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Ways to improve dm servers?
1
#1
0 Frags +

Almost everyone I know likes playing dm servers, and usually prefer them to mge, esp public mge, but people often talk about how dm servers are only really playable at night/just before scrim times. I think this is because the afk timer, which feels like you can't even get a drink of water before getting kicked, is very strict. It makes some amount of sense for when the servers are busy at night, and people are in queue to play, but during the day/outside of normal times, it makes playing dm impossible unless someone walks around a map by themselves for hours.

I think a good solution to this problem that my teammate came up with could be a queue system through a third party, similar to tf2center, but it doesn't have to be that complicated. Even having a dm q in a pug server or something, and when enough people join, everyone goes into a dm server or something idk (not saying people need to talk, it's just an easier way to "start" a dm server).

Mostly I just want to see what other ideas people have, and maybe find a way to implement a solution so that dm servers are playable outside of 1-2 hours on scrim days.

Almost everyone I know likes playing dm servers, and usually prefer them to mge, esp public mge, but people often talk about how dm servers are only really playable at night/just before scrim times. I think this is because the afk timer, which feels like you can't even get a drink of water before getting kicked, is very strict. It makes some amount of sense for when the servers are busy at night, and people are in queue to play, but during the day/outside of normal times, it makes playing dm impossible unless someone walks around a map by themselves for hours.

I think a good solution to this problem that my teammate came up with could be a queue system through a third party, similar to tf2center, but it doesn't have to be that complicated. Even having a dm q in a pug server or something, and when enough people join, everyone goes into a dm server or something idk (not saying people need to talk, it's just an easier way to "start" a dm server).

Mostly I just want to see what other ideas people have, and maybe find a way to implement a solution so that dm servers are playable outside of 1-2 hours on scrim days.
2
#2
3 Frags +

hey chell wanna mge?

hey chell wanna mge?
3
#3
12 Frags +

remove freight the train is scary

remove freight the train is scary
4
#4
8 Frags +

the train is the best part of dm

the train is the best part of dm
5
#5
0 Frags +
jrstankremove freight the train is scary

Replace the train with Thomas, at least he is smiling.

[quote=jrstank]remove freight the train is scary[/quote]

Replace the train with Thomas, at least he is smiling.
6
#6
15 Frags +

imo the biggest driver for the servers being dead is that dm is really only playable with 6+ people. There aren't any systems in place to deal with a server being not-full, so trying to start a dm server by yourself is actually a bit of work and the incentive to join a low population dm server is really low. I think that combination of factors makes it not worthwhile to try to get a dm server going when you're outside of the dm prime time in NA

I honestly don't know if there's a good fix for this, but at the very least having no afk timer for a server with less than 4 or 5 people would remove the hurdle of needing to be tabbed in to try to get a server going

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also I think something like https://workshop.codes/TXCXX would be an interesting tf2 mode if you could configure what classes are in the pool, and its designed to function with a constantly fluctuating number of players
imo the biggest driver for the servers being dead is that dm is really only playable with 6+ people. There aren't any systems in place to deal with a server being not-full, so trying to start a dm server by yourself is actually a bit of work and the incentive to join a low population dm server is really low. I think that combination of factors makes it not worthwhile to try to get a dm server going when you're outside of the dm prime time in NA

I honestly don't know if there's a good fix for this, but at the very least having no afk timer for a server with less than 4 or 5 people would remove the hurdle of needing to be tabbed in to try to get a server going

[spoiler]also I think something like https://workshop.codes/TXCXX would be an interesting tf2 mode if you could configure what classes are in the pool, and its designed to function with a constantly fluctuating number of players[/spoiler]
7
#7
0 Frags +
Pete
I honestly don't know if there's a good fix for this, but at the very least having no afk timer for a server with less than 4 or 5 people would remove the hurdle of needing to be tabbed in to try to get a server going

I honestly don't know if there's a good fix for this, but at the very least having no afk timer for a server with less than 4 or 5 people would remove the hurdle of needing to be tabbed in to try to get a server going

I think making the afk timer really long will just make playing at night bad sometimes, since people put themselves in the full server q and might not know when they got in. Having a third party thing so people can just add up and then once there are enough people, all join at once, makes the most sense in my head, but im not sure how willing people would be to essentially have dm servers be more like a pug style during the day, but maybe people will be open to trying it.

