Server update: Autohost and Ratings

The server is the focus of this update, with particular attention paid to autohosts and the rating system. Autohosts now automatically ask players to select a new map, replacing the old random selection, and initiate a battle start poll. When an autohost is sufficiently full at the end of a game it will also briefly ask each player whether they want to play a small team game with a subset of the available players.


Autohost voting has now been streamlined to avoid long vote periods:

• Directly after each battle there is a 25 second discussion time with no polls.
  
• Afterwards, a map majority vote is called in which players can pick between some randomly selected maps.
  
• Once the map is selected and if there are more than 6 players a start vote will be called.
  
• If the game hasn't been started, normal votes can now be called as usual.
  

Additionally, if there are at least 12 players in the room at the end of a match then the battleroom will offer each player the chance to play a small team game. This feature uses the matchmaker and will only move players if a reasonably balanced small team match can be created out of the players that accept the offer.

• Ladder ratings are now chosen such that the rating system is 75% confident that the player has at least that rating.
  
• Ratings now have higher variance, meaning they will allow for bigger changes between days.
  
• Ratings will change faster the more games are played.
  
• Fixed an error in the formula to calculate ratings from team games.
  
• Rating uncertainty has been replaced by standard deviation. The +- numbers shown represent one standard deviation.
  

• Fixed some user flags being incorrect.
  
• Prevent users from vandalizing empty autohosts by setting custom maps on multiple of them.
  
• Only count custom matches for Elo if the teams are even.
  
• Spectate afk players on game start.
  
• Allow anyone to call !spec to spectate afk players.
  
• Only allow allies to vote on in-game kicking.
  
• Abort MM battles if a player doesn't load in and temporarily ban that player from matchmaking.
  
• Reduce force start time from 180sec to 160sec.
  
• Fix autohosts getting deleted on every server restart.
  
• Add the logged in player to the end of the ladder if he isn't on it.
  
• Add a searchable ladder page with the full ladders.
  
• Make sure the Space Lobster rank is unreachable.
  
• Prevent an exploit where players could spoof awards and force start games.
  
• Fix XP not being given out for some battles.
  
• Disallow joining matchmaker if the player is still fighting in another battle and that battle has been going on for less than five minutes.
  

• Made individual units easier to select.
  
• Added some development engine compatibility, which should allow us to start wider testing.
  
• Fixed Hunter launch sound.
  
• Improved Shockley impact effect.
  
• Improved Seawolf's ability to hit things.
  
• Disabled Dynamic Water as some ATI users have had trouble with it.
  
• Fixed a time display bug related to the craziness of UTC.
  
• Added a few turrets to Mission 2.