afkTerminator
AFK Machine = Are methods players use to defeat AFK detection to prevent being kicked or to gain rewards offered by some servers for time played. These "machines" fool the AFK detection by providing unattended, continual movement.
AFK Machine Detection
The plugin detects these types of AFK Machines:
- Mine Cart
- Flowing Water (circular)
- Flowing Water (falling)
- Continual jumping
- Piston Powered Jumping
- Piston Pushers
- Piston/Door Randomizer
- Creative Mode Fly Straight Up Forever
- Continual Fishing
- Saddled Pig ( with or without Carrot Stick )
- Saddled Pig with lead
- Horse
- Arrow Machine
- Continual Block Strike
- Vine Farm
- Water over Fence
AfkTerminator is able to detect the use of these machines and provides operators with several options in dealing with the offending players.
Penalties/Punishment
Penalties include:
- NOTHING (report only)
- LAVA - Cover the machine in flowing lava [VIDEO]
- TNT - Destroy the machine and surrounding area using TNT [VIDEO]
- KICK - Kick the player
- KILL - Kill the player
- COMMAND - Execute any operator configured command or commands. Default: 'ban [player]'
- SPAWNMOB - Spawn one or many mobs specified on player's location
One word of caution about using the TNT penalty option. As you can see in the video, this can be very destructive. I'm afraid that some players may take advantage of this in PVP or Factions servers, building an AFK machine simply for the destruction it can cause to surrounding buildings or bases. USE WITH CAUTION.
When penalty=COMMAND, multiple commands can be executed, and this is defined by separating commands in the config.yml with " /n ". For example:
(from config.yml)
# # If the punishment setting is "COMMAND", this is that command (or commands). # "[player]" will be replaced with't players name on execution # Multiple commands can be executed by separating commands with " /n ". All commands must be on a single line in this file. commandPenalty: 'ban [player] /n ontime remove [player]'
Admin/Moderator Notification of AFK Machines
When an AFK Machine is suspected and eventually detected, administrators can elect to be notified via a console message, receive MC mail, and/or logging of information in a log file.
Logfile
Information about detected AFK Machines will be found in the file /plugins/afkTerminator/AfkTerminator.log. There is no management of this file provided by the plugin, so it will grow continually. So server owners may want to delete this now and again, when the data contained has no more value.
In-game Message
Any player with the permission "afkTerminator.notify" will receive a message to their game client if they are online at the time of the detection. The language and content of this message is configurable and can be found in the afkTerminator/config.yml.
MineCraft Mail
Any player with the permission "afkTerminator.mailReceive" will receive an mail through any in-game mail system supported by the server. The message received is the same as seen in the in-game message (as described above), and hence is configurable.
AfkTerminator keeps track of the players with 'mailReceive' permission string through the use of a 'mail_list.yml' file found in the plugis/afkterminator folder. Each time a player joins the server and is found to have the permission, they will be added to this file along with the the time of the login.
Each time afkTerminator plugin is restarted (e.g. server reset), the file will be reviewed by the plugin an any player that has permission, but had not logged into the server for a configurable number of days will be removed from the mail list. This will keep the list from growing as admin/moderators turn over, and keep the system from sending messages to inactive players. If a player joins, that had the permission, but they no longer have the permission, they also will be removed from the list at that time. If a player is removed from list, still has permission, and later again joins the server, they will be re-added to the list.
The system command used to issue the mail to the players is also configurable, and is found in the config.yml. The default configuration is compatible with Essentials Mail.
Auto Login Blocker
The plugin will also prevent client hacks which try to "get around" an AFK kick by simply auto logging back into the server. This function will require a player to wait a configured amount of time before logging back into the sever after leaving for any reason. If there are multiple attempts the minimum time for a login is raised each time, and if the player exceeds a configured maximum number of failed attempts, an configured action (such as 'ban') can be taken by the afkTerminator.
If a player has the permission "afkTerminator.loginDelayExcluded", they will not be subject to this check.
Please see the pages for configuration, etc.
