Doomseeker
Doomseeker is the official Skulltag server browser created by the Skulltag team. Doomseeker can be used on any platform be it Linux or Windows.
Contents |
Using DoomSeeker for the first time
When DoomSeeker starts, the first thing it is going todo is collect all of the servers and there information that are made public.
Simply double click on a server you wish to join, and enjoy your time!
Understanding the layout
This section will help you understand DoomSeekers outlook. Lets look at the top of the window, and work our way down.
On the top you will see three things:
- Get Servers
This basically means, that DoomSeeker will recollect all and new servers that are made public, and collect the server information.
- Refresh Servers
This will just refresh the current server list you have, however new servers will not be shown.
- Search
This allows you to search Servers name, or small details from the server name; for example SuperGods Servers, or Deathmatch.
Now lets look at the servers and players.
- Ports
You will notice a Skulltag icon that is underneath the port column. There is two types of Skulls:
– No Password needed
– Password needed, to either join and/or connect to the server.
If the server is set to need a password to connect or join, DoomSeeker will prompt you to enter a password before connecting to that server.
- Players
This shows how many players are on the current server; however there is different status, depending on what the player(s) are doing. For example Spectator, bot, playing ingame, etc.
Default icon type is Marine, unless changed by user.
- Player is Playing (This can also change to team colours, like Red or Blue)
- Player is Spectating
- Bot
- Open Player Spot
- Open Spectator Spot
- Ping
Shows a ping between you and the server.
What does Ping, and why does it matter to me?
If you don't understand what a Ping is, it is part of the TCP/IP Protocol that measures the time of how long it takes to receive a packet from another node, and for that node to send back a ping acknowledgement along with the time information.
Still don't understand? No problem.
Take this as an example of a ping. You throw a ball at someone that is a 900 Centimetres away from you, he throws the ball back at you, and you received the ball no more than a few seconds. (This is a good ping)
Now, you throw a ball at someone that is 500 Kilometres away from you, when he finally receives it, he throws the ball back at you, and you wait till that ball finally comes to you. Once you have finally received the ball, you note that it took several moments for the ball to get to one place and back to another. (This is a bad ping).
- Server Name
Shows the server name of a server.
- Address
This shows the IP Address and Port address to the server.
- IWAD
Shows what IWAD the server is using.
- MAP
This shows the current map that the server is currently on.
- WAD
This shows additional PWAD’s that the server is using.
- Game Type
This shows the game mode that the server is using.
Server Password
When a server is set to have a password, you will see a window like this:
Before you can connect to the server, you will need to input a password to the server. Once you have entered the password, you will be connected to the server.
Options and Features
This section will explain how each function works, and what they mean.
Creating a Personal Server
Wadseeker
Wadseeker is feature that looks for the WAD/PK3 files automatically for you. Wadseeker can either automatically look for WAD’s that you will need to access the server, or you can input the WAD name yourself.
For right now, I’ am going to show you how to use Wadseeker when you input the WAD in the search area.
To access the Wadseeker feature, click on File menu, and select Wadseeker. (Example shown above).
Wadseeker will look like this:
Now, you recently heard about really kool PWAD (KDiZD), and you REALLY want to check it out, but you don’t know where to look. That is were Wadseeker comes in!
Just type KDiZD in the Seek Wad: box, and select OK to start Wadseeker. Wadseeker will start looking for the WAD/PK3 automatically for you.
Easy uh?
Configuration
I will be explaining how to configure DoomSeeker in this section.
Engines
This will show what Engines DoomSeeker has support too. DoomSeeker can support more than one Doom port engine, if there is plug-ins available for other Doom engines, like Odamex.
If you have a plug-in for DoomSeeker, then you would place it in the engines folder.
\Doomseeker\Engines
The only engine support I have, is for Skulltag. When I click on Skulltag, I have several settings:
- Path to executable: This is where Skulltag.exe is located. By default it would be located at:
C:\Program Files\Skulltag\Skulltag.exe
However, if you did manual installation, then you would need to find the correct directory.
- Custom Parameters: This is extra commands you wish to run when skulltag.exe is being executed.
- Masterserver Address: This allows you to gain broadcasted Skulltag servers. (Master Server List). This is very important, and I highly recommend you do not touch this unless you know exactly what you are doing, or troubleshooting by trusted users in the community.
Appearance
Here, you can change the appearance of some functions on DoomSeeker.
