Getting a server
A guide on how to use and navigate the Team Fortress 2 on-demand booking service.
Before you start
- Ensure you have the required Discord roles.
- Review guidelines before using the services.
Booking a server
- Select the
#tf2-booking
channel in Discord. - Check server availability in your desired location by typing /booking status.
- Ensure you allow direct messages from server members in Discord
settings > privacy & safety
. - Use the /booking create command and select the optional
region
parameter to choose a location.
TIP
If you want to set a default booking location, you can use /settings booking-region.
Booking length
When booking a server, you will have 15 minutes
to have at least two players
on the server, otherwise, the server will automatically unbook. Once you have met the minimum player requirement, your server will remain booked until this threshold is no longer met.
WARNING
Abusing the booking length system will result in account suspension.
Booking response times
The response times of a server booking can vary depending on the technology used. Server bookings with the fastest response times on average are locations where dedicated servers are being utilised. Less popular locations don't warrant the use of a dedicated server; this is where an on-demand server approach is used as it's cost-effective but can result in slower book times.
TIP
- Dedicated Response Time:
~1 minute
- On-demand Response Time:
~1-5 minutes
Customising your server
Tier 1 and above subscribers will have access to customise the following server features:
- STV name: /settings server-tv-name
- Server name: /settings server-hostname
- Server password: /settings server-password
- RCON password: /settings server-rcon-password
Protecting your server
To help protect your server against DDOS attacks, you can enable a feature called Valve SDR by typing /settings server-valve-sdr. A list of other benefits this feature can provide is listed below:
- Enhanced player privacy.
- Potential routing improvement for certain regions.
TIP
If you have routing issues after enabling Valve SDR, you can connect using the original server address; however, this can expose the server to potential
Another best practice to protect your server is setting your steam to offline before joining a server. If you remain online after joining a server and then go offline; this can still expose the address of the server.
Sending a server to your friend
Tier 3 subscribers will have access to the /booking create for-friend command, where they can have both a personal server and one for their mate.
Choosing a server variant
Server variants allow you to choose the type of booking (e.g. Competitive
, MGE
and Jump
). To choose a server variant, type /booking create variant.
Commands
Our Discord services use Slash Commands, you can find more information about this feature hereopen in new window.
/booking server-logs
List and download match log files from an active server booking.
/booking server-demos
List and download demo files from an active server booking.
/booking rcon
Send an RCON command to your active server booking.
Optional Parameters
command
: RCON command to send (Default:status
).status
changelevel
exec
/booking create
Create a new server booking.
Optional Parameters
region
: Select a server location.provider
: Select a server provider (Restricted: Tier 3).for-friend
: Book a server for another (Restricted: Tier 3).variant
: Select a game variant to use (E.g. Competitive or Jump server).
/booking status
Check server availability across regions.
Optional Parameters
continent
: Filter regions by continent.tag
: Filter regions by tag (E.g. Australia, NA, Tokyo).
TIP
The status response message will indicate how many servers are currently being used (E.g. 0/2
means there are no servers being used out of an available two. 3/5
means there are three servers being used out of an available five).
/settings booking-region
Set a default booking location.
Required Parameters
region
: Select a location.
/settings server-tv-name
Update server STV name.
Required Parameters
name
: Set a new STV name (Cannot use Symbols).
/settings server-hostname
Update server name.
Required Parameters
name
: Set a new server name (Cannot use Symbols).
/settings server-password
Update server password.
Optional Parameters
password
: Set a new server password.
TIP
Type *
when setting a password to generate it randomly.
TIP
If password parameter isn't selected when setting a new password, the server will be created with no password.
/settings server-rcon-password
Update server RCON password.
Required Parameters
password
: Set a new RCON password.
TIP
Type *
when setting a password to generate it randomly.
/settings server-valve-sdr
Enable or disable Valve SDR connection mode.
Required Parameters
enable
: Enable or disable feature