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Basics of setting up a Daikatana server

By Dekonega and 2 collaborators

This guide describes how to configure a functional dedicated server for the Daikatana. Please note that this is not a universal guide to opening up ports in routers, configuring NAT to redirect outside traffic into specific IP and ports inside your LAN, or how to configure Windows Firewall to allow inbound and outbound traffic. Seek information about e.g. opening ports in router from the router manufacturer's documentation from their website. Microsoft's support will help you with configuring the Windows Firewall to allow traffic from required ports into your computer and away from your computer.

This guide targets people running Microsoft Windows so for example paths and command-line commands are Windows specific. However the information in this guide mostly works for the GNU/Linux users as well as for the OS X and FreeBSD users. In future there might be also instructions on how to run Daikatana as a service on UNIX-like systems.

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Created by

DI-MeisterM
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Dekonega
Offline

[HCI]Mara'akate
Online

Category: Co-op, Game Modes, Gameplay Basics, Maps or Levels, Modding or Configuration, Multiplayer

Languages: English

Posted

Updated

15 Mar, 2015 @ 1:48pm

28 Jan, 2017 @ 3:40am

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Guide Index

Overview

Creating a server configuration file

Writing contents of the server configuration file

Example server configuration file

Required ports and port redirection

Launching a dedicated server

Controlling the dedicated server

Available maps

Weapon control

Comments

Creating a server configuration file

First thing you should do is to create your own server configuration file. Open the "data" folder which is located inside your Daikatana folder. By default Steam users will find that folder from:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Daikatana\data\

Next step is to create a new empty text file that ends with the file extension .cfg. For example myserver.cfg which I'll be using in this guide as an example. Open it with your favourite text editor like Vim or Notepad.

Daikatana community has also created few predefined server configuration files you can use and customise for your needs if you want quickly start your own server. You can download them from here[www.daikatananews.net].

The configuration files that are included with the package will need to be customised before they can be used. For example .cfg-files have to be placed inside the data folder, and then the shortcuts which come with the package need to be pointed to location of your Daikatana installation.

Writing contents of the server configuration file

There's lots of stuff you can write into the server configuration file. These are just some of the basic CVARs you can set values for. If you don't set value for a CVAR Daikatana will use predefined default value for that CVAR. Daikatana follows the basic Quake 2 configuration file format.

Command

Example

Type

Description

//This is a Comment

String

Write a comment into the server configuration file.

hostname

set hostname "My Server"

String

Set public server name that appears in any game browser (e.g. QTracker) listing.

public

set public "1"

Boolean

Enabling public will make your server visible in public server listing on master server allowing people to join even if they don't know your IP address. If you set this to 0 people can still join to your server if they know your IP, but the server will not be visible in game browsers (e.g. QTracker).

motd

set motd "Message of the Day"

String

Message people will see every time they connect to a server.

maxclients

set maxclients "8"

integer

Define maximum number of players that can join to the server. It's not recommended that this value is higher than 32 players.

timelimit

set timelimit "30"

Integer

Define how many minutes it takes before server switches to next map automatically if the defined frag limit is not met or defined.

dm_use_skill_system

set dm_use_skill_system "1"

Boolean

Enable or disable the skill point system for the players on deathmatch server.

dm_weapons_stay

set dm_weapons_stay "1"

Boolean

When dm_weapon_stay is disabled weapons, when picked up, will disappear and after a short period of time spawn.

dm_fast_switch

set dm_fast_switch "1"

Boolean

Skips weapon switching animations and allows players to switch between weapons instantly during a multi-player match.

dm_falling_damage

set dm_falling_damage "1"

Boolean

You can choose whenever or not players take damage when they fall from a high place and hit the ground.

dm_same_map

set dm_same_map "0"

Boolean

This instructs server to ignore the map rotation and run only one map indefinitely.

dm_force_respawn

set dm_force_respawn "1"

Boolean

Do you want to force players to respawn instantly after they've been fragged? If this switch is disabled players have to push fire once before they will respawn.

dm_spawn_farthest

set dm_spawn_farthest "1"

Boolean

If this is enabled the game will try to respawn players as far from other players as possible.

dm_weap_noallow

set dm_weap_noallow "46"

Integer

Control which weapons will not appear in the maps. See "Weapon Control" chapter of this guide for more information.

rcon_password

set rcon_password "CorrectHorseBatteryStaple"

String

This is used to define the password that allows controlling the server from the client-side console while connected to the server.

maps_dm

set maps_dm "e1dm1a e1dm2a e3dm1 e4dm1"

String

Define the server map rotation queue. See "Available Maps" chapter of this guide for more information.

map

set map "e1dm2a"

String

Controls which map will be loaded first when your server starts. This should be very last command in your myserver.cfg. For the available maps see the "Available Maps" chapter of this guide.

sv_idlekick

set sv_idlekick "300"

Integer

This setting controls how many seconds pass before server will kick an idle player. Default setting is 300 seconds (5 minutes). Set this to 0 if you don't want server to ever kick anyone for idling on a server.

