PlanetFortress TF Mod Policy
On mods done with the TF code
— The PF Staff
This information is to explain how we will be treating the announcement and support of mods based on the TF code. Everyone has their own opinions. We have no direct control over what anyone does with the TF code but we do have a choice when it comes to reporting on them. I'm sure many of you will look at us as puppets or sell outs because we support TFS the way we do. There's nothing to we can do about that other than explain why we choose to support them and make our policy clear so you will all know where we stand.
Most of you probably have no clue of the position we are in. The problems we face daily are significant. Someone spends their time and effort to create a new mod based on the TF code and sends us the news asking if we can report it. TFS does not give their support or permission for this. So where does that leave us. How do we justify reporting this new mod when we support TFS the way we do. If we don't report the mod then we chance alienating the TF community. It is by far the most difficult thing we face on a regular basis.
While it takes great balance and dexterity, we choose to walk both sides of the fence. Actually we have been doing this all along. Now we are simply making it clear how this will be accomplished. In the past, at the TF Newswire, we did no hosting so the conflicts of interest were less complicated. Now that we have become PlanetFortress and do host sites, you would think we should host all things TF related. That will not be the case. We take all hosting request under consideration amongst the PF staff. If the hosting request comes from a unauthorized mod based on the TF code, it will not be hosted. If the hosting request is from a site that supports or is built around the development of an unauthorized TF mod, it will not be hosted. Simply put, we aren't going to host sites that have a majority of their content based on unauthorized mods built from the TF code.
Now here's what we will be doing. We will report on these mods. A disclaimer of sorts will be added to each report stating that TFS does not give authorization nor do they support the mod. Part of the problem here is that people who have complaints about the unauthorized mods pester TFS to fix these problems when in fact they have nothing to do with them. We aren't going to go out of our way to support these mods. If you have trouble with them, contact the makers of the unauthorized mod.
This issue goes much deeper than the simplistic way it is looked upon in general. I don't claim to understand all the inner workings of Copyright laws. Nor do I claim to understand peoples nature when it comes to their decision to develop unauthorized mods. I wonder if anyone has contacted TFS and asked for permission to do a TF mod. I wonder if anyone has the least bit of guilt for doing something that they must know is against the wishes of the ones they base their ideas on. Regardless of what any of you think, TFS has every right to deny permission for the making of mods for TF.
We hope this has cleared up any doubts on where we stand with TF mods. While we have taken and probably will continue to take a lot of heat for out policy, that's where we are at. As a side note if you are interested, TFS has in no way asked use to slant our policy to please them. As a rule we have no more contact with TFS than any one else. We set our policy by the way we feel and the way we think their wishes should be followed. Our decisions are based on honor and integrity, something that escapes the vast majority of people. The decisions we make are our own decisions and not dictated by any one including PlanetQuake. We are running PlanetFortress the way we wish based on our own convictions on what is right and wrong.
Thanks
PF Staff
Cheater & Hackers
Why are cheaters such idiots?
— UFO
There is some really funny things I find about TeamFortress... The First is, when we play on the corp seweat shop (our server) and I have qwadmin running, it finds some one cheating, I kick them out! It amazes me when they come back in to the game and say why was I kicked? (Oh and for thouse that are wondering qwadmin sends out a message to the quake game of who is cheating.) Are they really that stupid? It not like a every day bug in tf but, it's a cheat that they have to go out of there way to go find! Like the Glow pack's and the eyes. Then there are things like the auto aim and auto release. No not the auto aim that comes with QW. This auto aim aims the the target automaticly and the auto release... Well u get the message. Then there are people that are just beging to be kicked. They come in to our clan server and whne one of our members kills them they cry out some profanity. When u warn them they say in caps? Like wtf is that about? I don't know about people that hack to make a cheat for them selfs. Do they really think that ppl wont notice that a sniper can fire his sniper gun as fast as his fully automatic gun? WELL G SKIP? HOW DID U DO THAT? As far as clans go. Whats the point of a clan of HPB's playing all LPB's that are snipers? Like what gives mean while i get the U Removes from the dial up connection he guns me down. Just remembering something, In QW 2.21 servers can turn off water vis. Water vis is just like haveing a low ping. It's an advantage! They turn off my only advantage GL water. Too bad they can't develope somthing that turn off lpb! Well what I am trying to say is I think anyone that cheats is a loser, and has no skills.
THX ܃ô
Guilds
Why guilds suck
— MisTer 6
I was going to come out with a tongue lashing of mighty proportions, but
all I can think of is...