[quote=Pete]

I honestly don't know if there's a good fix for this, but at the very least having no afk timer for a server with less than 4 or 5 people would remove the hurdle of needing to be tabbed in to try to get a server going
[/quote]


I honestly don't know if there's a good fix for this, but at the very least having no afk timer for a server with less than 4 or 5 people would remove the hurdle of needing to be tabbed in to try to get a server going

I think making the afk timer really long will just make playing at night bad sometimes, since people put themselves in the full server q and might not know when they got in. Having a third party thing so people can just add up and then once there are enough people, all join at once, makes the most sense in my head, but im not sure how willing people would be to essentially have dm servers be more like a pug style during the day, but maybe people will be open to trying it.
8
#8
-3 Frags +

And the most popular DM server in eu has so many players with a priority pass. I get removed by reserved slot after couple of kills once I finally get in. I'd say let some ai scout bots spawn in the middle of the map, so they dont need to find you, till there's at least 4 players. And also the DM servers simply dont show up in the server search list most of the time

And the most popular DM server in eu has so many players with a priority pass. I get removed by reserved slot after couple of kills once I finally get in. I'd say let some ai scout bots spawn in the middle of the map, so they dont need to find you, till there's at least 4 players. And also the DM servers simply dont show up in the server search list most of the time
9
#9
-9 Frags +

yeah i've got a priority pass so i get to skip ahead and boot losers out of full servers, i really reccommend it if u need extra time in dm

yeah i've got a priority pass so i get to skip ahead and boot losers out of full servers, i really reccommend it if u need extra time in dm
10
#10
2 Frags +
MoermanAnd the most popular DM server in eu has so many players with a priority pass. I get removed by reserved slot after couple of kills once I finally get in.

this has not been true since the french server fire and melkor stopped being the most popular server, anyone can get spenny dm reserve slot and that doesnt kick you just adds another 2 slots to the server.

[quote=Moerman]And the most popular DM server in eu has so many players with a priority pass. I get removed by reserved slot after couple of kills once I finally get in.[/quote]

this has not been true since the french server fire and melkor stopped being the most popular server, anyone can get spenny dm reserve slot and that doesnt kick you just adds another 2 slots to the server.
11
#11
2 Frags +

Could you not just have some bots walking around the mid point to give people a thing to shoot at until others join in? Similar to newbots bots where they strafe and aim kinda ok and they just waddle around the room or mid point area in a dm servers case. Have 6 bots, 1 for each class on each team that automatically come on/off the server based on how many people there are so there are at least 6 things on the server at all times. I would assume not too difficult to do since a few servers already do things like this.

Pitch it to the dm server overlords and see if they want to implement it and if it's possible.

Could you not just have some bots walking around the mid point to give people a thing to shoot at until others join in? Similar to newbots bots where they strafe and aim kinda ok and they just waddle around the room or mid point area in a dm servers case. Have 6 bots, 1 for each class on each team that automatically come on/off the server based on how many people there are so there are at least 6 things on the server at all times. I would assume not too difficult to do since a few servers already do things like this.

Pitch it to the dm server overlords and see if they want to implement it and if it's possible.
12
#12
5 Frags +

what about if the second dm server automatically fed to the first one, and if you are afk it boots you to the second one/(third one?)

what about if the second dm server automatically fed to the first one, and if you are afk it boots you to the second one/(third one?)
13
#13
-3 Frags +

It should have !logs but instead of publishing at the end of the game it should publish at the end of the month.

It should have !logs but instead of publishing at the end of the game it should publish at the end of the month.
14
#14
2 Frags +

The fix to filling servers is having a website where you can queue without having to afk in a server and having queue pop at 6 and connect everyone once at least 6 press the "I'm here" button. I know several people who would be willing to pay for the project if someone had the knowhow. What's better is the .dm domain exists so you could have a quirky site name.

