A Way to Detect and Remove AFK Players.

  • Drewdigon
    Captain
    Insider

    Ahoy there!

    As many of you know, Sea of Thieves is currently experiencing some issues combating AFK players. This has always been an issue in the game, and it has only become more prevalent with the release of the Arena. This is something that HAS to be addressed (I believe RARE has stated that they are attempting to come up with a solution but I will still suggest mine anyways), as it can completely ruin the experience of the unfortunate people who are stuck with this AFK player, especially in a teamwork based mode like the Arena.

    Before I begin, let me say I already know conventional solutions, such as a vote to kick player system, won’t work. They can and would be abused/misused by other people the same way the brig is. Because of this, I have come up with an alternative solution that I think would work well.

    My solution to the problem, add a “vote to Flag crew member as AFK option”.

    Vote to Flag Crew Member as AFK:

    • This option would be located underneath the “Vote to lock in the Brig” option.
    • This option would require the same amount of votes as the option to lock someone in the brig (Three votes on a Galleon, two votes on a Brigantine).
    • This option could be utilized on the sloop (requiring only one vote), unlike the brig.
    • This option can only be utilized once every 30 minutes (on the same player).

    When a player has been flagged as AFK by their crew members, the following will occur to notify them:

    • An extremely VISIBLE message will appear on that player’s screen in a similar manner to a server merger message.
    • A message will appear in the player’s chat notifying them that they have been flagged as AFK.
    • A countdown timer will appear in the upper-right hand corner of the player’s screen.

    Once a person has been flagged as AFK, they have X amount of time to enter a requested input. This input will appear in the player’s chat and on their screen. Inputs are simple actions that require the player to be paying attention but are not inherently complex. An example of a requested input would taking out your shovel. Once the REQUESTED input has been entered, the timer will cancel and the player will no longer be flagged as AFK.

    If a person fails to enter the requested input before time runs out, they will be removed from the session.

    I feel like this would be an easy way to combat AFK players. Not only would a system like this make it easy to remove AFK players from a session, it is also inherently hard to abuse/misuse (due to the fact that it is very obvious when you are about to be kicked for being afk). It is virtually impossible to kick an ACTIVE player from the game utilizing this feature.

    Feel free to let me know what you think of this idea and any issues/ways to abuse it that I may have overlooked.

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  • CallMeBackdrafT
    Vanguard
    Insider
    Founder

    This actually sounds like a perfect idea and could be done in such a way that it doesn’t necesarilly remove immersion if on is not afk

  • BlazeDrake100
    Marauder

    @exeternautical
    This is great. Maybe they could also remove lazy beard at that point and instead have it flag the player as afk.
    I also think you should be able to vote to make it so a crewmate won't be flagged by lazybeard, with the option under flag as afk.

  • ACHILLES X1
    Ship Mate
    Insider

    I get the need for a solution to rid your crew of the "passive aggressive" afk player, especially on gallons. I also feel strongly about a system that doesn't kick you for being afk, especially when playing solo. I dont want the afk detection to get to a point where "taking a break" is out of the question.

    There should be some way to insure that you dont loose your ship if you cant make it back in time. Or a way to get back on the server, and back to your ship.

    It takes time to get your ship established with supplies! With the new empty chest, cooking, and having supply crates. My point is, after spending all that time, loosing ship due to being afk can be heartbreaking. Also, even after a full day on the sea, leaving the game knowing that fully stocked ship is going to sink is kinda uncomfortable. I know there are other players that like to pass on their ship.

    This should be more of a thing.

    Maybe ships should not automatically sink when everyone leaves, but just become a free abandoned ship to find.

  • Galactic Geek
    Seafarer
    Founder

    I would hate playing on a brig with a full crew and having constant pop-up and interruptions because my fellow crewmates find it rather funny.

    Not inherently a good idea as it can also easily be abused.

