Frequently Asked Questions
Half-Life Death Match
Question
Answer
What do I need to play Half-Life on line?
If you have no Valve games installed, you will need a Half-Life CD and a valid CD Key. Install the game.
If your version is earlier than 1.1.1.0, you will need to download and install the 1.1.1.0 patch
Next, you need to download and install Steam.
Steam will update your HL to version 1.1.2.0
Step by step instructions can be found here
So now where do I find a good server?
Look no further than SunLits.
SunLits Shotgun Madness (HLDM mod ):
IP: 69.28.221.147:27035
Public Slots: 18
Maps : Custom maps.
Auto Download: On
What are custom maps ?
Half-Life installs with 14 stock or standard maps. Custom maps are made by fans of the game and offer more variety.
SunLit's has 400+ custom maps in its HLDM Giant Map Pack ( 485 MB).
Having the maps already on your hard drive lets you dive right into the game.
Loading them in-game is slower, limits your fragging time, lags the game and
annoys the heck out of the other players.
What are custom skins and how do I install and choose them?
Half-Life installs with 6 default player models or "skins": helmet, gordon, gina, zombie, gman amd barney. Custom skins are visually a treat and definitely personalize the game. Most players at SunLits use them but you will only see them as the default orange helmet unless you have them installed.
* How do I download and install the skin files?
Download the entire SunLits Skin Library as one, self-installing file (67MB), extracted to:
C:>Program Files>Steam>SteamApps>YOUR_E-MAIL_HERE>half-life>valve
You can preview them from the preview pages.
* I can't see the bmp image when I browse through the skins in the Customize menu.. What's wrong?
Make sure that the bmp and mdl files are in the skin's root directory.
Then make sure that the name of the skin directory is exactly that of the bmp and mdl files.
* How do I change skins during gameplay?
Fire up Half-Life. From the main Menu select "Multiplayer". Then select"Customize".
Browse through and find a model you like .
Do not select the model through the Menu. The conversion from WONnet to Steam broke the in game VGUI to preview and select the skins. Instead you need to enter the skin name in Console ( ~ key) as "model modelname" , with no quotes.
* The size, shape or colour of some models make them very difficult to hit.What can I do?
Delete, rename or move that particular model's directory from the player directory.
* I removed the directories of the models I didn't want but now see only orange helmets. Boring! What can I do?
Pick a model that you enjoy seeing. Rename its directory and it's *.mdl and *.bmp files to the model's name that you DON'T wish to see.
For example:
You may hate viewing the kermit but enjoy bruceleemodels. Rename the brucelee directory, and its brucelee.bmp and brucelee.mdl files to the kermit directory, replacing the kermit.bmp and kermit.mdl. Now any player sporting kermit will appear to you as brucelee.
How do I communicate with others in game?
The "y" key is the default for in game chat.
Just hit "y", type in your message and then press Enter.
The "u" key is the default (TEAM) chat key used in Teamplay HL.
Only your team members will be able to read this message.
The 1120 patch allows Voice communication.
You will need a microphone and speakers, microphone and headphones or a headset.
Plug in the microphone (headset) into the sound card or input jack.
Fire up the game. In Options menu, under Keyboard tab, assign a key to Voice communincations.
Under Voice tab, put a check mark in enable voice and slide transmit and receive bars over to the right.
Troubleshooting information is available.
How do the other players change their weapons so fast in HLDM?
Quick selection of the weapons with the mousewheel comes with practice.
Using the default "q" or [, ] keys to cycle to the next or previous weapon is also fast.
Alternatively, you can "bind" a single weapon to a key and bring it up ready to fire.
This is done through the console.
What is a Console? It's not in my HL Menu.
The console is the place to enter commands and settings directly into the game without using the Half-Life Option Menu.
You access the console in game with the tilde " ~ " key, and enter your commands there
The console allows you to fine tune game settings, enable tweaks, fixes and work-arounds.
This means you have the control to minimize ping, maximize frames per second, and configure your keyboard settings to be convenient for your individual requirements. These must be entered via the console or configuration files because menu options are not available to set them otherwise. Once you decide that a command is of benefit to you, you can add it permanently to a configuration file.
Frequently used commands are:
* Name Change
name "your name"
If there is a space in the name, surrround it by quotations or add an
underscore
* Model Change (HLDM)
model "model name"
No quotes required
In HLDM Teamplay, you can join a team by selecting their model
* Monitor FPS and Ping
netgraph_3
Shows a numerical value for frames per second(fps) and ping.
More complex commands require more typing. Doing this in-game inevitably results in being splattered on the nearest surface.
Any command you enter from the console is temporary, lasting only for that session.
Adding complex commmands and saving them for future games is easy using a configuration file.
Configuration File: what is it and how to use it ?
