Questions we get asked regularly. We will add to this list as time goes on.
I’m having an issue. Where do I start?
Before you go any further, pull down the latest (final) image and re-flash your SD Card (if you have not done this recently). This will ensure you are not using an old, outdated version of the project. Then read on…
How do I switch to Capture The Flag mode?
This and many other options can be accessed via what we call the Web API. Simply take the IP address being output by your Raspberry Pi (see Instructions) and whack it into your browser address bar. Here you will find all sorts of things you can control remotely on your game server. You will also need the appropriate client files to play CTF for both Quake (here) and Quake 2 (here). Files should be in a sub-directory of a modern client and that directory should be named “ctf”. Depending on your engine, you may need to adjust how you launch the game. There is currently no bot support for Capture The Flag in Quake or Quake 2.
How do I play Deathmatch bots in QuakeWorld?
Bots in Quake/QuakeWorld are actually mostly client-side, rather than server-side… so you don’t actually need Quake On LAN to play bots. Simply grab the latest nQuake installer and when launched, type bots at the console to see instructions regarding botmatches. However there IS a bot included in the image that (kinda) works and will suffice for a practice game. Again, we refer you to the Web API (particularly
/quake/bots). See further down for making changes to how botmatches work.
How do I play Quake 2? I seem to have missing textures and stuff!
There is a nQuake2 installer similar to nQuake which will get most people up and running. An alternative installer can be found here, which uses a different game engine. Both install the demo content of the game, which should be sufficient to play standard deathmatch games. For other modes we recommend you use a modern client (Q2PRO, Yamagi Quake II, etc) that can pull content (maps, textures, etc) from the web server, but you may find you still need to have the FULL retail version of the game for a complete experience.
Custom maps take forever to load in Quake 2 Deathmatch & Duel Mode. Why is this?
See above. You need to have a modern client that supports the
sv_downloadservervariable in order to download content from the web server over HTTP (you also need an internet connection). Without this, your client will use UDP, which is incredibly slow.
How do I play Deathmatch bots in Quake 2?
Bots for Quake 2 are only available in the most recent images and are running on port 27920 by default. Instructions on how to connect and play can be found at
/quake2/bots. If this is not working for you, download the latest image file and flash your card again, as per the instructions.
I want to play Rocket Arena in Quake 2…
Rocket Arena mode, based on OpenRA2, is a fairly new addition to our image, so make sure you have the latest version. To play, you will need to have all the files from the original “Rocket Arena” mod (found on the “Extremities” Windows-only CD and archived here for Linux/Mac users – in either case, read the README file carefully) plus use a modern client that supports the
sv_downloadservervariable – Q2PRO for example. However, note that this once popular mod is not for n00bs – before you begin to play you should also check out some of the original client instructions here and here, then adapt what you read for the current scenario. Advanced information about configuring the server can be found here. You may need to SSH to your Raspberry Pi to change the default server settings. Files are found in the/usr/local/games/quake2/arenadirectory. We are not the support for using this mod, so good luck!
Can I make changes to gameplay?
Of course! Quake On LAN is completely open and you are free to change anything you want. You just need to SSH to the Raspberry Pi (default username/password login of pi/raspberry) and edit the appropriate configuration file. For example, let’s say you wanted to disable “weapons stay” in QuakeWorld botmatches for some reason. You would use a command like
nano /usr/local/games/quake/bots/quickstart.cfgto edit the config file. Change “deathmatch” from 1 to 3. Save the file and restart the server via the Web API. Done!
I have a Raspberry Pi Zero. Can I still use Quake On LAN?
Yes, we have you covered, but you need to use a different image and do things a little differently. See here for full instructions.
I don’t have a Raspberry Pi at all. Can I still use Quake On LAN?
No. But the good news is they are quite inexpensive and you can keep different projects on different cards. You should really get one!
