Difference between revisions of "Crafting Server Appeal and Good Appearance"

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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.
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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.
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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.
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This text doesn't address server physics, which is an even more subjective matter- just aesthetics.
  
==How to properly season your server name==
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==How to Properly Season Your Server Name==
  
There aren't a lot of things you can do wrong with your server's name.  
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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.
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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 optically, just by using a similar prefix or a color code which is repeated.
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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. The most important thing for a good server are its genuine physics.
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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.
  
  
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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.
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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
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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)
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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.
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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)
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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]]).
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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 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).
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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. A list of go-to persons is never wrong.
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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.
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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.
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[[Category:Administration]]

Latest revision as of 22:23, 22 August 2021

Introduction

Title.jpg

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-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 doesn't address server physics, which is an even more subjective matter- just aesthetics.

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. 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 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. 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.


Wildwest.jpg


Let's start a small design analysis with CTWF:

Ctwf.jpg

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 wish to keep the general bulk of players away from your server, there are three ways to achieve this:

1. Changing max_clients to a low number to restrict number of players (or 0, to only allow players already in the server)

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).

Unk.jpg

Welcome Messages

Maybe not a proper welcome message. Fails to tell you anything about the server's gameplay, rules, or administration.

Welcome.jpg

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

If you happen to use your server logs for an IP Finder, you should point it out in the server options. Good servers often have a short description of the most important settings (rubber, zones, big/small arena, score or time limit, speed, team size...) or a humorous slogan (CTWF: There's like all these weird maps man!)

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. You may also miss out entirely on the Australian portion (it's more than you'd think) of Armagetron players.

Server Rules

´j.jpg


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 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. Having a list of people to contact in cases of severe n00bery can be helpful.


Center Messages

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.