L33TWAR Game Information

2.1 Creating a New Game
2.2 Joining a Game
2.3 Choosing a Team

3.1 Objectives of the game
3.2 Controlling the Player
3.3 Team Bases
3.4 Powerups
3.5 Chatting
3.6 Miscellaneous

4.1 The Promode Concept
4.2 L33T WAR Promode
4.3 To Promode or Not?

5.1 Recording Replays
5.2 Viewing Replays

6.1 Loading AI
6.2 Adding Bots to The Game
6.3 Creating New Bots

2.1 Creating a New Game

To create a game you choose "Create Game" in the main menu. You will then be presented by a number of options:

Name - This is your name.
Server Port - This is the port that you wish to communicate through. The default port is 17888, but you can choose another if you wish. Remember that all connecting users must know which port you've chosen, so it's recommended to use the default one.
Map Name - This is the name of the map you wish to play. Enter the filename without the ".map" extension. NOTE: The players who joins the game DOESN'T need the map file (it is sent when the player connects).
Scorelimit - This is the number of captures a team requires to win the game. If you enter 0 the game will continue forever.
Record Replay - Check this box if you want the game to record a replay. Replays recorded by the server player are of the best quality possible.

Press "Create!" to start the server. You are now the "server player".

Note: If you need your IP number (so other people can join) there are a number of applications that will help you. One way is to start a DOS box and enter "ipconfig". You can also get your IP from mIRC (the chat client) by entering "/dns " (where is your IRC nick) in the Status window.

2.2 Joining a Game

To join a game started by another person you choose "Join Game" in the main menu. You will be asked for some information:

Name - This is your name.
Server IP - This is the internet id number of the server.
Server Port - This is the port that the server uses, default is 17888.
Packet Refresh - This is a setting that will control how often your computer will send packets to the server. The lower value the more packets that are sent. Usually a lower value is better because it keeps you updated a little more accurately, but it can also slow down the game for ALL players (since the server is flooded by more packets). The default value is 40 (about 25 packets per second), but if you want you can decrease this to as low as 10 (about 100 packets per second).
Record Replay - Check this box if you want the game to record a replay.

2.3 Choosing a Team

All players must choose a team before the game starts. The BLUE and RED teams are the ones that are fighting against each other, and the SPECTATOR team are players who doesn't want to fight themselves (they will only watch the action).

When all players are ready the server player can start the game by pressing the "Start Game" button. If a player attempts to join the game after it has started he or she will be placed in the spectator team.

When one of the teams reaches the scorelimit the game will be restarted and all players are asked to choose a new team.

Remember that you can chat with each other by pressing RETURN.

3.1 Objectives of the game

The objective of the game is to navigate yourself through a labyrinth of walls while shooting at your opponents, defending your base and attacking the enemy base. This is a team game, which means you must cooperate to be successful.

3.2 Controlling the Player

You move around the labyrinth by pressing the direction buttons. The UP button moves you forward, the DOWN button moves you backward and the LEFT and RIGHT buttons rotates your direction.

Press SPACE to fire your weapons.

Note: You can change your controls in the "Options" menu.

3.3 Team Bases

Each team has a BASE. You must prevent the other team from reaching your base and at the same time attempt to reach the enemy's base.

If you touch the enemy's base (ie the RED BASE if you are in the blue team, or the BLUE BASE if you are in the red team) you will "take" it. A small line will be drawn from you to where the base was located so everybody can see that you have taken the base.

When you have taken the opponent's base you must get back to your own base again and touch it. If you manage to touch your own base while holding the opponent's base you will CAPTURE it! The team that first makes enough captures to reach the scorelimit will win.

An important thing to remember is that you will not be able to capture the base if your own base also has been taken. In such a situation you must hope that your teammates will be able to get your base back before somebody kills _you_!

3.4 Powerups

Every now and then the server will create a powerup. The powerups look like flashing boxes and are picked up by touching them. Each powerup will improve your normal weapon to one of the following:

The SHOTGUN fires several small pellets in a wide arc. Very effective at long ranges.

The SPAMGUN has a very high rate of fire.

The PONG-GUN shoots bullets that bounce against the walls.

There is also a fourth powerup that doesn't improve your weapons but adds a protective SHIELD. The shield will prevent one bullet fired by your enemies and will make you completely indestructible against friendly fire.

3.5 Chatting

All players can chat with each other by pressing RETURN and entering a message (followed by another RETURN).

3.6 Miscellaneous

You can take screenshots by pressing F5.

The server player can restart the game by pressing F1.

4.1 The Promode Concept

Most games are created to please as many people as possible. This means that you often need to design games to be easy to learn and to even the playing field (ie giving everybody a chance to make points). Some people are very used to computer games and quickly learns how to make the most of them. These "hardcore gamers" like games where you can learn tricks and constantly improve your skills to become better at beating the rest.

Since many games are too simple or generalised to please this hardcore crowd, there has emerged something called "Promode". A Promode version of a game is a setting with less rules and more player control. Promode styles are often harder to learn, though, and require patience and dedication of those who wants to learn it.

The idea was created by a comment by John Carmack (id Software) about Quake 3: Arena, September 1999:

If there were a small set of professional rules that I agree with in theory but have chosen not to pursue because they conflict with more common play, then an official "pro mode" might make sense. Any other suggestions along those lines?

This comment was the seed that created the first "Promode" of a game. It was a modification (mod) for the very same game, Quake 3, called "Challenge Pro Mode". Please read more about CPM at

http://www.promode.org

4.2 L33T WAR Promode

The server player can choose to use the Promode rules by checking the "Use Promode Rules" in the team selection menu.

Using the Promode rules will change the way players are controlled. Left and right will move your player side-ways instead of turning the direcion. Turning is instead performed by moving your mouse left and right.

The mouse sensetivity can be changed in the options, but also by issuing a command in the message box (press RETURN to bring up the message box). The command uses the following syntax:

.sens [new sens]

If you don't assign a new sensetivity you will get a message that says what your current setting is.

4.3 To Promode or Not?

Promode is not for everybody. The game was intended to be played with Promode turned off: as a simple but fun game. But if you feel that the game is more about luck than skill I suggest that you try turning Promode on.

Promode in L33T WAR makes it possible for people to move faster than usual (by moving "diagonal" and holding both left or right and forward) and to turn around and aim faster than usual. The obvious advantage is:

- Promode replays are more interesting to watch.

... but the disadvantage is:

- L33T WAR with Promode style is harder to learn.

The choice is up to you.

A "replay" is a recorded demo of people playing the game.

5.1 Recording Replays

Recording is easy, just check the "Record Replay" box when you join or create a new game. A counter in the upper right corner will tell you how large the replay file currently is.

The replay will automatically be given a filename that starts with "replay", a number and then ".rep". Look at the file dates to see which replay that was recorded most recently.

If you have played a really cool game you can send it to me (and I'll place it on the internet for everybody to see). Rename the replay (so I don't get a whole lot of "replay00.rep"), place it in a zip-file and send it to jens@oblivion-games.com

5.2 Viewing Replays

Choose "View Replay" in the main menu to view a recorded replay. In the menu that follows you just enter the name of the replay (without the ".rep") and press "Start!".

You can fast-forward a replay by holding SPACE.

In large maps you can scroll around the view by pressing the direction keys.

6. Computer-Controlled Bots

7. Trouble-shooting