Is idling good for a server?

[Bhruic]

I was reading this article on how the points work - I'm assuming it still works the same way, so apologies if the numbers/system has changed.

With the way the numbers work, idling on a server for a minimum of 45 minutes gains a server 30 points max. Anything more time than 45 minutes is wasted, as 45 points is the max you can get (server lost 15 points upon joining).

So, ideal situation, you idle on a server for 45 minutes, people start joining, a game starts, everyone has fun, and the server rank goes up (well, down, technically speaking). But we don't always get an ideal situation. I've noticed that people will join a server expecting to see someone on, and then find there's only a person idling. So they leave. There goes 15 points for the server. If two people do that, the 30 points gained by idling are now gone. If any more people join, we can start losing points. In this situation, idling is actually counter-productive.

So what I'm wondering is if idling in general is useful or not, and whether there's a better way to try and handle it so that we can positively affect the servers without the potential for losing points?

 

[Minty]

That's an interesting point. I, for one, have never thought of idling.... But I've seen a lot of Leadership types do it. I would like some upper-tier insight on this one.

 

[Razberri]

That's an interesting point. I, for one, have never thought of idling.... But I've seen a lot of Leadership types do it. I would like some upper-tier insight on this one.

My thoughts exactly... I usually try to play and don't much like idling, but I see it all the time. If you're right about all of this I think you've brought up a very great topic of concern. I know that when there are 6 or less people in a server and any amount of them are idling, I frequently see people leave immediately after joining.
It really makes me wonder...


Sent with my owl using howler

 

[Kazoo]

This article dates back to 2009. QuickPlay wasn't implemented until 2011 around the time the game became Free 2 Play, unless I am mistaken. I do know QuickPlay was not around in 2009, because I started to play in 2010 and the only way to join a server was through the server browser.

In short, I have no idea if this is still how things work, since it pre-dates QuickPlay. I have my doubts that this is still the case, but Valve never revealed their formula for points in QuickPlay system.

If you want to read more about QuickPlay, check out this article, which is updated with all the latest changes to QuickPlay.

 

[UnderCoverSpy16]

I idle to help fill the server and the more people that come the better our rankings are


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk... Always make mistakes when typing lol

 

[Jack]

I feel like Idling helps fill the server even if we lose points getting it filled. When the server is finally filled it gains what it lost easily.

I still prefer to play instead of Idle.

 

[Razberri]

But would it work better to keep those points by not idling within the first 6-8 players? Because maybe those quick-leaving people would stay and then it fills, too.
I might be completely wrong...
Just throwin thoughts out.


Sent with my owl using howler

 

[Kazoo]

But would it work better to keep those points by not idling within the first 6-8 players? Because maybe those quick-leaving people would stay and then it fills, too.
I might be completely wrong...
Just throwin thoughts out.


Sent with my owl using howler

If those points are being counted like that still.

Also, I'm not sure how many people are actually keeping an eye on the servers while they idle. If you're idling, usually you're busy, doing other stuff while the game is sitting there. So unless you just happen to see a server with 10 people, it might be hard to not idle in an empty server.

 

[Bhruic]

But would it work better to keep those points by not idling within the first 6-8 players? Because maybe those quick-leaving people would stay and then it fills, too.
I might be completely wrong...
Just throwin thoughts out.

That's kind of what I was thinking. Mack and I were on early this morning just to check out some items, and someone joined. If we were idle, they probably would have just left, but since we were there, they stayed around. We managed to fill the server fairly early in the morning - well before any of the other servers. Would that have happened with people idling? Impossible to say for sure, but my suspicion is that it's a lot less likely.

I guess it comes down to whether it's more advantageous to hopefully fill faster with people idling, or keep people around when they do join. I tend to lean towards the latter in my thinking.

 

[infernocookie]

In my limited experience if you get 3-5 other people to play the server with you for maybe 30 mins. Enough people will eventually show up to make it a real game even without the original 4-6 people.

 

[Razberri]

If those points are being counted like that still.