- Player Slot Style: You have three types of style;
- - Marines
- Blocks (DoomSeeker Classical)
- Numeric
- Custom Server Color: You can be able to customize the background colour of your listed custom servers.
- Use Tray Icon: This will have a DoomSeeker icon on the system tray. You can be able to open Doomseeker when it is shrunk to the System tray.
Custom Servers
You can be able to create customized servers. These servers will never be changed from the Master Server List, unless the customized servers are offline.
However, this can be very useful if you want to list a private server to your list, that is not being broadcasted to the Skulltag Master Server; or you can list your own private servers.
I’ll show you how to create a personal local server.
On the Custom Server option, we are going to want to add a server, so click add.
Now you will need to add an address. Since this is a local private server, the server IP is going to be (127.0.0.1).
We wont change the port, nor the game type. Click OK, and your local server will be shown on the list.
Query
I would not recommend anyone touching this area, unless you know absolutely what you are doing!
Query, controls how much time DoomSeeker will take to collect server information, and cancel server query for servers that are not responsive.
File Paths
Here you specify all directories where you store your WADs, PK3s and ZIPs. When DoomSeeker starts the game client it searches for all required files (custom content and IWADs) in these folders. Directories are searched in order they are visible on the list. If you leave this box empty DoomSeeker will not know where to load the files and a "file not found" error will be displayed.
Click on Add, and browse for your specific folder that you have your wad’s located.
Wadseeker
General
Here you can customize how Wadseeker generally works.
- Directory where Wadseeker will put wads into: Specify a directory where Wadseeker will save all files it downlaods. If this is left empty or the directory doesn't exist Wadseeker will not work and will return a proper error message.
- Connect Timeout: How long Wadseeker will drop connection to a site if it has not responded in a certain time.
- Download Timeout: How long Wadseeker will terminate the download when the download stops/becomes unresponsive.
Sites
This allows you to modify where Wadseeker will search for the PWAD/PK3 file.
- Search URL: If you have another site/ftp source to download other wads, you can be able to add to the list, and Wadseeker will use that source when looking for the files.
IDGames
You can be able to allow Wadseeker to search the IDGames archive! IDGames is the centralized corner stone of all FTP uploaders! You can find a lot of PWAD/PK3 files that are released in this archive!
- Use IDGames Archive: With this enabled, Wadseeker will look at /IDGames for the wad source. This would give you a great range of finding your file, if the other sites have failed.
- IDGames archive search priority: This will allow you to force Wadseeker to check the IDGames archive first, before checking other sources.
- IDGames archive URL: This is a specific string to help Wadseeker retrieve a PWAD/PK3 from the IDGames archive. (DON'T TOUCH THIS, unless you know what you are doing!)
View
Extra features like the buddy list, and how to manage them.
Buddies
DoomSeeker can be able to let you know when your friends are playing.
To set up the buddy list, just click on “Manage”, and you can either Add or delete a buddy from your list.
When you add a buddy to your list, you will have a window that will look like this:
Pattern Type, you have two choices; Basic or Advanced.
- Basic: Most cases, you will use this.
- Advanced: This allows you to use full regular expressions.
So, under Basic Pattern Type; lets enter our first buddy on the list:
(ST)Tiger
Now when ever this player is playing on a server, DoomSeeker will let you know on the buddy list.
Buddy list and Dockable
If you have your buddy list separated from the DoomSeeker window, and want to place the buddy list window back to the DoomSeekers main window, just drag the Buddy list window to the side of DoomSeekers window.
Server Information
Server information will display information about the server, like the Server name, WAD URL, Administrator E-mail, and the Servers IP address.
This is also feature is also dockable; for more information on how to restore the Server Information back to the DoomSeeker window, refer to “Buddy List and Dockable”
Query
If you have other engine plug-ins, like Odamex; and only want to view Odamex servers, then you would just unselect Skulltag. Or if you only want to see Skulltag servers, then you would simply unselect Odamex.
DoomSeeker Remote Console
DoomSeeker as a small feature that allows you to control a server remotely, without having to completely join the game.
Right click on your server, or a server you have RCON privileges, and select “Remote Console”.
You will then be prompted to enter a password. You must have the correct password in-order to remotely control the server. Once you have entered a successful password, you are now remotely in control of the console. This will allow you to remotely control your server, while not being in the server (spectating/playing in the server).
The Remote Console is command driven, so you will have to use commands like:
/Changemap map01, /map map31, /kick (ST)SoulPriestess “No reason”, etc
