Is Net_Arbitrator guaranteed to be the server?

[GrayFace]

I need to get a user var from the server. I'm assuming Net_Arbitrator might help with that, but maybe not. What is Net_Arbitrator set to if the server isn't playing the game, just hosting? What if there are no players in the game? Does Net_Arbitrator stay constant throughout the level?

[phantombeta]

GZDoom doesn't have servers (currently), and you can't host games without also being ingame, so you don't need to worry about those. Net_Arbitrator is the current arbitrator of the game, which is the player that's allowed to change server CVars. If the current arbitrator leaves the game, another player is selected as the arbitrator.

[GrayFace]

GZDoom doesn't have servers (currently), and you can't host games without also being ingame, so you don't need to worry about those. Net_Arbitrator is the current arbitrator of the game, which is the player that's allowed to change server CVars. If the current arbitrator leaves the game, another player is selected as the arbitrator.

Thanks! Then, is it safe to assume that it should only change on WorldLoaded and PlayerDisconnected? I need to provide the value to ACS, so I'm doing CallASC at these. (Would also listen to PlayerEntered for good measure)

[Player701]

I need to get a user var from the server.

I would also like to point out that while everything phantombeta has said is correct, the use of Net_Arbitrator in your scenario may be a design flaw depending on what you're trying to achieve. The arbitrator designation is purely technical and irrelevant to actual gameplay, so why not simply use a server CVAR instead? It synchronizes automatically between all players, and you do not need to complicate your code by listening to any events.

Still, if you want to use Net_Arbitator:

is it safe to assume that it should only change on WorldLoaded and PlayerDisconnected? I need to provide the value to ACS, so I'm doing CallASC at these. (Would also listen to PlayerEntered for good measure)

The only event which signifies the change of the current arbitrator mid-game is PlayerDisconnected. And initially, the arbitrator is always player #0.

[GrayFace]

I would also like to point out that while everything phantombeta has said is correct, the use of Net_Arbitrator in your scenario may be a design flaw depending on what you're trying to achieve. The arbitrator designation is purely technical and irrelevant to actual gameplay, so why not simply use a server CVAR instead? It synchronizes automatically between all players, and you do not need to complicate your code by listening to any events.

The var in question is blood amount. In Zandronum blood is +CLIENTSIDEONLY, so it can be controllable by each user independently. On GZDoom everything is the same for all players, so one setting needs to be used. You're still probably right here, I think I should still have a separate blood setting for the server for this case, because someone may like to play with a ridiculous setting, but in a net game would want the normal one.