onFOSS Lite [RFC]

onfoss_lite.md

"onFOSS Lite" (aka "onFOSS EZ-Mode")

Last updated 2023-07-04

"onFOSS Lite" lets someone run their own mini onFOSS event without setting up servers. The trade off is that organizers give up game control to pre-existing public servers.

Why?

• Running a server might be out of reach of some people.
  • May not have knowledge, budget, or access to run game servers.
  • Less setup time
  • Allows less allotted game time
• "onFOSS Lite" can serve as a gateway to a onFOSS full event.
• Can bring players to otherwise idle servers

Why Not?

• Less control of servers - Servers are not private
  • may not be able to kick problem users
  • non-participating users can join
    • probably a plus!
      • Tell user about event and chat/VOIP server in chat if no in-game VOIP
    • some non-participating users maybe better players than "onFOSS Lite" attendees and win most matches
  • may not be able to vote for new map/option depending on server settings
• No common server address - example: play.example.com
  • Need to list servers' address/name on website or on Mumble/Chat
• Ping & Lag can vary per server for participants
• Servers could have geolocation blocks
• Not all games have online servers available
• May dilute onFOSS name??

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"Setup"

• Pick a day and Timezone
• 3-6 hours
• 2-4 games
  • use public pre-existing servers
• central Mumble VOIP server (who's?)
  • Discord is not FOSS!!! Stay away!!
• Single page static site (or Git Repo/GH-Pages/Gist/PasteBin/etc) with info
• Post Details in onFOSS Chat with enough advanced notification of start time

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Possible issues versus normal self-hosted servers

• Less control over servers (no Admin rights)
  • vs Less Setup and no server required
  • can bring more players to current servers
    • Maybe partner with existing Server Admins/Groups/Clans
  • Have a option for secondary servers
• Less map/level options (FPSes, etc)
• Servers can be shutdown or crash anytime without option to restart
  • Unknown Downtime
• Requires investigation of existing servers
  • Modes supported
  • Voting options
    • Use In-game Voting to pick maps and modes
  • Max Players
• Might not be any public servers, depending on game

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Create a List of "Good" Servers & list of games

• Options & Modes
• Average Ping
• Max players
• Maps/Levels
• Uptime

Create a list of servers "Not to Use" for future reference

• Bad Ping/Lag
• Problem players/admins
• No vote access
• Bad uptime/unreliable
• Broken maps/servers/configs

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