split_noobs balance algorithm

Context

Balance algorithm split_noobs does the following:

• Spreads noobs evenly across teams and deprioritises them. Your team will always draft noobs last. Noobs are players with no party and either high uncertainty or 0 rating.
• Supports parties.

How to use

In a lobby use this command

!balancealgorithm auto

Now the split_noobs algorithm will be used whenever there is at least one high uncertainty player in the lobby. Visually you cannot tell what algorithm is being used so to look at logs use:

$explain

This will also tell you which players in the lobby is considered a "noob".

You can also check the current balance algorithm in a lobby by:

$status

The default algorithm created by Teifion is called loser_picks. Mine is called auto or split_noobs (old version).

High level summary of the algorithm

The lobby will be balanced pretending that the newish players don't exist. Then teams will draft remaining newish players preferring higher chevrons and lower uncertainty. Under this algorithm, newish players are free. With Teifion's algorithm, new players cost your team 17 points. Adding up the ratings of players in a team under my algorithm may give strange results since the rating of newish players are not trusted. Newish players are determined by uncertainty. It's possible to be 3chev and have high uncertainty since you can gain chevrons from PvE or spectating. You can use $explain to see who the algorithm considered as newish/noob.

Details of the algorithm

You don't have to read the full details, but if you really want: https://github.com/jauggy/teiserver/wiki/split_noobs-algorithm-in-detail