The reliability of WOL is affecting multi-player for U.S. Players

[NO_SQDeriku777]

This game is great but it gets progressively more expensive for new players that want to play multi-player and have access to all the planes. If there is no reliable server to play on then this game is not worth the price of admission for multi-payer. I own BOS/BOM and 4 premium planes, and that gives me enough options to play on most maps. That is maybe over $120 at a non-sale price. How could I advise anyone in the U.S. considering buying the game to play multi-player to shell out that sort of money if there is no reliable pick-up server to play in the U.S. Timezone. If we are going to continue with WOL as the main multi-player alternative then I would plead with the Devs to reach out and give the WOL admins some sort of real incentive to keep this server up and running 24/7, because when it goes down after hours and there is no one to reset it, the multi-player experience is effectively kaput. Campaign servers are not drop-in replacements for WOL. WOL is the place that all new players go to learn to fly without icons and when it is down the game is down from a multi-player standpoint for many people.

[TXSailor_1]

This game is great but it gets progressively more expensive for new players that want to play multi-player and have access to all the planes. If there is no reliable server to play on then this game is not worth the price of admission for multi-payer. I own BOS/BOM and 4 premium planes, and that gives me enough options to play on most maps. That is maybe over $120 at a non-sale price. How could I advise anyone in the U.S. considering buying the game to play multi-player to shell out that sort of money if there is no reliable pick-up server to play in the U.S. Timezone. If we are going to continue with WOL as the main multi-player alternative then I would plead with the Devs to reach out and give the WOL admins some sort of real incentive to keep this server up and running 24/7, because when it goes down after hours and there is no one to reset it, the multi-player experience is effectively kaput. Campaign servers are not drop-in replacements for WOL. WOL is the place that all new players go to learn to fly without icons and when it is down the game is down from a multi-player standpoint for many people.

 

Uh... no.

 

WOL isn't the be all and end all. In fact, one of my first lessons as a new guy was to avoid WOL. And when I chose to venture in and experience it for myself, I agree, that it's not the place we want to send our new players. Subsidizing an individual server that ISN'T provided entirely by the devs is ridiculous. 

[NO_SQDeriku777]

Uh... no.

 

WOL isn't the be all and end all. In fact, one of my first lessons as a new guy was to avoid WOL. And when I chose to venture in and experience it for myself, I agree, that it's not the place we want to send our new players. Subsidizing an individual server that ISN'T provided entirely by the devs is ridiculous.

 

Please fire up the server browser and tell me where exactly I can play in a populated multi-player server right now. Edited August 24, 2017 by NO_SQDeriku777

[ShamrockOneFive]

Are we talking about WOL or server reliability? Two separate subjects really.

 

Server reliability regardless of server is important and I've noticed that the thing seems to crash and dump players during map changes pretty regularly. It'd be nice to see that work better for sure. While its working... its glorious!

[=IL2AU=chappyj]

Wol is just one server

For some reason people seem to prefer it and only it even to the point of where it is offline they don't play another server which is bizarre

The only reason it's popular is because it's popular if that makes sense

 

 

I found this odd when I built an aussie server only to find aussie preferred wol anyway

 

At the end of the day this says more about the average wol il2 player than the developers

Edited August 24, 2017 by =WFPK=chappyj

[Thad]

You want to complain about the cost of planes? Go check out DCS plane offerings!

 

Monetarily, BOS, BOM and BOK planes are a great deal in comparison.

[NO_SQDeriku777]

Are we talking about WOL or server reliability? Two separate subjects really.

 

Server reliability regardless of server is important and I've noticed that the thing seems to crash and dump players during map changes pretty regularly. It'd be nice to see that work better for sure. While its working... its glorious!

