Difference between revisions of "Team balance"
(Medic cut too deep. Also, the bulletting was inconsistent and unneeded. Cite the update IF this was actually done on ALL valve servers.) |
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| − | + | {{Quotation|'''The Demoman'''|I almost joined their bloody team!|sound=Demoman jeers10.wav}} | |
| − | {{Quotation|'''The Demoman'''|I almost joined their bloody team!|sound= | ||
| − | [[ | + | [[File:Ico teambalance.png|right|thumb|The Team Balance Icon]] |
'''Team Balance''' is a gameplay feature that automatically balances [[team]]s that have been made uneven (for example, by a number of players disconnecting on one side) by switching one or more players at random from the side with the most players. When team balance is initiated, a timer appears informing the players how much time is left until the switch is made. | '''Team Balance''' is a gameplay feature that automatically balances [[team]]s that have been made uneven (for example, by a number of players disconnecting on one side) by switching one or more players at random from the side with the most players. When team balance is initiated, a timer appears informing the players how much time is left until the switch is made. | ||
| − | Though the balancing process is a necessary one, many players have voiced disapproval at being switched to the losing side shortly before the end of a match, or while playing on a team comprised of people with whom | + | Though the balancing process is a necessary one, many players have voiced disapproval at being switched to the losing side shortly before the end of a match, or while playing on a team comprised of people with whom they are in charge of or engages in regular communication with. In such a situation, the switched player may choose to attempt to arrange a manual switch with a member of the opposing team. |
It is generally frowned upon to switch back to your original team after being autobalanced (such as moving to [[spectate]] and allowing another person to be balanced, and reclaiming their spot on the original team). | It is generally frowned upon to switch back to your original team after being autobalanced (such as moving to [[spectate]] and allowing another person to be balanced, and reclaiming their spot on the original team). | ||
| Line 11: | Line 10: | ||
In October 2014, Valve added the ability to call votes to enable or disable autobalance. | In October 2014, Valve added the ability to call votes to enable or disable autobalance. | ||
| − | In | + | In the {{Patch name|12|21|2016}}, Valve released a new autobalance system and enabled it on all [[Casual Mode]] servers. Should one team outnumber the other, a prompt will appear for select members of the larger team offering a chance to switch teams. Players switching teams are awarded more experience points at the end of the match. If no players switch, the members offered will be automatically switched. The members will still receive experience points if they are switched automatically. |
| + | |||
| + | Since {{Patch name|5|17|2018}}, the autobalancing system no longer request players to join the other team; instead, it picks a random player, giving them a notice, shortly before being switched. The bonus experience points are still given to the switched player, at the end of the match. | ||
== Update history == | == Update history == | ||
| − | + | {{Update history | '''{{Patch name|10|25|2007}}''' | |
| − | '''{{Patch name|10|25|2007}}''' | ||
* Improved autobalance calculation code when determining who to switch. | * Improved autobalance calculation code when determining who to switch. | ||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
'''{{Patch name|9|25|2014}} | '''{{Patch name|9|25|2014}} | ||
| − | * Updated the auto-balance code to immediately respawn players that are automatically switched, or that voluntarily switch, during a balancing period | + | * Updated the auto-balance code to immediately respawn players that are automatically switched, or that voluntarily switch, during a balancing period. |
| − | ** Not supported in [[Mann vs. Machine]], [[Medieval]] mode, Arena mode, [[Tournament Mode]], or [[Training Mode|Training]] | + | ** Not supported in [[Mann vs. Machine]], [[Medieval]] mode, Arena mode, [[Tournament Mode]], or [[Training Mode|Training]]. |
'''{{Patch name|10|1|2014}}''' | '''{{Patch name|10|1|2014}}''' | ||
| − | * Added "Enable/Disable Auto TeamBalance" [[Voting|votes]] | + | * Added "Enable/Disable Auto TeamBalance" [[Voting|votes]]. |
| − | ** Successful votes will enable/disable team player count balancing | + | ** Successful votes will enable/disable team player count balancing. |
| − | ** Use {{cvar|sv_vote_issue_autobalance_allowed}} to control if this vote is enabled on the server | + | ** Use {{cvar|sv_vote_issue_autobalance_allowed}} to control if this vote is enabled on the server. |
| − | ** Votes not allowed in [[Mann vs. Machine]], [[Medieval Mode|Medieval mode]], [[Arena|Arena mode]], [[ | + | ** Votes not allowed in [[Mann vs. Machine]], [[Medieval Mode|Medieval mode]], [[Arena|Arena mode]], [[Tournament Mode]], or [[Training]]. |
| + | |||
| + | '''{{Patch name|7|7|2016}}''' | ||
| + | * {{Undocumented}} Disabled autobalance on all Casual matchmaking servers. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''{{Patch name|12|21|2016}}''' | ||
