RTVRTM Guide: Map Voting for Movie Battles II Servers

Fixed map rotations get boring fast. Players want variety and choice. That's where RTVRTM comes in: Rock The Vote (RTV) and Rock The Mode (RTM) for Movie Battles II servers.

This guide shows you how to set up democratic map voting so your community decides what to play next.

What is RTVRTM?

RTVRTM is a voting system that adds two key features to your MBII server:

Rock The Vote (RTV)

Players can vote to skip the current map. When enough players vote (typically 60-70%), a map vote is triggered. Everyone votes on the next map from a selection, and the winner is loaded.

Rock The Mode (RTM)

Similar to RTV, but for game modes. Players vote to switch between Open mode (classes with objectives) and Duel mode (lightsabre combat). Each mode can have its own map pool.

Why Use Map Voting?

Player engagement: People stay longer when they have a say in what map plays next
Dynamic rotation: Popular maps get played more, unpopular ones less
No admin babysitting: Server manages itself based on player preference
Community building: Voting creates interaction between players

Setting Up RTVRTM

Prerequisites: You need a working MBII server with RCON access. If you haven't set this up yet, check the setup guide and configuration guide.

File Structure Overview

RTVRTM uses three configuration files in your server directory:

/server/
├── rtvrtm.cfg           # Main RTVRTM settings
├── maps.txt             # Primary map pool
└── maps_secondary.txt   # Secondary map pool (optional)

Configuring rtvrtm.cfg

The rtvrtm.cfg file controls how voting behaves. Here's a typical configuration:

# RTV Settings
rtv_threshold: 0.6              # 60% of players must vote to trigger
rtv_delay: 120                  # Seconds before RTV is available
rtv_cooldown: 300               # Seconds before next RTV after failed vote

# Map Vote Settings
vote_duration: 30               # Seconds players have to vote
vote_options: 6                 # Number of maps to choose from
vote_show_current: false        # Show current map as an option

# RTM Settings
rtm_enabled: true               # Enable mode voting
rtm_threshold: 0.6              # 60% needed to switch modes
rtm_modes: ["open", "duel"]     # Available modes

# Map Pool Settings
use_secondary_maps: true        # Enable maps_secondary.txt
mode_specific_maps: true        # Different maps per mode

Key Settings Explained:

rtv_threshold: Percentage of players needed. 0.6 = 60% (on 10 player server, 6 must vote)
rtv_delay: Prevents instant RTV at map start. Gives people time to try the map.
vote_options: More options = more variety, but harder to reach majority
vote_show_current: Set false to force new maps, true to allow extending current

Creating Map Lists

Map lists are simple text files with one map per line. The format is important: use the map's folder name without the .bsp extension.

maps.txt (Primary Pool)

mp/ffa_bespin
mb2_dotf
mb2_deathstar
mb2_cloudcity
mb2_smuggler
mb2_commtower
mb2_jabba
mb2_kamino
mb2_cmp_apartments
mb2_lunarbase

maps_secondary.txt (Optional)

Use this for mode-specific maps, like duel maps:

mb2_duel_room
mb2_duel_theed
mb2_duel_scrap
mb2_duel_office

Map Name Format

Critical: Map names must match the folder structure exactly.

✅ Correct: mb2_dotf
✅ Correct: mp/ffa_bespin
❌ Wrong: mb2_dotf.bsp (no extension)
❌ Wrong: MB2_DOTF (case sensitive)

Popular MBII Maps to Include

Here are community favourites you should consider for your rotation:

Essential Maps

mb2_dotf - Death Star (defending/stealing plans)
mb2_deathstar - Classic corridors and hangar bay
mb2_cloudcity - Bespin platforms and carbonite chamber
mb2_smuggler - Mos Eisley cantina and streets
mb2_commtower - Communication tower assault

Popular Additional Maps

mb2_jabba - Jabba's palace
mb2_kamino - Cloning facility
mb2_lunarbase - Moon base assault
mb2_cmp_apartments - Urban combat
mb2_republiccruiser - Ship interior

Duel Maps

mb2_duel_room - Classic duel arena
mb2_duel_theed - Theed hangar
mb2_duel_scrap - Junkyard setting

Applying Configuration Changes

After editing RTVRTM configuration files:

Save your changes to rtvrtm.cfg, maps.txt, or maps_secondary.txt
Reload configuration: Connect to your server via RCON and run:
```
/rcon !rehash
```
Verify success: Check the console for confirmation message or error

Note: Running !rehash might cancel any active map votes in progress. Wait until between rounds if possible.

