Oh and here's a screenshot leaked from the new map, about time we had a koth map, hope it's decent.

i've got Wednesday night off. i intend to spend it killing robots. now who's with me?!

Actually we might want to think about having a one private aswell so we've got a server whenver we want to play together.

From: hlds_linux-bounces@list.valvesoftware.com [hlds_linux-bounces@list.valvesoftware.com] On Behalf Of Fletcher Dunn [fletcherd@valvesoftware.com]
Sent: 14 August 2012 19:00
To: Half-Life dedicated Win32 server mailing list; Half-Life dedicated Linux server mailing list (hlds_linux@list.valvesoftware.com)
Subject: Re: [hlds_linux] [hlds] TF MvM hosting questions

We will not have Steam group functionality tomorrow.

You actually have to set maxplayers to 32 to host MvM (to make room for all the bots). That's why the mode is expensive CPU-wise, to not only simulate all those players but run their AI logic as well. We'll have more details on the recommended settings tomorrow.

Regarding exactly what happens if a 24-player server switches to MvM: I actually don't think we have worked that out yet.

I'm pretty sure on day one there will be lots of people trying out all sorts of things. Our approach to experimentation in MvM will be the same as in PvP: we encourage it, provided that players are opting in to any major deviations from the vanilla experience. Our servers will all be configured vanilla, and the matchmaking will enforce the 6 player limit, and the server browser will be the primary means for players to find those sorts of customizations. What will the most interesting customizations be? What will the standard tags be used that we request server operators to set in order to help players find the modifications they want or avoid the ones they don't like? We can't know that yet. That's something we expect you guys and your players to figure out.

I will hazard a guess that raising the player count well above 6 would be detrimental the experience. There ratio of humans to bots would be off and the human defending team would not have enough challenge. (As an extreme example: imagine a 32-player server where everybody is defending an there are no bots.) Exactly how far it can be raised above 6 without totally breaking the game is speculation of course. I think a smart server operator will start out with the server configured relatively vanilla, and then watch how the game unfolds and listen to their players, and try to make smart decisions about which areas to experiment, rather than assuming the same sorts of adjustments your community prefers in PvP will automatically apply to this mode. A fun co-op mode with more than six players is likely to require entirely new missions. (The mission decides the pattern of enemy robots that come at you.) We have purposefully made it easy for players to create their own missions. (It's a lot easier than creating a whole new map!) But if you play with more than six players, with the missions we've made, I think the balance will be way off.

- Fletch

-----Original Message-----
From: hlds-bounces@list.valvesoftware.com [mailto:hlds-bounces@list.valvesoftware.com] On Behalf Of Saint K.
Sent: Tuesday, August 14, 2012 4:51 AM
To: Half-Life dedicated Win32 server mailing list
Subject: Re: [hlds] TF MvM hosting questions

Will we be able to restrict a MvM server to people in the steamgroup only, like in L4D2?

Saint K.

I read that an MvM server with 6 players will use up the same cpu as 24 player pvp game. Perhaps the a server could be private with a pasword or opted out of the quickplay system?

How do the robots work? Do they come in waves?

Added Mann vs. Machine
Added Archimedes
Added The Soldier's Stogie
Added The Robro 3000
Updated The Helmet Without a Home to be paintable
Fixed some clipping issues with The Salty Dog
Removed player penetration from The Pomson 6000 and boosted the damage to compensate