Crafting Server Appeal and Good Appearance - Revision history

Cadillac at 02:23, 23 August 2021

2021-08-23T02:23:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:23, 22 August 2021
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	Center messages should be used rather sparingly, perhaps for a short URL or clan name. Abuse of center_message and round_center_message can be rather annoying to players. Both the welcome message and the console message provide enough room for rules, guidelines or additional help.		Center messages should be used rather sparingly, perhaps for a short URL or clan name. Abuse of center_message and round_center_message can be rather annoying to players. Both the welcome message and the console message provide enough room for rules, guidelines or additional help.

			[[Category:Administration]]

Nano: /* How to properly season your server name */

2010-11-15T01:50:38Z

How to properly season your server name

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:50, 14 November 2010
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	This text doesn't address server physics, which is an even more subjective matter- just aesthetics.		This text doesn't address server physics, which is an even more subjective matter- just aesthetics.

	==How to ~~properly season your server name~~==		==How to Properly Season Your Server Name==

	The server name will be a major defining factor in making a first impression, and thus drawing people in who haven't played in your server before.		The server name will be a major defining factor in making a first impression, and thus drawing people in who haven't played in your server before.

Nano at 01:50, 15 November 2010

2010-11-15T01:50:11Z

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	[[Image:Ctwf.jpg]]		[[Image:Ctwf.jpg]]

	The server name consists of 8 different color codes, ~~it changes~~ from letter to letter~~. At the same time its~~ order ~~is repeated in every~~ word. It's not a smooth color gradient, but a contrast~~. It obviously symbolizes~~ the craziness of the server and ~~the clan behind it, but it also refers to the~~ 'weird maps' that are mentioned in the server options. CTWF is a very successful server, and ~~i believe that~~ the name ~~is part~~ of ~~it.~~		The server name consists of 8 different color codes, changing from letter to letter, but with consistent order from word to word. It's not a smooth color gradient, but a contrast symbolizing the 'craziness' of the server and its 'weird maps' that are mentioned in the server options. CTWF is a very successful server, and subjectively, the coloring of the name may be a significant factor in this. However, it should be noted that many of the more attractive server names use color in less extreme ways.
	~~If you like to keep your~~ server ~~privately there are three~~ ways ~~to achieve this:~~

	~~1. You can change max_clients so that only a certain number~~ of players ~~can enter~~		If you wish to keep the general bulk of players ''away'' from your server, there are three ways to achieve this:

	2. ~~You can set talk_to_master~~ to 0 ~~so that the server doesn't appear on~~ the ~~list and your players have to connect manually (using your~~ server~~'s IP~~)		1. Changing max_clients to a low number to restrict number of players (or 0, to only allow players already in the server)

	3. ~~You can simply inform everyone by changing~~ the server name.		2. Set talk_to_master to 0 so the server doesn't appear on the list (Note: players would have to know, and manually enter, the server's IP in order to play there)

			3. Changing the server name to reflect this and hope people take heed (Note: not always effective).

	[[Image:Unk.jpg]]		[[Image:Unk.jpg]]
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	==Welcome Messages==		==Welcome Messages==

	~~Would you call this~~ a proper welcome message?		Maybe not a proper welcome message.
	~~It doesn't~~ tell you anything about the server ~~you just entered except that its admin has an infantile humour~~.		Fails to tell you anything about the server's gameplay, rules, or administration.

	[[Image:Welcome.jpg]]		[[Image:Welcome.jpg]]

	~~You can do lots of things with your~~ welcome message. You can ~~create~~ ASCII art (as used in Wild West Capture The Flag) or give a detailed description of your game (like in many Fortress servers or Dodgeball). ~~You can~~ also ~~use it to~~ advertise ~~your~~ clan's site or to ~~give everyone your email so players can notify you if they have trouble~~.		The welcome message can be very useful in informing players about the server they are entering, or just look spiffy. You can utilize ASCII art (as used in Wild West Capture The Flag) or give a detailed description of your game (like in many Fortress servers or Dodgeball). One may also advertise their clan site, or a way to contact the administration of the server.

	==Server Options==		==Server Options==
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	==Ping Limits==		==Ping Limits==

	A ping limit is a bad idea. Who knows what players you will never meet because you obstruct your server's door? Imagine Xyron would be banned from all sumo servers.		A ping limit is a bad idea. Who knows what players you will never meet because you obstruct your server's door? Imagine Xyron would be banned from all sumo servers. You may also miss out entirely on the Australian portion (it's more than you'd think) of Armagetron players.


