Is idling considered cheating?

[usb_connector]

A lot of servers with insanely low ping (for me) have the word "idling server" in their title. They are all secured by Valve anti-cheat. I assumed it was OK because the server was Valve approved. However not too long ago I learned there was an item awarded to people who did not idle using a 3rd party software. Idle servers however, just kill you every so often.

Anyways, is it still considered cheating?

[Perfect Cell]

Originally Posted by usb_connector

A lot of servers with insanely low ping (for me) have the word "idling server" in their title. They are all secured by Valve anti-cheat. I assumed it was OK because the server was Valve approved. However not too long ago I learned there was an item awarded to people who did not idle using a 3rd party software. Idle servers however, just kill you every so often.

Anyways, is it still considered cheating?

If you mean will you get banned, then no. You will never, ever, ever get banned for idling unless you use a third party program to idle.

If you mean cheating as other, there may be a morale issue with some people, but that's it.

[Lythiium]

I personally don't consider it 'cheating'. As, whether you play or idle, you'll still have the same drop rates.

As for the "Cheater's Lament" It was awarded to people who didn't use a program to fool the game into thinking they were playing as normal (I beleive - I didn't actually read much into it). But back then, the drop rates were completely different, so that the more you played, the more you get (basically anyway) - hence the use of a program, so they didn't need to have the game running 24/7. To people who played as normal, that was incredibly unfair.

[usb_connector]

I suppose that it was badly worded. What is the general consensus about idling in the TF2 community?

[Perfect Cell]

Originally Posted by usb_connector

I suppose that it was badly worded. What is the general consensus about idling in the TF2 community?

People mostly don't like it, but I don't have a personal problem with it.

Unless you idle outside of an idle/trade server, then you're just taking up space.

[sentinel21]

Originally Posted by Lythiium

To people who played as normal, that was incredibly unfair.

The big deal was that the people that idled 24/7 using the 3rd party program got punished, but people who idled 24/7 in-game weren't punished. A lot of people using the program justified it by the fact that they would've idled anyway but the program used less system resources and hence less power.

[Rammite]

Originally Posted by usb_connector

I suppose that it was badly worded. What is the general consensus about idling in the TF2 community?

Some people are religiously against it. Some bullcrap about the economy. Some people simply could not care less.

Generally:
Idling in your own server = Okay
Idling in someone else's server = Not okay
Idling in a specific idle server = Okay

[usb_connector]

Thanks for the input guys.

[hawkshadow741]

nope.avi

good way to get items without having to wade through the trade forums and finding a nice trader

[SmG Superz]

Type in console:
map achievement_idle (or whatever)
Load game
sv_cehats 1
type bot until there is no more room.
sv_cheats 0; retry
Then go on a team or spectate and enjoy your items
And make sure there is no map time limit
You wont get kicked and will get items.

[hawkshadow741]

Originally Posted by SmG Superz

Type in console:
map achievement_idle (or whatever)
Load game
sv_cehats 1
type bot until there is no more room.
sv_cheats 0; retry
Then go on a team or spectate and enjoy your items
And make sure there is no map time limit
You wont get kicked and will get items.

download Achievement_Idle
tf_bot_forceclass [sniper,spy,soldier,scout,pyro,demoman,engineer,hea vyweapons, Medic (optionnal)]
tf_not_add #
Idle away

TFbots require no sv_cheats and won't move unless there's a nav mesh, which there is none, all they'll do is look around and Medics will heal players

[Virus.]

I wouldn't bother and don't care.

[rebmcr]

You don't need bots for items. A single player in a listen server gets their full amount of drops.

[DrFetus]

Idling is looked down upon by the majority of people. When I see someone with 500+ hours of gameplay, doing horribly every round, it jaratees me off a bit when I use hours played as a loose basis for how good a player is.

[usb_connector]

Originally Posted by DrFetus

Idling is looked down upon by the majority of people. When I see someone with 500+ hours of gameplay, doing horribly every round, it jaratees me off a bit when I use hours played as a loose basis for how good a player is.

You should consider a new system. Back in the days of CoD4 I would play online with people who had prestige 4 and moderately high levels. I still beat them and I hadn't (and never did) prestige even once. Time played does not mean skill.