When you assign keys in the Options menu, Half-Life saves your preferences in the config.cfg file.
A custom configuration file is simply a permanent *.txt file, created with a text editing application (Notepad, Wordpad),
containing a "list" of your favourite commands.They can be as simple as binding a key to an single action or command(s),
changing the value of game variables (cvars) , executing scripts or making aliases.
* A Bind:
Binds assign an action to a specific key in the format: bind [key] [command]
So in order to turn Netgraph on and off with a keystroke add:
bind "n" "net_graph 3"
bind "m" "net_graph 0"
Keys that can be bound are:
alt, ctrl, del, downarrow, end, f1-f12 (function keys), home, ins, escape, enter, leftarrow, pause, pgup, pgdn, return, rightarrow,
shift, space, tab, uparrow, CapsLock kp_minus, *, kp_slash, kp_plus, kp_enter, kp_del, kp_ins, kp_5, kp_leftarrow, kp_rightarrow, kp_uparrow, kp_downarrow, kp_home, kp_pgup, kp_pgdn, kp_end
* Change Variables:
//To brighten up the darker maps, reduce these cvars to 2.0 or 1.5
texgamma "2.0"
lightgamma "2.0"
*fast weapon switch
hud_fastswitch 1
bind "key" "weapon_XXXX"
* Alias with Mutiple Commands
//Screenshot without weapons or reticle
alias "cleansnap" " crosshair 0; r_drawviewmodel 0; wait; wait; wait; snapshot; wait; wait; wait; crosshair 1; r_drawviewmodel 1"
bind "F5" "cleansnap"
*Script for One Key LongJump
alias "+lj" "+duck; +jump"
alias "-lj" "-jump; -duck"
bind "shift" "+lj"
* Script for Simultaneous Skin and Name Change
bind "key" "name thename; wait; model themodel"
Userconfig.cfg : your custom configuration file
If you open the default config.cfg file with Notepad, you will see that the last line is exec userconfig.cfg
Your custom binds or cvars should be added to the userconfig.cfg file in the root valve directory.
The game will automatically look for any commands in this file and execute them every time you start a game.
To make your userconfig.cfg file, make a New file with Notepad or Wordpad.
Save as userconfig.cfg. Type in your commands, binds, etc. Now right click on it. Choose Properties and then Read Only.
Once you have started up a game and the config.cfg file has received your custom commands, exit the game.
You can also make the config.cfg file read only.
This will prevent server side or Steam changes to your cfg. It doesn't hurt to have a back up copy of both files.
The music in Half-Life is driving me nuts!
The music that's been driving some of us nuts in HLDM is a mp3 file from the single player game, (half-Life01.mp3) that plays by default.
Unfortunately, it will be replaced out of your Steam cache if you simply delete it.
The console command "mp3 stop" will kill the music for that map, but you'll still hear the music on maps with music enabled until you type this command. Two possible solutions:
* Bind a key to the command "mp3 stop" in your "userconfig.cfg" file in your "/Half-Life/Valve" folder.
It should look like this: bind "f4" "mp3 stop"
* Install SunLits HLDM Null MP3 file to your valve folder ("...Half-Life/valve/" If you've installed our HLDM map or skin packs previously, it will remember the correct folder to use). This simply installs a 60 second silent mp3 file.
NOTE: you MUST also then use Windows Explorer or other file manager to go to the file ("...Half-Life/valve/media/half-life01.mp3", right click on it, and set the "Read Only" property. If you don't do this, Steam will just overwrite it next time you run HLDM.
Are there any rules or conventions to follow on line?
SunLits is the place for good sportsmanship and respect for fellow gamers.
Some players need to have the limits spelled out so here they are. :)
Facing the WallThe “Face the Wall†rule is a courtesy. If a player gets a phone call or is distracted, it is much easier to face a wall instead of logging off and on. They are obviously not in play, so please respect that and refrain from fragging them. If a new visitor to the server frags you, politely ask them not to do it again. Repetitive abuse of this rule will result of your removal from game by an Admin or Enforcer at their discretion
Cheating: with scripts, wallhacks, aimbots etc is pretty lame and if Valve Anti Cheat (VAC) software doesn't catch a player, the admin will.
Spawn Killing: Mining spawn points, camping next to them, or sniping them, are in our humble opinion, cheap ways to frag players. An admin or enforcer will kick or ban a spawn killer as merited.
If you accidentally frag a spawning player, and an apology is offered, all is well.. We realize that in the heat of a good session, shots get fired before the brain kicks in.
Spamming : Cluttering chat voice with repetitive or too many messages will kick in the spam/ overflow plugin and result in a kick. Voice spam such as singing will result in the same.
