Idle Players

[Notething]

I ran afoul of someone who just let their game idle in my server, which forced (after all the time passed) all the other companies to leave. It was my hopes that no one would idle, but I see no way of kicking idle people. Now, I get that people have talked about this before, and I haven't found crap anywhere about it, other than people saying it'd be difficult to teach. I think the simplest solution would be to create a script that every... 10 or 15 minutes? runs for each different player and asks them a basic math question. Nothing too complicated, so it doesn't obstruct gameplay, but if it isn't answered in one second, it kicks them from the server or moves them to spectator. Now, I'd go and make this myself, but I have no idea how to even start. Besides, I just blew the last of my learning for the day on HTML and PHP. I might look into it later if no one else takes it. Or even if someone points me to something that does this, then I'll just take it and go about my merry way. I just figured (from what I've read) that no one has even really suggested something or made something like that, so I would. ANYWAY, I'll stop blabbering on and continue about my day. Thanks in advance for whatever you offer .

[planetmaker]

being forced to react every 10 minutes or so would be über-annoying, especially if you DO build and not pay attention to chat every minute.

what you rather would want is some activity log (there's a loging patch out there somewhere) and base your decision upon that. And even then I'd move a player at most to spectator. The moving of the player can then be done of a wrapper tool which actually runs the server - if you find the means to determine when a player is inactive (even a player just observing, not issuing commands, might not be inactive)

[lawton27]

I agree with planetmaker, often when playing online I'll minimise OTTD and do something else whilst I build up some cash for my next route, I'd be very annoyed to return and find I'd been kicked.

[Notething]

Well, I figured 10 minutes might by a little... much, though that seems the opposite of what I mean. I figured I could tweak it with comments from my user base, and it wouldn't be said in chat. I'd hoped for a solution from something like a popup box. I played a game once that did that, can't remember the name of it to save me though. The only reason I don't want people sitting around idling, is because as I said, someone did that just to have all the other corporations disappear after X time.

[Eddi]

A popup box can only be done by modifying all clients. since it's almost useless for multiplayer to rely on a custom client patch, you'll have to talk this through with a dev, and you'll need to have a really good system for them to consider it...

[Dave]

A simple math problem? Can they not just use a captcha or type OTTD in the box?

[Notething]

Well if they were to read this thread, there have been plenty of good suggestions. And it wouldn't need to be required. You could make it so that people could set how long they wanted. 10 minutes, 15, 30, whatever. Then you can have it set to ask one of three ways. A math problems, typing in a word, typing in a letter, whatever. You guys sure don't seem very keen on this idea. Not sure why, but you all just seem to have shot the idea down from left and right. I was just curious if there was a simple way to keep people from idling throughout the night, just so their company was the only one around anymore. Just seems rather rude, don't you think? But, I guess you guys like that. So, whatever. I'll be on my way.

[Dave]

What's night for you may not be night for someone else.

You've got a bit defensive here... Ideas are here for constructive critique to improve them.