How Players Use RTV/RTM

Starting a Map Vote

Players can trigger voting in chat:

!rtv              # Vote to change map
!rtm              # Vote to change mode
!cancelvote       # Cancel your RTV vote

Once the threshold is reached, a vote automatically appears showing map options. Players type !1, !2, !3, etc. to vote for their preference.

Example Voting Session

[Server] Player1 voted to rock the vote! (3/6 needed)
[Server] Player2 voted to rock the vote! (4/6 needed)
[Server] Player5 voted to rock the vote! (5/6 needed)
[Server] Player3 voted to rock the vote! (6/6 needed)

[Server] ========== MAP VOTE ==========
[Server] !1 - Death Star (mb2_dotf)
[Server] !2 - Cloud City (mb2_cloudcity)
[Server] !3 - Smuggler (mb2_smuggler)
[Server] !4 - Kamino (mb2_kamino)
[Server] !5 - Lunar Base (mb2_lunarbase)
[Server] !6 - Jabba's Palace (mb2_jabba)
[Server] Type !1 through !6 to vote! (30 seconds)

[Player1] !2
[Player2] !1
[Player3] !2
[Player5] !2

[Server] Cloud City wins with 3 votes!
[Server] Changing map to mb2_cloudcity...

Advanced Configuration

Mode-Specific Map Pools

Configure different maps for Open and Duel modes:

# In rtvrtm.cfg:
mode_specific_maps: true

# Open mode uses maps.txt
open_maps: "maps.txt"

# Duel mode uses maps_secondary.txt
duel_maps: "maps_secondary.txt"

Vote Timing Adjustments

# Faster servers (experienced players)
vote_duration: 20
rtv_delay: 60

# Slower servers (newer players need time)
vote_duration: 45
rtv_delay: 180

Weighted Voting

Some RTVRTM implementations support map weights (play frequency):

# In maps.txt (if supported):
mb2_dotf:3              # 3x more likely to appear
mb2_cloudcity:2         # 2x more likely
mb2_smuggler:1          # Normal frequency

Troubleshooting RTVRTM

Votes Not Triggering

1. Check rtv_threshold - might be too high for low player counts
2. Verify rtv_delay has passed since map started
3. Check if cooldown period is active from previous failed vote
4. Look for errors in server logs

Maps Not Appearing in Vote

1. Verify map names in maps.txt are correct (no .bsp, correct case)
2. Ensure map files actually exist in MBII folder
3. Check for typos or extra spaces
4. Run /rcon !rehash after editing

Map Changes Failing

1. Server console will show specific error message
2. Most common: map name doesn't match actual file
3. Check MBII installation includes all standard maps
4. Custom maps must be uploaded to server

RTVRTM Commands Not Working

1. Verify RTVRTM system is installed and running
2. Check configuration file has no syntax errors
3. Restart server if system isn't initialising
4. Review log files for RTVRTM-specific errors

Best Practices

Start with 8-12 maps: Enough variety, not overwhelming
Include popular maps: Death Star, Cloud City, Smuggler are crowd pleasers
Balance RTV threshold: 60% works well for most servers
Set reasonable delays: Give each map at least 2 minutes before allowing RTV
Monitor vote patterns: Remove maps that never get votes
Add maps gradually: Test new maps before adding to rotation

Related Guides

MBII Server Setup Guide - Get your server running first
Server Configuration and RCON - Learn RCON commands for manual map changes
Advanced Ilyssa Hosting Features - Discord integration and automated features

Pre-Configured Map Voting

Ilyssa Hosting servers include RTVRTM pre-installed with curated map pools and optimal settings. Start with working map voting from day one, no configuration needed.

View MBII Hosting Plans

Questions about map voting? We're here to help.

RTVRTM: Map Voting for MBII Servers