Forums » Suggestions

Improved Server Logging (Devs and Guides)

Aug 16, 2005 Arolte link
You know, I've been trying to think of better ways to improve the way the logs are written, to help assist developers and guides when a problem comes up. One of the ways I suggested was the vote system which would flag a player's account and temporarily highlight the text of that player when the flag is tripped. In addition to that one I've got another.

As you can imagine it's pretty hard to represent exactly what the hell is going on in a game such as this when you only have text feedback to rely on. Verbose logging can only do so much. But I think there are ways to improve that. I did some thinking about the whole griefing problem and I've managed to come up with something which might make everyone happy.

Now imagine, what if the official server logs will note when a player gets attacked. Now hang on, I know you're probably thinking that text will spam the logs every time any player gets damaged. But hear me out for a second. If the target takes at least 5% damage from another player, the server logs will print something along the lines of "Player X is engaging Player Y". This will only be displayed once. This status will be reset when the sector is changed, to help show a chase sequence. In addition, after the player is killed (when the server sees the text "Player Y destroyed Player X") that engagement status will be reset. So if the player is repeatedly getting attacked at a station within the same sector, you'll see "Player X is engaging Player Y" repeatedly.

What will this do? Well it'll help developers and guides see who the aggressor of the situation was. So not only do you have text feedback, but also action feedback. I ask that the devs please seriously consider this suggestion, as it could help clear up a lot of "he said she said" stories which the guides are constantly bombarded with. I really hope server logging will be improved to help protect the right players. I think in the end everyone will be happier this way. Seldom do server logs malfunction or lie. Let's try to have some way of protecting the truth.
Aug 16, 2005 terjekv link
this will help, but of course, concussion mines and gentle nudging and other types of prodding are still possible. as is the age-old trick of getting hit to pull the SFs into the frey.

also, can you imagine this for 5000 players? it'll drown the logs quickly, but I suppose storage is cheap. heh.
Aug 16, 2005 Arolte link
Ehh... I've never seen anyone get nudged to death. And I don't really consider shaking a player around to be griefing either. But I know what you mean. I just think that this would be better than nothing.
Aug 16, 2005 terjekv link
you know full well that killing isn't needed to make someone unable to go about their normal business. but yeah, it'd be better.
Aug 16, 2005 TNAtits link
Just for the record, i ave been nudged to death...by petarius... :)