Starting Quake 3 Arena Server Using Config File

Question

I would like to know how I can accomplish the following:

• Start dedicated Quake 3 Server using a config file (rather than manually entering settings each time)
• Setup bots in the config file
• Setup teams in the config file (e.g. CTF game)

Can someone point me to an example of how I can do this? I've been searching and cannot find an example of how to add bots or teams to the config file.

Answer

There is a method for doing this on a listen server that GameSpy describes by creating a .cfg file, and then exec'ing that config file from the console in the full game. That article also has a sample .cfg that you can edit if you want different options than the ones they used.

Config files must be placed in baseq3, which is a subdirectory of the main Quake 3 install directory. There will likely be other .cfg files in here. You can name them however you want, you just have to remember that name when exec'ing them from the console.

The GameSpy tutorial uses console commands to add bots to the game, but I believe you could just as easily copy those console commands to a cfg file as well. If you want to get even fancier, you can run the Quake 3 .exe with command line options to automatically load your configuration at startup. (ie, quake3 +exec my_listen_server.cfg)

However, not all of these things may be fully supported in the "client" version of Quake 3. You may want to consider setting up a dedicated server console, even if you're just going to be connecting to it from the same machine. The dedicated server is designed more towards being scripted and automated, and using it might be a better choice if you're getting deep into config files and command line options. Whether or not it makes sense to invest the additional effort depends on what your final goal with the game is.

Check more discussion of this question.

How can I add bots to an Alien Swarm online game?

Question

How can I play Alien Swarm with only one friend and have the AI control the other two characters?

I find it very difficult to play with only 2 characters, and I'd like to fill the empty slots with AI.

I know it must be possible somehow.

EDIT: The accepted answer works, but the bots don't do anything more than firing (no healing, no welding, nothing). I have to control them to do anything more than just firing.

Does anybody know how to solve this?

Answer

To add a bot to your game: cl_selectm (marinenum) (slot)

To remove a bot from your game: cl_dselectm (marinenum)

(marinenum) should be between 0-7 and corresponds to the character to be added.

(slot) should be between 0-3 and relates to the player slot the bot will fill. -1 can also be used; this will fill the next available slot.

These commands must be used while in the lobby; using them anywhere else will result in invalid command errors.

Source/More information

Check more discussion of this question.

Is it possible to unlock more champions for bots in LoL custom games?

Question

Currently, when I create a custom game in League of Legends and add bots, I can only select the following champions : Annie, Sivir, Soraka, Nasus, Malphite, Shen, Master Yi.

Is there a way to unlock more champions in custom game mode ?

Answer

No, at the moment you can only use the ones you mentioned. The only thing you can do is choose wisely between them. RIOT really tries to encourage people to play against other people and not vs AI.

Check more discussion of this question.

Can I choose the lane on which bots go when playing a LoL custom game?

Question

When playing a League of Legends custom game, whatever the champions I may select in my team, I always end with :

• two bots going on the bottom lane
• one bot going on the middle lane
• one bot going on the top lane

Beside the complete lack of sense in some choices (Shen in middle lane is quite common), this forces me to play as a jungler or go on the top lane.

Is there a way to change the lane used by the bots, to allow me to practice playing in the middle lane for exemple (or play on the bottom lane with a support) ?

Answer

No you can't. It is a part of bot AI and they choose on their own where to go.

On the other side, you won't gain much by playing on your own against bots (except if you want to practise jungling - this way noone will touch you). You will only learn basics about the skill set of the champion you're playing and you will learn bot AI patterns which won't help you when you start playing against real players. You will have to apply different tactics against humans and learn when to activate champion skills based on how humans react. If you really want to play against bots, why not play Players vs. AI?

Check more discussion of this question.