Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
In a private lobby, players may join because the host is advertising a normal ruleset. After enough players have joined, the host can change important settings at the last second and start the match before anyone has time to notice or leave.
The worst case is enabling host-only cheats such as infinite gold or infinite troops immediately before starting. The same problem applies to every other game rule exposed in the lobby, including starting gold, gold multiplier, instant build, disabled units, team mode, donation rules, and any future rule options.
Publicly listed hosted lobbies already prevent host-only cheats, but ordinary private lobbies shared by link or lobby ID do not give joined players a guaranteed review window after settings change.
Describe the solution you'd like
Once another player has joined a private lobby, changing any game rule should start a server-enforced 30-second grace period.
- The host cannot start the game until the grace period expires.
- This applies to every game rule, not only cheats or a selected list of important settings.
- If a start countdown or fixed start time is already running, a rule change resets or extends it so at least 30 seconds remain.
- The minimum 30 seconds still applies when the lobby is configured for an immediate start or a short one- or two-second start delay.
- Every rule change restarts the grace period.
- All players see which settings changed and how much review time remains.
- Cosmetic changes that do not affect the game rules do not need to trigger the timer.
- Singleplayer and a lobby containing only the host should not be affected.
This needs to be enforced by the server rather than only disabling the start button in the host UI.
Describe alternatives you've considered
- Lock all settings as soon as the first player joins. This is simple but too restrictive for legitimate hosts.
- Lock settings once the start countdown begins. This helps, but the host could still change the rules and start the countdown immediately.
- Require every player to confirm each settings change. This would be safer but would make larger private lobbies difficult to start.
A short automatic grace period gives players time to review or leave without adding a ready check for everyone.
Additional context
Private lobbies already broadcast updated lobby configuration to joined players, and they already support a delayed start. The missing part is tying important rule changes to a minimum review period that the host cannot skip.
Assignment
Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
In a private lobby, players may join because the host is advertising a normal ruleset. After enough players have joined, the host can change important settings at the last second and start the match before anyone has time to notice or leave.
The worst case is enabling host-only cheats such as infinite gold or infinite troops immediately before starting. The same problem applies to every other game rule exposed in the lobby, including starting gold, gold multiplier, instant build, disabled units, team mode, donation rules, and any future rule options.
Publicly listed hosted lobbies already prevent host-only cheats, but ordinary private lobbies shared by link or lobby ID do not give joined players a guaranteed review window after settings change.
Describe the solution you'd like
Once another player has joined a private lobby, changing any game rule should start a server-enforced 30-second grace period.
This needs to be enforced by the server rather than only disabling the start button in the host UI.
Describe alternatives you've considered
A short automatic grace period gives players time to review or leave without adding a ready check for everyone.
Additional context
Private lobbies already broadcast updated lobby configuration to joined players, and they already support a delayed start. The missing part is tying important rule changes to a minimum review period that the host cannot skip.
Assignment