Example server configuration file

If you've been following the guide you should now have your own myserver.cfg configuration file that resembles something like this:

set hostname "My Daikatana Server Config" set public 1 set motd "Welcome to Daikatana" set deathmatch 1 set p_spamcount 10000000 set p_spamresetticks 3 set p_spamticks 2 set p_spamkick 0 set skill 1 set maxclients 20 set fraglimit 30 set timelimit 15 set dm_fast_switch 1 set dm_footsteps 1 set dm_shotshells 1 set dm_levellimit 0 set dm_instagib 0 set dm_weapons_stay 1 set dm_item_respawn 1 set dm_spawn_farthest 1 set dm_allow_exiting 1 set dm_same_map 0 set dm_force_respawn 0 set dm_falling_damage 0 set dm_allow_powerups 1 set dm_allow_health 1 set dm_allow_armor 1 set dm_weap_noallow 0 set dm_unlimited_ammo 0 set p_gravity 750 // rcon_password "ChangeThis" set maps_dm "e1dm1a e2dm4 e3dm1 e4dm1 e1dm2a e2dm1 e3dm4 e1dm3 e3dm5" map e1dm1a

Required ports and port redirection

By default Daikatana uses ports 27992 (both TCP and UDP traffic) and 27982 (UDP traffic only). While you can use any port you want with the Daikatana you have to remember that no matter what port you pick you'll also have to port that's 10 numbers lower than the port you picked.

For example if you open e.g. port 27999 for TCP and UDP traffic you also have to open port 27989 for UDP traffic. When launching server you can use +set port [integer] (e.g. +set port 27999) as a launch parameter to define the port server will use.

Launching a dedicated server

To launch a dedicated server you use the following parameters:

Parameter

Description

-dedicated

Will start the game in dedicated server mode instead of the graphical client. You will see a special command prompt where you can type commands for the server e.g. change map the server is currently running. You'll also be able to monitor what happens on the server.

-public

Will make the publicly visible in master servers. Gamers will be able to join the server through the use of QTracker or other game browsers.

+exec myserver.cfg

Sets the server configuration file that will be executed when server is launched.

+set port 27992

Will set the default port server will listen for connections. For more information about the required ports read "Required ports and port redirection" chapter of this guide.

Open up a Command Prompt (cmd.exe). Then go to the Daikatana's folder with e.g. (Windows users)

cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\Daikatana\"

daikatana.exe -dedicated -public +exec myserver.cfg +set port 27992

If you've installed the community patch 1.3 you could also launch pure dedicated server which has been stripped of the client code.

dk_ded.exe -dedicated -public +exec myserver.cfg +set port 27992

If you want you can create a new shortcut into the daikatana.exe (or to dk_ded.exe if you've installed community patch 1.3). If you do not define the port then the default port of 27992 will be used. In this guide the port has been set for the sake of an example.

If you want you could also make a Windows batch file like e.g. "launch_server.bat" and copy-paste following to its contents:

@ECHO OFF START dk_ded.exe -dedicated -public +exec myserver.cfg +set port 27992 EXIT

Controlling the dedicated server

In the dedicated server command prompt you have variety of commands you can use to adjust the server while its running.

Command

Example

Description

say

say Hi!

Issues chat messages to players on the server.

status

Displays information about the server. It'll show names of players who are currently connected to your server, their player IDs, latencies, IP addresses, and scores. Will also show name of the map they're currently playing in.

kick

kick "0"

Use kick command to kick player from the server. Use status command to find the player's userid you can to kick and then use the command like in the example.

gamemap

gamemap "e1dm1"

Switches the map that server is currently running into something else.

changelevel

changelevel "e1dm1"

Switches the map that server is currently running into something else without reinitializing the DLLs. It's useful when you have changed server's CVARs which require map restart to take an effect but you don't want them to become active when map changes.

Available maps

You'll make a map rotation list using "maps_dm", "maps_ctf, and "maps_deathtag" commands. For example writing following to the server configuration file will rotate thought several fairly popular deathmatch maps:

set maps_dm "e1dm1a e2dm4 e3dm1 e4dm1 e1dm2a e2dm1 e3dm4 e1dm3 e3dm5"

This is a list of most of the available maps that ship with the Daikatana out of the box, and some that come with the patch 1.3. Most of these maps have been intended for 8 to 16 players. There are few smaller ones like e.g. e1dm2a and e1dt1 which suit for small 4 player matches without issues. There are also few maps which are intended for large 32 player matches.