  • contentzilla
    Ship Mate

    As of the last patch from a few days ago it seems they have increased the sensitivity of the afk detection and timer to the point where I have not come across one afk player since. Now there's always going to players who are afk here and there for a short time but those players who were going in circles for hours seems to have disappeared. Prior to the patch I found spinning afk'ers in almost every game.

  • Kenji Salk
    Legend
    Moderator
    Global Moderator

    @achilles-x1 I like the idea of abandoned ships!

    I feel that the AFK problem has been diminishing but there's still a lot of good points to be gleaned here. Good feedback mates!

  • Drewdigon
    Captain
    Insider

    @achilles-x1 This was actually a concern of mine when I was writing this thread, and I am glad you brought it up. I totally agree with your sentiment, and I don’t want to remove a person’s ability to go AFK (to do things like eat and go to the bathroom). To be completely honest I’m not entirely sure of a fool proof solution to this problem, but I did come with one idea (I simply didn’t include it in my initial post).

    The solution I came up with is the following (it is a similar concept to the idea @BlazeDrake100 mentioned):

    Add a “Set Yourself as AFK” option.

    Set Yourself as AFK:

    • Located underneath Crew Management).
    • Once selected, a player can choose to set themselves as AFK.
    • Once a player has been set as AFK, a timer for X minutes will start (around 30 minutes). The amount of time left will appear in the upper right hand corner.
    • Once a player has been set as AFK, they will no longer be able to move. (Not entirely sure this is necessary, but I’ll add it in just in case)
      .- While a player is set as AFK, their crew mates cannot vote to flag them as AFK.
    • While a player is set as AFK the current AFK detection system (Lazy Beard) will not activate.
    • Once a player’s AFK time has passed, they will no longer be set as AFK. At which point they will be able to move, can be Lazy Bearded, and their crew mates will be able to flag them as AFK.
    • Alternatively (and ideally), the returning AFK player can disable the option manually (in the same place they enabled it) and continue with their gameplay.
    • Once a player is no longer set as AFK the “Set Yourself as AFK “ option will enter a cool down period (depends on the actual time of the AFK period, for something like 30 minutes the cool down would be around one - two hours).

    PLEASE NOTE: This system is mainly designed for Adventure mode, not the Arena. The Arena is simply too short for something like this to properly function.

    I feel like this would be a great way to allow players to go AFK without having to worry about being kicked for it (This suggestion would work even without the “Vote to flag crew member as afk” option). Not only would it allow people some guaranteed worry free time to do what they need to do, it would also make things like solo play less stressful/tedious. Currently having to do anything in real life as a solo player is a session ender (unless it is really quick). An option like this would allow solo players to do things like eat a meal, without having to worry loosing all of
    their hard earned supplies in the process.

    Anyways that’s what I could come up with as a solution to the problem of people being kicked for small amounts of time.

    Feel free to once again give me feedback/your concerns with the idea.

  • Drewdigon
    Captain
    Insider

    @galactic-geek I mentioned this in my post but there would be a cool down period like the one the brig has. I said the value should be 30 minutes, but this can easily be adjusted/changed to anything to prevent/combat the issue you are mentioning.

  • BlazeDrake100
    Marauder

    @exeternautical
    That's better than my set as afk idea. . Maybe the crew should have to vote for it so randos don't set themselves as afk.

  • MysticDragon297
    Master
    Insider

    this could actually be a good idea.

    i think that it is creative that flagged players must input a certain action (such as equipping a shovel, as you have said), because this would root out players taping their toggles to one side. and if a player is standing still while performing multiple actions at an unusual speed, than this would make them a blatant AFK using a looping macro.

  • Noisa1992
    Master
    Insider

    Nice idea i like it

    It would be a better option for both modes
    In Adventure its so annyoing if you get kicked out of a Private cresession because you just went away for not even 5 Minutes

    The make more space on the server thing is so useless when it comes to private crews anyway.
    I mean your friends dont invite a Random or anyone else just because you got afk kicked
    And sometimes people just join after you when they in your friendlist without asking if you have place and wont leave
    For arena and this case a Vote option would be perfect

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