Skipped the 8 page to answer the question directly.
Good suggestion by the OP. A finer balance of maps.
100 players is actually an interesting count cuz unlike 120, we can get more people to join other servers.
So it's about what the other servers do, right? Obviously 100 player server is an attractive sell.
So how to get the other servers interesting:
1. Interesting maps. Now it may seem up for debate but it isnt. On some maps, the server count drops, on others it rises -- FAST.
People like Normandy. Go figure. A mix of a fun African map here and there may help. In fun I mean, a player doesn't have to drive or walk long distances only to die.
So further break down:
- Maps that dont require much walking and/ or driving to a base where a death means respawning far away.
- Maps that use semi-auto rifles and more tanks with HE shells is fun compared to very early maps where everyone fires bolt action rifles, the best mg is the bren, and tanks are small and ugly.
- Maps with planes and artillery. You may not know this, but while many may like running and shooting, where the defenders get frustrating enough, others are perfectly happy to play auxiliary roles.
- Maps with a mix of everything but with evenly spaced out flags that don't frustrate players by having them get bottlenecked or having to hit the same flag to get it. If they have wiggle room to play and get to their objective, its nice.
It basically boils down to game mechanics. Players like maps that don't punish them too severely and reward them readily but for things like skill and achievement over simple kills. A few might like just kills, but most are put off by it since many people aren't skilled, and enjoy the cooperative solution.
So that's something to consider when putting maps on a small server to draw people in.
Grab em hard and keep em tight. THEN once you have the devoted following, you can sneak in your personal favorites. Till then, play it safe.
2. If a game ends, i.e. the enemy is pushed to their last base, switch maps. Trust me, the best time to empty your server is once the maps is done, and people have to wait for either the numbers to drain or the losing side to try again and again to recap a flag. Just put them out their misery and people will remain.
You can't go wrong with maps like Ramelle, Cobra, Brest, Tunis, Hurtgen (But apply rule number 2 here), St. Vith, Meurse River, Fall of Trobruk and of course Omaha.
Other good maps, Port en Bessin, Point du Hoc, Eppeldorf. Although obviously the risk is increasing compared to the last set.
Risky maps include,
Sidi Rezegh, El Alamein, Bastogne, Hyacinth, Gazala... Not bad maps, you understand. Just maps that are likely to have people leave more than join because they are present. See a trend?
CQB For the win!
But actually, Villers Bocage will count as a risky map. It's just a very frustrating map since death is usually hidden and people do trek a bit, despite the catastrophic environment.