The two subjects are linked though. If WOL crashes during European prime time it is usually dealt with because people are awake to fix it. The increase WOL crashes during U.S. Evening prime time without people to reset the server COMPLETLY kills the momentum of multi-player. Many of the people that were playing on WOL just before the crash don't migrate to an alternate server, probably because they are tied to WOL because of their stats. The 'stickyness' of WOL combined with these server crashes is having a real adverse impact on multi-player. I agree on the 'glorious' part. This is the best multi-player game I have ever played, hands down. That makes the frustration of not being able to play it after a hard day at work, all the worse.

[Gump]

Wol is just one server

For some reason people seem to prefer it and only it even to the point of where it is offline they don't play another server which is bizarre

The only reason it's popular is because it's popular if that makes sense

 

 

I found this odd when I built an aussie server only to find aussie preferred wol anyway

 

At the end of the day this says more about the average wol il2 player than the developers

.

this is one of the great mysteries in life.

.

for the US (low ping), new wings wargrounds would be an excellent alternative, but it remains deserted every time I look at it. and it remains available still. I don't know what the ping of that server is outside the US, and maybe that is a part of the issue? many players are outside the US, and MP servers are liked when there are a lot of players involved.

.

this kind of game would really benefit from some sort of lobby system that would notify subscribers (email or text) about planned and currently active sessions/servers. gotta wonder how many ppl look at the MP server list for a brief window of time and, if they don't see any activity, go away. could be 100 ppl looking at the server list and seeing a 0/84 for the server they would be interested in, so they leave.

[NO_SQDeriku777]

You want to complain about the cost of planes? Go check out DCS plane offerings!

 

Monetarily, BOS, BOM and BOK planes are a great deal in comparison.

I wouldn't even compare this game with DCS. This game is hands down better and yes the planes are abetter deal. I am just observing that the cost of entry goes up for brand new players with each new module released, particularly if you want to play on like WOL with a diverse set of maps that requires you to own BOM/BOS if you want to make sure you can fly on every map. People making that sort of investment would probably like to have some assurance of getting access to a reliable consistent multiplayer experience. Not the current experience where every 3rd or 4th weeknight in the U.S. the multiplayer population crashes because WOL went down for the night.

[NO_SQDeriku777]

.

this is one of the great mysteries in life.

.

for the US (low ping), new wings wargrounds would be an excellent alternative, but it remains deserted every time I look at it. and it remains available still. I don't know what the ping of that server is outside the US, and maybe that is a part of the issue? many players are outside the US, and MP servers are liked when there are a lot of players involved.

.

this kind of game would really benefit from some sort of lobby system that would notify subscribers (email or text) about planned and currently active sessions/servers. gotta wonder how many ppl look at the MP server list for a brief window of time and, if they don't see any activity, go away. could be 100 ppl looking at the server list and seeing a 0/84 for the server they would be interested in, so they leave.

The problem is the transition in player composition from the European player base to the American player base is gradual (from 23:00 GMT to around 02:00 GMT) and the momentum stays with WOL. Plus don't underestimate the value that people attach to their stats. People gotta keep their streaks going and stay up on the leaderboard. Edited August 24, 2017 by NO_SQDeriku777

[DickDong]

TAW, Random Expert, Finnish Dynamic War, Coconut Expert, OP expand your horizons. If this doesnt suit you, get waist deep in the mission editor and create something we can use in the Americas and Pacific. WoL makes me vomit alittle. The problem is identified, who has the time and patience for the solution?

Edited August 24, 2017 by Banzaii

[Cybermat47]

Please fire up the server browser and tell me where exactly I can play in a populated multi-player server right now.

Well, I just had some great sorties in TAW, and tbh I'd say I now prefer TAW to WOL.

[Boaty-McBoatface]

Uh... no.

 

WOL isn't the be all and end all. In fact, one of my first lessons as a new guy was to avoid WOL. And when I chose to venture in and experience it for myself, I agree, that it's not the place we want to send our new players. Subsidizing an individual server that ISN'T provided entirely by the devs is ridiculous.

