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Common Console Commands
Here is a summary of the most common and useful (at least for me)
console commands. Indicated in parentheses is whether is a server
or a client command.
- changelevel mapname
(server)
- Switch to a new map on the server. Scores
are reset, but everybody remains connected. This is the best way
to change maps in a multiplayer game.
- mp_timelimit 1 (server)
- Change to the next map in your mapcycle.
Use this when you're tired of a map, or it's too big or too small
for whoever is playing. This bears a little explanation. mp_timelimit
is the server parameter that controls how long a given map will
be played before the server closes it and loads the next map in
the mapcycle file. It is usually set in the valve/server.cfg
configuration file For example, my server runs with mp_timelimit
set to 20 (minutes). Setting it 0 means "no time limit".
- So when you set mp_timelimit 1
you are saying "change maps after 1 minute", which usually means
"right now". Typically you'll be doing this using rcon
(see below). Oh yes, and since the server
re-reads the server.cfg file each time it loads a map, mp_timelimit
will then get reset to its normal value.
- map mapname (server
or singleplayer)
- Begins a new game using the mapname
map. If used on the server this will drop everyone's connection,
typically a bad idea. Use changelevel instead.
- model modelname (client)
- Change your player
model to modelname.
- name playername (client)
- Change your player name to playername.
- status (client)
- Best way to find out name of current map.
Lists detailed info for each player.
- users (server)
- Print a short list of current players.
- sv_timeout seconds
(server)
- Controls how long before the server disconnects
a client that has stopped responding. The default is only 65 seconds.
During testing I often suspend my client while uploading a file,
editing a configuration etc. It's inconvenient to lose my server
connection at these times, so usually I temporarily increase sv_timeout
to some large value.
- sv_gravity num (server)
- Default gravity is 800. Set to 30 for excellent
low-grav experience. Great for the "killbox" map.
- mapcyclefile filename
(server)
- Set name of file read by server to determine
cycle of maps. Set to "0" to use default mapcycle.txt.
You can use this to switch to an alternate mapcycle file.
- r_drawviewmodel 0 (client)
- Make your weapon disappear! Normally you
see your own weapon in front of you when you play. Setting r_drawviewmodel
to "0" makes it disappear. Setting to "1"
will bring it back. Some players find it easier to aim without
the distraction of a bobbing barrel that points to one side. This
is also handy for making screen shots.
- crosshair 0 (client)
- Make your crosshairs
disappear from the screen. Bring them back with crosshair
1. I use this sometimes when making screen shots.
- rcon_password password
(client)
- Enter password for rcon'ing the server (see
below).
- rcon_port portnumber
(client)
- Must be used when port is other than 27015
(see below).
- mp_fraglimit num (server)
- When playing deathmatch, the map will change
whenever any player reaches num kills (frags). This is
normally set in the server config file valve/server.cfg.
Since the server re-reads that file when changing maps, this value
will be reset after each map change. So if you really want to
change this value for an entire match, it's better to edit the
server config file. See also mp_timelimit.
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Rcon: A Remote Server Console
The console works great for the machine you're playing on, but
what if you operate a dedicated server: a Half-Life server
on a completely separate machine. Using the rcon command,
you can use your local console as a remote server console. That
means you enter commands into your local console, but they are relayed
to the remote server's command console.
This remote console capability is called "rcon". To rcon the
server from a client, you first need to establish a connection and
authorization. Bring down the client console by typing "~" and enter
the commands:
rcon_password password
rcon_port portnumber (your server port, e.g. 27015)
Once you've done this you can issue server commands by prefixing
each command with "rcon", e.g.:
rcon users
rcon mp_timelimit 1
rcon sv_timeout 300
The server password is set by the server administrator in the valve/server.cfg
file. The rcon_password command tells your client which
password to use when communicating with the server's console.
Network software in general uses numbered "ports" for
clients/server communications. Half-Life servers listen on port
27015 by default, though server administrators often change the
port for various reasons (my server uses 27016). The rcon_port
command tells your client which port to use for communication with
the server. It may not be necessary if you use 27015.
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How to Use Cheats
Tweezer's Half-Life Health Club does
not advocate using cheats to gain any advantage during a game. But
some cheat codes can be very useful for exploring new maps on your
own. That is the main focus of this section.
Enabling Cheats
One can't just start typing in cheat codes. Cheating must first
be expressly enabled either via the command line switch "-sv_cheats
1" (see Getting Started
for how to use command line switches), or with the "sv_cheats
1" console command.
Some cheat codes will only work in singleplayer.
Exploring Maps Using "noclip" and "god"
The most important modes for exploring a map are called noclip
and god. The first allows you to fly and move through walls,
and the second makes you invulnerable. But even when cheats are
enabled on the server, you can't enable these two modes on the client
-- they only work in singleplayer mode.
In order to explore a map with noclip and god, therefore,
one must start a singleplayer Half-Life game with cheats enabled
and the desired map selected. One simple way to do this is with
command-line switches. For example:
hl.exe +map cabrito -sv_cheats 1 -console
Then, when your game starts, bring down the console (by typing
"~") and enter the commands:
The program should confirm that each mode has been turned on.
If you do not see "noclip ON" and "godmode ON",
then something is wrong. These commands are toggles that turn the
modes on and off.
You don't have to start the game with special command line switches.
A good alternative is to start the Half-Life program and then choose
"Console" from the main menu (if it isn't there, then
you didn't enable the console with -console). You can
now start a game from the console. Enter the commands:
sv_cheats 1
map cabrito
noclip
god
If you don't see a confirmation ("noclip ON") that the
modes have been activated then something is wrong.
Now try moving. You will see that walls and surfaces have no effect
on your movement.
Other Cheat Codes
There are two other useful console commands that work when cheats
are enabled:
- impulse 101 -- Gives you the HEV suit, all weapons
and a bunch of ammo. You can repeat this command for more ammo
until you're full.
- impulse 76 -- Known as "Grunt-O-Matic",
this one spawns a grunt to fight with on any map. It won't work
unless you first set developer 1, and mp_allowmonsters
1, then restart a game using map.
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Getting Started
Enabling the Console
Unless you start Half-Life with the "-console" switch
in your command line, you won't be able to use the console at all.
If you know your console works, then skip to the next subsection.
Most players start Half-Life from a Windows alias, either a shortcut
on the desktop or in the Start Menu. If it's on the desktop, right-click
the icon and click "Properties", then click the "Shortcut"
tab. In the "Target" field, make sure that the "-console"
switch is present. For example, my Target field looks like this:
"D:\Program Files\SIERRA\Half-Life\hl.exe" -console
-full
Note the quote marks around the path to the Half-Life program.
If your Half-Life alias is in the Start Menu, use the Start >
Settings > Taskbar command, then click the "Start Menu"
tab, and find the Half-Life alias. Right-click it and proceed as
above.
Using the Console
With a Half-Life game running, type "~" (tilda)
or "`" (accent-grave) [IBM-style US keyboards
have these on the same key in the upper left]. The console should
descend to cover the top half of your screen. Now you can enter
console commands. To return to the game, type "~" or "`"
or Escape again.
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