Quick note about SSC Trenchwars (ASS)

[bkgmjo]

Hot, separate TWD or just current state?

[Shaddowknight]

TWD as it existed on the subgame server. Just need to get a few of the bots/commands straightened out for them to work properly in ASSS.

A ton of progress has been made on it already, but still plenty to be done. I guarantee some bugs/errors will occur, but we'll make sure they are dealt with as quickly as possible, and I'm hoping that we can give it at least a good test-run before we port it over to the other server.

[Godzero]

Hopefully mac ip's will start off unbanned in the new server

[roxxkatt]

its not the "mac ip is" thats the problem

[Celestial Jeddak]

So much ignorance?..

[Ephemeral]

Shaddow,
So what is the plan regarding the biller? I assume that ASSS would not use the existing biller? Would a move to a servers that Kyn mentioned use the old Biller?

Moving to a new Biller would resolve many of the issues that have plagued TW for years; but on the other hand would present some interesting new 'challenges'. Do you have time to list these out for everyone?
Eph

[Shaddowknight]

o)-<| has written a new biller, that will use our existing TWD passwords to login if the name already exists in TWD. This will help ensure your name won't get "stolen" when we switch to it, and still allows new players to create names.

[bkgmjo]

How? The create new name or even get a pw that is.

[Zeebu]

skaterdude

[Ephemeral]

I assume that Shaddow means that parts of the existing biller database will be ported and data imported into the new one. This would include the player names, passwords, usage, ID numbers, and probably things like pub buck and other stats.
Eph

[paradise!]

So much ignorance?..

you've never met roxxkat before?

[paradise!]

o)-<| has written a new biller, that will use our existing TWD passwords to login if the name already exists in TWD. This will help ensure your name won't get "stolen" when we switch to it, and still allows new players to create names.

So we are going to formally switch to stick's biller than? Is this permanent?

Doesn't this put an end to everything interzonal?

[Shaddowknight]

I am not sure if we are sticking to that biller, but having it READY if we need it is a big thing. Look how shit went when we put up the other one. It wouldnt kill interzonal, but it would mean other zones that want in would have to join our biller. As for porting over old data, I am not sure on if/how that will happen. Stickman had explained to me how his biller works, but I would rather he or someone else more knowledgable explain it, and what it can/can't do, and can/will do in the future.

[field]

Hopefully mac ip's will start off unbanned in the new server

This problem was already solved!

[KrynetiX]

Hi Eph,
In response to your very legitimate question:

On one hand, both Priit and SSC have failed to serve us with the connectivity we require to serve our players the gameplay they require to continue playing, and the gameplay new players require to actually stick around and grant Subspace another two decades of momentum..

If Priit makes some quick changes and agrees to grant another SSC Op (such as Ghost Ship or Mom) the ability to white-list (allow access) new zones -- then TW will likely continue with SSC, regardless which server or what server software we use to optimally serve our players. However, it would be very uncharacteristic of Priit to suddenly allow someone other than himself access SSC to white-list IP's, and out-of-character as well for SSC to suddenly become more liberal and inclusive with who they serve. I honestly don't see things changing in regards to Priit, SSC, the SSCouncil and the way SSC is managed. It's been too long and the same exact issues resurface once every two or three years only to (predictably) become stagnant -- and nothing ever changes. So, yea, if I had to put money on it -- I'd bet the farm that we can't (and shouldn't) continue to willingly depend on a billing server that doesn't meet our needs. Especially when there's no real reason to make that ongoing sacrifice.

On the other hand, moving to a new billing server instigates a few potential issues, along with a couple of unavoidable issues. The main advantage will be creative and administrative control. The main disadvantage will be the entering-zone warning that reads something like: "This zone is not connected to the official central player database. Use caution as zone owners can see your passwords.". There is a fix for this but it's not ideal, and certainly not optimal. I will further explain this below, and try to be as comprehensive as possible as I brainstorm all the possible issues - as well as the seemingly inevitable issues along with possible solutions.

PROs - Trench Wars New Billing Server

#1: Creative and Administrative Control
Having full administrative control (of our own server) would allow Trench Wars to be dynamic. Without this level of access to our server -- we're stuck.

#2: New Billing Server Features
Trench Wars will have more ?functionality immediately upon connecting to a billing server that sports more features than SSC. Click on the link below to see the (already existing) features we've been missing out on all these years.
> http://tinyurl.com/l6kbk86

#3: Dedicated Support
Trench Wars currently relies on the SSC Billing Operators to handle all billing-wide issues. Immediately upon connecting to a billing server we have sufficient access to - we'll be able to handle our own issues.

CONs - Trench Wars New Billing Server

#1: NO SSC Warning
When trying to enter a zone that is not connected to the SSC billing server, the Continuum client will prompt the user with the following message:
> "This zone is not connected to the central player database. You should use a different password for this zone as your passwords may be exposed to zone staff. Do you wish to login using the current password?"
The Continuum client triggers this message as a security measure, in order to better protect users from username and password theft. It has often been considered a nuisance, as it sometimes scares new players away from non-SSC zones.




I'm stopping here for now. I'm very tired as I just got home from work, so I'm going to leave the less-important issues aside until I update this later on -- after I have exacted a more comprehensive list of pro's and con's.

Note: TWDev, if any of you feel like adding your own speculatory pro's and/or con's -- feel free to reply with those bits here.