Take your head out of the sand please sir. Whether we like it or not, as far as multiplayer goes , this sim is WOL. Without this server numbers go through the floor in an instant. Everyone gives up and logs off. For the sake of this entire sim there needs to be something done about this server. WOL, by and large, is BOX. There's no 2 ways about it.

 

It's an unfortunate business but simple fact is the player base doesn't allow for a range of popular servers. For now there will always be a focal point for the fighting.

Edited August 24, 2017 by temujin

[US63_SpadLivesMatter]

I would hope that the non-gps servers get a bit more popular once we have more varied terrain to navigate by. I did really enjoy the sortie I had on TAW.

 

Don't know if that is part of it, but it is for me. Not because I can't navigate, but because it is just a pain. I barely have time to play as it is, so I'd like to be able to get to where I'm going to get shot down with not much fuss.

Edited August 24, 2017 by hrafnkolbrandr

[InProgress]

I think reason why people choose wol is gps, not everyone wants to fly around and get lost. Also 80+ slots is nice

[=IL2AU=chappyj]

best thing that could happen for the sim is for wol to go offline for 6 months imo

 

and i say that as a regular WOL player

[[_FLAPS_]Grim]

my 2cents

 

-nobody stops you from setting up a server

 

-it would be great if there were 2-3 official servers with different settings

[KaC_Richard_Rogers]

I have no issue with WoL and I think that you are mistaken to think if we take the same crowd to another sever suddenly it will be all unicorns, leather whips and rainbows.

 

WoL mission structure suits me as we can come and go as life allows, they have stats (do wish they had by aircraft like in RoF) and most importantly their missions do not have AI.

 

Could there be improvements at WoL like limiting team stacking of greater than 2 to 1; yes. Could some missions be redesigned to remove the gamey aspects of bombers flying 100% of the way to and from the target while in the clouds; yes. Could...; yes.

 

I understand that the reliability is an issue and it is very frustrating when life gives you a small window, but the hate shown for WoL should be directed at the participants who make it such rather than the people who make it available i.e. it is like blaming your ISP because of idiots on the internet.

[Boaty-McBoatface]

best thing that could happen for the sim is for wol to go offline for 6 months imo

 

and i say that as a regular WOL player

You're reasoning being that it would force people to play without GPS, I'm guessing?

[LLv34_Wmaker]

What if sometime in the future the developers would produce some kind of dynamic war setups/servers with more features/value (...and obviously reliability) which would only be available through a monthly subscription (9$ a month for example) in addition to the current multiplayer server system (which would remain free just like now)?

 

The question is of course would there be enough paying subscribers to justify the development/maintenance/administration of such a setup. The multiplayer numbers are quite small now but hopefully more multiplayer oriented players will take to the sim in the future. Jason always says that more people need to buy the games to keep the development going. Monthly subscription would provide one source of steady revenue.

Edited August 24, 2017 by LLv34_Wmaker

[Asgar]

This game is great but it gets progressively more expensive for new players that want to play multi-player and have access to all the planes. If there is no reliable server to play on then this game is not worth the price of admission for multi-payer. I own BOS/BOM and 4 premium planes, and that gives me enough options to play on most maps. That is maybe over $120 at a non-sale price. How could I advise anyone in the U.S. considering buying the game to play multi-player to shell out that sort of money if there is no reliable pick-up server to play in the U.S. Timezone. If we are going to continue with WOL as the main multi-player alternative then I would plead with the Devs to reach out and give the WOL admins some sort of real incentive to keep this server up and running 24/7, because when it goes down after hours and there is no one to reset it, the multi-player experience is effectively kaput. Campaign servers are not drop-in replacements for WOL. WOL is the place that all new players go to learn to fly without icons and when it is down the game is down from a multi-player standpoint for many people.

take some money into your own hand. and make a server. Tada! you got a US timezone server

[Boaty-McBoatface]

take some money into your own hand. and make a server. Tada! you got a US timezone server

everyone appreciates the valuable input there from you sir.

