The online racing simulator
Server options wishlist
(220 posts, started )
Server options wishlist
Some new and some mentioned in the course of other threads, but thought I'd group these requests, as they're all server related. Most are trivial to add, others maybe more complex.

Key:
Green have been completed by Scawen. Thumbs up


Blue are new.
  • Server description/info/banner on connect.
  • Extend/Customise Server message at runtime.
  • Display Pitstop count of competitors. (0.5X)
  • Set max connection latency or TTL to prevent teleporters from hindering other racers.
  • Console command to show client info (ping, IP, version)
  • Ability to lock view to "in car" only. (Patch 0.5X10)/fcv=yes/no
  • Retry connection to master server if offline periodically.
  • Localized Server browser. Server option to dictate what master server to advertise on. EU/US/AU/NZ etc.
  • Server list filter. (Track/Layout/Lap) and Favourite filter.
  • Limit Driving aids, such as traction control etc.
  • Limit Controllers allowed. Wheel/keyboard/mouse only. 3 Peddles or H shifters only. (can be done via InSIM)
  • Enforced setups. Lock to default/standard/factory setup or lock out particular setup changes.
  • Starting grid configurable. (IS_REO to do via Insim; buttons added to connections list in lobby to add to grid, and move up/down added to grid list in lobby) -
  • True Console mode (CMD Windows Style) allowing piping of IO to the console.
  • More time when the Server makes a Restart.
  • Limit Reset Car availability. version 0.5X
  • /racestart=rolling/standing
  • /Reset=yes/no/<+seconds>/<-laps> Resetting to pits with time penalty or stop go
  • Restart limits
    /rstmin=30 (in seconds, no change)
    /rstrace=2 (in laps, votes allowed for the first two laps then blocked)
    /rstend=60 (in seconds, no change)
  • /repair_in_pit=full/minor/body/engine/no
  • /autokick=x mins to kick idle spectators.
  • /pitwindow=<laps> /pittyres=<laps> /pitfuel=<laps> where laps configurable range of laps (2,8,12-18)
  • /strictpit=yes/no Option to enforce pit lanes. (crossing white exit line = stop/go)
  • Remote ban list loaded via ftp or http central repository.
  • Ban by IP address.
  • /closepit=yes/no (+inSim): Close/open the pit lane. Who enters the pit lane while it is closed is forced to spectate (Does not affect joining players, but they need to stop at pit exit or they'll be spectated.).
  • /permaban USERNAME : Permanently ban an user from the server.
  • Dedicated server version auto update.
  • Minimum driver skill level (PB>X can join else spectate)
  • Dictate start type. ( Beginner (1st gear)/Neutral (ability to jump) with threshold) - Jump start v0.5W9
  • Allow admin to end qualification early.
  • Per server advertising textures. (Now editable locally 0.5Z)
  • Allow admin to send messages, even if blocked.
  • Allow admin to block lobby messaging. Reset at session start.
  • Global option to block messages during race/qualify.
  • AI
    • Run on dedicated host
    • Add guest AI post track load. /ai
    • Ability to enter garage/join race/vote while clients are connecting. (Much better since >0.5X)
    • AI Pitting
    • Server Side AI (Pace/Safety car)
    • Option to block AI players
  • Connection limits
    • 40 players since 0.6H. 48 Connections Total.
    • Allow more than one client to connect at once. (0.5X Has connection queue)
    • Abililty to add more than 3 guest (player + 2 x AI)
    • /adminslots=x to reserve slots for admins to connect. (added V3)
    • More spectators
  • InSim
    • Damage reported via insim.
    • Packet to limit number of allowed pit stops/tyres-type/fuel changes.
    • Packet to reset vehicle with option to repair or notAdded in 0.6J, IS_JRR can reset a car to a specified position in any state
    • NCN Packet to to provide client IP address.
    • Ping/Latency, not just a "oh this person is lagging" flag.
    • Ability to send setup from server to player (to help people not familiar with track they got on)
    • InSim to report if a hotlap is valid or not
  • Config option to limit number of allowed pit stops/tyres-type/fuel changes.
  • Published RACE ID (in log) to cross reference results with LFS world for championship.
  • Visible Stamp Time and Date in MPR + server name (IP).
  • Server to save mpr's locally after each race for exporting via http. (0.5X)
  • Multi Level Admin's with configurable access.
    • Marshalls password would be alternative admin password. /Marshallspassword=<password>
    • /Marshalls=<playername1>,<playername2>,<playername3>...
    • Command bitfield in cfg to dictate available commands
    • /Marshallcommands=00110101 ;allow restart,kick,change track+cars)
      /Marshallscommands=CanEndRace,CanSetCars,CanSetTrack,CanBanPlayer,CanGivePenalty,CanSpectate,CanKick...
  • Connection List to indicate Admin (level) status. Other admins see who is admin in connection list
  • /cars command effective immediately. (Can be achieved with /cars + /spectate )
  • /include=commonsetup.cfg directive for including common setup.cfg configurations across multiple hosts.
  • /kick /ban and /warn to accept optional "reason"/code to be displayed to players.
  • /kick /ban and /warn to accept optional "connection number" to assist with extended/complex names.
  • Finer control on vote types to allowed (/vote kick, restart, ban, qualify).
  • Finer control on track/laps selection /selecttrack=yes/no /selectlaps=yes/no /midracevote=yes/no
  • Hostname change without restart of server.
  • Per Server garage backgrounds.
  • Vote on Allowed cars
  • Command to set vote threshold.
  • Admin command to set Vote timeouts
  • Admin command to cancel/reset votes (/cv = cancel vote /ck = cancel kick)
  • Proxy support for connection to other servers to facilitate mass viewing.
  • Server browser to list properties/capabilities
    • Legend:
    • -V you may vote
    • -S you can select tracks
    • -Q race qualify is enabled
    • -P private host
    • -R Host is connected to the InSim Relay
    • -F Forced cockpit view