Offensive, Obscene or Hateful behaviour : Obscenities, pornography, racism and intimidation are not allowed and grounds for a permanent ban from all our servers. This includes spray logos, links to pornographic sites, voice communications or global chat.
If your nick implies any of the above you will be asked to change it.
This also applies to clan tags You have the option of modifying or reemoving the tag while playing here.
It seems that all I do is spawn and die. Any advice for the new player?
Introduction: This brief document is meant to give players who are just starting out some basic tactical ideas. If you are reading this, you should have some understanding of how to use Half-Life, but would like some help improving your play.
One-on-One Close Combat:
The most important thing to remember is Do Not Stand Still. It is a common error by new players and makes you easy prey for the regulars around here. Of course, in addition to not getting shot, you must shoot the other guy. Aim for the head. You can kill even a well-armed player with a pistol if you move quickly and put four bullets in his head.
Good weapons to use for close combat are the shotgun and the machine gun. The shotgun on our servers is "enhanced." You will find that it loads quicker, holds more, and does more damage. Remember to use the right-click to fire both barrels, particularly when very close to your opponent. Having the Long Jump module and using it in close combat is also a good idea.
Distant Combat/Sniping:
If you find a nice spot perched up on a ledge, perhaps, or on the side of a building and it is overlooking a large area or a high-traffic corridor (basically any "target-rich" area), grab an RPG or the crossbow and climb up there and hide. Wait for prey. Heat, and serve :)
When using the RPG, remember to turn off the red "guide dot" (you turn it on and off by clicking on the right mouse button) when running as it will slow down your framerates and possible give your position away to others. Turn it on only when about to fire at a target. When using the crossbow, note that there are two modes -- click on the right mouse button to switch between "zoom" and "regular" modes. When in zoom, one shot to the head will almost always kill a target. This makes this weapon very powerful if you can master the aiming (which is not easy). Remember to lead your targets (i.e., if the target is moving, don't shoot where his head is now, shoot where you think it will be in 1/2 second), just like one would do in real life. Note that it is easy to hit someone who runs in straight line (or even a predictable pattern) -- remember that when you are pinned down by a sniper too!
Underwater:
Only three weapons work while you are underwater: pistol, crossbow, and crowbar. The crossbow is the most deadly if the body of water is fairly large. Players move fairly slowly through water, and they usually move in more predicatable ways than when on dry land -- and as we learned above, this makes fore excellent sniping opportunities. Just swich to zoom and aim for the head.
Camping:
Camping refers to hiding out in one spot and picking off players as they enter a room or walk by. Many players whine about camping, but it's OK here as long as you don't camp at spawn points.
Mining:
Using mines can be a very effective tactic. In a large map, I tend to mine at every free opportunity. When placing the mines, find a location where the player is unlikely to see it until it is too late. I like just around a sharp corner and as low to the ground as I can get it, or at the top of stairs or elevator shafts.
Also think of using mines in conjunction with another weapon. For instance, you could hide high up on a ledge with an RPG, having mined all the places below where someone might find cover. When they run into the area, you know you will get them either way. Never mine a spawn point, it is against the rules.
What is HLDM Teamplay?
In teamplay, players work together to defeat the othe team instead of gunning down everyone in sight.
Team selection is simple. Just change to the model that the team you desire to be on is using. This can be done by either going back to your customize menu and selecting the model from your list, or enabling the console and typing "model xxxxxx".
ex: If you wanted to join team recon you would type in "model recon" in the console
Friendly Fire is an option to either take damage from your teammates or not. If it is enabled, when one of your teammates accidently shoots you, it takes away your health. As of now, we have it disabled to accomodate teamplay newbies.
My ping and lag are awful. What can I do about it?
ISP provider and server location can definitely effect this and are out of your control.
What you can tweak is discussed in the post submitted by BigEye:
SunLits has an incredible mod of Half-Life Death Match. Where can I download it ?
Who created it?
The Half-Life of Horrors mod of HLDM was created by the founder of the SunLit community, Lazarus_Long.
The mod is fast and full of surprises.
To download and for a complete summary of its characteristics, go here .
I cant log into a server with a custom map. There is an error message about a missing wad file?
A wad file maybe necessary for a custom map to run properly. Back in the day ( 10 years ago now) not all files were packaged in the map.bsp file and may not autodownload from a server. Some of the commonly missing files are:
List of *.wad files:
cstrike.wad
d4ms.wad
decals.wad
destruction_inc.wad
DoD.wad
GlobalAssault.wad
HotGlobal.wad
liquids.wad
megalith.wad
Monk2.wad
pak0mac.wad
PHL.wad
pine.wad
rd_fort.wad
rdm2.wad
Revulation.wad
sgh1dm.wad
tfc2.wad
tfc.wad
unearth.wad
xeno.wad
Download Wad Files