The fix to filling servers is having a website where you can queue without having to afk in a server and having queue pop at 6 and connect everyone once at least 6 press the "I'm here" button. I know several people who would be willing to pay for the project if someone had the knowhow. What's better is the .dm domain exists so you could have a quirky site name.
15
#15
-5 Frags +

someone just make a discord server to ping for players to join dm

someone just make a discord server to ping for players to join dm
16
#16
4 Frags +
Petealso I think something like https://workshop.codes/TXCXX would be an interesting tf2 mode if you could configure what classes are in the pool, and its designed to function with a constantly fluctuating number of players

Ooh, I like this. We're interested in playing with new formats for a cup sometime during RGL's offseasons. I might make a thread for this because I would like some ppl's thoughts on this.

Off-season cups
1. MGE, Ultiduo, Passtime, Bball
2. Experimental maps
3. New format? https://workshop.codes/TXCXX? DM server teams, first to 50 kills?

I'm honestly only spewing rn, but with RGL being a two-format league (6's and HL), it'd be fun to test how TF2 would perform in different formats. For example, a friend of mine made a simple mod where bhop accel was on, and we played hyper ctf on custom maps. The metas of defense transitioning into offense were interesting, and it felt like playing soccer. First time I enjoyed the ctf format lol.

[quote=Pete]also I think something like https://workshop.codes/TXCXX would be an interesting tf2 mode if you could configure what classes are in the pool, and its designed to function with a constantly fluctuating number of players[/quote]

Ooh, I like this. We're interested in playing with new formats for a cup sometime during RGL's offseasons. I might make a thread for this because I would like some ppl's thoughts on this.

Off-season cups
1. MGE, Ultiduo, Passtime, Bball
2. Experimental maps
3. New format? https://workshop.codes/TXCXX? DM server teams, first to 50 kills?

I'm honestly only spewing rn, but with RGL being a two-format league (6's and HL), it'd be fun to test how TF2 would perform in different formats. For example, a friend of mine made a simple mod where bhop accel was on, and we played hyper ctf on custom maps. The metas of defense transitioning into offense were interesting, and it felt like playing soccer. First time I enjoyed the ctf format lol.
17
#17
1 Frags +
chellMostly I just want to see what other ideas people have, and maybe find a way to implement a solution so that dm servers are playable outside of 1-2 hours on scrim days.

If u find a solution, I'd be interested in hearing abt it

[quote=chell]Mostly I just want to see what other ideas people have, and maybe find a way to implement a solution so that dm servers are playable outside of 1-2 hours on scrim days.[/quote]

If u find a solution, I'd be interested in hearing abt it
18
#18
2 Frags +
aieraThe fix to filling servers is having a website where you can queue without having to afk in a server and having queue pop at 6 and connect everyone once at least 6 press the "I'm here" button. I know several people who would be willing to pay for the project if someone had the knowhow. What's better is the .dm domain exists so you could have a quirky site name.

This is exactly what I was thinking to an extent. An easy website something like "dm.tf", you choose EU or NA (or more if you want). It will utilize a list of DM servers chosen by community. Hit the queue button, and it will locate the first server on the list to populate and hit you with one of those "steam://" protocol connection messages like we have on other sites to connect, or if your browser allows it, autoconnect you. If it detects a server is full, it will just go next on the list. You can either wait for it to gather 6 players or instant connect you even if the server isn't quite full yet but if everybody starts using it, then the server will be filled within minutes anyway. The key thing here is people actually utilize it for ease of access and convenience. It's like matchmaking, it only works if you have enough people actually using it.

[quote=aiera]The fix to filling servers is having a website where you can queue without having to afk in a server and having queue pop at 6 and connect everyone once at least 6 press the "I'm here" button. I know several people who would be willing to pay for the project if someone had the knowhow. What's better is the .dm domain exists so you could have a quirky site name.[/quote]

This is exactly what I was thinking to an extent. An easy website something like "dm.tf", you choose EU or NA (or more if you want). It will utilize a list of DM servers chosen by community. Hit the queue button, and it will locate the first server on the list to populate and hit you with one of those "steam://" protocol connection messages like we have on other sites to connect, or if your browser allows it, autoconnect you. If it detects a server is full, it will just go next on the list. You can either wait for it to gather 6 players or instant connect you even if the server isn't quite full yet but [i]if everybody starts using it, then the server will be filled within minutes anyway[/i]. The key thing here is people actually utilize it for ease of access and convenience. It's like matchmaking, it only works if you have enough people actually using it.
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