The server is the focus of this update, with particular attention paid to autohosts and the rating system. Autohosts now automatically ask players to select a new map, replacing the old random selection, and initiate a battle start poll. When an autohost is sufficiently full at the end of a game it will also briefly ask each player whether they want to play a small team game with a subset of the available players.
Autohosts
Autohost voting has now been streamlined to avoid long vote periods:
- Directly after each battle there is a 25 second discussion time with no polls.
- Afterwards, a map majority vote is called in which players can pick between some randomly selected maps.
- Once the map is selected and if there are more than 6 players a start vote will be called.
- If the game hasn't been started, normal votes can now be called as usual.
Additionally, if there are at least 12 players in the room at the end of a match then the battleroom will offer each player the chance to play a small team game. This feature uses the matchmaker and will only move players if a reasonably balanced small team match can be created out of the players that accept the offer.
Rating
- Ladder ratings are now chosen such that the rating system is 75% confident that the player has at least that rating.
- Ratings now have higher variance, meaning they will allow for bigger changes between days.
- Ratings will change faster the more games are played.
- Fixed an error in the formula to calculate ratings from team games.
- Rating uncertainty has been replaced by standard deviation. The +- numbers shown represent one standard deviation.
Other Changes/Fixes
- Fixed some user flags being incorrect.
- Prevent users from vandalizing empty autohosts by setting custom maps on multiple of them.
- Only count custom matches for Elo if the teams are even.
- Spectate afk players on game start.
- Allow anyone to call !spec to spectate afk players.
- Only allow allies to vote on in-game kicking.
- Abort MM battles if a player doesn't load in and temporarily ban that player from matchmaking.
- Reduce force start time from 180sec to 160sec.
- Fix autohosts getting deleted on every server restart.
- Add the logged in player to the end of the ladder if he isn't on it.
- Add a searchable ladder page with the full ladders.
- Make sure the Space Lobster rank is unreachable.
- Prevent an exploit where players could spoof awards and force start games.
- Fix XP not being given out for some battles.
- Disallow joining matchmaker if the player is still fighting in another battle and that battle has been going on for less than five minutes.
Game Changes
- Made individual units easier to select.
- Added some development engine compatibility, which should allow us to start wider testing.
- Fixed Hunter launch sound.
- Improved Shockley impact effect.
- Improved Seawolf's ability to hit things.
- Disabled Dynamic Water as some ATI users have had trouble with it.
- Fixed a time display bug related to the craziness of UTC.
- Added a few turrets to Mission 2.