Would you play a PUG match if you knew where to find them?

[DagnyTaggart]

I've been playing clan-match style pick-up games (PUG) matches for a couple years and I hope that UT3 has a strong pug match community. I've seen lots of people posting on this forum saying that they enjoy the original UT CTF game, but I've never seen them on IRC nor playing in PUG matches (nor on UT99 discussion forums).

Basically--it's a completely different game from playing on the public servers. One of the differences is that it feels much more meaningful and intense. Another difference is that teams are often balanced, people have assigned positions, use Teamspeak voice comm, and try to play with teamwork.

Also--it's completely unscheduled. Show up and sign up (on an IRC--Internet Relay Chat--channel) whenever you feel like playing. Once the needed number of players have signed up, two people become captains and draft the other players. From what I can tell, the UT 2004 PUG match community is pretty anemic, but there's still lots of action in UT99.

So, why don't people play PUG matches more often? For UT99 CTF, you might try these channels:

SERVER: irc.GameRadius.net (home to the North American UT99 CTF community)

CHANNELS: #Speedpug, #MLUT

Speedpug is for 125 speed regular weapons CTF (you'll get used to the speed) and is more likely to welcome new players. MLUT, which is 100 speed regular weapons, stands for "Major League UT" and is less likely to welcome newbies and has higher arses factor. Note that you need to have the Teamspeak program installed to play (ie, dialuppers aren't real welcome) and preferably a headset with a boom microphone. If you're a pug noob your best bet is #speedpug.

Will UT3 have a strong pug match community? Hopefully the game will be good enough so that a strong clan community and pug community forms around it.

[theeDEATHMASTER]

I tried it once, and it was just too much waiting, I rather join a game instantly from my fav list.

[X-Cannon]

purepressure.com has a pretty good (new) system of pugging. Basically click, click you are in. A bunch of us NA ONS players have been helping work out the bugs. Once an influx of players hit it should be very nice.

The ons pugs are pretty much dead. Back in nov and dec there were 2 or 3 a night. I don't know about DM but from what I hear the CTF pugs have been picking up.

I don't pug like I used to because my team usually scrims 3 or 4 times a week and a match just about every week and a half. That's just for ONS.

It would probably help if the entire ut community was on the same network. 99 is on Gameradius while the 2k4 community is on enterthegame

[MonsOlympus]

IMO a system for doing this should be built into the game to save using external proggies. Its just annoying having to alt-tab through stuff when your getting ready to play.

[DagnyTaggart]

It would probably help if the entire ut community was on the same network. 99 is on Gameradius while the 2k4 community is on enterthegame

It would be nice, but I don't see it happening until UT3 comes out, and who knows what server Epic will choose for that. My understanding is that years ago, perhaps back in 2002, the UT99 CTF clan community became fed up with the admins for Enter the Game (alleged unfair bannings I think) and then moved to another IRC server, eventually ending up at the UT-dedicated irc.GameRadius.net.

It sure would make it easier for me to participate in UT 2004 ONS and CTF IRC and pug activity.

[MonsOlympus]

It would be nice, but I don't see it happening until UT3 comes out, and who knows what server Epic will choose for that. My understanding is that years ago, perhaps back in 2002, the UT99 CTF clan community became fed up with the admins for Enter the Game (alleged unfair bannings I think) and then moved to another IRC server, eventually ending up at the UT-dedicated irc.GameRadius.net.

It sure would make it easier for me to participate in UT 2004 ONS and CTF IRC and pug activity.

Well it aint really gonna work unless they can centralize the community somewhat, you'll always get people who will form a rival "group" though if they feel they have been mistreated. Why doesnt Epic have people who monitor the IRC channels? well perhaps they do but I dont see why anyone wouldnt just suck up a ban unless its a k+g. Either way its not like you couldnt contact Epic directly anyway, there is a support email for a reason.

[ne_skaju]

Never played PUGs though heard of it.

I do it more simplier: spam messages to my mates in ICQ: join <ip> , we now playing <gametype> etc.

[X-Cannon]

IMO a system for doing this should be built into the game to save using external proggies. Its just annoying having to alt-tab through stuff when your getting ready to play.

