Hosting games

[Verin]

So is this usually a problem for people? Whenever i cant find a server to play in, i host my own and it fills up fast. but if something goes wrong or they dont like it they DEMAND i re-host. why cant they just host their own. if they dont like that the teams aren't 100% perfect, of if there's a Russian on their team (face palm) Why do they demand i re-host, i tell them to go host their own and its like they dont hear me.

Why dont people just host more servers? there is usually only 1 playable server open, or sometimes nothing.

[Terminator]

most wz player can't host, cause of technical problems > internet connection(behind proxy, NAT, DNS). I'm one of those who can't host i'm very sad about this

[Dalton]

Things often get messed up though and a rehost is needed like the game isn't listed in lobby or someone can't join, or people can't click in.

[Zarel]

iirc, there's very little that requires rehosting these days. Changing maps is like the only thing...

[Verin]

What also gets me ticked off is i had a 4v4 on NTW running and my mac randomly froze. Not like anything major was happening just some building before the game actually got going. i sometimes get this when all the players are kicked, because of a data integrity check bypass. I dont think they are trying to bypass anything it's just odd.

[KenAlcock]

So is this usually a problem for people?

Yes it is usually a problem, and it's getting to the point where I might be inspired to write an article titled the "Rules of Civility for Warzone 2100 Multiplayer Games".

Whenever i cant find a server to play in, i host my own and it fills up fast.

Good initiative, more people need to step up and host games. Also more people need to show a little more respect to people who take the initiative to host a game.

but if something goes wrong ... they DEMAND i re-host.

As previously mentioned in this thread, rehosting for technical reasons is very often a requirement. I've even thought of typing up the tell-tale signs to look for. Sometimes as host you cannot see the technical issue that the players joining your game may notice. As host, you have chosen to undertake the responsibility to ensure that a playable game gets hosted. When other players advise you of a technical reason for you to rehost, you should strongly consider it.

or they dont like it they DEMAND i re-host.

Politely stick to the type of game and map that you want to host, and explain this to your prospective players. If they can't get with the program, ask them to leave, and if they become whiners simply kick them. But the flip side to this is that you must be aware of what types of games there are and how popular each type of game is. If you are the only person interested in playing that type of game, don't get mad when everyone else tries to suggest a different type of game, or ultimately leaves your game.

Personally, I wish the Warzone 2100 Lobby was more like a chat room, where people could discuss games prior to hosting them. Fortunately though, we have the Warzone 2100 IRC channel which is an able substitute. But more players need to make use of it.

if they dont like that the teams aren't 100% perfect, of if there's a Russian on their team (face palm) Why do they demand i re-host, i tell them to go host their own and its like they dont hear me.

I feel for you, and so do the many Russian Warzone 2100 fans, especially since at least some Russians are usually awake at all times--Russia spans something like 9 time zones--even in the wee hours of the USA/European morning when I'm awake and looking to play. I've played a few games with people I can't even speak to, and it doesn't matter. Real Warzone 2100 players play with anyone, any time they get the chance--language barriers be damned.

However, to be fair on one point, a good host always attempts to make teams fair. There are always going to be new players and pros. And if all the pros are on one team, and all the newbies are on the other. The newbies will get annihilated and may get discouraged from playing the game. And this does not help the popularity of the game. There a quite a few players who know my name as host, because I have taken time to coach them up a little. And some of them now enjoy kicking my butt when they are on the opposing team. (And I'm making a list for pay backs people--you have been warned. ) That is what good sportsmanship (and being a good host) is all about. Help the newbies acclimate to the game, and soon they will no longer be newbies.

Also remember that Pros can quickly tire of always being paired with newbies. One way to avoid this is the odd team matchup--2 pros versus 3 newbies or sometimes even versus 4 newbies. Everyone is challenged and the newbies have numbers on their side to compensate slightly for their lack of experience.

There are also going to be people who want to partner with their friends. I always try to accommodate them as much as I can, while still trying to make teams fair. As host, you can't please all the people all the time. But you can please most people some of the time. One tactic I found that works well, is to promise to mix up the teams in the next game (of course you must follow up on the promise for this to be effective).

why cant they just host their own? ... Why dont people just host more servers? there is usually only 1 playable server open, or sometimes nothing.