Image

Style

Episode

Name

e1dm1

Deathmatch

Gibbler on the Roof

e1dm1a

Deathmatch

Gibbler (Original)

e1dm2

Deathmatch

Storm Sector 7

e1dm2a

Deathmatch

Storm Sector 7 (Original)

e1m1b

Deathmatch

Marsh Part Deux

e1m3b

Deathmatch

Solitary Beatings

e1dm3

Deathmatch

Medieval Future

q1dm3

Deathmatch

Abandoned Base

e2dm1

Deathmatch

Trials of Olympus

e2dm2

Deathmatch

Decay of Heroes

e2m2a

Deathmatch

Catacomb Carnage

e2dm3

Deathmatch

Acropolis Arena

e2dm4

Deathmatch

Gladiator

e2dm5

Deathmatch

Circe of Death

e2dm6

Deathmatch

Wrath of Ares

e3dm1

Deathmatch

Wizard's Roost

e3dm2

Deathmatch

Shallow Grave

e3m1c

Deathmatch

Plague Poundings

e3dm3

Deathmatch

Forsaken Outpost

e3dm4

Deathmatch

Hellkeep

e3dm5

Deathmatch

Bloodkeep

e4dm1

Deathmatch

The Dojo

e4dm2

Deathmatch

Hard Lesson

e4m5a

Deathmatch

Hideout

slicedm1

Deathmatch

Slice N' Dice

e1ctf1

Capture the Flag

CTF Gibbler

e2ctf1

Capture the Flag

Intolerance

e2ctf2

Capture the Flag

Olympus CTF

e3ctf1

Capture the Flag

The Place

e3ctf2

Capture the Flag

The Outlands

e4ctf1

Capture the Flag

Mirror Image

e1dt1

Deathtag

Hellish Havens

Weapon control

You can disable weapons you don't want to be used in Daikatana. This is done through dm_weap_noallow [integer] command. The integer values for the weapons are listed here based on the information originally provided by DI-smover.

You add the sum of weapons you don't want to include into the match. For example if you don't want that people will use Shockwave, Eye of Zeus, Nharre's Nightmare, and Metamasers in the multi-player matches on your server you'd do following calculation:

32 + 2048 + 131072 + 8388608 = 8521760

And then add set dm_weap_noallow "8521760" into your server configuration file. If you want you can disable all the weapons except e.g. rocket launcher in E1 maps. If you don't allow any of the weapons for E2, E3, and E4 then players will only have Daikatana as their weapon in the multi-player maps that have been placed into those episodes.

Episode

Weapon

Integer Value

Episode 1

Ion Blaster

Episode 1

C4 Launcher

Episode 1

Shotcycler

Episode 1

Sidewinder

Episode 1

Shockwave

Episode 2

Discus

Episode 2

Venomous

128

Episode 2

Flare

256

Episode 2

Hammer of Hades

512

Episode 2

Poseidon's Triden

1024

Episode 2

Eye of Zeus

2048

Episode 3

Bolter

8192

Episode 3

Staff of Travos

16384

Episode 3

Ballista

32768

Episode 3

Wisp

65536

Episode 3

Nharre's Nightmare

131072

Episode 4

Glock 2020

262144

Episode 4

Slugger

524288

Episode 4

Kineticore

1048576

Episode 4

Ripgun

2097152

Episode 4

Novabeam

4194304

Episode 4

Metamaser

8388608

9 Comments

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OldDog 19 Apr, 2021 @ 12:43pm

Hey, you should add this to your server cfg if you want people to see it on qtracker
//
setmaster 65.112.87.186
map e1dm1a
//

You can add any other Master server like this

//
setmaster 65.112.87.186 master.gamespy.com master.q2servers.com etc
//
It has to be in the config before the map command otherwise it wont work.

[HCI]Mara'akate [author] 18 Jun, 2016 @ 11:25am

BananaJane: sv_idlekick 0. However, the default timeout is 5 minutes, not 30 seconds.

BananaJane 22 Sep, 2015 @ 8:11pm

Is there a command to stop my own server for kicking me for being idle for 30 seconds?

Dekonega [author] 10 Sep, 2015 @ 3:08am

What do you mean by "using DOS"? The game doesn't run in DOS and you definitely don't use DOS to write a config. If you're refering to Windows command prompt then you don't need to use it per se but it would make stuff much easier to do.

If you'd prefer to not write your own server config you could use the in-game "create game" menu to create a listen server instead of dedicated server. That allows you to just tick some boxes and make a game that way.

But even if you did a listen server you need to open ports in your firewall(s) and forward the access to outside network if you're behind NAT. And that's the difficult part for the most people even though it's fairly simple thing to do.

BananaJane 9 Sep, 2015 @ 7:40pm

Is there any way to do this without using DOS? I don't know how to use it

Lejionator 26 Aug, 2015 @ 11:09am

Very great!! Thanks, I need this! :)

Daikatan 16 Mar, 2015 @ 3:49am

You can avoid it's attack by timing jump, right?

DI-MeisterM [author] 15 Mar, 2015 @ 2:30pm

Nah the Hammer is fun and you need skill to use it :)
Gonna read the guide tomorrow...

PikaCommando 15 Mar, 2015 @ 2:23pm

Nice! To everyone who's reading this, please disable the Hammer of Hades from your servers immediately. Seriously, fuck that hammer.

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