The Hidden (HL2 Mod) Catch All + New Server Donation Info

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So there has been recent talk of Jakeleg starting up a new server so we can this game. So in order to not clog up the TF2 thread I created this.

To anyone who has played it: Can you only play 5 players in one server or is it five players a match and people sit in a waiting room and get a chance to swap out?

I could kick in as well, have to write Christmas checks to all the youngsters in my extended family anyhow.

Here is the Hidden Players Guide for more info on the mod.

The mod is designed for 9 players. 8 IRIS and 1 Hidden (Subject 617).

in the TF2 thread, we have discussed leasing a new dedicated server so that we can host Stan's Lounge (TF2) and other Source mods like the Hidden, HL2DM, Insurgency and any others we might want to try out on a single box. Ultimately, we would also like to include a GWJ Left 4 Dead server when it is released in November.

The server I am looking at is through Art of War Central - a well respected, established game server provider. It will run $150/month. With this package we could run TF2 and 2 additional 12-16 player servers (Hidden, HL2DM, CS:S, DoD:S, etc.) L4D is going to have some beefier server reqs as it involves AI for the Co-op mode so not sure how that would fit in.

If we can get 15+ people to commit to supporting this for a 2-3 month trial I think we could have a nice online server for all manner of Valve games and mods. We can then re-evaluate if we think it is working and if/how we want to continue supporting it.

So far here is who we have on board:

jakeleg
nsmike
boogle
Secret Asian Man
Hobbes2099
EriktheRed
wanderingtaoist
Gumbie
CrashedHardrive
Atlas
Koz
Mex
Tannhauser
Nightmare

Maybes:
indy

Nice looks like we got 12 people so far maybe 13 if Indy can. So are we looking at like $10 a month for the 2-3 month trial period or did I miss something along the way?

Edit: oh and to add nightmare from the TF2 thread that makes 13 maybe 14. The more the better as that makes the cost per person drop making it easier on everyone who wants to help out.

One thing about the Hidden is that you have to have someone good playing as the invisible hidden. The game gets so much better when he is trying to mess with the IRIS players' heads instead of just going all out for kills. Because seriously.. the pigsticker is really really powerful in the right hands.

nihilo wrote:

One thing about the Hidden is that you have to have someone good playing as the invisible hidden. The game gets so much better when he is trying to mess with the IRIS players' heads instead of just going all out for kills. Because seriously.. the pigsticker is really really powerful in the right hands.

I looked forward to trying my hand at it :smile:. I read that you can climb on walls in one of the pieces of text on the site. Is this implemented well?

It's more that you can jump and attach yourself to a wall, then jump again and attach to another wall. But you have a power bar that limits the amount of time you have to pull these kinds of manoeuvres, so you can't just sit attached to the ceiling forever and wait for the ISIS players to wander below you.

That said, the map design of a lot of the maps is good and allows for some interesting attack angles for the hidden if he gets creative.

I'm getting pretty stoked for this...I don't know when we will have the server by but if I were to get HL2 tonight and download the mod are there servers out there to play on?

I'd be willing to kick in a few bucks for the server.

I absolutely love The Hidden, but the people that play on pubs are usually more unpleasant than the stereotypical CS:S player.

Some tips on the mod:

  • You need a decent video card if you want to see the Hidden at all (it technically works on DX8 cards, but the Hidden is opaque enough for it to generally be considered cheating). The higher you can turn up your graphics settings, the better. You'll generally want your gamma levels to be higher than in other games.
  • You need to be aware of what's above you as IRIS. A good hidden will spend most of his/her time in vertically accessible, open areas, and it's not hard to for a good hidden to jump on your head and stab you once or twice before running away unharmed. Don't be afraid to camp a little (if you don't stay with your team you WILL die), but if you're hiding in a duct or something you're going to get a pipe bomb in the face.
  • The Hidden is least visible when standing still in the shadows, and much easier to see when viewed from a distance. Up close the diffraction effect is very subtle, but you can see his outline clearly from far away. Some maps are easier to see the hidden on (hdn_executive, hdn_trainyard) than others (hdn_stalkyard).
  • Throwing gibs and Xboxes at the last remaining player is always fun.

What the hell, I'll chip in.

I want in on this. The Hidden is awesomesauce.

Even as I price a new server for my own nefarious purposes, I am willing to throw in a few bucks for this.

So that's 17 maybe 18 people. So far a much better turn out than expected. Jake you're going to have to get together a payment post when you're ready and we can let the cash start flowing :smile:.

CrashedHardrive wrote:

So that's 17 maybe 18 people. So far a much better turn out than expected. Jake you're going to have to get together a payment post when you're ready and we can let the cash start flowing :smile:.

I will contact AoWC and see what we need to get rolling. I think they said it would take 5-7 days to get the server setup. They do have clan pay which means that instead of giving money to me to pay for the server we can all chip in directly to AoWC to meet the monthly cost.

