TD Write Up

[Trojan]

Well another TD has been and gone and while some gaming goodness was had, we felt the LAN was below the usual high standards we like to set.

First of all we would like to send a big thanks to Nim and Nick who turned up at 7:30 in the morning to help with the set up and also to all those (too many to name) who stuck around and helped clean up after the day – and what a day it was.

What follows is a little insight into the trails and tribulations of running a LAN. Things were off to a bad bad start when we arrived to find the networking gear was not where it should be – it had been moved and to make matters worse moved to a location our key didn’t give us access to. Frantic phones calls were not answered and so a big thanks again to Nick who sped home to get his network gear. Also in the morning for no reason our all purpose server decided to contract a case of extreme Alzheimer's and trash its memory making it unusable. As a result all of our beautifully set up gaming servers had to be set up ad hoc (many of the server settings had to be “rediscovered”). While setting up the tables we also discovered that many of them were in a shocking state. They were unclean and\or broken. We cleaned a few and put aside the broken ones. Those that were not broken where were very “wobbly” and after a table collapse (thankfully with no injury or major damage – team or otherwise) we went out to buy some tape and taped all the suspect tables up so no more table dramas would occur. Then at about 10:25 and 47 seconds a large man wandered in very confused by our presence. The guy runs a portable LAZER skirmish company and was supposed to set up for a birthday party – we managed to get him set up in the gymnastic area. OK now we’re ready for some gaming.

Once the gaming got underway it was good. Just about everyone got involved in the Quake 3 CTF matches with a really close game to start with the team captained by Rogueagent just beating out the team captained by Gretchen. However the team captain by Moddy (who was overwhelmingly the number one choice for captain) managed to go through undefeated with Scorp on the attack and Mo Girks holding the fort this team was seldom troubled. After quake we broke for lunch and when we came on we got a massive, all hands on deck game of TF2. The teams chopped and changed so it wasn’t a real team player type game but a good time was had by all. People were burned, shot in the head, medics were backstabbed, heavy’s mowed down exposed enemies and glowing ubered soldiers sent those that oppose them scurrying for cover. All in all a good time. Next was a trip back in time to what is without doubt the single most popular RTS ever – starcraft- we split up with 2 lots of games each a 3 V 3 played on a map called “Razors thicket”. After this a few other game reared their heads. There was some quake 1 (sorry Nick) we saw some COD 4 but the biggest effort was by Lothlar who managed to get a great all in game of savage with much sword and claw waving fun for all.

So ultimately a decent LAN was salvaged form disastrous beginnings. We would like to thank all of those who attended and would like to let every one know that we have targeted the next LANs date as no later then first week in august (yet to be confirmed). When hopefully we will be able to have a much more hassle free LAN.

The TD crew

[Lothlar]

Nice recovery given the wall of problem :D.

All in all I'd echo what Scorp said and thank everyone for being a supportive unit - lots of issues were had but being able to just yell at lots of individual people, sharing out the problems with many solvers among the uncomplaining masses made this a pretty damn smooth event, despite the hiccups that could very well have ground this whole thing to a shuddering halt a dozen times over. Sure the polish wasn't there compared to the ideal TD but when the PCYC throws you moldy/broken tables, you make tape'n-aid constructs and go knife someone in the face (metaphorically speaking?).

Starcraft, you are still the love of my prepubescent life, but I'm sorry we've both aged some. You are just... clunky... and a spiteful bitch! Fancy sticking me smack in the middle of the hostile Zerg lines on spawn in the Shark-pit game. It remains to be seen if your mirror-sheen spawn-child can hook me back in, but at this time I'm really liking CoH/DoW2 for all their flaws... they actually require a brain not just fast fingers. IF ONLY THEY WORKED AT LAN.

[RogueAgent]

It was a good LAN from my perspective. A decent size turnout, plenty of gaming on offer and good participation from attendees. There was never a dull moment and the dreaded windows background was a scarce sight.

Also great to catch up with my Damage Incorporated clan mates. Top quality pub lunch went down a treat !

As for the venue, it does seem that the PCYC has lost its lustre of late. A lot of the equipment has aged and the basketball court is no longer suitable for what is now a 20-30 player event. It was great when TD was pushing the 100 player mark, but I really think that TD needs to explore new venues.

[XT²]

Will try to get me and some mates down next time, usually can't come due to hockey commitments though :(.

[|D!| Puddingfork]

^ Likewise, minus hockey commitments and the S in friends as I would only bring Shatter.

[|D!| lefty]

It was good to go to another TD :D Had heaps of fun, enjoyed the savage, havent played that in ages.

Hope its not too much longer before the next one!

[Sauce]

i agree was a good lan we had a good turn out, best i have been to only been to 3, was good to get almost everyone into almost every game made things alot more fun than having 5 different games at the same time