Master server policy

by eihrul on 06/19/2010 08:02, 80 messages, last message: 08/04/2016 12:42, 47885 views, last view: 12/09/2021 02:42

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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#8: Server Mods

by LeftClicker on 07/13/2010 22:36

So exactly what kind of server mods are allowed? Pretty much just no gameplay changes? What exactly qualifies as gameplay? Obviously editing the source code, but what about things such as gamespeed? (If they are even set-able on a server.)

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#9: ..

by suicizer01 on 10/16/2010 20:39

can i ask what's the definition and specification of "hide and seek"?
(what's the difference between default gameplay and flow of sauerbraten, and the gameplay and flow of "hide and seek"?)

5 added to 1 is? ..... Let's say 6?

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#10: Re: ..

by |ice|sub-zero|L on 10/25/2010 02:38, refers to #9

the difference is you cannot kill your enemy if you are a hider, and you have to hide, of course doesn't allow you to kill your teamates, and adds extra life to every player. all in all, it makes its own mode out of FFA but it is kinda glitchy. it changes the game overall and unless implemented in the source it will not be allowed.

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#11: The Server Rules & "eihrul said ..."

by Hanack on 03/18/2012 17:16

I want to know if there are more rules than stated above. echo-echo (and others) argued that "eihrul said [whatever]" and that the server breaks eihruls rules.

So, I want to know if we can count on this two rules to keep on the master server list. If there are any "inofficial" rules, I want to know about.

Also, some people are very creative in construe "The gameplay needs to remain unmodified" extensively. So, server mods would be forbidden ("eihrul said") to regulate teamkillers, campers, cheaters, bad names, nazi stuff and so on. In fact, this would cause that any server mod would be not acceptable.

It would *really* helpful, if "unmodified gameplay" would be rendered more precisely. I don't want surprises resulting in a sudden ban from the master server list because some people have fun in destroying other people dedication.

Ty, Hanack

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#12: ..

by Zamwa on 03/18/2012 20:21

My protest on admins of quadropolis isn't going to effect My honor of the project and master server policy! Since assassin edition I haven't been running any game changing mods, etc and that will remain so Eihrul!

The illusion of freedom to express has a cost! -_-

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#13: Re: The Server Rules & "eihrul said ..."

by Papriko on 03/18/2012 21:03, refers to #11

With "modified gameplay" is meant that you create new modes. For example was there a server which officially ran insta team, but has been modded to be actually hide n seek.
One player was starting alone in the seeker team, the others were in the hiding team. The server ignored shots of the hider and moved the hiders into the seeker team on death.
I think they also did something with the team scores in order to make the hiders actually win when they were able to keep the player amount > 0, but I don't remember anymore.

Overall you see that this is a rather massive change of the classic gameplay and that's what gets thrown out of the masterserver.
Kicking teamkillers and Hitlers is okay. That's not modifying gameplay, just using the own house right that you do not want such people playing on your server.

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#14: Re: ..

by Q009 on 03/19/2012 08:41, refers to #12

Even when it comes to hijacking others' nodes?
You are ridiculous but whatever.

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#15: Re: The Server Rules & "eihrul said ..."

by suicizer01 on 03/19/2012 21:07, refers to #13

About modified game-modes, Those servers still exist, yet I won't name them, because that's up to those who host to be fair against Eihrul.

Papriko, I agree people which are having offensive names or expressing it on another way, should be kicked, but there sometimes also is the right "freedom of speech". Sometimes admins seem to forget that. Of course it's not the meaning to abuse that right...

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#16: Re: The Server Rules & "eihrul said ..."

by Zorg on 03/19/2012 23:56, refers to #15

Technically, there is no "freedom of speech" on a privately hosted server. You can ban whoever you want from your very own server. If there was "freedom of speech" on each server, there would also be the sharia and Thailand's "do-not-critizise-the-king" law. Practically, you're right of course, server moderators should act responsibly and as far as I can see, this works pretty well!

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#17: Re: The Server Rules & "eihrul said ..."

by Papriko on 03/20/2012 16:48, refers to #16

That's it. Freedom of speech is a cool thing, but as Zorg said: on private servers can the owner decide on his own how free the speech really is. And when he says that he doesn't want such people, then is it like that. They still can go to any other server. There are I don't know how many servers connected to sauerbraten.org. In addition come those which are not connected to the official master server, but still have their own websites and co.
Somewhere in this mess you'll find at least one nice server for sure.

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#18: Re: The Server Rules & "eihrul said ..."

by suicizer01 on 03/20/2012 20:15, refers to #17

As I said, the right of speech shouldn't be abused. The admin or moderator decides if it's being abused or not (so he or she is the judge and executioner at once).
You can't connect to private servers anyway, as you'll need the password to do so.
There is currently an uncountable amount of servers on Sauerbraten, but that doesn't mean they are all "playable". There are several server which have auth or restricted that you can only play 1 certain mode on it (I really hate such servers). Only a very few servers are actually open and often those servers have a very bad connection for (almost) everyone compared to other servers...

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#19: Re: The Server Rules & "eihrul said ..."

by Papriko on 03/20/2012 22:09, refers to #18

What do you mean? I mostly edit and coop edit is one of the most blocked modes.
I still never have problems to find a server having it enabled with a ping < 100.

When you have problems with your connection, get a better provider and avoid those australian servers.

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#20: Re: The Server Rules & "eihrul said ..."

by suicizer01 on 03/21/2012 19:17, refers to #19

Do me a favour and read my comment more clear please.
As I said, the servers which are open so NOT "authed") often have a bad connection for (almost) everyone, compared to other servers.
That means, don't personalize it to your own connection, but look at others also (which is just as important when playing any other mode then coop, as your own ping and pj).

Next to that, I have a fine connection to most European servers...

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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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