I believe we fixed the major lag issue on Payload, Votation, and MvM Public. But we're still seeing some network loss and are still looking into that issue.

Meanwhile, if you still experience major lag spikes, please post here. Be sure to include the name of the server, time of day, and how many players were playing.

There is a bug in today's update that prevents direct connections. Valve is working on a fix for this.

I'll update this thread as I have more information.

Update: Servers are back online!

Update: servers are updating and should be online soon.

This post explains how to get a transparent map vote on the client end: https://forums.alliedmods.net/showthread.php?p=1647298#post1647298

Enjoy!

With the release of the new update, many server plugins won't work until at least Thursday.

We've begun testing the updated MapChooser! On Rotation, you will now be able to vote for the next map before the end of each map. Payload will still use the old MapChooser while we iron out bugs and continue implementing features.

Nearly all of the changes we've made so far should be transparent. The MapChooser should appear and behave exactly the same as before. What we've changed is the way the maps are chosen. The new map selection process gives us a great deal of flexibility and offers solutions to problems such as server-clearing maps and map diversity.

In the spirit of "rotation", we're testing a hybrid map selection process on Rotation. The map vote options will appear as follows:

• <Nextmap>
• <Map after Nextmap>
• <Random non-rotation map>
• Extend

During peak hours, Rotation's MapChooser will traverse a 9-map rotation, while during off-hours it is reduced to 6 maps.

We're looking for feedback. If you have any, please post in MapChooser Advanced Feedback. Thanks.

Both servers now have updated chat plugins. Also, the HG tag has been re-enabled on Rotation.

Let us know if you're still getting repeating-chat spam, can see enemy chat, etc.

I'd like to share some of the details of the upcoming version of the MapChooser as well as mention some related ideas.

What is the MapChooser?

The MapChooser is the vote that occurs near the end of a map. It displays 3 maps for the players to choose. When the voting period finishes, the map with the most votes becomes the next map on the server.

Why is the MapChooser Important?

The map cycle of the server, whether static or dynamic (via a MapChooser), sets the rhythm of the server. For example, going from badwater to goldrush or vice versa is a pretty good transition, whereas going from upward to hightower is one of the worst things that can happen to the server.

Without the MapChooser, you end up with a static rotation of maps, and you have no choice over what the next map will be. Some prefer a static rotation, and with the map chooser they may choose the same maps over and over. What's important is that players have a choice so that they can play on the maps they want to play.

The Current Limitations

The current model for the MapChooser config is "one size fits all". Although we do have ways to shape the map cycle, we have no easy way of changing those settings on-the-fly. For example, during the evening we'd like a more varied map cycle but it's not possible without loading an entirely separate configuration file or changing settings manually. We'd also like a map cycle based on the number of players.

Upcoming Changes

The upcoming changes will allow the MapChooser to automatically adjust to the current server conditions by using an A.I. technique. Essentially, the MapChooser will be able to "think". We define our preferences, and the MapChooser will choose the best setup based on those preferences. It sounds vague, but it's very powerful.

Ideas in Consideration

Nominations: Nominations are a way for players to add map options to the upcoming map vote. Players use a menu to choose a map, which is then added to the nominations list. The MapChooser picks from that list when creating a map vote. It's a plugin that we'll consider adding if there's any interest in it.

Player Preferences: The idea is a control panel on the website that is potentially accessible from in-game, where a player can set his preferences for maps. For example, a player could select or rate his favorite maps. This will then be used by the MapChooser when creating a map vote.

Likemap and Hatemap: The idea is two in-game commands which a player can use to quickly give his opinion of the current map or the current match. Stats would be collected and could be displayed in-game and on the website, as well as being used as an input for the MapChooser.