Permission(s)
afkTerminator.excluded
When a player has the "afkTerminator.excluded" permission string, they will not be subject to the afkTerminator punishment. Their use of afkMachines will still be recorded in the log and on console in order that there is a record, but instead of being punished, they will be set back to "no AFK Machine state" when an AFK Machine use is detected.
afkTerminator.loginDelayExculded
When a player has this permission they will not be subject to the minimum time for re-login after leaving the server.
afkTerminator.admin
When a player has this permission, the will be able to execute the command "afkt reload"
afkTerminator.notify
When a player has this permission, they will be notified with an in-game message (if they are online) when a player has been detected using an AFK Machine.
afkTerminator.mailReceive
Whan a player has this permission, they will be notified with a mail message when a player has been detected using an AFK Machine.
Vault.jar
The Vault plugin must be installed in your plugin directory if you want to use the afkTerminator permission strings
Installation
- Place AfkTerminator.jar in your plugin folder
- Place optional Vault.jar in your plguin folder if afkTerminator permission string is to be used.
- Restart your server / Reload Plugins
- Edit plugins/AfkTerminator/config.yml as needed
- Edit is not required, as defaults are set
- See insructions for config settings in the generated file or here
4. Restart your server / Reload Plugins if config.yml is modifed
That's it!
AFKTerminator can be integrated by other Plugin Developers!
The AFKTerminator has available an API so other AFK related plugins can take advantage of its detection capabilities, and use this information as part of that plugin's AFK algorithms. API instructions are found here.
Note from EDGE: The AFKTerminator was originally built for use with the OnTime plugin, but I thought there was a much larger need for this capability so I broke it out and made it slightly more powerful.
Change Log
For a complete change log, pleas see here
V3.0.8
Compiled/Tested with Spigot/Bukkit V1.9; Java8; Vault 1.5.6
Functional Enhancements
- Added 'water over fence' AFK machine detection (Ticket #67)
Fixes
- Fixed NPE seen on Projectile Machine detection (no ticket)
V3.0.7
Compiled/Tested with Spigot/Bukkit V1.9; Java8; Vault 1.5.6
Fixes
- Fixed issue (again) where new line "/n" token was not working on COMMAND penalty (no ticket)
- Fixed problem with '[VEHICLE]' variable in output, where previous data was not cleared out (no ticket)
V3.0.6
Compiled/Tested with Spigot/Bukkit V1.9; Java8; Vault 1.5.6
Fixes
- Fixed issue (really this time!) where offline players not receiving mail when enabled (Ticket #58/#61)
- Fixed issue where MOB arrow attack while player is AFK, may be falsely identified as "arrow damage" afk machine. (No ticket)
- Improved notes regarding proper syntax for using " /n " to specify multiple lines in command penalty (No Ticket)
Functional Enhancements
- Added '[vehicle]' to list of supported output variables in afkMachine detection messages to ops. This will specify the vehicle type used. (Ticket# 62)
V3.0.5
Compiled/Tested with Spigot/Bukkit V1.9; Java8; Vault 1.5.6
Fixes
- Fixed issue where offline players not receiving mail when enabled (Ticket #58)
- Fixed issue where some WATER based AFK machines were suspected by never detected (reported by user, but no ticket opened)
V3.0.4
Compiled/Tested with Spigot/Bukkit V1.9; Java8; Vault 1.5.6
- Recompiled v3.0.2 with Spigot 1.9 API, updated Java8, & latest Vault
Fixes
- Fixed NPE issue when attempting to send mail notifications (Ticket #58)
- Fixed issue where 'interaction' based AFK avoidance methods were not being detected (no ticket)
Functional Enhancements
- Will now detect some forms of farming machines
V3.0.3
Compiled/Tested with Spigot/Bukkit V1.9; Java8; Vault 1.5.6
- Recompiled v3.0.2 with Spigot 1.9 API, updated Java8, & latest Vault
V3.0.2
Compiled/Tested with Spigot/Bukkit V1.8.1; Java7; Vault 1.5.2
Fixes
- Fixed console errors seen when Vault, which is optional plugin, is not installed on the server (Ticket #45)
V3.0.1
Compiled/Tested with Spigot/Bukkit V1.8.1; Java7; Vault 1.5.2
Fixes
- Fixed issue with auto config upgrade when "worlds:" was not set to default '- all' in the config.yml. (Ticket #49)
V3.0.0
Compiled/Tested with Spigot/Bukkit V1.8.1; Java7; Vault 1.5.2
Functional Enhancements
- Made the plugin compatible with Spigot/Bukkit v1.8.1 and the use of UUIDs
- Added option to notify admin/moderators via mail when AFK Machines are detected. (Ticket #47)
- Made text displayed and sent in mail, upon AFK Machine detection, configurable (Ticket #47)
Fixes
- Fixed issue with 'interaction" detection enable/disable not working. (Ticket #48)
New Configuration
- mailNotifyEnable: Set to true, if players with correct permission should be sent mail upon detection of AFK Machines.
