Name one creative thought in this thread please. Because ideas posted has been posted many times in the last 10 years.
HiTech
Okay, this is a two-parter, first is a legitimate question and second is dependent on the mechanic of the first.
There is an in-game function for going AFK that turns a players name red on a vox channel by checking an afk box. HOWEVER, is there currently a function that checks the inactivity status of a player?
If there were a system in place to auto set AFK status based on a delay from the last detected command input from the user (keystroke, axis variable change &etc.), say after 30 mins just for an example, one could build another if/then protocal for ignoring the red afk players in the count of players that are contributing to high ENY.
Why? Sometimes players get destracted by real life or have to walk away from their computers for a while and either forget about the game running or can't get back to end the application. Most people do not remember or do not bother to click the AFK box so a check within the game auto sets afk. These honost players would then not be included within an ENY check that would also be set on a reasonable timer. Any time the server recieves an input from the client their AFK status would be turned off.
But, BUT… people could set up a macro or just push a button ever so often on their afk/shade account to set their status as active so they are counted towards ENY. Yes… Yes that will happen, however the players who are not going afk in towers or on long flights for such reasons would at least then not contribute to "the problem."
Not sure how original an idea this is but did want to throw it out there.
I have friends on Knits/Rooks and do not mind *gasp* side switching to play with them or balance ENY. That and there are a lot of awesome birds to fly!