 

Enough of that codswallop. This is a real issue. Fact of the matter is, by and large, WOL is BOX. For the sake of this entire sim, something needs to be done to allow players to access multiplayer reliably across all timezones.

Edited August 24, 2017 by temujin

[Chief_Mouser]

 

 

Fact of the matter is, by and large, WOL is BOX.

 

No it isn't. You might as well say that Brazil was a major combatant in WW2.

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Three servers, in my opinion, are dramatically better than Wings of Liberty. coconut's servers have something for everyone and are extremely entertaining even all by yourself, DED's Random Expert has a healthy multiplayer environment and realistic portrayal of war (also very easy to navigate since all targets are down rivers and roads), and TAW is excellent for getting an intense experience in the air.

 

Also, a correction to something said previously here: you don't need to own the map to be able to flying it online.

[Jade_Monkey]

I agree that WOL is dominating the MP arena but i dont think fixing WOL is the solution.

 

Instead of whining, we should just set up a US equivalent with stats and all. Who is going to create missions? Who is going to pay for server costs?

Who is going to maintain and moderate the server?

 

Those are the real questions.

[Herne]

Three servers, in my opinion, are dramatically better than Wings of Liberty. coconut's servers have something for everyone and are extremely entertaining even all by yourself, DED's Random Expert has a healthy multiplayer environment and realistic portrayal of war (also very easy to navigate since all targets are down rivers and roads), and TAW is excellent for getting an intense experience in the air.

 

Also, a correction to something said previously here: you don't need to own the map to be able to flying it online.

 

 

Some good suggestions there. TAW and RE are down for inter campaign dev atm. I've grown to like the finnish dynamic server in their absence.

 

WOL is usually just full during my prime time sim time, but I prefer to play on the more persistent arena's anyway.

[sergio_]

[...] it gets progressively more expensive for new players that want to play multi-player and have access to all the planes. If there is no reliable server to play on then this game is not worth the price of admission for multi-payer. I own BOS/BOM and 4 premium planes, and that gives me enough options to play on most maps. [...]

 

I don't agree. You don't need to buy everything. You can play on most maps just with a standard BOS. If the point is having all the planes, we are not talking about an "entry price" nor the "price of admission". Besides, multiplayer is just a feature included in the price.

 

 

[...] I would plead with the Devs to reach out and give the WOL admins some sort of real incentive to keep this server up and running 24/7, because when it goes down after hours and there is no one to reset it, the multi-player experience is effectively kaput.[...]

 

If WOL was to close I don't think IL2 multiplayer would die. People would find another server to be all together, because at the end that's the point. In online gaming, as it has been said, people go where there is people, and there are servers, just with what seem to be less popular options enabled. Having a variety of server gives variety to the IL2 multiplayer landscape, and that is more important than favoring a single server.

 

 

WOL is the place that all new players go to learn to fly without icons

 

WoL is great, and it is a good place (while not the only one) to learn online fighting, I give you that, but as a newcommer myself, I have not and would never choose WoL to learn to fly without icons, and I don't think it's "the place that all new players choose" to do so, unles you have numbers, in which case I'll take my words back.

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Herne, I didn't list the Finnish server because I didn't get to fly there yet but you're right - it looks incredible and should grow

 

I don't think creating new servers does anything, because there are dozens of empty ones already, and most are pretty decent on their own right. People just need to put down the devotion to WoL a little bit and experiment more. If 10 from the 80 people in WoL went to coconut's at any given time, they'd have the time of their lives there. Not sure if it's still popular or running but a year ago or so there was Fighting Legends and it was great - intense dogfights, nice objectives and it didn't need 80 people to be cool.

