Ini files are used in AO to alter the game in various ways. There are two located in the root of the base/ folder, while the rest are associated with themes.
AO allows you to view a server without picking a character; simply click the "Spectator" button at the bottom of the charselect screen. However, when you have already picked a character, you will need to type /switch (serverD) or /charselect (tsuserver) for the spectator button to appear on the charselect.
Specifies how often a "blip" is played. 1 corresponds to 1 blip for every character and 2 makes it blip every two characters and so forth. Generally, higher blip_rate = rarer blips.
The server will not work out of the box. You must follow these instructions.
For servers that are intended to run for an extended period of time, Linux is recommended. Linux distros have a significantly more consistent and sane environment compared to Windows and macOS.
This server is licensed under the AGPLv3 license. In short, if you use a modified version of tsuserver3, you must distribute its source licensed under the AGPLv3 as well, and notify your users where the modified source may be found. The main difference between the AGPL and the GPL is that for the AGPL, network use counts as distribution.