Also, I'm not sure how many people are actually keeping an eye on the servers while they idle. If you're idling, usually you're busy, doing other stuff while the game is sitting there. So unless you just happen to see a server with 10 people, it might be hard to not idle in an empty server.

Oh, I really didn't think of that. Sheesh it makes sense though. I never idle so it makes sense that those people aren't even watching. All of this is really assuming that the point system is the same.
If so, I guess the root question to this is: does idling actually hinder the filling speed/rankings?
And even worse how would we know? And how can we test it?


Sent with my owl using howler

 

[Insomnia Princess]

I idle during server filling calls. Which means it's not just me there by myself. But if the FFTF issues a server fill and I am unable to play at the moment, I can hop on with the idling tool and it gives one more slot. Once the server reaches a certain number of players, I get kicked if I have not already left on my own, as I saw it filling.

Usually a FFTF captain or senior member will tell me where to go next. I would think idling this way does benefit us, since it's happening along with the FFTF.

 

[Rawburt]

Yeah, I would advise not to idle in a server if it's moderately populated or even full, for two reasons; first reason is that there could be some things going on that you'd need to admin. Second reason is that if the server's full, you're wasting a player slot. And that could potentially make us look bad. "Hey, I wanted you to play with me on Egypt, but some guy named =(eGO)= Rawburt was idling in spec. Course the admins are the ones wasting space."

 

[Puliping]

Yeah, I would advise not to idle in a server if it's moderately populated or even full, for two reasons; first reason is that there could be some things going on that you'd need to admin. Second reason is that if the server's full, you're wasting a player slot. And that could potentially make us look bad. "Hey, I wanted you to play with me on Egypt, but some guy named =(eGO)= Rawburt was idling in spec. Course the admins are the ones wasting space."

But, considering idling as leaving your game just running while in a server (with no "move" scripts running, like +forward +left), you'd be auto kicked in less than 5 minutes. (AFKChecker FTW)

 

[Insomnia Princess]

Yeah, I would advise not to idle in a server if it's moderately populated or even full, for two reasons; first reason is that there could be some things going on that you'd need to admin. Second reason is that if the server's full, you're wasting a player slot. And that could potentially make us look bad. "Hey, I wanted you to play with me on Egypt, but some guy named =(eGO)= Rawburt was idling in spec. Course the admins are the ones wasting space."

That's usually why we put #idle in our name so people know we are not just ignoring events that could be happening. And the tool kicks you when the server reaches a certain population so there is no fear of taking up a slot on a full server.

Also, when idling with the FFTF, there is always another admin (usually several). Some e's participate in the FFTF (thank you awesome e's!) but usually it's Gs and Os who are filling the servers.

 

[Rawburt]

But, considering idling as leaving your game just running while in a server (with no "move" scripts running, like +forward +left), you'd be auto kicked in less than 5 minutes. (AFKChecker FTW)

Honestly, the few times I have idled, that's exactly what I've done.

 

[Nix]

Honestly, the few times I have idled, that's exactly what I've done.

It's literally impossible for you to idle and take up space when it's full. You could even have a really bad lag spike or just going to the bathroom and it'll kick you.

 

[Sanctified Aberration]

Ok, so correct me if I am wrong, but it seems like there is way too much mystery here. We seem to have no idea how server rankings are actually generated. Is the only information we have on it several years out of date? Is there a way we could find this out? If we knew more about the ranking system beyond full = grud/empty = bad, we might be able to make some significant ranking headway.

 

[Idol]

You're spelling it wrong.

 

[Kazoo]

Ok, so correct me if I am wrong, but it seems like there is way too much mystery here. We seem to have no idea how server rankings are actually generated. Is the only information we have on it several years out of date? Is there a way we could find this out? If we knew more about the ranking system beyond full = grud/empty = bad, we might be able to make some significant ranking headway.

Unless I am mistaken, Valve has not disclosed how they rank servers based on QuickPlay.

For Gametracker, it is based on traffic. Here is a forum post on it.