Epic has never catered to the more competetive aspects of the community. I don't see them starting now.

The reason I liked pugs is because the level of skill is (usually) dramtically higher. You might figure that one day they would realize alot of the more skilled (competetive) players are more than willing to help the newbies along and make them better. At least that's what I've seen in ONS. As opposed to being in a public server and hearing, OMG noob you suck!

[MonsOlympus]

Well PUG's dont have to be competitive, its still more about fun then Comp its not like you gain anything but a few more stats on your record like every other stats serv (thats even if its a stat serv in the first place). If you want comp the best place is a proper clan/ladder environment.

[DagnyTaggart]

Not sure there's much Epic could do really, not that Epic would want to spend time and money having someone pay attention to IRC issues and player bickering. (I sure as hell wouldn't.) As far as I know, Enter the Game isn't owned by Epic and caters to other games and crowds, too. UT players don't have a right to be there; they're just guests. Also, the server people moved to, GameRadius.net, is privately owned as far as I know.

[X-Cannon]

Well PUG's dont have to be competitive, its still more about fun then Comp its not like you gain anything but a few more stats on your record like every other stats serv (thats even if its a stat serv in the first place). If you want comp the best place is a proper clan/ladder environment.

You missed the point entirely.

Most people who pug happen to also be competetive, not all, just most. I didn't play competetivley for almost a year and a half and still pugged.

[MonsOlympus]

You missed the point entirely.

Most people who pug happen to also be competetive, not all, just most. I didn't play competetivley for almost a year and a half and still pugged.

Well I think PUG's are a better environment in a way to PUB's but then again it can be worse. Atleast in a PUB theres usually no admin but once you step on a clan server its difficult to get a fair game sometimes.Its just if you have a really good player on one team for some reason the teams always have to be the same number of people so it can be unfair and the best player is usually too big headed and part of the clan who owns the server so they wont leave so a decent match can take place.

Its not always like that though, but Ive had that happen on more then one occasion.

[Hedge-o-Matic]

Would UT3 benefit from a Battlenet-style setup? It seems like this centralized the Starcraft community, and made both public and private games more accessible.

[X-Cannon]

I think lack of knowledge about pug's hasn't helped. Perhaps we should try and promote them more. Well now would kinda be a waste of time but when UT3 comes out. Hit em up more.

[2th]

Well I think PUG's are a better environment in a way to PUB's but then again it can be worse. Atleast in a PUB theres usually no admin but once you step on a clan server its difficult to get a fair game sometimes.Its just if you have a really good player on one team for some reason the teams always have to be the same number of people so it can be unfair and the best player is usually too big headed and part of the clan who owns the server so they wont leave so a decent match can take place.

Its not always like that though, but Ive had that happen on more then one occasion.

sorry but that has to be the most ignorant thing i have read on these forums in a long time. are you really that naive to even think that a person who is in a clan is way too big headed to leave a server just because they happen to make things unfair and the other team loses? are you 12? are you that naive to think the world is fair? why should a person who is in a clan leave their server just so everyone else can have fun? it is called a pub for a reason. that means it is a PUBLIC server. that means ANYONE CAN COME AND PLAY ON IT. if there is a player that is just too good for you then oh well. you could try to improve your game so that person isnt that big of a factor anymore. but to honestly say

"Atleast in a PUB theres usually no admin but once you step on a clan server its difficult to get a fair game sometimes.Its just if you have a really good player on one team for some reason the teams always have to be the same number of people so it can be unfair and the best player is usually too big headed and part of the clan who owns the server so they wont leave so a decent match can take place."

seems to indicate that you are at a loss with reality. furthermore you are making a really bad assumption. yout hink that just because a server is associated with a clan that makes it different from any other public server. you are wrong there. all public servers are the same. THEY ARE ALL PUBLIC SERVERS. maps and the players who go there are different but just because a server is associated with a clan means absolutely nothing. and just because someone is in a clan means absolutely nothing.

so when you get back in touch with the real world and understand that "life's not fair and then you're dead" then you can talk about people in a PUBLIC server.