Originally Posted by
Meph
Oh hey@ Iceman, good to see you pal.
I'm not sure what they do nowadays.
As for me, I had a procedure.
For example, let's say I'm making GunX.
First, I'd set my test gun to have the animations of a common gun that would share the tier with GunX(M4, BAR, AUG, Famas, Tec9). I did this so that people don't think I'm using an unreleased gun.
Then I'd set base stats relevant to the tier in question, as well as its price level.
Then I'd test it in real-time scenarios, subtly tweaking stats little by little in the process; keeping in mind a check-and-balance. For each stat I would improve, I'd nerf another to maintain balance.
I remember I would start off by raiding bases for about three hours. You fellas probably remember me raiding Gz base back then.
Then I'd take it to the spar complex for another three hours or so, to see how it fairs there, again, tweaking subtly where I see fit.
If I made a drastic change to it in the complex, I'd take it back to the base for a couple hours of PKing to see what kind effect the tweak had.
I'd polish it off by hosting PK Arena for a duration of anywhere from two to nine hours straight; to see how it faired in a situation where I'd be outnumbered in an open area where I could dodge bullets. I remember getting complaints that I "needed to host something else"; but it was really being hosted for my own testing purposes.
Admittedly, I had a blast. I love PKing. Of everything in my life, PKing on Era is my favorite hobby- hands down.
I've been doing it since 2002, loving every bit of it. It's a beautiful art.
While it sounds like a lot of time to devote, it's nothing when you consider what you're defending. I never once even thought about the time invested, only the end goal to produce something unique, and maintain a level of dignity to aid in the preservation of the art of PKing. There are no shortcuts. Besides, anybody who loves PKing knows that 12 hours could go by, and you won't even realize it.
When some blockhead comes by and sets the stats on a gun to such a piss-poor extent that it threatens this art, I take it personal. They're screwing with my hobby, and therefore one of the things I hold most dear to me to escape the regularity of my life. As Gun Admin, I loved being the one thing that stood between some crackpot messing up the game I thoroughly enjoy. As a plus, I was also there for people that share the same common belief and love for PKing as I do.
That's the key to the job- It's not about making guns. It's about preserving the art known as PKing.
The second somebody loses sight of that, or signs up without having this in mind, the server turns to pot.
If it weren't for my wife and kids, I'd still be there to make sure this is being enforced.