	==Server Rules==		==Server Rules==
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	I don't like servers with a long list of rules that are not predefined by the settings. While settings are always valid, regardless if they are popular or not, rules have to be enforced by server admins and moderators. If ~~the mighty people of your~~ server interfere too ~~often~~, ~~some~~ players ~~will~~ stay away completely (see: [[Playing Open]]).		I don't like servers with a long list of rules that are not predefined by the settings. While settings are always valid, regardless if they are popular or not, rules have to be enforced by server admins and moderators. If server staff interfere too frequently, players may stay away completely (see: [[Playing Open]]).
	However, all of this is my personal opinion and it's your choice what you do with your server. Rules ~~belong~~ in the server options and ~~the welcome message~~. Nobody likes to be kicked for "~~deliberately~~ closing" (or "~~drawing~~", ~~"rimming", "stabbing" and all these other pseudo crimes)~~.		However, all of this is my personal opinion and it's your choice what you do with your server. Rules should be clearly dictated in the welcome message, and preferably also in the server options (alternatively, if rules are short and simple, in round_console_message). Nobody likes to be kicked for "closing" or "stabbing", particularly when rules weren't clearly defined to begin with.

	Our internet society isn't so rotten that you have to add good behaviour to the rules. But it can have a positive effect on the server's climate if admins are there to handle your players' issues and to ensure they don't degrade others, teamkill, or otherwise ruin their armagetron experience with their n00bery. ~~You can't go wrong with~~ a list of ~~go-~~to ~~persons~~.		Our internet society isn't so rotten that you have to add good behaviour to the rules. But it can have a positive effect on the server's climate if admins are there to handle your players' issues and to ensure they don't degrade others, teamkill, or otherwise ruin their armagetron experience with their n00bery. Having a list of people to contact in cases of severe n00bery can be helpful.


	==Center Messages==		==Center Messages==

	Center messages ~~can contain URLs~~ or ~~short exclamations, questions, sayings~~ and ~~quotes. They shouldn't~~ be ~~too long~~. Both the welcome message and the ~~time-out~~ message provide enough room for rules, guidelines or additional help.		Center messages should be used rather sparingly, perhaps for a short URL or clan name. Abuse of center_message and round_center_message can be rather annoying to players. Both the welcome message and the console message provide enough room for rules, guidelines or additional help.

Nano at 01:08, 15 November 2010

2010-11-15T01:08:51Z

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	[[Image: title.jpg]]		[[Image: title.jpg]]

	You have a server and ~~you want players~~ to ~~play there~~. There are ~~some~~ things you ~~should pay attention~~ to ~~when you set it up~~.		You have a server, and would like to see it active. There are many things you can do to attract or repel potential players to/from your server.
	I found most of this self-~~explaining~~ and one thing i like about Armagetron is the ~~big~~ variety of things you can do ~~with~~ a server.		I found most of this self-explanatory, and one thing I like about Armagetron is the truly wide variety of things you can do to make a server unique.
	This text ~~isn~~'t ~~about~~ server physics~~. It's subject~~ is ~~a server's outward appearance~~.		This text doesn't address server physics, which is an even more subjective matter- just aesthetics.

	==How to properly season your server name==		==How to properly season your server name==

	~~There aren~~'t ~~a lot of things you can do wrong with~~ your server~~'s name~~.		The server name will be a major defining factor in making a first impression, and thus drawing people in who haven't played in your server before.
	Of course it shouldn't be too long, ~~and you better don't~~ have tons of servers with the same name. This is regarded as spam and ~~leads~~ to a ban.		Of course it shouldn't be too long, nor should one have tons of servers with the same name. This is regarded as spam, and can lead to a ban.
	Servers that ~~belong together~~ can be grouped visually, just by using a similar prefix or a color code which is repeated.		Servers that are meant to be part of a 'group' or operated by one clan can be grouped visually, just by using a similar prefix or a color code which is repeated.
	~~You don~~'t have to use any color codes. ~~Nonetheless~~, the most ~~important thing for a good server~~ are ~~still its physics~~.		One doesn't have to use any color codes at all. However, the server names that stand out the most are those that utilize color codes effectively and attractively.

Word at 00:53, 15 November 2010

2010-11-15T00:53:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:53, 14 November 2010
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	There aren't a lot of things you can do wrong with your server's name.		There aren't a lot of things you can do wrong with your server's name.
	Of course it shouldn't be too long, and you better don't have tons of servers with the same name. This is regarded as spam and leads to a ban.		Of course it shouldn't be too long, and you better don't have tons of servers with the same name. This is regarded as spam and leads to a ban.
	Servers that belong together can be grouped ~~optically~~, just by using a similar prefix or a color code which is repeated.		Servers that belong together can be grouped visually, just by using a similar prefix or a color code which is repeated.
	You don't have to use any color codes. ~~The~~ most important thing for a good server are its ~~genuine~~ physics.		You don't have to use any color codes. Nonetheless, the most important thing for a good server are still its physics.

