diff --git a/mapchooser_extended/scripting/mapchooser_extended_avg_mapend.sp b/mapchooser_extended/scripting/mapchooser_extended_avg_mapend.sp
index 8d3727a9..d180bf43 100755
--- a/mapchooser_extended/scripting/mapchooser_extended_avg_mapend.sp
+++ b/mapchooser_extended/scripting/mapchooser_extended_avg_mapend.sp
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ bool g_DidRoundTerminate = false;
 bool g_IniatedLastVote = false;
 int g_mapFileSerial = -1;
 int g_iPlayerCount_excludeSpec;
+int g_iMapsFromCasualPool;
 int g_iPlayerAFKTime;
 
 
@@ -294,6 +295,11 @@ public void OnPluginStart()
     g_Cvar_VoteDuration = CreateConVar("mce_voteduration", "20", "Specifies how long the mapvote should be available for.", _, true, 5.0);
 
 
+    ConVar cvar2;
+    HookConVarChange((cvar2 = CreateConVar("mce_randomized_maps_from_casual_pool", "2", "f we have space left over for randomized maps at the mapvote. how many should be prioritized from the casual pool?")), Cvar_mapsFromCasualPool);
+    g_iMapsFromCasualPool = cvar2.IntValue;
+    delete cvar2;
+
     ConVar cvar1;
     HookConVarChange((cvar1 = CreateConVar("sm_active_players_required", "15", "Amount of players required to be considered active before any restrictions are enabled at all.")), Cvar_playerExcludeSpec);
     g_iPlayerCount_excludeSpec = cvar1.IntValue;
@@ -436,6 +442,11 @@ public void OnPluginStart()
     ServerCommand("sm_cvar mp_chattime %i", total_time); //prevents map switching supposedly.
 }
 
+public void Cvar_mapsFromCasualPool(ConVar convar, const char[] oldValue, const char[] newValue)
+{
+    g_iMapsFromCasualPool = convar.IntValue;
+}
+
 public void Cvar_playerExcludeSpec(ConVar convar, const char[] oldValue, const char[] newValue)
 {
     g_iPlayerCount_excludeSpec = convar.IntValue;
@@ -1015,13 +1026,8 @@ public Action CS_OnTerminateRound(float &delay, CSRoundEndReason &reason)
 
 public Action unfreeze_players(Handle hTimer, Handle dp)
 {
-    char map[64];
-    GetCurrentMap(map, PLATFORM_MAX_PATH);
-    if (StrContains(map, "ze_", false) != -1)
-    {
-        ServerCommand("sm_testround"); 
-        CreateTimer(1.0, unfreeze_players2, INVALID_HANDLE, TIMER_FLAG_NO_MAPCHANGE);
-    }
+    ServerCommand("sm_testround"); 
+    CreateTimer(1.0, unfreeze_players2, INVALID_HANDLE, TIMER_FLAG_NO_MAPCHANGE);
     return Plugin_Handled;
 }
 
@@ -2156,14 +2162,29 @@ void CreateNextVote()
     }
 
     // find random maps which honor all restrictions
+    int pickedFromCasualPool = 0;
     for(int i = 0; i < limit; i++)
     {
-        int b;
+        int b; 
         for(int j = 0; j < 1000; j++)
         {
             b = GetRandomInt(0, GetArraySize(tempMaps) - 1);
             GetArrayString(tempMaps, b, map, PLATFORM_MAX_PATH);
 
+            //if we abandon the feature again its important to just set mce_randomized_maps_from_casual_pool to 0.
+            if (pickedFromCasualPool < g_iMapsFromCasualPool)
+            {
+                if (!InternalGetCasualPool(map))
+                {
+                    continue;
+                }
+                //requested by keen in september 2024 that we have a pool that is prioritized when taking random maps. 
+                //it might be considered micro management which would indeed be bad. i guess this is mostly about pleasing a regular players request
+                //which does not seem too outlandish to make possible.
+                pickedFromCasualPool++;
+                break;
+            }
+
             if(!InternalAreRestrictionsActive(false))
                 break;
 
@@ -3307,6 +3328,18 @@ stock int FindIntInArray(int[] array, int size, int value)
 	return -1;
 }
 
+stock bool InternalGetCasualPool(const char[] map)
+{
+    int CasualPool = 0;
+	if(g_Config && g_Config.JumpToKey(map))
+	{
+		CasualPool = g_Config.GetNum("CasualPool", CasualPool);
+		g_Config.Rewind();
+	}
+
+	return view_as<bool>(CasualPool);
+}
+
 stock bool InternalGetMapVIPRestriction(const char[] map)
 {
 	int VIP = 0;