  • Custom server filter to identify drift only server etc
  • Detailed server log file (added in V2)
    • Client setting changes
    • Server setting changes
    • Insim debugs (option)
    • Option to Log Invalid packets (Insim or client)
    • Date/Time + seconds
Add a post to the thread if you want something added or changed.

Note all suggestions should be dedicated server related.


Regards
Rob
max connection latency +1
reset=retire +1
neutral gear at start +1
30+ racers with localised packet handling (invisible cars on other parts of track) +1
raceID for championships, LFS World league handling +1
server saving mpr's +1 - if poss (not sure the physics processing on the server would allow this)
Ability to change host name from within server with admin commands (I know it's not important, but I've missed it before)

A method to stop people going out in the old cars when the server car type is changed. It shouldn't be possible to stay in the fast cars when the server changes to slow ones for example.

Two levels of admin - one that can kick, restart, apply penalties, and one that can do everthing - i.e. ban, change cars, change various options.

In addition to more spectators request in first post, the option to somehow use one server slot to connect to a different server or servers. Thus a league race can have spectators in multiple other servers (or one spectator specialised server with more slots), so we can watch. Spectator chat messages shouldn't be visible to those racing (thus allowing spectator chat without interferring with races).
Added to list.

The last one I would require significant protocol changes but would be very nice.
" Limit TC availability"

That one would be nice!!!!
The F1 car is a lot more fun to drive if the TC is banned!!

They should do that irl too!
Just thought of a handy one, excuse me if I've stupidly missing something that LFS does already!

Would be good if the dedicated server host window would show when people have changed any settings (used the / commands).

Some good ideas up there. :up:
Quote from Bluebird B B :" Limit TC availability"

That one would be nice!!!!
The F1 car is a lot more fun to drive if the TC is banned!!

They should do that irl too!

your kidding right? in life???? you must be mad, the FIA or anyone would NEVER allow that, thats an endangerment to race driver's lives?!
-
(thisnameistaken) DELETED by thisnameistaken
no, not being sarcastic, i mean FIA has to have some sort of reason for what they are doing, but i think if they ban TC, there will be some lawsuits against it for safety reasons
-
(thisnameistaken) DELETED by thisnameistaken
lol nuce. FIA makes the rules, you cant sue them, their game their rules, end.
Quote from Macfox :
  • Limit Reset Car availability. Reset = Retire

Should be
  • Limit Reset Car availability.
  • Limit Shift+S availability. Shift+S = Retire
#11 - SamH
Great improvement suggestions!

I'd like to go for designer admins:
/Moderator=CanEndRace + CanSetCars + CanSetTrack + CanBanPlayer + CanGivePenalty + CanSpectate + CanKick... yadayada.

Also the ability for an admin to join a full server and take up a position as spectator would really help. It doesn't often happen to us, but when it does and we can't join a server with an ongoing problem, it's a smidge frustrating.

MPR date/time stamping and Server Name stamping, by the MasterServer, in the MPR. Is this a dedi server enhancement? I can see a day when this is going to be a really IMPORTANT feature addition.
In America they try and sue for EVERYTHING
Quote from Blackout :lol nuce. FIA makes the rules, you cant sue them, their game their rules, end.

i know its like those kids that play a game and the one kid that started it keeps changing the rules so he wins

owell...

