[strontiumdog]

We have been using this at TheVille for quite some time and it works on all 17 of our Source engine servers. This particular one is for L4D.
I thought I would post it here.
Hopefully it will help some out until VALVe release the SDK and the devs can get a proper reserved slots plugin written.

This plugin does not require extra hidden slots.

When the command "reservedslot 1" is sent to the game server, a slot is opened, by kicking a player.
The plugin automatically closes the slot after a period of time (default 45 seconds) which is usually enough time for the reserved slot player to get into the game.

Players with RESERVATION and CUSTOM1 permissions are immune from kicking.

Players with RESERVATION can occupy an opened slot.

To send the command, you usually need to send it by RCON. As a result, I have also enclosed a small PHP utility (written by a user on the BeetlesMod forums from where the idea was taken) which will send the command to the game server.
If you wish to use this, then place all three files on a web server with PHP. Edit the IP address and Rcon password in the 'reserve.php' file.
It's not a great system and we haven't used it ourselves for a while, but it will do if you need to open slots via a web page.

We no longer use the above PHP program as we now have a proprietary in-game system that is based on PHPBB permissions and can be operated directly via the Valve in-game browser.

Also includes an Admin menu item under Server Commands from which admins can manually open and close the slot.

Installation

• Copy l4d_reservedslots.smx to addons/sourcemod/plugins
• If required, edit and copy the three PHP files to a web server. Make sure you enter the IP, RCON password and the max number of clients in the 'reserve.php' file.

Configuration
sm_reservedslot_time 45.0
default 40.0 seconds
Determines how long the slot stays open

sm_reserve_kicktype 0
0 = Highest Ping
1 = Highest Time
2 = Random
3 = Lowest Time


Credits
The plugin is based on AlliedModders existing reserved slot plugin.


Notes
You can test the script works by using HLSW to open the slot by typing 'reservedslot 1' in the Rcon section. The slot will only open if the server is full.


Changelog
v1.0.105 - Release

v1.0.106 - Added kick by lowest time on server

v1.0.107 - Fixed small bug in cvar

v1.0.108 - Wasn't kicking lowest time clients....

v1.0.109 - ...but does now

[djromero]

I have something like this in my custom (and private) admin mod, but let me tell you that it works sometimes, why?? because l4d servers become full very quickly .... there's always someone trying to connect to a game in progress.

As soon as my plugin kicks a player, someone else will try to connect ... and another one after that one .... so the reserved slot will always be occupied by people "trying" to connect to our server.

The best way for a connecting player to beat them is to setup the "auto-retry" option on the server browser.



So the best way to go is to use your plugin and this method to connect to the server.

[Dark-Reaper]

It's a useful plugin, but for the moment I do like this :

I launch my game, press F12, put the auto-retry function on. Go back to Windows with HLSW opened, kick a player, and if I'm lucky, I'll be the next player who try to connect after the kick.

Sometimes I'm not...



EDIT :

Tried your plugin and it rocks, could you make it kick the less spend time player on the server ?

[Darin]

Yeah that would be good. Make it kick the last person who joined the server.

[strontiumdog]

Yup.
Will update it.

[Big Myke]

How do I give " ADM_RESERVATION" to a player?

[strontiumdog]

Letter 'a'

http://wiki.alliedmods.net/Adding_Admins_(SourceMod)

e.g. in admin_simple.ini

"STEAM_0:1:12345678" "a"

[Big Myke]

Ohhh duh, thanks haha. I was confused for some reason.

[Big Myke]

I cannot set it to kick randomly. this is what i get. It stays at number 2 which kicks randomly and its the max integer.

10:064 "sm_reserve_kicktype" = "2.000000" ( def. "0" ) min. 0.000000 max. 2.000000
- How to select a client to kick (if appropriate)

[DevilsReject]

this is not working i get this error
StatusPHPError: Connection timed out (110)