Hosting good online multiplayer games
How to be a quality host.
I think there are a few things that can qualify a good host in the multi-player realm.
I think the 1st thing, patience and selflessness....
I try to give everybody and anybody an opportunity to play in the games I host. Sometimes people have connection issues, games bug out, sometimes players have slower machines. We all know the issues, and I feel as a host I have to understand that things happen and it doesn't mean that the player is a bad person or that I should give them hell for having a crappy PC.
Now some of my regular players, I know, can get annoyed at me allowing people with a bad PC or connection or issues to keep trying. But I feel it's important to let everybody play that wants to, and give them a chance to do so. I have a 3 strike policy...... 3rd time they bug the game they have to stay out till they've resolved the problem. It's not that generous, most players though would just as soon not have a game bugger rejoin after the 1st one blows......
2nd Always, unless you know your players and their capabilities (PC and connection). Host small units. I know, I know, I love huge ass armies myself the more bodies on the field o' battle the better. But, you have to host for those that are the least capable (a slower crappier PC and connection). When the game lags for one (the least capable), it lags for all..... and lagging dragging games just suck. So to avoid this, even when all my regulars are filling the slots... I host small units, and try to keep the total unit count below 6000, running no more then 40k per team games. When the game is running clean and smooth, I swear I can feel the wind in my hair as my steed charges forward.
3rd Don't set your guests up to be slaughtered. I personally grew trying of seeing the grassy plain and playing the grassy plain in all the games. I like diversity in my games. Unlike the grassy plain which is nice and flat with no advantage terrain wise to either team, other maps afford advantages due to the terrain. I try to be on the side with the worst terrain (least advantage), just because I like the challenge, but I've seen too many people host themselves a nice big hill and gear the rules toward absolute victory. That's no fun for the other team, and a main ingredient in having a quality game, is insuring everybody's having fun, to the best of your ability anyway.
4th We're all people; we all at some point have a bad day and act the ass. When you have a problem player stirring up trouble with others...... say one guy didn't play like the other wanted him too, blah blah blah , you know the deal. Do your utmost to be civil and calm him down or explain the behavior being exhibited is unacceptable. If you can't deal with the problem player in a civil fashion, take him out back and kick theout of him....... nooo j/k, just kick him to the lobby and ban him..... sometimes it only requires a little fresh air to get the problem player to act right. Don't get into pissing matches over stupid stuff. I think most players are here to have fun, some like myself are here to relax...... and have fun. I'm patient, but have a low tolerance for unnecessary drama. I try to keep it out of my games.
5th Try to keep it interesting.... I have a butt load of custom locations to play on, all different shapes and sizes. I recommend to all hosts, search the web for mappacks there's a bunch out there. It'll add some flavor to your games. Another way to change it up is changing the rules..... I got so very tired of the no artillery no elephants 8 cavalry max rules that most folks was playing. It's understandable clans have set rules for their tournaments and they have to practice along those lines. But I like different situations and army setups to create what I call "tactical challenges". I like playing with artillery and elephants, I like limiting ranged weapons and cavalry, playing mostly infantry games, playing all gunpowder unit games, playing low florin no rules games.. I just like having fun and try to keep it interesting for all the players involved.
Last, Never leave the game unless it's completed or it's bugged. When leaving a game try to inform your players of the problem or reason.....If you noob completely out and get the hell killed out of you in the first 12 seconds of the game, you have to let the other players finish even if it takes 30 minutes or longer....
The below spoiler is a prime example of a noob host leaving the game just prior to his destruction. The poor boy actually hosted another that nobody would join...... duh!
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
There are a lot of things needed in hosting good games. I'm sure I left out all the important stuff.
I feel that because I've followed the above guidelines (so to speak) that I'm now fortunate to have the best players on the net playing in my games regularly, and all in all, they're the ones who make the game great.
I guess as a host, the most important thing to remember, is your players make the game, without them there is no game. So make it fun for them.
Hope to see you in the game.
Thompson45cal.
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Originally Posted by Prince_of_Macedon
so push through gamespys wall of despair, we'z need ya 
I just wish he'd hurry up and get Kingdoms! 
