Spec idle kick

[Anonymous.]

1. To "show interest" while waiting for people to join on a dead server
2. To pad player numbers for the server browser (showing interest)
3. To wait until the next match to not ruin the balance

The trackers are slow to update and cannot be used to determine how much longer a match will last. You also cannot "show interest" from a tracker. Spec slots are essentially unlimited, up to 32 can be set.

[McLovin]

...
Spec slots are essentially unlimited, up to 32 can be set.

I'm all for upping the spec slots to 32 or unlimited.

[McLovin]

One thing I do is load a map, but before it loads and starts playing, I exit and join the server as spec. That way the game doesn't start until a live human joins. Plus I don't get an AFK kick like when the game is in session. Once a live human joins I can exit and join before the game starts, which gives the balancer a chance to balance if there are more than 3 others.

[Enyo]

1. To "show interest" while waiting for people to join on a dead server

I don’t think seeing you indefinitely waiting in the wings will entice people to play… just saying.

[Rhamp]

I like to sit in spec when waiting for the bullshit minus/junk/dria spam to end so I can join right at the end to vote for something that isn't those 3 maps. The trackers don't tell me how close a game is to ending.

[pooty]

I exit and join the server as spec. That way the game doesn't start until a live human joins. Plus I don't get an AFK kick like when the game is in session. Once a live human joins I can exit and join before the game starts, which gives the balancer a chance to balance if there are more than 3 others.

So one *important* point. If you join from being a spectator, there's no balancer input. Right now when you join directly, it puts the new join on the weaker team by PPH (aka Balance), if the numbers are equal, if the teams are unequal new player goes to team with less players. BUT if you join from Spectator you go to your preferred team, no balancer input. That's because inside the game you've already "joined" so the code that decides what's the weaker team doesn't run when you go from spec to join. Now I am working on fixing that, and I think I have a way to fix it...but for now its a bit of loophole...

So adding more spec slots and letting people join from spec really screws the balancer. Teams won't become uneven by numbers though that won't happen but it would allow high value players to join a really strong team when the numbers are even..

I'd be ok adding more spec slots although it might increase the server load and might have to reduce the tick rate....

And there's no easy way to allow specs to sit idle without increasing the player idle which I don't think we want.

And I am not sure that specs count in the server browser. Server browser shows n/32, we have six spec slots and 32 player slots.

[leon]

I have several days off after I discharged from ER. May I spec tonight?

[YEAAAHHHHHHHHHH]

I have several days off after I discharged from ER. May I spec tonight?

Welcome back! I hope you're healthy.

[McLovin]

I have several days off after I discharged from ER. May I spec tonight?

Wow, Leon! I hope you are feeling better. I'm sorry to hear you were in the ER. I'm glad you're back.

-leon-doctor

Go to doctor. You need a doctor I think.

Haha!

[leon]

I didn't lie yesterday

I have a several week vacation after that stroke.