z fire

[Walrus]

Hi
An interesting thread this one.

I agree that the 'ping' of a hit is annoying, it would be great if it could be turned off.
However, it was added by the SPCAMO designers for their own reasons and will likely stay.

The heavy 'spray' is built into the z fire to limit it's over use. When z fire started to be heavily used, there was a large discussion at the SPCAMO test forums and eventually it was made 'less accurate" as a response.
So, in some situations, it has become far too inaccurate.

Just a reminder to GUNSLINGR, and others.
This game is base on antiquated code...maybe 15 years old now.
The SPCAMO guys have been modding this game now for near 10 years, mostly with no pay, and with the help of a small band of ever changing and already busy testers.

If you played the original game this code came from...and then A-B it against the latest versions...you would feel like you were playing a different game entirely!

In the process of adding feature and ironing out bugs, many limits to the potential changes have been found. The code reacts very badly. Sometimes a small change can trigger a large reaction somewhere else in the code.
So, the designers have learned to make small changes and then only after lots of testing.

Anyway....there are lots of issues with is game platform...some of the are a hassle, some are minor. Some are code related, some are in the process of being fixed. Some parameters have change making some players happy, and others not.
This is the way of it.

I prefer, unlike Czerpak, a decent discussion pre-game so that both players are happy with the set up. Because of all the variables, this seems to work best for me in getting a decent game.

I do not wish to make pre-agreement about z fire, for example, as there are many instances where it is a realistic tactic.
What I said earlier, and I'll stick with, is that when I find a player using a game system IMO unrealistically, or even in a gamey manner, I tend to avoid playing that player again. Not 'shunning them" as was suggested.
I have more potential opponents than time on my hands, so it makes sense to me to play guys who are 'on the same page' regarding how to get a FUN game of SP going.

Reiterating my earlier point. Some players are WAY too enamored of this feature. For many reasons I find it unrealistic...EOG accuracy correction well out of LOS for one...the ammo issue is another. So as I find players who rely on MASSES of z fire as their main tactic...I will tend to look for other player to battle against.

If it gets to the stage that I cannot find a battle of SP without having to withstand a tsunami of z fire every turn (or be able to watch a replay without it crashing due to too much data) then I guess my time as a SP player will have come to an end.
Sad but true.

I play to have fun first...and hopefully win in the process.

Most of the problems we as players seem to find 'gamey' or 'unsporting' or whatever tend to put winning before enjoyment.
When I see these issues, I tend to avoid them. It's human nature.
However it's also human nature to have differing views on things, which is why I try to give the benefit of the doubt and don't mind playing email ping pong for a couple of days in order to get the 'rules' for a battle to the liking of both players...no matter how few or many rules there might be.

It is a measure of that, that you will tend to play guys you play against often as many of the 'rules' or preferences are worked out in previous battles.

bla bla...I need a coffee.
These are all good points being made...a healthy thread, and I believe the first time z fire had been this heavily discussed.
I think discussion is a good thing.
Keep it up lads :-)

Cheers all
Walrus