RedTop's Config Armory - Explanation of RTCW basic server configuration settings

Config Armory - Basic server settings

Return to Castle Wolfenstein comes with a built in server. This allows you to host a game and have friends connect to your computer. The settings and options of a basic server are very limited.

You're better off using a mod to add some extra options and more control to hosting a server. RedTop uses the awesome OSP mod, even for hosting one on one shoot outs on his own computer. OSP provides a lot of options designed specifically for competitive play. Clanbase demands teams to install OSP when hosting a war server. In order to help you set up an OSP server Red has published a complete RTCW OSP server configuration pack on this website as well...

This page concentrates on basic server settings, simply because they are part of the game. Although RedTop recommends using a mod, even mod-extended servers use these basic settings. Learn how to use these. It will help you get on your way to configuring a kick-ass RTCW server.

Picture - Screenshot from the game Return to Castle Wolfenstein

index
autoexec.cfg
client.cfg
memory.cfg
graphics.cfg
adapter.cfg
basicserver.cfg
personal.cfg
superteam.cfg
demo.cfg
screenshot.cfg
fovtoggle.cfg
volume.cfg
osp.cfg
changelog

Set sv_, this configs the server.

seta sv_allowDownload "0"	If enabled people may download maps and skins in-game.
	People that connect to your server may not have all necessary files. Enable this if you want to allow them to get those missing files directly from your server.
seta sv_floodProtect "1"	If enabled this prevents people from flooding the server with chat messages of all sorts.
	Some people don't know when to shut up. This sets how many voice chats people may broadcast within a certain period before the server shuts them up forcefully.
seta sv_master2 ""	Sets second master server (where the game checks which servers are online).
	Masterservers provide information about ongoing games to the in-game server browsers. The servers in turn have to provide this information to the master servers. Id Software's master server address is already preprogrammed into the game, but this setting allows you to enter a second one.
seta sv_master3 ""	Sets third master server.
	And a third one...
seta sv_master4 ""	Sets fourth master server.
	And a fourth one...
seta sv_master5 ""	Sets fifth master server.
	And a fifth one!
seta sv_maxclients "2"	Sets maximum allowed connections to servers.
	This setting states how many players may connect to your server. This is set to two because your connection probably can't handle any more.
seta sv_maxPing "0"	Sets maximum ping before players are refused, 0 disables this.
	You can refuse players if their ping is to crappy, but since you're probably only gonna use this server thing to play one on one with a pal, Red has disabled this.
seta sv_maxRate "6000"	Sets maximum bandwidth each player gets, 0 disables this.
	You may want to cap the rate assigned to players or they will eat up all your bandwidth.
seta sv_minPing "0"	Sets minimum ping players need to have before being allowed to connect.
	This setting can be used to level the playing field by allowing only people with crappy connections. Keep disabled.
seta sv_punkbuster "1"	Enable this to use Punkbuster anti-cheat software.
	You don't want cheaters on your server so keep this enabled.
seta sv_screenshake "5"	Sets the amount the screen shakes during explosions.
	This sets how much player screens should shake when there are huge explosions in the game.

Set g_, this configs the game running on your server.

seta g_allowvote "1"	If enabled voting is allowed.
	Pretty straightforward. Democracy rules... as long as people don't run amok and start voting over and over.
seta g_altStopwatchMode "0"	If enabled alternative stopwatch game type.
	Not really clear what alternative stopwatch mode is.
seta g_banIPs ""	Sets ip ban list.
	Here you can enter the ip addresses of banned players.
seta g_complaintlimit "3"	Sets number of complaints before a player gets kicked.
	Three complaints and you're out! Lower this for a more strict limit.
seta g_friendlyFire "1"	If enabled friendly fire is on.
	Friendly fire and RTCW belong together. Leave this alone!
seta g_log ""	Sets directory/file where to put logs.
	See above explanation.
seta g_logSync "1"	Must be enabled for log analyzers.
	Leave this alone if you want to use log analyzers.
seta g_maxGameClients "2"	Sets maximum players allowed to participate in a game.
	This sets the amount of players that may join a game. That's not counting the spectators.
seta g_maxlives "0"	Sets number of times a player may tap out to limbo.
	Sets the amount of lives players get per game.
seta g_noTeamSwitching "0"	If enabled players may not switch teams during games.
	What it says above. It's at your discretion.
seta g_teamforcebalance "0"	If enabled even teams will be forced.
	Use this setting to keep the teams balanced with even numbers of players.
seta g_voiceChatsAllowed "4"	Sets amount of voice chats allowed before flood protect kicks in.
	Above explanation is clear enough.
seta g_warmup "20"	Sets warm-up time.
	Sets the warm-up time in seconds before each game.
seta dmflags "0"	Sets dm flags. 8=no falling damage 16=fixed FOV 32=no footsteps. Add to combine settings.
	Use this to enable above three options. Simply add the numbers. For example, for no falling damage and no footsteps add 8 and 32 and enter the result as the value.
seta timelimit "10"	Sets time limit.
	Sets the length of game.
seta fraglimit "0"	Sets frag limit.
	Sets a frag limit after which the game ends.
seta capturelimit "8"	Sets flag capture limit.
	Sets a capture limit after which the game ends.

Author.	Richard van Kooten, a.k.a. RedTop.
Latest update.	July 5th, 2003.
Changes to settings.	None.
Changes to text.	Changed text to reference to Red's RTCW OSP server configuration pack.