As previously mentioned in this thread, many people cannot host. Even I can't always host. Hosting ability depends on quite a few technical factors. The host PC is usually the first to lag in Multiplayer. It also helps if the host is geographically central within the group of players in the game. That minimizes the ping value to each player in the group. There is the stability of the host computer, the network connection in use, time of day, and other factors. Some days I can host 8 players, others I lag with 6 players.


Personally, if someone comes into a game I'm trying to host and starts making demands instead of making suggestions or requests, I kick them out no questions asked. I then immediately advise all other players not to make demands when they join my games. It is outright being rude.

That being said, I host quite a few games and I try to make sure the teams are even. I'm often open to rehosting with different maps (if I haven't played the desired map to boredom that day). I've hosted enough games now that quite a few people recognize my game handle (Cosmic Raven), and will join my games, though a few people people can't stand me, which is their right.

Hosting a game is just like hosting a real world get together, inviting people over to your place. You would not invite everyone where you live over to your residence; and if you did, all the people you invited would not choose to attend anyway. So if people are rude, feel free to kick them out. But if you are not a good host, no one is going to come over to your place ever again either.

[Dylan Hsu]

iirc, there's very little that requires rehosting these days. Changing maps is like the only thing...

Often times games disappear from lobbyserver while still hosted. Lurk moar.

[m1ndgames]

i host a lot 2vs2 games for a friend and me... and often i see that the enemie doesent play together... they steal oil ressources or flame each other as noobs... :/

its a pity that every 2nd game has to end with a disconnect, maybe we should look for some other players in irc, but then.. there arent enough. adding a chat to the game lobby would be a huge improvement for this issue because players could socialize and form games from there...

[Verin]

The only reasons i have ever disconnected is because of technical issues, Ill keep in mind what your suggestions and comments were KenAlcock. As for hosting here are my concerns.

When hosting a server, why does my server randomly disappear from the lobby? (reported many times by participants)
When hosting a server, Why does fire tend to freeze the game? i have a excellent graphics card and RAM, far surpassing the requirements thanks to the mac.
When hosting a server, why do i sometimes on 4v4 servers, get everyone kicked because of a data integrity check bypass?

[KenAlcock]

When hosting a server, why does my server randomly disappear from the lobby? (reported many times by participants)

I see this a lot too. Not only as host but as a player when others host. What I do when I host is keep a browser open to the Warzone Lobby Server Web Page and if my game is not listed, then I know it's time to host. Other things to look for are when a player leaves but there game handle is still shown in the player list.

When hosting a server, Why does fire tend to freeze the game? i have a excellent graphics card and RAM, far surpassing the requirements thanks to the mac.

I see this too, more so on some maps over others. And the more players the more likely it is to occur. I also see a spike in CPU utilization for the warzone2100.exe process. To my knowledge the developers cannot recreate this, though I don't know why.

When hosting a server, why do i sometimes on 4v4 servers, get everyone kicked because of a data integrity check bypass?

I have also seen several players get kicked at once from v2.3.1, but not when I'm the host. When I'm the host the most I have seen kicked is a single player. My understanding is this has to do with mods and cheats that people may have loaded. Some people compile their own build of Warzone. Some people add their own code to it. However, during the beta releases, I have seen people kicked in this manner who I know only used standard builds without cheats and mods. My opinion is the Data Integrity check may not yet be error-free.

These are all fairly common issues in v2.3. And they do try one's patience. But what's important is to take them in stride. Eventually you will get a game hosted and it will be fun. Besides, if you are playing a video game you are already wasting time, what's a few more minutes?

[Zarel]

I have also seen several players get kicked at once from v2.3.1, but not when I'm the host. When I'm the host the most I have seen kicked is a single player. My understanding is this has to do with mods and cheats that people may have loaded. Some people compile their own build of Warzone. Some people add their own code to it. However, during the beta releases, I have seen people kicked in this manner who I know only used standard builds without cheats and mods. My opinion is the Data Integrity check may not yet be error-free.

These are all fairly common issues in v2.3. And they do try one's patience. But what's important is to take them in stride. Eventually you will get a game hosted and it will be fun. Besides, if you are playing a video game you are already wasting time, what's a few more minutes?

In the beta versions, we've had a whole bunch of data integrity check bugs, but in 2.3.0+, I'm pretty sure we have them all sorted out.