What is #dota.gc ?

#dota.gc is an IRC channel where you can play DotA with other human players through repel, battle.lan, yawle etc. This means that you don't have to own the original WarCraft III CD. You can play with your friend's copy of the game and even be in the same game and team as your friend.

Our goal is to provide high quality DotA games by enforcing various rules e.g. quitters will be banned. We also have multiple complex rating systems in place that provide tons of information. For example have a look at some of the statistics we have about the players that play in #dota.gc. The collected statistical information is also used to generate the best possible matchups.

Don't hesitate to browse our site and be sure to check out how to play in #dota.gc.

Latest News

Jul 07, 2010

- Strom

Repel changes
  • Repel now has a basic hosting ability detection. It will try to find out if the UDP port 6117 is open and forwarded to repel, as this is a crucial requirement for being able to host with repel.

Jun 08, 2010

- Strom

Repel changes
  • Fixed a bug that would sometimes cause a disconnect just before the throne went down.

Jun 06, 2010

- Strom

Rule changes
  • When a game is remade with the same teams, it will be -ap, same heroes, same lanes.

May 10, 2010

- Strom

Rule changes
  • All hosts must now use repel.
Repel changes
  • The new network stack has now entered the beta testing phase. Please help by using it whenever possible.
  • Repel now tries to automatically negotiate a new session with the server when a dropped internet connection is restored.
  • The GUI now uses ClearType fonts.

Apr 17, 2010

- Strom

Repel changes
  • Fixed several major bugs, including a bug that would cause repel to crash after playing multiple games in a row.

Apr 15, 2010

- Strom

Repel changes
  • Fixed a bug that caused a disconnect before the end of the game when using the new network stack.

Apr 11, 2010

- Strom

Rule changes
  • Overhauled the rules quite a bit, so just read them again.

Apr 04, 2010

- Strom

Repel changes
  • Major performance improvements for single-threaded machines.

Apr 03, 2010

- Strom

Repel changes
  • Performance improvements to the network stack, especialy for slower computers.
  • Additional statistics shown to the host.
  • Lots of bug fixes.

Mar 31, 2010

- Strom

Repel changes
  • Major speed improvements to the new network stack.

Mar 30, 2010

- Strom

Repel changes
  • You can now see your ping to the host, if the host is also using repel.
  • Major bug fixes to the new network stack.

Mar 29, 2010

- Strom

Repel changes
  • Added an optional alpha version of the new network stack that replaces warcrafts own stack. When this becomes stable it will provide much better performance and also extra features like reconnecting to the game after a router crash.

Mar 07, 2010

- Strom

Repel changes
  • Added support for minimizing the window to the notification area.

Mar 03, 2010

- Strom

I am happy to announce our own game client called Repel.
It will allow for a better and easier way to join games and it will also automatically put you into the correct slot.

Feb 13, 2010

- Strom

Rule changes
  • Picking a banned hero will no longer result in a ban. The picker will instead choose a new hero and the game will be remade with -ap.
  • Slightly changed item restrictions to allow a team to have both 2 guinsoos and 2 euls.
  • Changed the ban length section a bit to bring it more closer to reality.

Oct 13, 2009

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Added support for DotA 6.64.

Sep 20, 2009

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Added support up to DotA 6.63b.

Jun 17, 2009

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Added support for DotA 6.60.
  • Added new game mode: captains draft (cd). This is also the new default mode in pro games.
Web changes
  • Added icons for Tauren Chieftain and Batrider.

Feb 15, 2009

- Strom

Bot changes
  • The !ip command can now be used without a parameter, in which case it will automatically use your IRC IP.
  • Fixed a bug in the matchmaking algorithm that sometimes caused a false orderding of the players.
  • Fixed a bug with the needrep command that sometimes caused the bot to hang.
  • Bug fixes.

Feb 4, 2009

- Strom

Rule changes
  • Lycanthrope is no longer banned.
  • Increased maximum AFK ban length to 7 days.
  • The forfeit rule thresholds are now 30min/50min.
  • The fatal win rule thresholds are now 25min/50min.
  • General polish and removed some outdated information.
Bot changes
  • Added support up to DotA 6.59b.
  • Increased the importance of TrueSkill in the matchmaking algorithm.
  • Fixed a bug in the TrueSkill calculation. (Bad implementation of gamma.)
  • The automatic AFK bans are now more precise.
  • The !readycheck command will no longer work for the first minute.
  • Bug fixes.

Nov 24, 2008

- Strom

Rule changes
  • Going invisible in the enemy base for over 5 seconds without any visible allied forces in the that base equals leaving the base.
Bot changes
  • The matchmaking algorithm is now a hybrid of Formula X, TrueSkill and Friends.
  • Bug fixes.

Nov 7, 2008

- Strom

Rule changes
  • Clarified what happens with banned heroes in case of all random.
Bot changes
  • Added a new feature: friend lists. Having people on your friend list will increase your chances of ending up in the same team.
  • Changed default game mode in normal games to extended draft.
  • Added new game mode: captains mode (cm). This is also the new default mode in pro games.
  • The old captain mode is now triggered by cx instead of cm.
  • Bug fixes.

Oct 29, 2008

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Fixed a bug in the Formula X matchmaking algorithm.
  • Fixed a minor bug in the TrueSkill game quality calculation.

Oct 26, 2008

- Strom

Rule changes
  • Remake due to drop time window has been decreased to 10 minutes.
Bot changes
  • Added support for DotA 6.56.
  • Matchmaking has been reverted back to Formula X, with a few improvements.

Oct 10, 2008

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Added support for DotA 6.55.
  • Due to upcoming heavy development on Formula X, the teams are now being made based on TrueSkill.
  • General speed improvements.
  • A lot of bug fixes.
Web changes
  • Added icons for Admiral Proudmoore and Windrunner.

