Master server policy

by eihrul on 06/19/2010 08:02, 80 messages, last message: 08/04/2016 12:42, 60950 views, last view: 05/02/2024 03:48

Since the issue has come up in a few instances lately, multiple servers violating master server rules and getting banned, and some people seem to be taking it as if they are being unfairly singled out, I thought it is probably time for a refresher.

If you want to keep your server registered on the master server, you have to abide by a few rules. Otherwise, your server is temporarily banned until you fix the issues.

The rules:
1. The master/auth system can't be messed with. All things someone can do with auth can normally do must function, regardless of whatever server mods you have in place.
2. The gameplay needs to remain unmodified. The Sauerbraten master server is for the Sauerbraten game only, not other games.

These are not rules we made up just recently to pick on people. These policies have been in place since before Sauerbraten even existed, within Cube.

I am eminently fair about enforcement - if you fix the issues, your server gets back in. And for that matter, I am very lenient about what sort of server mods are allowed, but those few rules above need to be respected.

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#21: ..

by Hanack on 03/27/2012 11:29

Sadly I got no answers to my questions:

1. Are there any inofficial rules to keep on the master server list apart of the listed above?

2. Is there any definition of "unmodified gameplay"?

Ty, Hanack

Notice to myself: I should use question marks next time...

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#22: Re: ..

by Razgriz on 03/27/2012 13:13, refers to #21

How about you give us your definition of modified gameplay, and we in turn give you a definition of maybe.

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#23: Re: ..

by baby~rabbit on 03/27/2012 23:58, refers to #21

How is "unmodified gameplay" ambiguous?

A gray area is possibly modified gameplay by the automation of things that are already possible by master/admin, e.g. auto spectate for teamkill.

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#24: Re: ..

by Razgriz on 03/28/2012 10:35, refers to #23

And who gives a shit if you auto-spectate teamkillers anyway. Even eihrul said he was planning on adding that feature to the default server settings to kick teamkillers on a set limit.

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#25: Re: ..

by Quin on 03/29/2012 02:00, refers to #24

Really?

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#26: Re: ..

by Razgriz on 03/29/2012 06:28, refers to #25

true story bro.

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#27: Re: ..

by Redon on 03/29/2012 09:26, refers to #23

The term "unmodified gameplay" is unambiguous of course, but apparently the line isn't set strictly at "absolutely unmodified", as things like picking up flags after teamkill, automatic kicking of teamkillers and so on are modifications of the game, ergo some clarification is needed.

I'm not arguing that some common sense should help finding the answer to the question "Can I do that?" in most cases, but the line between minorly modified in a tolerable way and majorly modified enough to get your server banned isn't exactly black-and-white.

For example:
May I change the way the flag-pickup works after a flagdrop?
May I automatically kick teamkillers?
May I change the respawn time?
May I change the game duration?
May I make additional gamemodes?
May I change the amount of weapons for efficiency?
May I change the map-rotation?
May I lock/disable gamemodes?
May I lock a server to one map only?

All of those are issues of which some I know are tolerated, some I'm not sure and some seem rather ridiculous given the term "unmodified gameplay", but they're all modifications

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#28: ..

by Hanack on 03/29/2012 12:30

Thx for your responses. I gave some examples of opinions about unmodified gameplay in Post #11. As baby-rabbit said, the most of the automation tasks result in a kick or in spectating someone. But there are different opinions about why they got kicked/spectated.

E.g. for having bad names, for using a registered name, for spreading bad phrases or insulting, for spamming, for cheating (aim, trigger, speed, wall, jump, invisible, teleport, fly, reload, respawning, modified map and so on), for teamkilling and camping, for being inactive, for flooding (reconnecting, renaming), for having a bad ping/pj ...

These are the usual tasks of automation that should not affect "unmodified gameplay".

By contrast, e.g. echo-echo said that eihrul said, that getting spectated for using the name "unnamed" is modified gameplay.

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#29: Re: ..

by Razgriz on 03/29/2012 13:57, refers to #28

Nah, i find it quite normal for wanting to auto-spectate people with the "unnamed" tag, trying to keep out the total noobs, but, it is also kind of annoying. A name is a name, and changing does not change who you are, so it's pretty much pointless and thus not welcome.

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#30: Re: ..

by Papriko on 03/29/2012 17:05, refers to #29

But in the most cases unnameds are either uber noobs who didn't even see the stupid input field in the menu or are people who wanna cause mischief without ruining their actual name. The first you don't want in the server in the most cases.
The second you don't want in the server either, but those actually should know that it is easier to make some kind of one-time-name.