If you're planning on running HL2DM, I'm in. I haven't kept up on the HL2 mod scene - anything new in the last couple of years?

I'd be willing to chip in as well. I really hope that we will be able to run Left 4 Dead on this server, as I see myself playing that quite a bit when it comes out. I've never played this mod, but damn, it sounds like a lot of fun. Now, I just need to find the time to play with you guys.

This looks like a lot of fun. I look forward to trying it out.

I'm so in on this. Sounds like a great mod to try out, plus the possibility of trying out many different things on the same server. Who do I write the check to?

I think I've been able to keep up fairly well with you folks on TF2. I'd love to venture outside that area a little. Left 4 Dead seems likely as well, so count me in.

Updated List:

jakeleg
nsmike
boogle
Secret Asian Man
Hobbes2099
EriktheRed
wanderingtaoist
Gumbie
CrashedHardrive
Atlas
Koz
Mex
Tannhauser
Nightmare
Anodyne
Podunk
mateo
MightyMooquack
Lars
Datyedyeguy
Chumpy_McChump
Pharacon
Phishposer

Maybes:
indy
Staats
Kannon

That comes out to 23-26 people to support the server. To pay for three months, that comes out to $19.57 to $17.31 per person. Basically, if everyone puts forth $20, that will be plenty to keep the server going for a quarter-year.

I placed an order for the server. Here is the link to donate: http://artofwarcentral.com/main.asp?...

You do have a set up a login with AoWC, but it is pretty painless.

Once we have the $151 donated (I added 2 additional IPs on the server for $2) they will start setting it up. it will probably take 5-7 days.

This leave the question of do we leave the existing server up for another month or go ahead and discontinue it now? The bill comes due for another month in just a couple of days, so we may have a few days with no server if we do choose to shut it down now..

I sent my $20.

I had never seen this mod before, but it sounds like fun: Zombie Panic: Source

Anybody try this one?

jakeleg wrote:

I had never seen this mod before, but it sounds like fun: Zombie Panic: Source

Anybody try this one?

Yes, I have. I played it in one of the earlier releases...it was a little buggy, but fun. My wife came in to the room one night when I was playing it, described it as "psychotic". I take that as high praise.

jakeleg wrote:

This leave the question of do we leave the existing server up for another month or go ahead and discontinue it now? The bill comes due for another month in just a couple of days, so we may have a few days with no server if we do choose to shut it down now..

Shutting down for a couple of days is probably better than double paying for a month...

I'll try it. If I like it enough to spend time on it, I'll throw in 10-20.

Chumpy_McChump wrote:
jakeleg wrote:

This leave the question of do we leave the existing server up for another month or go ahead and discontinue it now? The bill comes due for another month in just a couple of days, so we may have a few days with no server if we do choose to shut it down now..

Shutting down for a couple of days is probably better than double paying for a month...

I tend to agree, but I hate to deny folks their Stan's TF2 fix.

Also, if you have sent me any donations for Stan's in the past 60 days, I am applying that towards this server over the next 2 months so don't feel you have to donate again right now.

jakeleg wrote:

I had never seen this mod before, but it sounds like fun: Zombie Panic: Source

Anybody try this one?

It is a pretty good mod, though I've only played on pubs. It is a classic zombie mod, the game starts out with one super-zombie and maybe a few regular zombies (depending on how many people are on the server). Everyone else starts out as a human, with a melee weapon and a handgun. Every human that gets killed respawns as a regular zombie, and on most maps there is a pool of zombie lives. Depending on the map, the goal is to either survive until all the zombie lives run out, or the survivors escape. Survivors can pick up ammo and weapons spread across the map, but everything they carry slows them down. Usually successful survivor groups pick up everything they can early on, then sort it among themselves. It is important to get the right ammo to the people with the appropriate weapons, spread out weapons so the group is well armed, that sort of thing. Hoarding is ultimately self-defeating, as you move slowly and are weakening your team.

That is basically the important dynamic of the game, zombies don't need coordination to win, but survivors do.

Some of the best maps are scenario maps, where the survivors have to accomplish certain goals (turn on generators, open doors, get keys) to eventually win. If you want to get started with it, I can make some recommendations on good maps.

Hey Jakeleg, your account number is 209244, right? The Art of War account system is a pain in the ass, I thought I paid, but apparently I've only deposited into my account.

That sounds like it might be fun with a GWJ crew. I am just scouting up any mods we might want to try out. What's nice about this server is we will be able to rotate and mix and match as we feel like. I assume we will leave TF2 going all the time and have a selection of other gametypes/mods we can choose from.

Tannhauser wrote:

Hey Jakeleg, your account number is 209244, right? Their system is a pain in the ass, I thought I paid, but apparently I've only deposited into my account.

Yeah that is it. The system is pretty kludgy but at least it lets us all donate directly so we can see what the outstanding balance is each month.

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