Grey-list private server packs: Where do we stand with the FTB team and modders?

[Morinaka]

Hope i'm posting this in the right forum section please so move it if it isn't.

I'm an admin on an Unleashed server currently. While considering our future options, the idea of making a private pack for our server was suggested so we could have more control over player experience, mods and configs. Then have it distributed with a private pack code through the FTB launcher.

Now our server is classed as grey-list. Anyone can connect to the server and view the server as a guest i.e. they are basically spectators who can chat but can't interact with the world. This allows them to see what the server is like (lag, nice players etc.) and allows us to see what they are like as well. You can't build or use any items on the server until you have member rank.

To get member rank they have to get an Enjin account, join our website and fill out an application form. This is not an automatic process, the form includes questions and is reviewed by staff members. Applications can be rejected or approved by staff, merely filling out the form is not enough to get you member rank, you have to make an effort in your replies.

The issue we have is with how servers are classified by the FTB team in this thread and how that relates to permissions for particular mods. Our server doesn't seem to fit into any particular definition and seems to be caught in the ambiguity.

OK, our pack (if we choose to make it) would be designed exclusively for our server only, and the code only available from our website and intended only for our users to play on our server. We would need to put this private pack code on our site so people can join our server as a guest though.

Would we fit into the Private Pack category when submitting our pack?

Now i would say our server is publicly accessible but only privately playable based on this. In my opinion overall we are private as you can't play without our permission.

Following on from the idea of our own pack we drew up a rough list of mods we would like in the pack and checked out the permissions for each mod. The main roadblock we hit was if we can get permissions to use Thaumcraft 4 in the pack. To quote from the TC4 thread on MCF (emphasis mine):

Server Packs:
Private server packs are granted permission to include past and the current client versions of Thaumcraft in a mod pack tailored exclusively for that Minecraft server. The pack must be distributed in a way that ensures that only players currently active on that server can download it. Private server packs are only mod packs intended for use by a closed membership Minecraft server and distributed only to those members.

Regarding the text i made bold, how can a player be currently active on a server if they can't download the pack in the first place? In order to get permission to use Thaumcraft 4 in our pack we need to be classed as a private pack server it would appear.

So would we meet both Azanor’s and the FTB teams current definition of a private pack or are we in a new category that hasn’t been defined by the team or modders yet?

I hope i got my point across, was just trying to be clear about it.

 

[Watchful11]

This is an interesting discussion question. The current rules basically say no, they have to apply before you give them the code. But I would welcome any modders input on this.

 

[Morinaka]

Might be better for me to post here instead due to time zone differences. So to try and help clarify after our brief chat on IRC last night.

FTB official packs

• Public, no code, open for anyone to use from the launcher
• Monster, Unleashed, Ultimate, etc.

Third party official packs

• Ditto but approved by FTB rather than made by them.
• Infamy, Galacticraft and TPPI in the future.

Third party "public" packs

• Third party made, but for one server only.
• Pack code is posted publicly for anyone to use. Pack still only usable on one server though (or singleplayer as well).
• Pack is only hosted and distributed by the FTB launcher, pack has no official approval.
  
• Server could be black, grey or white list as the public nature of the code is the only qualifier, not the server type?

Third party private packs

• Third party made but for one server only
• Server has the pack code behind a registration barrier of some kind, not posted for just anyone to see.
• Only members of the server's website are able to see the code.
• Server could still be black, grey or white list. Only the pack code is the thing that needs to be private to qualify?

If my summary of your pack types is correct then our server is classed as a third party "public" pack by the existing definitions.
The only difference between "public" and private packs are how the code for the pack is given to the player?
This seems, in my opinion, to be rather arbitrary as both "public" and private packs are only made for one server and often named after the server itself.
Surely the intent of the pack is more important than the accessibility of the code for it?

What level of barrier is sufficient to meet the private standards of the FTB Team. I'll post a list of barriers and maybe you can tell me which ones would make it private and not public.

• Joining the server's website (you need an Enjin account with a linked minecraft account on ours to join it). This also gives you access to the forum section.
• Posted on a non-public section of the server's website forum.
• Posted on the server's TeamSpeak server.
• Given to the player via a private message from staff on the server's TeamSpeak server.
  
• Given to the player after they have filled in our application form, but before they have been approved for member rank on the server.
  
• Given to the player after their application has been approved.

I apologise if this feels a bit like i'm attacking the FTB team, i'm not, i just want this matter settled. That or have you write new definitions to take into account servers like ours.

 

[Watchful11]

Mostly correct. 3rd party public packs are not specifically intended for a single server. They are for anyone to use to play with, or setup a server for. If they are good, they might become popular and have a community around them, similar to Technic or FTB. Packs such as the one you want fall in to this category by default, since the code would indeed be posted publicly.

I am officially not going to make any statement about what is an acceptable "barrier". If any modder is concerned about this, please contact me with what you would consider acceptable. As far as I'm concerned, any of the ones you mentioned would be acceptable for a private pack.