| + | * New autobalance system to help with balancing teams when players leave a match. The system will ask players to volunteer to switch teams. | ||
| + | ** Automatically enabled for all Casual match servers | ||
| + | *** Players who switch will be able to earn bonus XP as a reward | ||
| + | ** Community servers can enable this new feature by using "mp_autoteambalance 2" | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''{{Patch name|3|28|2018}} #1''' | ||
| + | * Updated the autobalance feature to more quickly respond to team imbalances. | ||
| + | ** Will select the best candidates to balance the teams then ask the candidates for volunteers. | ||
| + | ** If no volunteers are found, candidates will be switched when they die. | ||
| + | ** If no candidates die within a reasonable period of time, candidates will be forcibly switched to the other team. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''{{Patch name|5|17|2018}}''' | ||
| + | * Updated the Autobalance system to skip asking/waiting for volunteers. Instead, it will go straight to switching candidates to balance the teams.}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | == Gallery == | ||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | File:Autobalance HUD text.png|The text on screen warning the player that they are about to be autobalanced. | ||
| + | File:Autobalance HUD message.png|Message on the screen showing to the player that they've been moved to the opposing team. | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
[[Category:Gameplay]] | [[Category:Gameplay]] | ||
Latest revision as of 23:16, 5 August 2024
| “ | I almost joined their bloody team!
Click to listen
— The Demoman
|
” |
Team Balance is a gameplay feature that automatically balances teams that have been made uneven (for example, by a number of players disconnecting on one side) by switching one or more players at random from the side with the most players. When team balance is initiated, a timer appears informing the players how much time is left until the switch is made.
Though the balancing process is a necessary one, many players have voiced disapproval at being switched to the losing side shortly before the end of a match, or while playing on a team comprised of people with whom they are in charge of or engages in regular communication with. In such a situation, the switched player may choose to attempt to arrange a manual switch with a member of the opposing team.
It is generally frowned upon to switch back to your original team after being autobalanced (such as moving to spectate and allowing another person to be balanced, and reclaiming their spot on the original team).
In October 2014, Valve added the ability to call votes to enable or disable autobalance.
In the December 21, 2016 Patch, Valve released a new autobalance system and enabled it on all Casual Mode servers. Should one team outnumber the other, a prompt will appear for select members of the larger team offering a chance to switch teams. Players switching teams are awarded more experience points at the end of the match. If no players switch, the members offered will be automatically switched. The members will still receive experience points if they are switched automatically.
Since May 17, 2018 Patch, the autobalancing system no longer request players to join the other team; instead, it picks a random player, giving them a notice, shortly before being switched. The bonus experience points are still given to the switched player, at the end of the match.
Update history
October 25, 2007 Patch
- Improved autobalance calculation code when determining who to switch.
- [Undocumented] Changed team autobalance code to not balance the teams when the active round timer shows less than 60 seconds.
- Updated the auto-balance code to immediately respawn players that are automatically switched, or that voluntarily switch, during a balancing period.
- Not supported in Mann vs. Machine, Medieval mode, Arena mode, Tournament Mode, or Training.
- Added "Enable/Disable Auto TeamBalance" votes.
- Successful votes will enable/disable team player count balancing.
- Use
sv_vote_issue_autobalance_allowedto control if this vote is enabled on the server. - Votes not allowed in Mann vs. Machine, Medieval mode, Arena mode, Tournament Mode, or Training.
- [Undocumented] Disabled autobalance on all Casual matchmaking servers.
- New autobalance system to help with balancing teams when players leave a match. The system will ask players to volunteer to switch teams.
- Automatically enabled for all Casual match servers
- Players who switch will be able to earn bonus XP as a reward
- Community servers can enable this new feature by using "mp_autoteambalance 2"
- Automatically enabled for all Casual match servers
- Updated the autobalance feature to more quickly respond to team imbalances.
- Will select the best candidates to balance the teams then ask the candidates for volunteers.
- If no volunteers are found, candidates will be switched when they die.
- If no candidates die within a reasonable period of time, candidates will be forcibly switched to the other team.
- Updated the Autobalance system to skip asking/waiting for volunteers. Instead, it will go straight to switching candidates to balance the teams.
Gallery
The text on screen warning the player that they are about to be autobalanced.
Message on the screen showing to the player that they've been moved to the opposing team.
