Interim Update
Coming soon is the gamemodes interim update. This is to prepare the server for future changes, and to allow us to get out the initial changes before the next Terraria update, which will inevitably delay everything.
Architecture Change
Part of these changes is to change how we run Gamemodes so that the Gamemodes Dimension itself runs separate from its individual modes (Zombies, Duel). This allows us to move Gamemodes over to the EU region (accessible all the same). Leaving the modes themselves to still run on the US server. In a future update we hope to also have these hosted in EU in parallel, so we have more capacity and lower latency options for those nearer our EU server.
This architecture also means we can restart the gamemodes dimension for updates without killing existing lobbies.
Queue Changes
Previously joining a mode has one of two outcomes:
- Being put into an existing lobby immediately
- Or being put in an intermission for a new lobby
This doesn’t work properly when we reach our lobby capacity and sometimes misses opportunities to put players together.
Now when joining a mode it works like so:
- You are put into the queue
- If a slot in an existing lobby is available or becomes available, then you are put into that lobby
- If enough time waiting in the queue passes and there is capacity for it, a new lobby is requested; when it becomes available it will essentially be part of the “available slots” per step 2
This means if our capacity is full, players will simply wait until a slot becomes free again.
If you try to specifically join a new lobby, using something like /join zombies new this changes the above steps slightly. You are ignored in terms of joining existing “ongoing” lobbies. Instead you wait until a new lobby is requested, and then you are put in that one. This does mean that if multiple people queue for a new lobby, they will be put into the same new lobby. If we are at capacity this means it is still possible to use /join zombies new but you will simply need to wait longer than normal.
If you are a supporter there is a few further considerations:
- Private/custom lobbies will still put you in the queue, but this is just while you wait for a new lobby to start up, unlike
/join zombies newthe new lobby is requested immediately
If you are a map builder:
- For a map builder lobby, you are still put into the queue if one doesn’t yet exist but only while you wait for a new lobby to start up, unlike
/join zombies newthe new lobby is requested immediately
World Changes
The gamemodes map has been updated to a new one. This newer map now allows players to join zombies variants without using commands. It also displays player counts for each gamemode and variant.
Further Changes
So above I mentioned further changes. The interim update is to mostly to have us update to this new architecture first before making bigger changes. Possibly after we have finished updating our services for the next Terraria update will be when these further changes come through.
The goals of the further updates is to:
- Run lobbies in both EU/US
- Better handle when we reach maximum capacity on lobby slots - likely via one match per lobby as duels does already
- Potentially add support for disconnect slots - this allows players who lose connection to rejoin in their slot and continue playing with their score/gear from before they disconnected; only applies when a player disconnects not when the lobby itself crashes
- Party support, allowing groups of players to stay together even if they change lobbies, and ensures queuing will guarantee they all fit into a lobby together
