This seems like a lot of user error then since all of that stuff works for everyone else, or at least works as much as it is supposed to. Why doesn't search key work for you? You should investigate that. Why can't you "actually connect" to the server? That also seems like something that should be important to figure out.
The search key and force dedicated servers lets you, as lobby leader, specify what servers you want to preference to. If the servers are full then you'll go to another server, just like you normally would. I don't get what you're not understanding. "I should have the direct option of choosing a server (mine and my favorites) as well as the option of being matched to one." That's exactly what search key and/or force dedicated servers does. You specify a server to use, and if it is free then you go to it. Your little list of complains all work with minimal effort, except the first one which doesn't really make sense with the type of environment in L4D/L4D2. This isn't TF2 or CSS, you can't just join any server and start playing. If you want to do that, then remove your server from the lobby system and connect directly via IP. If you want to use a lobby, then use some combination of the many server CVARs to make it possible. You can't have it both ways, they conflict how eachother work. On Fri, 2009-11-20 at 15:24 -0800, Blood Letter wrote: > Uh, search key doesn't work for me, and force dedicated server requires that > I can actually connect to the server. > > I currently can not start a lobby and join the lobby to my server. > I currently can not join my server directly from the steam group server list. > > I have to have someone outside of my lan join the server from the steam group > list. > Then and only then am I able to join the server (by joining their lobby > explicitly or implicitly through the steam group server list). > > Joining the server normally results in a "session no longer valid" error when > it attempts to connect. > Using a search key results in absolutely nothing - the server is never found, > and I never attempt to connect. > > And why would I set a default search key or force dedicated servers list? > My server is public and I would only want to use it if it's free - otherwise > I'm content joining whatever server I'm matched with (when I'm lobby leader). > > I can bind shortcuts. I can set launch options. I can get on my server > which isn't functioning as it should. > But I should have the direct option of choosing a server (mine and my > favorites) as well as the option of being matched to one. > > It's not rocket science. I shouldn't have to jump through ANY hoops to: > > Open the game, get directly (no lobby screen) to my server or a favorite > server, if available. > Open the game, make a lobby, tell it to use my server or a favorite server, > if available. > Open the game, make a lobby, tell it to match me to an available server. > > > > From: [email protected] > > To: [email protected] > > Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:54:12 -0500 > > Subject: Re: [hlds] Server Key > > > > Add +sv_search_key <key> to launch options > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [email protected] > > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Johan Andersson > > Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 5:04 PM > > To: Half-Life dedicated Win32 server mailing list > > Subject: Re: [hlds] Server Key > > > > bind F8 "mm_dedicated_force_servers IPADRESS" > > > > Press F8 before starting the search for a server. > > > > Couldn't be any easier tbh. > > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > From: "Blood Letter" <[email protected]> > > Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 10:41 PM > > To: <[email protected]> > > Subject: Re: [hlds] Server Key > > > > > > > > Terrible solution. > > > Nothing bugs me more than being a member of a bunch of pointless steam > > > groups. > > > (Well, automagically being joined to random steam groups for no reaosn > > > bugs me a lot too.) > > > > > > I don't want that crap cluttering up my friends list. > > > I don't want shitty updates about "your steam group has an event in 5 > > > minutes!" popping up all the time. > > > > > > I shouldn't have to put up with that crap to maintain a list of servers I > > > like. > > > This is what server favorites was for. > > > > > > Would love to see the following: > > > > > > - An extra button on the UI - Favorite Servers > > > - A "Favorite Servers" page which lists servers you have tagged as > > > favorite, their ping, map, player count, game mode, and lobby status. > > > - Ability to select a server from the list and remove it from your > > > favorites or connect to it (if lobby restrictions and player count allow). > > > - A UI button to "add server to favorites". Show it on the server info > > > popup in game. > > > > > > I'm not even asking for a full server browser - just a favorite's list. > > > > > > > > > > > >> From: [email protected] > > >> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:32:03 -0600 > > >> To: [email protected] > > >> Subject: Re: [hlds] Server Key > > >> > > >> Make a steam group called "Joebob's L4D Servers" and invite everyone. > > >> > > >> > > >> On Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 3:25 PM, shoskins73 <[email protected]> wrote: > > >> > I'm assuming that only works if I'm the Lobby Leader? What happens if > > >> > I'm > > >> > in someone elses Lobby and they start the game, will it take me to my > > >> > server > > >> > while everyone else goes to another server? > > >> > > > >> > Long story short, I had a server for the first 2 months L4D was out and > > >> > stopped using it as it was such a PITA to get a Lobby connected to it > > >> > (at > > >> > that time there was no sv_search_key function at all. This whole setup > > > > >> > for > > >> > using specific servers is crap, especially when not everyone on your > > >> > friends > > >> > list is in any one particular Steam Group. > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > > > >> > On Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 1:09 PM, Jake Skenna <[email protected]> > > >> > wrote: > > >> > > > >> >> I'd put the command in an autoexec.cfg so you can get your own server > > >> >> every > > >> >> time without having to enter it once you get in game. > > >> >> > > >> >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > > >> > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > > >> > please visit: > > >> > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds > > >> > > > >> > > >> _______________________________________________ > > >> To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > > >> please visit: > > >> http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > > Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. > > > http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ > > > http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ > > > _______________________________________________ > > > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > > > please visit: > > > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > > please visit: > > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, > > please visit: > > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds > > _________________________________________________________________ > Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft's powerful SPAM protection. > http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ > http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/ > _______________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please > visit: > http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlds
