I wonder why I can't find that thread anymore, maybe I only dreamed about it, but I'm sure I had at least discussions about this with several fellas on IRC, or there's a lost thread in the depth of the alientrap universe.
:

I get frequently mad about some ppl who logon to a gameserver and stay in spectator mode for hours, just to keep a place on the right server occupied and continue playing somewhen. Very popular especially on Minstagib or TDM servers. For that reason I cant join then and have to keep out. This is annoying.

So why not set an optional feature to auto-kick those, I call them -666 campers, after a certain time limit.

What do You think?

The campers of the beast should indeed be kicked after 30-45 min of inactivity.

don't think that this is possible because usually a map won't long that long and how should the engine remember which player was spectator for how long over several maps ??

GreEn`mArine wrote:dhow should the engine remember which player was spectator for how long over several maps ??

Well, Dave is going to start studying software technologies at the university, surely he'll find a solution for that if no other genius will find it sooner

Serious, how many things are no big deal to us now that we haven't even dreamed of, only a few years ago. Talking about "not possible"...

I object. Many new players use the spectator mode to learn about the maps and gameplay. A possible solution to eliminate the parking corpses would be to make spec mode only available on holding down the spec key, if thats possible.

Well, every server should have an inactivity timeout... if the spectator does not move, kick him.

That'd be problematic, though, if they're spectating a specific player.

Shoe wrote:That'd be problematic, though, if they're spectating a specific player.

For one round yes, but as soon as the map changes they will be left in freefly mode.

just display a message "press a button" one minute before the player gets disconnected...

well actually I wasnt talking about players who pause or spectate for a round or two.

I'm talking about 30mins and more...

I sometimes make some spectators demos on my server, and i'll make more and more now that sv_spectator_speedmultiplier exists.
So i would say please don't implement auto-kick, or at least make it possible to be disabled, so that i can make my movies :p

@Urmel : there are often some free slots on da batServer :p just play a bit FFA if your minstagib servers are full :p

I agree with Urmel. Sometimes i have to wait shit long before managing to join e. g. at Dreckloch. After joining i realize that up to 3 or 4 people stay in spectator-mode for 30 to 60 minutes. And Dreckloch sets max 8 players!
I think it is not fair for the players who could have fun in this time.

Yeah, kick the -666 campers.
And issue a press-card for obi-wan so that he is ignored by the "kick-script".

How about making it so that after a map change a player has to do something to remain spectating. If they don't, they get kicked. That means that the person actually has to be there spectating rather than just leaving their computer spectating.

Urmel... wrote:So why not set an optional feature to auto-kick those, I call them -666 campers, after a certain time limit.

Never wanted more

i find it confusing to spectate on mouse click. my idea is 3 spec modes:

# 1 isnt an actual spec mode, its just the default mode when you join and dont press anything. Kicked on map change. You start playing when you press any action button (walk, shoot, jump, ...)

# 2 normal spectator mode. (f3) You move around the place and all. Clean screen.

# 3 advanced spec mode. (aspec in console) You can view your character model from outside. Additional information displayed on screen: fps, coordinates, entity names, commands + options, ...


Edit: Would it be possible to change the key bindings with the aspec mode?

I noticed too that specs are often blocking server slots and ppl that want to play aren't able to enter anymore.
Wouldn't a separation be helpful, like it is handled in other games? e.g. server reserves 8 ports for players + 2 spec slots..

agre with random.. as I suggested before.. password protected play is also good, with separate password for spec and play.. but thats another matter

but remember about me, i cant play now, because i have broken collarbone(bone in my arm) so i just want to spectate, i'm not wasting free place, when i'm tired i disconnect, as usual, its very difficult to play/wrie with one hand:
http://n86.cba.pl/pictures/!accident%20001_medium.jpg, bad quality, but you can see the broken bone here, i have to wear gypsum for ~3 weeks, and now its only 5th day...
i'm not maniac, but like this game and community, so i want to chat with others and spec their game
greetings

narvik86 wrote:but remember about me, i cant play now, because i have broken collarbone(bone in my arm) so i just want to spectate, i'm not wasting free place, when i'm tired i disconnect, as usual, its very difficult to play/wrie with one hand:
http://n86.cba.pl/pictures/!accident%20001_medium.jpg, bad quality, but you can see the broken bone here, i have to wear gypsum for ~3 weeks, and now its only 5th day...
i'm not maniac, but like this game and community, so i want to chat with others and spec their game
greetings

I know someone who does play with one hand... and quite well... you wouldn't notice he is "disabled" when you play against him or hear him typing.

But it looks amazing how he can type with that... although I have no idea how he lost one of his hands.

@Narvik86.pl: oooooh poor boy, best wishes and get well soon

of cource it should be possible to spectate, and as others posted already, it should be possible to stay in by just pushing one key per map so it shows you're watching (and not afk).

that's good. I just wanted to tell you, that i'm not taking free place on server and keep it, i'm just not playing, but i'm ALWAYS in front of my pc and spectating or chating so dont kick me thanks

Well what could be done is have some system like I suggested before which would be to at the end of a game, put up a menu for all spectators and if they don't press something to say they want to stay watching, they get kicked. Therefore, anyone naturally spectating from round to round would just have to confirm that they are there and be able to spectate again while any spectator not actively spectating would not be able to press a key to stay on, so would be kicked.

That would work, wouldn't it?

what about my 3 different spec modes? and the key binding layout changing with the mode?

@ narvik86: I hope you get well soon. You certainly play better than I do with 1 hand that's for sure.

@ 4m: I agree that the key bindings could be better. Maybe MOUSE1 to join instead of JUMP; MOUSE2 to cycle spec-mode; F3 defaults back to free-flying mode.

As suggested, maybe a message could be displayed at the beginning of a new match for 30-60s that requires the user press F3 again to continue to spectate.

Seems a little more consistant and easy to remember. Although, I guess there is no perfect solution (other than run your own server and manually kick the little blighters )

GDI+ wrote:As suggested, maybe a message could be displayed at the beginning of a new match for 30-60s that requires the user press F3 again to continue to spectate.

I think it would be better putting the message at the end while the scoreboard is shown. That would be more logical from a bandwidth/server load POV as the spectators would not have to load the next map, join as a spectator, then get kicked. Instead they would be kicked before the map change.

Display a message like:

Code: Select all

Anti-spectator camping in operation.  Press [key] to spectate the next game. 10... 9... 8...

^ Actually that does sound like a very logical and good idea. Just so long (10-15s) that there is sufficient time to confirm. Any longer than 15s would probably start to annoy players. I guess if everyone presses a button/key, i.e. they are indeed ready, then the server could switch maps earlier than 15s. That should keep most players/spectators happy, I would think.

I don't agree with kicking +666 people.


However, I do think that those people should be kicked if the server is packed and someone else wants to join the server. Perhaps a warning would work... like...

"Someone wants to join the server...press jump or you will be kicked in 10...9...8...7...."

Dokujisan wrote:"Someone wants to join the server...press jump or you will be kicked in 10...9...8...7...."

heh, would be a nice feature idd

Specs increase bandwidth load, so I think kicking all specs who don't press a button at the end of the round is best.

Dave wrote:The campers of the beast should indeed be kicked after 30-45 min of inactivity.

No man, 10 mins inactivity