@Jip yea, as said i'm by no means a programmer, just a modder - i just modify code, thus learnt to understand it a bit and the overall way how things work - but that's it, i only can invision a way it could work, not write it on my own, else i would do. (well, assuming i have the freetime... - and more available than the SteamDeck and my Notebook atm xP (to code AND test - Linux is good enough for day2day IRL Tasks, but not really modding friendly, given most tools are Windoof only -.-#))
Well, my proposal asumes you can detect, and delay the execution of said signals, trough some AND logic checks, and print their receiving in chat - NOT mess with how they are send!
But i respect your expertise in this.
This tread is a Testiment about how Stubborn and Ignorant players are, else it wouldn't be that much of a Problem that it asks for some sort of treatment or solution.
But they are indeed mostly that way because they want to play and can't wait for a few Minutes on their own xP - but the kind of player that would abuse a Pause with delay to take advantage from or just to annoy everyone else, currently has no power to do so, so we will only get to know them when they have that Power! (trough a delay/minimum Timeout time)
Maybe it's near to no Problem at all, only time&experience can tell.
Well, about the forced duration of the Timeout/Pause - 10-30s is to few and wouldn't prevent Pause wars, just delay them.
IF the player that initiated the Pause can in fact unpause immediatly and thus mistakes are no issue, i think 2-4min Pause is a good lower target - i personally would vouch for 3min, despite i definitively need longer to answer the doorbell and take&sign a large package - and if you have kids, you know there are things you can't resolve in 3min eighter, but ofc you can't expect ppl to wait much longer than 2-4min - despite pretty much everyone having a smartphone or other device nowadays, you could easily distract yourself for 3-5min! - or do something reasonable and do some sports exercises in the meantime or brew a Tea/Coffee
And ofc the Person that innitiated can just unpause when being back again. (wich is the much bigger issue with this IMHO! - tho, ofc only when other players use that timeout to do other things afk too!)
But if the Player that innitiated the Pause is also affected by the delay (to unpause again), then that figure drops down to 1-3min IMHO - 2min being the best compromise, giving enough time for most tasks you might need to use a Pause for, while not forcing an unreasonable timeout.
I challenge everyone to simulate and measure how much time it would take them to answer the doorbell, get dressed up (like in summer when it's how or in winter when it's cold) and take a package, including signage, and getting back to & rdy at the PC!