Prior to that Russian server, which came out of nowhere with >32 slots, there was merely a spattering of requests for larger player counts... those were always met with a 'we cant do it because servers cant handle more than 32' response. I think the reason that higher player counts were never at the top of everyones wish list is because those who have been playing this game for years - those who comprise most of this forums members - know what kind of gameplay will come about with too many 'individual mentalities' packed into small maps not designed to handle 50.
So once TWI saw that they actually could up the player counts, the players themselves saw that it was possible - they of course had to rush it out, otherwise people would complain about it. But I think it would have been much more appropriate to tell the community to hold on for a bit while they get a grasp on the changing situation. They should have gone through with the latest additions minus the 50 slots part, designed some maps that would take advantage of 50 people - made just for that kind of population - and then released 50 slots say 1 or 2 patches down the line (with much more time stress testing), along with some cool new maps made just for it.. all at once instead of having this transition period. It would have been a much better way to go about it.
Now what you have is pure chaos - because the maps arent made for it. Some like this kind of gameplay, but it is nothing like Red Orchestra has ever been or in my eyes what it stood for in terms of gaming realism. There's no semblance of a 'frontline' ..it's pure deathmatch chaos. Forget about the actual point of the game which is land ownership, let's just blaze away at each other in ultra-tight spaces.
In their current state, 50 player servers are good for something, in that like flies to honey they attract the short attention span gamer - which in turn keeps them off of the more team oriented servers (if you can even say that about the average public server).
Yeah I'm in a clan, but I was a pubber for a long time. The two worlds are completely different in respect to everyone being on the same page, focused on the same goal, knowing their particular role for a particular map, ultimate communication so on and so forth.. it's no slam on public players, but you just dont get that level of play on public servers. I still play public servers to this day, so this isnt some kinda elitist rant, I actually have MUCH experience in both realms. Then I jump into a 50 player server and see the mayhem, the total individual mindset, the lack of focus toward capping.. then people try to tell me the gameplay is good..!? no way, no how. We need maps specifically for 50 people or it is simply a gimmick, that at this point is nothing more than deathmatch with WWII skins. The 'feeling' of Red Orchestra is lost on these servers.
(and before you go off saying I'm not being forced to play there - I know that, thank you - I'm just laying out my opinion after giving these servers a chance.. feedback as it were)
.![[Mad_Murdock]](/data/avatars/s/9/9417.jpg?1568638684){kind=avatar}