- afkDetectMsg: Configurable message displayed in-game, and mailed to players with correct permission upon detection of AFK Machines
- mailCommand: Configurable mail command to execute to send messages, when AFK Machines are detected
- mailListRemovalTime: Number of days a player with permission to receive mails can be absent before they are temporarily removed from the mail list.
New Commands
NONE
New Permissions
afkTerminator.mailReceive : If a player has this permission, they will receive a mail message when AFK Machines are detected
Will this detect players standing still for a certain period of time?
@The_Nut
This is a good suggestion. If you would not mind, please open up an enhancement ticket request so I can consider this for a future update.
@Edge209 Great plugin. One suggestion to prevent suicide AFK machines. In the same vein as the TNT placement, place blocks of air that will destroy the minecart rail or water track as the AFK player goes around. Even if it doesn't completely destroy it, the water will be away or the rail will be missing so it will stop the loop. Just a suggestion for another penalty option.
@Edge209
Thanks man, gonna test it out on my server now. Love the plugin, keep it up please!!!!
thank you sir, thank you
@tntfactions
I am working on an update for 1.6. I know that it is not handling horses correctly, and will flag a player as using AFK (minecart) if you ride a horse too long.
If you try it with 1.6 and see anything that looks fishy, please report it. I will have an update out this weekend to at least address the horse issue.
Is this plugin working with 1.6 or does it need to be updated?
@xtheudis
Thanks.
Please do me a favor and open up an enhancement ticket for this request.
Hello
Excellent plugin! Could you add an option to disable the check in a world?
@Rprrr
Thanks!
@spawnstah
I will have to do some investigation into defeating your head banger.
Although it is not a bad suggestion, I don't think your verification suggestion is necessary, because once the plugin suspects someone is away there are different automated ways to verify if they are there or not, and I don't want the plugin to become annoying by asking players questions.
@Marium0505
Please open up an enhancement ticket if you would like to see multiple commands, and multiple punishments.
There already is a log file in addition to the console/server log. Please see the config.yml. By default you should already see this file in your plugins/afkTerminator folder
Good job on this!
I noticed today that a user was avoiding detection by using a macro that moved the head up and down... Do you check for movement of the character during a timewindow? Or possible to add a detection like; if you suspect a player but cant be sure, send a math problem and ask for the answer. /w player AFK Check: what is 2+6? Just two random numbers.
Can you have multiple punishments? Eventually multiple commands?
Can you also add a feature which makes you able to log to a seperate file? Instead or as an addition to logging to the console/server.log?
@Marium0505
It does not directly support Essential's AFK feature, but should complement not conflict with it.
If players are using an AFK Machine, Essentials will likely not detect that this happening and never set the player AFK. afkTeminator will detect this and allow you to take some kind of action to stop the activity.
Does the plugin support Essentials's AFk feature? Or does they conflicft?
@froger23
It is only one command. A software enhancement is needed to expand the function to handle more than one command. Open up a ticket and I will consider for the next release.
Can it run multiple commands, or is it set to only run one commnad?
Some players on my server used have used saddled pig ridding to get around afk terminator and as a result their playtime goes up from what i can tell.