Word at 00:51, 15 November 2010

2010-11-15T00:51:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:51, 14 November 2010
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	However, all of this is my personal opinion and it's your choice what you do with your server. Rules belong in the server options and the welcome message. Nobody likes to be kicked for "deliberately closing" (or "drawing", "rimming", "stabbing" and all these other pseudo crimes).		However, all of this is my personal opinion and it's your choice what you do with your server. Rules belong in the server options and the welcome message. Nobody likes to be kicked for "deliberately closing" (or "drawing", "rimming", "stabbing" and all these other pseudo crimes).

	Our internet society isn't so rotten that you have to add good behaviour to the rules. But it can have a positive effect on the server's climate if admins are there to handle your players' issues and to ensure they don't degrade others, teamkill, or otherwise ruin their armagetron experience with their n00bery. A list of go-to persons ~~is never wrong~~.		Our internet society isn't so rotten that you have to add good behaviour to the rules. But it can have a positive effect on the server's climate if admins are there to handle your players' issues and to ensure they don't degrade others, teamkill, or otherwise ruin their armagetron experience with their n00bery. You can't go wrong with a list of go-to persons.

Word at 21:55, 14 November 2010

2010-11-14T21:55:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:55, 14 November 2010
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	However, all of this is my personal opinion and it's your choice what you do with your server. Rules belong in the server options and the welcome message. Nobody likes to be kicked for "deliberately closing" (or "drawing", "rimming", "stabbing" and all these other pseudo crimes).		However, all of this is my personal opinion and it's your choice what you do with your server. Rules belong in the server options and the welcome message. Nobody likes to be kicked for "deliberately closing" (or "drawing", "rimming", "stabbing" and all these other pseudo crimes).

	Our internet society isn't so rotten that you have to add good behaviour to the rules. But it can have a positive effect on the server's climate if admins are there to handle your players' issues and to ensure they don't degrade others, teamkill, or otherwise ruin their armagetron experience with their n00bery.		Our internet society isn't so rotten that you have to add good behaviour to the rules. But it can have a positive effect on the server's climate if admins are there to handle your players' issues and to ensure they don't degrade others, teamkill, or otherwise ruin their armagetron experience with their n00bery. A list of go-to persons is never wrong.

Word at 21:53, 14 November 2010

2010-11-14T21:53:11Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:53, 14 November 2010
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	==Introduction==		==Introduction==

			[[Image: title.jpg]]

	You have a server and you want players to play there. There are some things you should pay attention to when you set it up.		You have a server and you want players to play there. There are some things you should pay attention to when you set it up.

Word at 21:51, 14 November 2010

2010-11-14T21:51:42Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:51, 14 November 2010
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	I don't like servers with a long list of rules that are not predefined by the settings. While settings are always valid, regardless if they are popular or not, rules have to be enforced by server admins and moderators. If the mighty people of your server interfere too often, some players will stay away completely (see: [[Playing Open]]).		I don't like servers with a long list of rules that are not predefined by the settings. While settings are always valid, regardless if they are popular or not, rules have to be enforced by server admins and moderators. If the mighty people of your server interfere too often, some players will stay away completely (see: [[Playing Open]]).
	However, all of this is my personal opinion and it's your choice what you do with your server. ~~However, rules~~ belong in the server options and the welcome message. Nobody likes to be kicked for "deliberately closing" (or "drawing", "rimming", "stabbing" and all these other pseudo crimes).		However, all of this is my personal opinion and it's your choice what you do with your server. Rules belong in the server options and the welcome message. Nobody likes to be kicked for "deliberately closing" (or "drawing", "rimming", "stabbing" and all these other pseudo crimes).

	Our internet society isn't so rotten that you have to add good behaviour to the rules. But it can have a positive effect on the server's climate if admins are there to handle your players' issues and to ensure they don't degrade others, teamkill, or otherwise ruin their armagetron experience with their n00bery.		Our internet society isn't so rotten that you have to add good behaviour to the rules. But it can have a positive effect on the server's climate if admins are there to handle your players' issues and to ensure they don't degrade others, teamkill, or otherwise ruin their armagetron experience with their n00bery.

Word at 21:49, 14 November 2010

2010-11-14T21:49:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:49, 14 November 2010
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	1. You can change max_clients so that only a certain number of players can enter		1. You can change max_clients so that only a certain number of players can enter

	2. You can set talk_to_master to 0 so that the server doesn't appear on the list and your players have to connect manually (using your server's IP)		2. You can set talk_to_master to 0 so that the server doesn't appear on the list and your players have to connect manually (using your server's IP)

	3. You can simply inform everyone by changing the server name.		3. You can simply inform everyone by changing the server name.