Why do so many people spec?

Its frickin unbelievable how many people sit in a game and spec. If you don't like the map don't play stop taking up player slots that other people that will actually play will use. I've spec'd once or twice on maps i don't like but now that i see that im only be greedy and self centered so ive stopped that too.

And sadly from what i have seen its mostly the more experienced players that generally camp in spec. I created this thread because even new players notice it as before mentioned in the newbies thoughts thread. It used to be just maybe 3-4 in spec but now its like 6-11. I can't see any defensible reason to have so many people in spec but I'd like to see what others think

On i side note, I have had a couple funny moments on spec. Once we had 10 people in spec and all of them had mics and everyone started mic spamming and at the end of the round i felt like my head would explode. It was a mix of random screaming, metal, classical and a bunch of bagpipes i can clearly remember bagpipies.:p

 

For the stories and dreams.

Spec is not a problem

 

I sit in spec to kick people sittin in spec. Unfortunately I have immunity to myself. so i get stuck in spec.

 

It's mostly a problem of one certain server, where the regulars use Empires more as a chat and radio station than anything else.

But as long as they have fun and there are alternative servers i have no problem with that. What really is annoying is when you have specs chatting in all-chat and your screen is littered with the yellow text. Empires needs a text mute option!

 

Sometimes I sit in spec because joining a side would unbalance an even game. Of course I do it for other reasons too.

 

Because I don't feel like joining the 13v18 lost game that WILL NOT END FOR ANOTHER HALF HOUR.

 

It's only a problem if the server is full and others are trying to join.

 

It became like that because too many people were spectating

 

half an hour is 6 times the time you need to reorganise your team and win imo


or at least try

 

Bingo! If everyone, like you, never joins a losing team, then all Empire's matches will become stacked. Also, my most satisfying games are when I can help a losing team beat an arrogant/stacked/winning one.

 

and another spec discussion..

i sit in spec when it is money ,district, escort or i join the server in mid-game

 

Reasons why I would sit in spec:
1) I'm making food for myself to eat
2) Still shaky from the last epic match. Need time to cool off.
3) It's 13 vs 18. and the losing team lost all spawn so nothing else to do.

 

I sit in spec because usually it's pickled in there raging as usual, or some other member of the community sharing thoughts about gameplay or other topics. Or the game is totally lost and it's a scout with radar invisiblility and vehic speed commanding and running away from other fighters, thus dragging out the game...almost makes you WANT to join the winning team just to end it .

Thing is about spec, is it's like a lounge: a place to kill time and chat. If people feel like joining spec they will join spec, it may be a problem sometimes but hey, half the game has problems and the developers will always be working on the GAME, not the spectator spot, besides what happened to spectator limits? I'm sure Source has SOME variable for that.

 

ove:

 

well often people go spec to stack the teams, and its kinda annoying to see it happening on the learning center server, vipers i dont care about its mostly vets vs vets there but when people sit in spec to get on the all vets team in the learning center just to kill some new players who have no clue what they are doing, it not only hurts the fun of the map, it hurts the game all together as the new players will leave and say "wtf? this game is not fun at all"

 

My reasons for specing:

1) when the situation is totally hopeless, just like my team.
2) to spec certain Scouts because I really suck at this class.
3) Specs team never loses.

 

<fixed>

 

I like to use the spectator function to my advantage. As a spectator, you are able to follow the highest scoring players as well as have a good look at the battlefield you cannot do as a regular in-team soldier. This allows you to study yourself as well as the enemy or if your not team specific (I always go for Brenodi), you can see what common strategies as well as tactics people use.:D

 

This is the exact reason that spectate abuse is a problem. even the worst, good intentioned player can contribute to their team, and by leaving the team because you don't want to lose, you are being a destructive factor in the community.

Now, you may say that it us up to the side who now has a lot more players to switch to balance, but the reason that I don't do that is because that is only making room for (excuse my language, but I must express my seething opposition to such people) team switching scum that are no more than rats leaping from a sinking vessel or deserters who must be dealt with accordingly , to then switch to the winning team and believe that what they are doing is okay.

spectating the whole game is an innocent thing to do, but to leave your team for the sole reason of avoiding a loss is what I consider to be a harmful and parasitic action. The level of skill of the players should never influence your team decision, only in the case of not wanting to be on the same team as a person you personally dislike is understandable, but that action should be taken before the game starts.

 

I stay in spec for a few rounds because:

a) I don't want to play X map because of my Y reasons and I'm waiting for another map.
b) I'm taking a break from playing X amount of games in a row.
c) I just want to watch the game from different perspective too.
d) I'm eating.
e) I want to talk with people about something without disturbing either team's game related chat.
f) I have died and there are zero tickets left so I can't respawn and there's no one going to revive me so I'll join spec and go where the action is.
g) I have joined a server mid-game and I don't feel like joining a losing team / winning team just moments before the game ends.

To me it's not a problem. Especially with 64 player slots. There's still plenty of people on the field to play with and that's why I like 2.24 so much. People can have their breaks as they want and no one will complain because there still are enough players on the field to keep the game fun.

To me it's not a problem.