Quake 4 Multiplayer Information
This thread is meant to help beginners get the most out of Quake 4, mainly the multiplayer aspect. It's an unofficial guide, detailing everything from features to tactics. If theres anything that needs to be added, clarified, or changed, post a thread, and we'll add it.
Most of the content is new, but some information that still pertains from Q3 to Q4.
Table of Contents
-Console
-Config Files
-Chat
-Voice Chat
-Friends List
-Health and Armor
-Weapons
-Gauntlet
-Machinegun
-Shotgun
-Grenade Launcher
-Hyperblaster
-Nailgun
-Rocket Launcher
-Railgun
-Customizing Quake 4
-Colored Names
-Rail Trail
-Crosshair Color
-Crosshair Size
-Mouse Settings
-Field Of View
-Adjusting Brightness
-The Lagometer
-Frames Per Second
-Taking Screenshots
-Recording Demo's
-Punkbuster
-Stats and Scoreboard
-Awards
-Gametypes
-Deathmatch
-Tournament
-Team Deathmatch
-Capture The Flag
-Arena Capture The Flag
-Movement and Trick Jumps
-Strafe Jumping
-Ramp Jumping
-Rocket Jumping
-Wall Climbing
-General Gameplay Tips
-Installing Maps, Skins, and Models
-Installing Mods
-Terms
-Quake 4 Related Links
-Patches, and Official Files
-Quake 4 Sites
Console
The console is a command line type interface, a bit like DOS, its not DOS, its a custom command interface written by id software. The console can be used to change variables of the game or to enter commands. Every single thing that has a value one way or another can be changed through the console. The console contents can be scrolled up and down with the PAGEUP and PAGEDOWN keys. Commands you typed previously can be accessed with CURSOR_UP and CURSOR_DOWN keys.CURSOR_LEFT and CURSOR_RIGHT let you go back along the string you typed and edit wrong bits. The console supports TAB COMPLETION, if you type part of a command then press TAB key the game will fill in the rest of the command. Note: if there is more than 1 possible match, all of the possibilities are displayed. To pull down the console, press "crtl + alt + ~". If you want to make it so you can pull down the console by just pressing ~, put com_allowconsole 1 in your autoexec.cfg, or add +com_allowconsole 1 to your q4 shortcut.
*Config Files
Config files (marked *.cfg) are textfiles that contain settings, scripts and binds for Q4 (see topics on the console, scripts and binding keys for more info). The one config file everyone has is q4config.cfg, located in the baseq4 folder inside your Quake 4 folder, and in every mod folder. The q4config.cfg files contain all the settings and variables for Q4 and/or a particular mod. It is not recommended to edit these files manually, but you can safely look at them using a textfile viewer which supports Unicode Text Files (if you open up the q4config.cfg file in Notepad you'll notice all carriage returns have disappeared. I recommend to use WordPad instead).
q4config.cfg- The file that contains all of your quake4 settings.
autoexec.cfg- This file is not created by Q4, you can make it yourself. What it does is automatically loads any settings located in this file when q4 starts up.
Configs can be saved and loaded at any time. When in the game, pull down the console and type 'writeconfig anynamehere.cfg'. This command creates a config file out of your current settings, and saves it as 'anynamehere.cfg'. To load a config, type 'exec anynamehere.cfg'. This is useful if multiple people play your game and have different control settings, or if you want different configs for multiplayer and singleplayer. If you have different graphics settings per config, you might have to type vid_restart in the console after exec'ing your config.
*Chat
say
sayteam
'say' chats to everybody, and 'sayteam' chats to only your team. You can bind chat macros via the console and your config. For example, typing bind q "sayteam 'RALLY AT THE RED ARMOR'" will tell your team to "RALLY AT THE RED ARMOR" every time you hit the "q" key.
*Voice chat
In addition to the standard text chat, Quake 4 also includes a voice communication system. You can mute and unmute players by hitting escape, clicking 'Players', and clicking 'Mute Player' from the menu. To disable it, type s_voiceChat "0" in the console.
*Friends List
If you have a few buddies who you frequently frag with, you can add them to your friends list to easily find what server they're on, and join them at the push of a button. To add a player to your friends list, you must be on the same server as them. Press escape, click 'Players', and click 'Add Friend' on the menu.
*Health and Armor
There are 3 types of armor. Large (red) = 100, Small (yellow) = 50, and armor shards = 5. Armor always absorbs 2/3 of the damage you take. If you don't have enough armor, the rest of the damage will go to your health.
*Weapons
If you are familiar with Quake 3's weapons, Quake 4 will make you feel right at home. Basically all of Quake 3's weapons return with the addition of the nailgun. The damage, rate of fire, and speed from Quake 3's arsenal remains exactly the same. Some weapons can also be fired through teleporters. Note that the Blaster is not available in multiplayer, and the Gauntlet is not available in singleplayer. Weapon modifications are also not available in multiplayer.
Gauntlet
A last resort weapon, or a way to humiliate your opponent. A saw that can only be used when you're up close and personal.
Machinegun
Your starting weapon. This is best used to finish your opponent off. It also has a semi automatic zoom function that deals a little bit more damage. In tourney/DM the machinegun deals 7 damage a bullet, and 10 when zoomed. In teamplay modes it does 5 damage a bullet, and 7 when zoomed.
Shotgun
The best weapon in close combat. The more range, the larger the spread of the bullets.
Grenade Launcher
Used to spam hallways, and root out opponents. Excellent if you are being chased and are running away in tight hallways. Grenades can be bounced off acceleration pads, and bounce pads, making them a bit more effective than in past quakes. A direct hit with a grenade will result in 100 damage.
Hyperblaster
Much like the q3 plasmagun. The best strategy is to aim for direct hits. Also can be used to blanket an area fairly quickly. 1 hyberblaster hit does 14 damage.
Nailgun
A rapid fire weapon, with a slight spin up time. Since this weapon deals a large amount of splash damage, and has a slower rate of fire, a good strategy is to aim at your opponents feet and kill them with the splash damage. A direct nail will deal 30 damage.
Rocket Launcher
Rockets are excellent in medium, to close range. The best strategy is to aim at the feet and kill your opponent with splash damage. If you're trying to avoid rockets, keep your feet off the ground. 1 direct rocket does 100 damage.
Lightning gun
Used in medium to close combat, this weapon has a limited range, and deals a stream of damage. If you can hold it on your opponent, you're golden. The best strategy to avoid it is to make jerky movements from side to side, and try to get behind corners and other obstacles.
Railgun
An instant hit weapon with a zoom function. Best used in long, to medium range. Its long recharge time makes it ineffective in close combat compared to some other weapons. Note that this weapon makes a slight buzzing sound, and can give your position away. The best way to avoid rails is to make unpredictable strafing patterns, and to stay out of the air. If your opponent has the rail, keep off bounce pads. 1 rail inflicts 100 damage.
Dark Matter Gun
Q4's super weapon. Fires slow balls of energy that have a large splash damage radius on impact. Best used to fire into a group of unsuspecting opponents. Fires too slow for long range, and the splash damage is too large for close range.
Continua...
