# HostForTheSquad

Small **game-server hosting directory** for friend groups. Brand: HostForTheSquad. Owner: Dark Matter (NZ).

Not a fake “#1 Minecraft host” blog. Pages are organized by **job** (this game, squad size, mods, Oceania ping).

Site lives on the box at `/workspace/hostforthesquad/`. Static HTML/CSS + light filter JS. **No domain registered. No money spent.**

## Preview locally

```bash
cd /workspace/hostforthesquad
python3 -m http.server 8766
# open http://127.0.0.1:8766/
```

Or: `make serve` (port **8766** so it does not clash with QuietWatt on 8765).

- Hub: http://127.0.0.1:8766/
- Night 1 Minecraft small group: http://127.0.0.1:8766/pages/minecraft-small-group.html
- Night 2 Valheim modded vs vanilla: http://127.0.0.1:8766/pages/valheim-modded-vs-vanilla.html
- Night 3 Palworld friend server: http://127.0.0.1:8766/pages/palworld-friend-server.html
- Night 4 Rust friend wipe: http://127.0.0.1:8766/pages/rust-friend-server.html
- Night 5 Oceania ping: http://127.0.0.1:8766/pages/oceania-ping.html
- Night 6 Mods & plugins: http://127.0.0.1:8766/pages/mods-plugins.html
- Night 7 Budget under $20: http://127.0.0.1:8766/pages/budget-under-20.html

## Layout

```
/workspace/hostforthesquad/
  index.html                      # hub — nights 1–7 pipeline
  css/style.css                   # dark slate + teal (distinct from QuietWatt)
  pages/
    minecraft-small-group.html    # Night 1 LIVE
    valheim-modded-vs-vanilla.html # Night 2 LIVE
    palworld-friend-server.html     # Night 3 LIVE
    rust-friend-server.html         # Night 4 LIVE
    oceania-ping.html               # Night 5 LIVE
    mods-plugins.html               # Night 6 LIVE
    budget-under-20.html            # Night 7 LIVE
  scripts/publish.sh              # local sanity check
  Makefile
  README.md
  affiliates.md                   # program tracker + CTA placeholders
```

## Nightly pipeline

| Night | Page | Status |
|------:|------|--------|
| 1 | Minecraft — small friend group (2026) | **Live** |
| 2 | Valheim dedicated — modded vs vanilla | **Live** |
| 3 | Palworld friend server (Oceania ping) | **Live** |
| 4 | Rust friend wipe (Oxide / Oceania) | **Live** |
| 5 | Best hosting AU & NZ (Oceania ping) | **Live** |
| 6 | Mods & plugins by host (MC/Valheim/Palworld/Rust) | **Live** |
| 7 | Budget under ~$20/mo (MC/Valheim/Palworld/Rust) | **Live** |

## Affiliate CTA placeholders

On Night 1, CTAs use element ids (swap `href` when approved):

| Id | Host |
|----|------|
| `#aff-shockbyte` | Shockbyte |
| `#aff-apex` | Apex Hosting |
| `#aff-bisect` | BisectHosting |
| `#aff-gameteam` | GameTeam |
| `#aff-nodecraft` | Nodecraft |
| `#aff-pebblehost` | PebbleHost |

Documented again in `affiliates.md`. FTC-style affiliate disclosure is in the hub footer and on every page.

## Domain ideas (do NOT register until Dark Matter pays)

- **HostForTheSquad.com** (preferred)
- GameServerPick.com
- PingAndPlay.com

Same hold as QuietWatt / getquietwatt.com — no spend until payment lands.

## Quality rules

- Research live official pricing/specs — never invent RAM, regions, or prices.
- Recurring monthly USD called out separately from first-month promos.
- Oceania / AU–NZ called out when the host lists it; note stock caveats (e.g. Bisect Sydney).
- No fake #1 badges.
- QuietWatt continues in parallel at `/workspace/quietwatt/` — do not merge folders.

## Publish check

```bash
make check
# or: bash /workspace/hostforthesquad/scripts/publish.sh
```