Griefer Control Using Icons

[Spitko]

I don't expect builds to last against the enemy. Griefers still take too much from the game -- even with votekicking. They trash team builds faster than the enemy can, and they waste team player slots because they're not in the fight.

Griefing seems to be worse when more non-English language players are on; this may be due to of the votekicking language barrier --not because other non-english players have more griefers.

A GUI votekick system could solve all of this, along with a better notification (audio & flash visual) of an initiated or in-progress votekick. An icon system could also allow for multiple concurrent kicks, as there are often multiple concurrent griefers between both teams. Something like a non-optional thin sidebar could do the job, and a mouse pointer could be given focus in that bar by holding a key down (Tab, Q, or E key, something close to the WASD set). "Start new votekick" button with an according icon, a few buttons for the reason (destroying buildings, teamkilling, inactive, mod/hack, Other, etc), a "cancel votekick" button, a dropdown of players to select from, and then a vote button (kick or stay) for each of any current votekicks.

I know it would eat a sliver of screen real-estate, but if it took even more during a votekick, the system would be more responsive for kicking griefers, greatly improving gameplay.

[Naneo]

This would help...I suppose this makes things more fun.. to have more opponents. I don't get why people would just stand in a game leaving their computer on and wasting money on electrical bills....

[USABxBOOYO]

I like it. Perhaps the GUI to start a votekick could be in a menu opened when you press Esc (Quitting the game could be another button in this menu). What I'm thinking of is two boxes for text and three buttons. One box would be for the name or player number of the player you want to votekick and one box would be for the reason for the votekick (Both of these boxes must be filled out to start it). The first button starts the votekick, the second button cancels it, and thr third button returns you to the main menu that allows you to quit the game or go to the votekick GUI. Maybe we could even have a list of players in this GUI, and clicking on their name would automatically fill the text box for the player name/number.

As for while the votekick is running, an alert containing the player's name and reason for the votekick should appear in a box at the top-right hand corner of the screen. The players can then press a key to vote. Admins should also be able to cancel a votekick anytime.

Actually, the whole menu idea could be expanded upon a lot to include stuff like an admin login, audio/video settigs, in-game mod switching, the possibilities are endless.

[Spitko]

Naneo, you're right - it should make it more fun to have more real teammates and real opponents. And for awesome (though temporary) builds, it's a morale boost. Builders are going to build, and the structures can become impressive and fun to use against the enemy. They all fall to the enemy eventually, but teammate griefers are killing this aspect of the game.

USBxB, probably any mechanics/interface would be a great improvement over the "/" line entry. So long as the buttons have some universally understood cartoon depiction of what it does, the process could be language independent and work for everyone.

Griefers are really ruining the fun of the game for me as a tower-building SMGer.

[BrosephRadson]

Iirc a votekick gui is already being implemented, but idk when. I remember seeing screens of it on the old forums.

[Naneo]

How bout a auto-kick for idling?
Like say they've been on the server without doing anything what so ever for an hour. They get kicked! So new people can take their spot.

[USABxBOOYO]

BrosephRadson: IIRC those were just screenshots of the game with concept votekick GUIs edited in so that tGM could suggest a votekick GUI, not anything Ben had ever planned to implement.

[HermanCain]

How bout a auto-kick for idling?

Some servers like Sham's already do this.