"they suck" :)
No, actually since everybody and their grandma is starting a guild (for TF
classes) I fail to see the point of them. Or at least the vision of why one
is started is getting blurred. They were intentionally meant for players
who are seen to be in the upper crusts of their particular classes. Since
some players can't get into a guild they go off and start one of their own.
This takes the edge off the original idea! But there's always the argument
that because you can't get into a particualr guild you're just not known in
the right circles. On the other hand, if you're so good why aren't you
known to 'them' then?
Then there's the clans that seem to stock-pile these players. They know
who they are. The arguement against this is, maybe the guild players looked
for a good clan to be in in the first place. Let's face it, if you're clan
is just starting out and you're looking for players, the first players you
look for are GREAT players. Hecki (the Quake god in my circle of friends :)
knows that to have a good clan one must have good players. Guild players
aren't going to want to chance it with clans just starting out. The sad
fact is that some new clans fold after a while, mostly for good reasons. So
they go to clans who are organized and have a good core already set in
place. Or the guild players start their own clan with their buds.
The idea of guilds goes a little ways from the main idea of TEAMfortress
anyways. The way I see it, if you're going to be in a guild you have to be
able to go out on your own and 'own' a few of your opponents. (this traces
back to the one-on-one killers) You put the same person in a clan, s/he
might possibly not like the fact that s/he might have to watch a post. Get
a little too excited or bored, go off and try to cap a flag on their own.
Leaving a hole in some defencive position. While a good fragger is worth a
lot to a clan a few players that aren't as skilled, that work well with
each other, is worth a lot more.
Still, after those things are said and done, the people let into guilds
aren't actually the best at what they do. There's ALWAYS somebody better
than you. The players that are in the guild may just have happened to be in
the right place at the right time possibly. Or they know the leader of the
guild and kick his butt on a regular bases.
MisTer 6
PS: Above views are mine and mine alone. You should know the drill by now! :)
*and no I'm not in a guild!
THE SUBJECT OF...SPAM
How can we stop it?
— Col.Neutron =C=
When I first immersed myself fully into the world of TF, it wasn't
long before I began seeing the term "spam" used on a frequent basis. For
no particular reason I assumed the term was in reference to players who
insist on hitting their message macroes over and over. A guy gets a few
lucky frags and suddenly all you see is "DIE JERK OFF!!!" scrolling by
again and again...causing you to miss important team messages like
"INCOMING!" and such.
Eventually I began to realize the term was not meant in that way but
instead...referred to players who get carried away with their grenades.
However...I'm still a little confused about what EXACTLY constitutes
spam. Take this example...
I'm a Pyro on 2fort5. I make my way into the enemy base and up to the
area outside the main supply room. I run into an enemy Soldier so the
two of us start duking it out one-on-one. Suddenly the Soldier breaks
off and BOLTS into his supply room. Obviously I was getting the better
of him so he's gone off to get health and fresh armor. Now...in MY
opinion...we're still in the middle of a fight so I don't hesitate to
toss a couple'a napalms at the door. The "AH!" sound confirms I got a
piece of him when he tried to come out. But he DOESN'T come out. Even
when the napalms burn up. Instead...he stays in the supply room and I
have to listen to "LAME ASS FRIKIN PYRO SPAMMER!!!" for the next 10
minutes.
Is that spam? I don't think so. He knew I was there and he knew I was
waiting for him. It's not like I ran into the enemy base with the SOLE
intention of dumping all my grenades at the door in the hopes of getting
some easy frags on guys who just re-spawned. I see that all the time. It
happened a few nights ago on the Navy Seals server. A Demo and a Pyro
did NOTHING but toss grenades at the supply room door the entire game.
No Seals were involved, of course...but it made me understand what kind
of spam is frowned on.
My point is...it seems like alot of players are VERY QUICK to yell
"SPAM!" whenever they get hit with a grenade in the vicinity of their
supply room. Even when you're in the Sniper's area on the same map and
you toss a few grenades by the door to the OTHER supply area. "SPAM SPAM
SPAM!!!" is all you hear. I personally don't think that's spam at
all...because that door isn't your only way out. You can go around the
other way and drop down into the hallway to the ramp room.
I guess it's a matter of individual CHARACTER. A player who screams
"SPAM!" all the time is probably just as likely to yell "CHEATER!" or
"CAMPER!" whenever someone gets the best of them. If I see people
unloading all their grenades at the supply room door...I just leave.
Plenty of servers out there. And when someone accuses ME of spamming...I
look at the situation and make my own decision on whether or not I was
ACTUALLY spamming. After all...MY decision is the only one that counts.
To me at least.
Think the author was right on target or completely off the deep end? Let us know -- mail us or post in the forums!
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