game. No need to reinvent the wheel. Instead they were intent on a total redefinition of the title, golden mechanics and all. We see how that went.

Combined Arms and Ostfront were a very specific period of time in gaming for me, and I'll always remember that time as one of the best overall gaming experiences I've ever taken part in. So much history there. I met a lot of people I would never have otherwise had the chance to interact with. Laughs, frustration, intense competition. It wasnt only the game, it was the people too.

I'll always look back at that period of time with reverence, and yes, future games have a high bar to live up to now because of CA and Ost. For all of this I thank Tripwire and I don't hold it against them for doing what they've done with HoS. I admit to having bitter feelings a month into release, but we're so far separated from that now. The book has long been closed; the ship has sailed as they say. I do hope there are people out there enjoying HoS the way we used to enjoy RO, I really do.. but for those that were there in those days, you know who you are, I have a feeling most of you feel the same way I do.

[Wodin]

I'm currently re downloading from Steam to see how it plays out. Fingers crossed.

[oldslowguy]

Totally + + + what REZ said, those were great times and I too fear those days are gone forever. But not forgotten! TWB*SlowBull

[GRIZZLY]

I had a damn good time with you SlowBull and REZ.

[BlackLabel]

yeah exactly...ro2 just fails to create the same tension ...

[Calumhm]

Hey slow, does TWB do Ostfront fight nights?

I would kill to be able to play a decent Ost map once a week, your EU server was perfect back in the day!

[oldslowguy]

Sorry I din't see your post until now. TBH, I don't think any TWB play RO1 anymore, and not that many play RO2 either, I may well be the most active RO player :{ now. I'm somewhat surprised if the TWB server(s) for RO1 are still up. I did hop on the Old Farts RO1 server this past Thursday eve for some good old RO1 fun, several of the "old regulars" were there and we had some great matches, I think it's a weekly thing for them, as well as maybe a "tank night", too. I really miss RO1 tanking, maybe simple, but it was sure fun. I usually work Thursday nights, but if I can, I will also try to join the OF thursday RO1 events. Anyone know if there's an Old Farts Steam group, for notifications of events? TWB*SlowBull

[REZ]

Yeah, SlowBull, it's basically Thursday night only on Old Farts. I check in there at about 6-7pm PST.

Other than that, TaT's Danzig almost always has some people playing on it. We try to seed either the TaT Infantry server or the Old Farts server at times during the week, which will yield about 5-7 players for a map or two, but then they get bored and move back to Danzig. It really takes about 10 people to seed an empty and draw in a full server.

There being two stateside stock/custom map servers that sit empty says to me a similar TWB server wouldnt change anything. Another server isn't what's needed, it's a group of about 10 guys who are committed to sitting on one of these existing servers for a couple of hours at a time. People will join.

One thing I've noticed though is a lot of new players (relative) after the recent Summer Steam sale, many of whom are saying they prefer Ostfront to HoS having bought both. The feedback you get from new players is interesting and confirming of the fact that something was lost with the sequel. When we tell them how close-knit the community used to be, the Ladder that used to exist, all of the killer maps that are out there that they likely won't experience with the full compliment of colorful individuals who used to bring this game to life - To a man they say 'why wasnt I playing this (Ostfront) years ago.'

It is still the great game it used to be. Whether it's Tripwire or not, I hope someone out there with the desire and ability would take this little rough gem and polish it up on a modern engine. And to be perfectly honest, it isnt even the WWII setting that is the real heart of this game, it is, as I said earlier in this thread, the mechanics and the resulting gameplay. You could have blue squares vs. red triangles with the Ostfront mechanics and the game would be a hit.

[Six_Ten]

For some reason my computer crashes randomly (out of memory errors) with RO2 and another game I play since I installed my new video card. Until I sort it out if I want a mp game, I go for RO. Ostfront rarely gets the error, so I've been playing it some.

Our clan has filled servers a couple of nights recently, started out on TaT Danzig and then after a few matches moved to the OF server, and others. It has been a lot of fun.

[oldslowguy]

Is there a RO1 Steam group, with "veteran" and "serious" players? Some of those RO1 maps were really great, I was just remembering FestungKurland, for example. TWB*SlowBull