Oct 1, 2008

- Strom

Rule changes
  • The captain now dictates how the lanes will be formed.
  • Picking or randoming a banned hero will result in a ban now.
Bot changes
  • Completely rewrote the IRC component, it should be significantly faster and more stable now.
  • Bug fixes.
Web changes
  • Updated the Formula X explanation a bit.

Aug 25, 2008

- Strom

Rule changes
  • Banned heroes are now always banned, even with randoming.
Bot changes
  • Improved support for DotA 6.54 and finally completed support for Invoker.
  • Major improvements to the speed of Formula X.
  • Bug fixes.
Web changes
  • Removed outdated info from the software page.

Aug 18, 2008

- Strom

Rule changes
  • Stealing neutral creeps is not allowed.
  • Updated wording on a lot of rules.
Bot changes
  • Added partial support for DotA 6.54.
  • Bug fixes.

Aug 8, 2008

- Strom

Rule changes
  • Lycanthrope is now banned.
Bot changes
  • Major improvements to Formula X, added support up to DotA 6.53.
  • Bug fixes.
Web changes
  • Updated the how to play section to correspond with the latest WarCraft III patch.
  • Added the Clockwerk Goblin icon.

May 1, 2008

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Partially added supprot for DotA 6.52 into Formula X.
  • Added new mode: extended draft (xd). This is random draft with a twist - both captains ban one hero from the pool.
  • Added new command: !lastgames - this shows the runtimes on currently ongoing games.
  • Remade the !check command, to allow users to check other people's bans.
  • Bug fixes.

Apr 30, 2008

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Added a new channel - #dota.fi, which is mainly targeted at finnish players.
  • A lot of bug fixes.

Apr 27, 2008

- Strom

Rule changes
  • It is no longer allowed to use IP address hiding services.
Bot changes
  • Redid a lot of the code, which will allow the system to handle even more people.
  • Multiple commands have been reworked, mostly regarding game IDs.
  • If you type !ip when you are on the waiting list then you will automatically get the 10th spot on the current list if there is no host there.
  • Players now have to state when they are ready in order to get the teams, as opposed to having a 3 minute countdown.
  • It is no longer possible to be in several games at once.
  • Players are no longer banned using the IRC ban system, instead the bans are tracked by the bot.
  • It is now possible to see how much ban time one has left by typing !check in the channel.

Mar 21, 2008

- Strom

Rule changes
  • Chicken related rules.
  • Bristleback is no longer banned.
  • A lot of other adjustments and clarifications.
Bot changes
  • Redid a lot of the core, should make the bot more stable in the long run.
  • Added -xl and -sd modes.
  • Tons of bug fixes.
Web changes
  • Updated the how to play section to correspond with 1.21b.
  • Added the Invoker icon.

Dec 30, 2007

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Major improvements to Formula X.
  • Tons of bug fixes.

Nov 24, 2007

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Minor improvements to Formula X.

Nov 23, 2007

- Strom

Rule changes
  • If an admin requests a replay from you, then you have to be able to provide the replay.
  • The standard ban length for being AFK is now 2-5 days.
Bot changes
  • Slightly improved Formula X.
  • New experimental matching algorithm based on Formula X.
  • Improved fix for custom games highlight problem.
  • Fixed a bug that sometimes caused the game not to start after the warning message.

Nov 13, 2007

- Strom

Rule changes
  • You are not allowed to stay idle for more than 5 minutes.
Bot changes
  • An experimental new matching algorithm based on Formula X.
  • Lots of little changes and bug fixes.

Nov 4, 2007

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Totally redesigned Formula X. Now everything is relative. Ownage versus bad players will result in a low rating increase.
  • Attempt to fix custom games highlight problem.
  • Lots of internal improvements and bug fixes.

Oct 23, 2007

- Strom

Web changes

Oct 20, 2007

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Improved Formula X.
Web changes
  • The statistics table can be sorted now.
  • Added a new column: actions per minute - APM.

Oct 14, 2007

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Much improved Formula X.
  • Tons of minor fixes here and there.
Web changes

Oct 1, 2007

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Fixed a critical bug in the TrueSkill matchmaking system.

Sep 29, 2007

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Improved Formula X.
  • Various other improvements and bug fixes.

Sep 22, 2007

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Improved Formula X.
  • Various other improvements.

Sep 18, 2007

- Strom

Bot changes
  • New ranking system - Formula X.
  • Replacement searching time has been decreased to 2 minutes.
Web changes
  • New replay uploading section.

Sep 15, 2007

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Lots of bugfixes.
Web changes
  • New design.
  • The 'since' column has been removed.

Aug 27, 2007

- Strom

Web changes
  • Increased the minimum number of games needed to be ranked to 10.

Aug 26, 2007

- Strom

Bot changes
  • TrueSkill has been brought back to the way it was but now we're using a comma to give the precision.

Aug 25, 2007

- Strom

Bot changes
  • Players now have a percent after their name, in the same place where the TrueSkill level used to be. This percent shows you how many players are worse than the given player. Lets make an example - Dude(68%). This means that Dude is better than 68% of the players. All these calculations are based on TrueSkill, which remains our main rating system.
  • The TrueSkill level has been multiplied by 10 to give the users more precision. For example now you can better compare all those lvl44 players, because they'll be lvl442, lvl447 etc.
  • New !stats template.
  • !pick nick nick2 - Now you can pick two players with one command. The second nick is optional.
  • !won / !lost / !lock commands do not need the gameID parameter anymore, it's now optional. This means that both !won and !won 1234 works.
  • Lots of bugfixes.
Web changes
  • A new column - winning streak.

Aug 18, 2007

- Strom

I wrote some explanations about our current two rating systems.