The Perfect Counter Strike Server

OK, there are two reasons we need to look at what is the best way for a server to be configured, which features should it definitely have and should absolutely not include and so on.  You may be starting up a public server for your own clan so that in between matches you can practice.  Or your clan may not have a server and so you are browsing random ones, looking to make one your home.

The question is ‘what kind of server is going to be ideal in order to help you train for clan matches?’

Well, my opinions will, no doubt, differ from yours but I shall list them and also offer explanations as to why I feel that these following features should or should not be integrated on a server.

1. Friendly Fire=On

Without out a doubt, this is so important to me.  I will never play on a server that disables friendly fire.  It is so important for a CS player to use every shot well.  This includes quickly identifying an enemy and shooting, rather than shooting at anyone you bump into and it not matter if they are on your own team.  Also, at a distance, you need to be able to shoot an enemy who is being blocked by your team mate strafing across him.  If FF is off then you will just spray at him, but do that in a match and you may need to turn the volume down as your team mate screams down your ear for TKing him.  this will also help you to be more careful with a nade, which needs to be aimed just as well as your gun.

2. Enable Team Kill Punishments

A no-brainer if FF is on.

3. All-Talk Settings

Only allow team mates to chat to one another whilst alive.  If all-talk is on then you wont be practicing team calls and tactics over the mic.  No point in calling that 3 men have gone catwalk, cos if they hear you, then a decent team would then divert to lower tunnels.  I find a lot of clans struggle when it comes to calling during a match, they hardly let anyone know where the enemy is, how many they see, which spots are clear, which route they are taking etc.  Public servers are a good way to practice and, for this reason, all-talk should be set to teams only for those who are alive.

However, all-talk can be set to on for those who have died.  In fact, I absolutely love this.  If the server has a strong community of regulars then you want to be able to chat to them and have a laugh with them, even if they are not on your team.  Plus, there is no greater feeling than pwning someone and then, when you finally die, being able to abuse them verbally.

4.  Map Rotation

Definitely need most of the standard maps, obviously ones that you intend on playing in matches.  There are some I dont care for (Aztec and Italy) and it’s up to the server admin whether to have ones like these on.  Despite it being a rare occasion to play matches on a hostage map, it’s good to keep those on for a bit of variety in gameplay and tactics.

Custom maps should be used with discretion.  Have some in for sure, new maps add to the training of new tactics and teamplay, but only include ones of high quality and ones that are even for both sides.  A good place to start are the ones used in CAL and other tournaments, cpl_mill, cpl_fire, nightfever.  There are so many maps out there that look good and yet are so unbalanced, or vice versa and so many servers that have them in their rotation.

5. Admin

Ah, admin, the ruiners of so many good servers.  No matter how wonderfully set up the servers are, a bad handful of admin can easily ruin it.

First of all, none of this ‘paying for admin’ bullshit.  Admin should be entrusted to those who can be trusted.  If the server is a clan server then only the responsible and mature of the clan should have the power to kick and ban people.

6. Rates

I constantly bitch about peoples rates.  A server should enforce the use of correct rates, either by automatically adjusting them or by admin and regulars asking people to correct them.  Also, the server should be configured so that anyone can type ‘zb_netinfo’ into console and see everyones rates.  This is especially useful when no admin are on.

7. Money Money Money

Start up money should always be $800.  Why?  Because this is how much you get in a match and getting used to it in a public server will help you to get used to those all important eco rounds.

8. Awp

In my mind this should be disabled, yes I know, very controversial but everyone knows I’m not an awp person.  It is an important weapon during matches and teams do need to have one or two good awpers, but a lot of people get too used to it, they almost rely on it and are at a loss when they cannot afford one.  If anyone wants to practice then go on a random server where people are just pissing around.  there’s nothing worse than your only teammate having an awp and just camping a spot whilst the bomb is ticking away.  Real players use real weapons and get in there and get the job done.

9. Enforce Objectives

It is possible to have a server slay all remaining CTs if a bomb isn’t defused and all Ts slayed if time runs out before the bomb is planted.  This seems to be the only real way of at least trying to get people to complete the objectives, even if they are the last man standing.  Most of the time when there is one guy left they will camp and try and pop off a couple of enemies who are runing away from the blast.  This is very frustrating for the other team members who are dead.  When people know that they will die anyway they are more likely to get in there and try and defuse against all odds.  This is all great training for those times when it’s just you versus 2 or more enemies.  Of course, in a match there are occassions where the last man may need to keep his weapon and so would not engage if his chances were slim.

These are the basics that I feel make a great server, but remmeber that this is all to help a player who is serious about training for matches.  There are plenty of fun servers out there which are great to mess around on and have laugh, some have ridiculous ragdoll physics, others have a banking system for money not to mention all the zombie, surf and gun game servers, just make sure you keep visiting these from time to time.

As always, let me know your thoughts by commenting at the bottom or by emailing me at toeandno@googlemail.com