Feature Request: Spectator Sign

[nicholasleejy]

Short description A sign that allows you to spectate the arena, instead of using the command /ma spec

Implementation details Similar to how the join sign works, the player can click on the sign of a running arena to teleport to the lobby as a spectator, exactly like how the "/ma spec" command functions.

Possible methods:

• Either create another sign template, like the join/leave/info signs
• Modify how the "join" sign functions, where if the arena is already running, the "join" sign will teleport you to the arena lobby/spectator area

[garbagemule]

Not a bad idea.

I think I originally omitted the spectate behavior exactly because I didn't feel up to the task of deciding between an "overloaded" join behavior or separate join and spectate behaviors. I don't think there's anything particularly difficult about either approach.

• A dedicated spectate sign would make it easier to distinguish between actions. Are you trying to join or spectate - you must choose. It would possibly require two signs everywhere you have a join sign, though.
• On the other hand, an overloaded join sign would reduce the amount of signs needed and remove the choice from the player. It does mean you would have to wait until the arena begins to spectate it if you just want to spectate. It sacrifices some flexibility and predictability for convenience.

I don't think having both is a good idea, because it would mean the spectate sign only satisfies the aforementioned edge case of wanting to spectate before an arena starts. I also think overloaded join signs are a bit of a stretch in terms of consistency, because it means it will behave differently from the join command. We could opt to overload both, of course.

There's a third option where overloaded join signs are a setting. I don't really like that idea, mostly because it introduces extra logic and having to pass settings around everywhere, but also because the config-file is already pretty bloated.