It can be incredibly frustrating to be kicked from an online game server shortly after joining, or even seemingly before you’ve had a chance to play. You might be left wondering, “Why Am I Banned From A Server I Never Joined?”. While it feels like you’ve been unfairly banned from a server you barely accessed, the reality is often rooted in the server’s vote kick system.
Many multiplayer game servers utilize a vote kick feature, allowing players to initiate a vote to remove another player from the server. This system, while intended to maintain a positive server environment, can sometimes lead to confusion, especially for newcomers. The core mechanic revolves around a percentage threshold. If enough players vote “yes” to kick a particular individual, that player is removed from the server.
The sensitivity of this vote kick system is significantly affected by the number of players currently on the server. In servers with fewer players, even a small number of votes can reach the required percentage to trigger a kick. For example, if a server has only three players, excluding the person being voted on, just two “yes” votes out of the two remaining voters would constitute 100% of the vote, easily exceeding typical kick vote thresholds, which are often set around 70%. This means in smaller groups, it’s considerably easier for a kick vote to succeed.
Conversely, in larger, more populated servers, the same 70% threshold becomes much harder to reach. If there are eleven players on a server, ten are eligible to vote. To kick someone, seven out of these ten would need to vote in favor. This increased requirement makes it significantly more challenging for individual players or small groups to unilaterally remove someone.
However, this dynamic can be manipulated. Groups of friends using voice communication, for instance, can coordinate vote kicks even on servers with a moderate number of players. If a group of friends joins a server together, they could potentially control the server access by initiating and ensuring successful kick votes against anyone they don’t want present. This coordinated action can lead to situations where players are kicked shortly after joining, seemingly without reason, especially if they happen to be targeted by such a group.
Currently, many console servers lack the option for private server setups, which are common on PC. This absence of private servers can exacerbate the issue, as groups might be more inclined to exert control over public servers using the vote kick system. Once private servers become available, server administrators will have the tools to implement password protection and manage access, mitigating these types of issues and allowing for more controlled and fair server environments.
In conclusion, if you find yourself banned from a server shortly after joining, it’s highly likely due to the server’s vote kick system, possibly influenced by the server’s player count or coordinated actions of player groups. The implementation of private servers in the future should offer a more stable and controlled environment, reducing the chances of unexpected and seemingly unfair server kicks.