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#31: Re: ..

by Quin on 03/29/2012 17:22, refers to #28

I personally dislike kicking someone for a bad ping. I have seen these thoroughly misused in Sauerbraten before, a 300ms ping does not mean the game is unplayable (what matters mostly is the pj), but some admins don't realise that the networking in Cube isn't the same as in other games (where a ping of this size would be catastrophic).

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#32: Re: ..

by tempest on 03/29/2012 18:10, refers to #30

Or they're people like me who just want to play occasionally and don't give a shit about names. I find those restrictions quite offensive tbh, and I simply don't play on such servers.
Also, assuming you can identify a noob by their inability to select a name is a little dumb, given there's a huge text field with "name:" right at the top of the multiplayer menu.
And do you really think you can stop someone with mischievous intents by telling them they can't play as "unnamed"? Lol.

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#33: Re: ..

by Hanack on 03/29/2012 19:24, refers to #31

There are other reasons than keep noobs away for spectating unnameds. First time players will realize that they should use a name. Secondly, using the same name is massively reduced, because the players have to choose one. Thirdly, in practice cheaters are much easier to track if they don't be able to use the name unnamed. You have a second information apart of the ip address. I can understand if people complain a little, but the benefit is much higher.

@tempest: These restrictions are not really offensive, as everyone can use "unnamed1" or any other name. No one is forced to do anything - not even connect to a server.

@Papriko: It is important, that there are servers that wants noobs :-) because sauerbraten - as every game - needs new players. They should feel "welcome" in sauerbraten. If not, they will just uninstall the game.

@Quin: The pj is indeed the right choise for ensure a stable connection, but most new players don't understand how to fix their pj. They even don't know what pj is. You have to enable it to appear on the scoreboard. Also, there are players that believe they have a stable connection because the ping seems ok. Apart from that, I don't think a kick is the right action for only having a bad connection.

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#34: Re: ..

by Papriko on 03/29/2012 20:35, refers to #33

Sure are noobs important, I help some often enough, showing some basics. Just sometimes you are simply not in the mood to be asked "how did you do that???" by every little bit you do.
You often have mapfuckers too when you let in unnameds. Admittedly some don't know what they are actually doing there, it's still going on the nerves of the connected people.


For the connection-part: kicking and spectating also seems rude to me in those cases. You should just point at it. In some cases the problems can be fixed easily (e.g. when the other stops downloading his new movies) and you can keep playing.
Even if not, it already has been mentioned that Sauer has a pretty good network structure. I already had nice matches with people that have a ping of about 500.
In the worst case the person should decide on his own if it makes sense to play with such a connection.

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#35: Re: ..

by suicizer01 on 03/29/2012 22:52, refers to #34

Ever tried /maxfps 10 or 15?
Makes you lag sometimes either to other players (at least the scoreboard shows so).

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#36: Re: ..

by baby~rabbit on 03/30/2012 03:51, refers to #28

"By contrast, e.g. echo-echo said that eihrul said, that getting spectated for using the name "unnamed" is modified gameplay."

Trolled? Ignore hearsay and ask eihrul directly.

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#37: ..

by ultrasemen on 03/30/2012 16:39

Hey. Are there alternative master servers? How can I use them? Because I want to play with changed gameplay, and do not want to type every server by myself to check what map is on it, what mode and how many players.

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#38: Re: ..

by eihrul on 03/30/2012 17:52, refers to #36

I didn't say to echo-echo that it was modified gameplay so much that I do not approve of people auto-spectating unnamed players. I wholly support the right of people to play as unnamed or any name they want.

Even auto-spectating for people using a protected name is a no-go. The most I will tolerate is silently renaming people who are using a protected name to unname. But under no circumstances is disconnecting or spectating for it acceptable. I have delisted servers for these things in the past, and may in the future.

New players just want to get in and play and try the game. They've not even invested enough time yet to figure out how to play, and you're bugging them with accounting details? Just don't do it. Let them play.

And well, even players who are not new, just want to be anonymous at times. Let them.

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#39: Re: ..

by Zamwa on 03/30/2012 18:43, refers to #37

Yes, read history of this thread and you will find one!

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#40: ..

by ultrasemen on 03/30/2012 19:13

Oh, I'm sorry. Looks like I missed it. Are there new game modes? And what is the name of default master server, tried to search in my config, but didn't find anything.

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