[ShamrockOneFive]

I wouldn't even compare this game with DCS. This game is hands down better and yes the planes are abetter deal. I am just observing that the cost of entry goes up for brand new players with each new module released, particularly if you want to play on like WOL with a diverse set of maps that requires you to own BOM/BOS if you want to make sure you can fly on every map. People making that sort of investment would probably like to have some assurance of getting access to a reliable consistent multiplayer experience. Not the current experience where every 3rd or 4th weeknight in the U.S. the multiplayer population crashes because WOL went down for the night.

 

Maps are available for access to all players regardless of which module they own which is pretty good. I've seen aircraft available on pretty much all scenarios that offered at least one of Moscow or Stalingrad aircraft sets to fly.

 

It does get more challenging to offer options as time goes on but I recommend people start with the Stalingrad module and then get the others as time/money allow. This gets them in at a good level with a diverse set of aircraft that work across the scenarios.

Edited August 24, 2017 by ShamrockOneFive

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

everyone appreciates the valuable input there from you sir.

 

Enough of that codswallop. This is a real issue. Fact of the matter is, by and large, WOL is BOX. For the sake of this entire sim, something needs to be done to allow players to access multiplayer reliably across all timezones.

 

Just because you keep attempting to make an issue out of something and repeat it vigorously don't mean that it's correct or that it is an issue.

 

Asgar provided the ONLY sufficient answer. To provide that access, somebody needs to quit bitching and pony up the cash/know-how to get it done.

[Herne]

Just because you keep attempting to make an issue out of something and repeat it vigorously don't mean that it's correct or that it is an issue.

 

Asgar provided the ONLY sufficient answer. To provide that access, somebody needs to quit bitching and pony up the cash/know-how to get it done.

 

I suppose if the issue, behind the rant is that WoL sometimes crashes, while the admins are asleep, during USA prime sim time, then perhaps one solution might be to for him to volunteer his services as a USA admin, with server restart privileges. 

 

Maybe the server admins would like the idea, or maybe they wouldn't but either way, there would certainly be no harm done to ask.

[NO_SQDeriku777]

take some money into your own hand. and make a server. Tada! you got a US timezone server

Have you not read anything I wrote? I could stand up an 80 slot server today with15 ping and no one would play on it because of the momentum that TAW has and the way people are tied to their TAW stats. That's like saying spend 3 million and start your own social network to compete with Facebook.

Three servers, in my opinion, are dramatically better than Wings of Liberty. coconut's servers have something for everyone and are extremely entertaining even all by yourself, DED's Random Expert has a healthy multiplayer environment and realistic portrayal of war (also very easy to navigate since all targets are down rivers and roads), and TAW is excellent for getting an intense experience in the air.

Also, a correction to something said previously here: you don't need to own the map to be able to flying it online.

By maps, I really mean plane set associated with the maps. Some maps really push you into using specific planes. If you don't own those planes you will not have much fun at all. TAW, for example is not consistently playable unless you own the right planes. You can only play 1/3D or less of a TAW campaign if you only own BOS.

 

While I appreciate that some people might enjoy flying in low population servers such as Coconut's I suspect most people that play multiplayer are looking for more in the way of human opponents.

 

The release of the Spitfire and the upcoming release of the P-39, A-20, is really supposed to attract more U.S. Players which is crucial to the future of the franchise. Unless these server issues are resolved that surge in sales may not come. The sim is beautiful, the planes are beautiful, the graphics are beautiful, and all of that is undermined by the multiplayer situation in the U.S. Timezone.

Edited August 24, 2017 by NO_SQDeriku777

[NO_SQDeriku777]

take some money into your own hand. and make a server. Tada! you got a US timezone server

You live in Germany. That is easy for you to say. You never have to experience this crap. Why should I have to stump up the money for a server that no one will lay on because of the reasons I mentioned in previous posts. Would you really do that if our positions were reversed?

