AFK players clogging servers; auto-reconnect after resets.

Hello,

I have over 3000 hours. I have noticed a potential new issue regarding AFK players and the reconnect function when a server resets or 'host leaves'.

Since the game has no AFK timer (thank goodness!), players can squat indefinitely in a server. This isn't exactly desirable, but it shouldn't be an issue in the long run since the server resets, kicking everyone out, right? Wrong.

When the server resets, you get a dialogue box that aggressively attempts to reconnect you over and over until it is successful. If you put these two pieces together, you realize that when a player goes AFK for long periods (days or longer) they will NEVER get kicked from the game, and simply auto-reconnect perpetually. The AFK player could be dead for all we know, and there will be no mechanism for freeing up their slot in the server.

Right now I am playing on Keen Official CA#1 and 14/16 of the logged in players are unresponsive, have been logged in for several days, and are instantly reconnected after each server reset.

I would like to point out that I am OPPOSED to an AFK timer (at least a short one.) I go AFK from SE during long binges of mining or building, so I can grab some food and drink, etc. This is not what causes the problem, a player stepping away for an hour or two. The problem is that the reconnect feature automatically keeps AFK players in the server. Resets are supposed refresh the server, keep things running smoothly, and kick out the AFK players. Instead, the server is now ALWAYS full with people who are NOT playing.

I recommend removing the reconnect feature altogether. It does not offer any real improvement on convenience, and instead is a major problem. Players could still go AFK, for hours at a time even, which is fine, but then when the reset comes, YOU HAVE TO BE AT YOUR COMPUTER TO REJOIN!!!!

Thanks for your time and consideration.

-Splattercaster