@ebola, they do it because they are morons that are in serious debt and trying to somehow make money fast.. but always freaking lose because they dropped out of school in the first grade
i just laugh.. (plus it happens everywhere, not just in america) one man tried to sue apple because he said he was losing his hearing due to the ipod.. ya... okay whatever

and now all these idiots are making it more annoying because businesses have to solve every loophole that they could possibly be sued for..

hell.. the hammers now have to have a warning label on the head that say "this object may be blunt, but can cause severe damage when moving at high rates of speed"
I didn't want to start a new thread about my improvement suggestion because it might have been mentioned earlier
It would be really nice to have the letter codes regarding a person's abilities at a server to be explained in the server list window in LFS just like at LFSW:
Legend:
-V you may vote
-S you can select tracks
-Q race qualify is enabled
-P private host
-R Host is connected to the InSim Relay
I really can't memorise them
Updated list.
Updated/Removed duplicates.
I agree with all things mentioned in the opening thread, especially the option to only allow certain Setup changes is good as some cars should not be able to be modified that much (Road Cars) + agree with hese things said by Becky Rose:

max connection latency +1
reset=retire +1
neutral gear at start +1

I would like to suggest further:
  • More time when the Server makes a Restart.
As it is now, you finish a Race, some guys continue Racing and others go to the Pit, change something and try it out... Others simply watch TV when waiting for a Restart, some people might take a drink - but everybody only has bloody 3 seconds to get to the Start. That means you have to be lucky to have time to save your Setups once the 3 seconds counter starts, configure something in the Options, or just looked away from the Monitor for a few Seconds can be very stressful or cause a Pile Up at the Start.

For example, the time Grand Prix Legends gives the drivers to get ready and on the Starting Grid is 24 Seconds. 24 Seconds gives you enough time to get ready to Race. It can be stressful though if your browsing the Options Screens and the 24 seconds counter begins, but most of the time 24 seconds is quite manageable.

Another example for this is NASCAR Racing 2003, where you have 60 seconds time to finish what your just doing and get ready to click on the Drive button.

I would like to see the 3 seconds raised to something like 30 seconds or a minute, with a Sound file that starts when the Counter begins.
In NR2003 a Sound comes up when the 60 seconds starts ticking down. It plays Sounds of Track Speaker and the crowd getting loud. That way you can sit away from the PC and do something else until the Race starts, because you hear it.
  • Option for Cockpit view only
  • Option to disallow certain or all driving Aids
  • Option to only allow 3 Pedals drivers and H-Type Gated Shifter drivers on the Server if the car is supposed to be driven that way
I know the last point scares some people but the thought is to have an Option for this if the league or Server would like to host that type of Simulation Racing. Clutch should be assigned as an Axis. Cockpit View only and disallowing driving Aids is something alot of Sims have since a long time, and would be nice to have in LFS too
Added.
Good that the Options we were calling for made it into the list.

What do you all think about the Restart Race time. It is only 3 seconds. Hard to get ready when your just about to tweak the Setup or do something in the Options. I would reckon the Restart Counter should start at 30 seconds, with a Sound file played with it. GPL has 24 seconds, NASCAR Racing 1 minute, so your always in a Hurry when you have only 3 seconds to get Ready to Race...
Should be 1 to 2 minutes for a restart but have a option for a Ready key. If everyone hits ready then the race will start imidiately. If someone hasn't hit ready it will default to a 1 to 2 minute wait time before the start.
#22 - Davo
1 minute is too long. 30 seconds should be enough. Perhaps for longer races more time and shorter races less time.
Quote from Davo :1 minute is too long. 30 seconds should be enough. Perhaps for longer races more time and shorter races less time.

Server specified count would be much better...
serverside pacecar triggered by admin

its just a simple AI script. car stands at the end of pits, when triggered, pacecar drives out (full course yellow), keeps a speed of max 150km/h. drives 3-5 laps (depends on track and settings), drives back into pits (race free again).

overtaking a car which does not cause a yellow flag = spectate
overtaking the pacecar = spectate
crashing the pacecar = spectate

option: pits closed while pacecar out, pits closed in lap 1 while pacecar out,...
Quote from Fischfix :serverside pacecar triggered by admin

its just a simple AI script. car stands at the end of pits, when triggered, pacecar drives out (full course yellow), keeps a speed of max 150km/h. drives 3-5 laps (depends on track and settings), drives back into pits (race free again).

overtaking a car which does not cause a yellow flag = spectate
overtaking the pacecar = spectate
crashing the pacecar = spectate

option: pits closed while pacecar out, pits closed in lap 1 while pacecar out,...

Would be nice to have. But I dont like your penalty ideas.

When you drive during a Pace Car Phase for some time, and you throw the car from side to side, do some wheelspin and just mess around a little, you occasionally pass the front car who was just brake testing, it happens often but you let him back in front so you should only get a message to let the car behind pass you. If you dont let him repass you at the Start you should get a drive through Penalty not kicked to Spectating.

Server options wishlist
(220 posts, started )
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