Edited August 24, 2017 by NO_SQDeriku777

[DickDong]

A US server could thrive if it had a good community to help new players along. WoL has some of the most ridiculous behavior in the air and on chat that Ive seen in a flight sim. Ive even kicked myself for acting like a fool occasionally. OP if you want WoL to be the first representation of MP in this sim for new and returning vets, we are screwed as a mp community.

Players act like clowns and can be rude to new players and scare them away.........then for those who are vets tryinv BoX MP out:lets frustrate sim vets without courteous behavior and setting that are normal for every sim accept WT.

 

Take ATAG in Cliffs of Dover, the sim is getting long in the tooth IMO, but the dudes on the server everynight going out of thier way to help, friendly voices (99%) of the time build a place ppl want to be. By the way there is no GPS on this server and ppl learn just fine.Explicit behavior is bannable in game, on TS and in the forums. The mission setup is essentially what TAW is with stats but a better ping to US players since server isnt in Poland.

 

 

A TAWesque server in the US would rock. I'd even contribute to running a server and updating missions if RL wasnt a factor. There is someone out there who does have the time and recources, just a matter of time.

Edited August 24, 2017 by Banzaii

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Lots of people have created their own servers in response to hangups with WoL (ping, reliability, player behaviour, mission style, settings). The problem is some players really do hang onto their stats or the WoL brand. Next time it's down, go to coconut's or the Finnish server for a while and take your friends along, you'd be surprised at how refreshing it is

[NO_SQDeriku777]

A US server could thrive if it had a good community to help new players along. WoL has some of the most ridiculous behavior in the air and on chat that Ive seen in a flight sim. Ive even kicked myself for acting like a fool occasionally. OP if you want WoL to be the first representation of MP in this sim for new and returning vets, we are screwed as a mp community.

Players act like clowns and can be rude to new players and scare them away.........then for those who are vets tryinv BoX MP out:lets frustrate sim vets without courteous behavior and setting that are normal for every sim accept WT.

Take ATAG in Cliffs of Dover, the sim is getting long in the tooth IMO, but the dudes on the server everynight going out of thier way to help, friendly voices (99%) of the time build a place ppl want to be. By the way there is no GPS on this server and ppl learn just fine. This is essentially what TAW is with stats but a better ping to US players since server isnt in Poland.

A TAWesque server in the US would rock. I'd even contribute to running a server and updating missions if RL wasnt a factor. There is someone out there who does have the time and recources, just a matter of time.

Several attempts have been made. Even a modest effort like Saturday Night Bomber nights ( whch I really enjoyed) collapsed because there just was not enough interest.

[SCG_Space_Ghost]

"WOL is offline but I won't join Coconut's server because of low population" is an incredibly flawed and weak argument.

[NO_SQDeriku777]

Lots of people have created their own servers in response to hangups with WoL (ping, reliability, player behaviour, mission style, settings). The problem is some players really do hang onto their stats or the WoL brand. Next time it's down, go to coconut's or the Finnish server for a while and take your friends along, you'd be surprised at how refreshing it is

I really wish the Devs/marketing people would get more involved in promoting special events and incentivizing play on alternate servers. These problems are not going to get solved without some serious nudging.

Edited August 24, 2017 by NO_SQDeriku777

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

Only issue I see I just not enough players. This is the reason for only one WOL full and when it is down there are just empty places. Yes we should find another one but which and when with who (250 online but only 10 on Bos TS) - good luck to organize this ... It would be better if we have just three servers Or we can agree to join other one in case of WOL down

Edited August 24, 2017 by 307_Tomcat

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

What can the devs do though? 'Hey kids go play at the new server'?

 

In a multiplayer community environment you need to take action yourself. When the crowd I flew with on FNBF didn't like the lack of VVS squadrons and players, we got together and created a unit and a year on it's the best place to be.

 

In this case, get your WoL friends, get a rival squadron, make an event twice a week where you go to a less-popular server and play there. Make a culture of going to the second most popular server when you go online, a few people will eventually flock along