Should we convert flatgrass and guestcity into one mega big map? (With two seperate sections), or retain the 2 individual maps?
I personally think that having just one map helps with maintanence (checking for griefing), people can find each other easily, helps when we want to start a fresh new map.
I’m all for mega maps. I can see why doing what you suggested would help us all our. Some users do not know how to move between servers and/or they complain about a lack of space.
Which is easier on the server itself? Does running a huge map really drain ram that much? what about when running multiple big maps? I don’t fully understand how much these maps make the server suffer. Isn’t player count the biggest drain?
RAM does not seem to be an issue anymore since we upgraded the server and the software was improved (no more memory leaks). Infact, I’m willing to bet that a mega map would use less RAM then 2 normal sized maps.
Any lag is being caused by our server processor. Being on a VPS and despite the fact that the actual server ours is hosted on has quad core processors, they give us so little allowance that we might as well be trying to host this from an iPhone.
I’m still relatively new to this so I can’t really give an informed opinion on which is best for the server, I was actually hoping you might be able to shine some light on this 
Just if i may have my say i think we should try and have 1 free guest map 1-2 builder maps 1-2 ADV + builder maps but i don’t no if it’s worth it :?
If you don’t mind modeling after another server’s style, I recommend taking a look at /v/ server.
http://www.minecraft.net/play.jsp?server=e64a850d87249034c601cfa96122ac4a
They have an inventive lobby that works as an 18+ agreement checker. I have also seen servers which have an entire training map for new players.
They did what the last post suggested, there are different maps for each group which allow for different levels of moderation. Even more impressive was their use of IRC which we have just begun to implement. I asked for an OP and one responded while not in the game.
Also, GIANT maps.
I like their place, but we offer a different flavor of play. This is my home, but I don’t mind using ideas that work.
Well for me it always seems like there isn’t enough room. :’( sure enough they were okay to begin with but there are a lot more guests then u may think. I also know that because of the ‘one block rule’ it can sometimes get a little disinteresting and boring when you can’t really build more :’( so with some really hard thinking i have come up with an idea :
why don’t you have some really big maps for guest (more than 1maybe even more than 2) and break it up into really big blocks that can hold several building that way we can build several buildings without taking out more than 1 block and then what ever else for every one but guests cause guess what? i don’t know what anyone else need cause ima guest lol
okay thanks for reading
emfitty >:( 
:-\ 
;D
(P.S. do u like the use of smileys?:
I believe that it would be really cool too have one mega map, instead of two little ones.
It would also so be cool as if we did as Kyle said and whenever someone visits the first time, it autotransports them too a tutorial map.
Say, andy, what’s your new server specs? I already told you the specs in A+ freebuild so multiple big maps run smoothly. If your specs can perform as well as the specs as A+, the server can probably hold against 2 Mega Maps.
The RAM usage keeps slowly crawling up over the duration of a day until it hits a point where it can no longer sustain it and crashes the server (program). I don’t think any amount of ram (in an affordable range) can actually sustain it properly…
1 major map is a good idea, then we also don’t have to deal with guests asking for their buildings etc.
Anyone think it would be an idea to merge flatgrass and guestcity to one guest map, for only guests to build in, then have 1 builder maps, for builders only, and then 2 maps for adv +? a bit like randombilly said? these maps could be the main ones, and if a guest was promoted, their structures could be copied to the builder map (if they wanted), to reduce the risk of it being griefed (as griefers probably wont be promoted :L).
The other maps we have at the moment such as poptown, builder and others could still be on the server, but not as main maps, these could just be loaded as and when they are wanted.
From what kyle told me, loading and unloading a map is quit strain full on the server as the ramm doesn’t really get emptied in the manor that it should, but instead just builds up over the course of the uptime till it cannot function anymore. what i was thinking is, as liam said, to combine flatgrass and guestcity into a single map with different areas, and also increase bigcitys size, if there was plenty of space available then hopefully other maps wont be loaded to compensate for the lack of space, also more regular clearing of the two guest maps would be beneficial too as hopefully (i dont know the exact way it works) with less to load each time the server has to restart, the more ramm it will have to begin with and the longer it will be sustained before kicking the bucket XD.
But also i was thinking of merging ALL of the maps into a single, megacity level, which i know will take some doing but once up, could maybe help as frequent individual map changes could also be taxing? kyle was worried about griefing but i dont think there will be too much of a problem as long as the map is properly zoned and watched for signs of griefers
maybe there could be a storage map? for any buildings we have made in the guest maps before we got promoted to be moved to? we could choose one structure from each of the guest maps maybe? im not sure how the server works, as ive only been on this server for about a week, and its the first one ive been on xD
1 or 2 Mega maps With a Road connecting them like Bigcity But Have smaller maps in between to make the country side. IM not talking about flat+guest
Im talking BIG
and i mean BIG like
2300 200 2300.
Somthing About that size. But in order for the server to handle loading it. All maps but lobby would have to be unloaded. that would probaly be one of the biggest maps ove seen.
If i remember rightly, the biggest map that can be made is 1024 512 1024, to have a 2048x 2048 one its gonna have to be REALLY shallow, like 64 high or so