This collection of files will allow you to play Quake2 deathmatch against AI-controlled bots with a wide variety of plugin player models (PPMs). Nearly all the files herein are the work of others; my personal role was almost entirely arranging the files and writing this guide. But I did also create a few skins and soundpacks along the way.
This bot pack has been tested with kmquake2_020_update8_nightly_2020-12-14.zip, which is currently the most recent build of KMQuake2. KMQuake2 is an improved Quake2 engine, and I recommend using it for a better gaming experience. To do so, download and install the most recent version of KMQuake2 from the Bitbucket repo.
BENZO'S CRAZY BOT PACK FOR QUAKE2
This collection of files will allow you to play Quake2 deathmatch against AI-controlled bots with a wide variety of plugin player models (PPMs). Nearly all the files herein are the work of others; my personal role was almost entirely arranging the files and writing this guide. But I did also create a few skins and soundpacks along the way.
This bot pack has been tested with kmquake2_020_update8_nightly_2020-12-14.zip, which is currently the most recent build of KMQuake2. KMQuake2 is an improved Quake2 engine, and I recommend using it for a better gaming experience. To do so, download and install the most recent version of KMQuake2 from either Markshan.com or Bitbucket.org
INSTALLATION
After installing KMQuake2, extract the package to your Quake 2 folder. You should then see the file “play 3zb2 with kmquake2.bat” in your Quake 2 folder.
Additional recommended downloads for better graphics and sound:
Q2HM – rename as pak8.pak and place in baseq2 folder
Moddb.com
Quake 2 Neural Upscale 2.0.1
Moddb.com
Quake II + Mission Packs Soundtracks - ogg.zip
Steamcommunity.com
THE BOTS
The files you extracted into the Quake 2\3zb2 folder will allow you to play deathmatch against AI-controlled bots, more specifically against 3ZB2 (3rd Zigock II) bots. I have adjusted the bot configuration file to make the bots a little easier to beat, since they were far too difficult for me at stock settings.
The super-simple way to get started is to run “play 3zb2 with kmquake2.bat”, then use the + and – keys on the numeric keypad to prepare bots for action, then press enter on the numeric keypad to unleash the bots.
For basic instructions on using these bots, READ the 3ZBII Quickstart Guide in the Quake 2\3zb2 folder. For more detailed instructions, read the 3rd Zigock II Users Guide V0.93 in the Quake 2\3zv2\User Guide folder. Furthermore, take note that that I have created a few extra botlists which you can activate with the following Quake2 console commands (use the tilde (`) key to open the Quake2 console):
- botlist BenzoBots - my custom bots, easier than the default bots, lots of PPMs
- botlist EasyBots - same as BenzoBots, but even easier
- botlist SillyBots - switch to a botlist which uses even sillier PPMs
- botlist SillyEasy - same as SillyBots, but even easier
- botlist default - returns to using the stock 3zb2 bot list, which is very difficult
To play team deathmatch with/against bots, do the following:
- Set your own skin to ctf_b (which is available for most models),
- Activate your chosen botlist in the console (examples: botlist 2v2sk1 or botlist 4v4sk2)
- Set the deathmatch flags so teamplay is “by skin”.
- Start a new map.
- Add enough bots so both teams are full, but not so many bots that you get extra bots that lack a team affiliation.
Finally, I performed some overnight experiments in which I ran several simultaneous battles in which 10 bots engaged in a free-for-all deathmatch on q2dm1 “The Edge”, and for each battle I tested how a single variable affected scores. You can find the setup for these tests in 3ZBconfig.cfg, in the pictures in the BENZO TESTS folder, and in the 3zb2_analysis.xlsl spreadsheet also in the BENZO TESTS folder. In the end, I found that the only variable that had a profound impact on bot scoring is Accuracy. Conversely, and ironically, I also found that many other variables actually lowered bot scores when they were increased. I also found that enabling features such as “dodge”, “estimate”, “enemy’s noise check” also ironically lowered bot score a little bit as well.
In the end, I decided to simply make custom free-for-all botlists that have identical stats for all included bots therein. If you want to power-up or nerf these botlists, try adjusting their accuracy up or down.
THE PLUGIN PLAYER MODELS (PPMs)
This collection of files includes my personal favorite Quake2 PPMs, each of which has their own distinctive appearance and sounds. I removed skins that I never use, in order to reduce clutter and the size of this download. The criteria I had for evaluating PPMs and eventually selecting these is the following:
- Is this a high-quality PPM with good animations?
- Is this PPM about the same size as the official male, female, cyborg, and crakhor PPMs?
- Does this PPM include vwep support (which allows you to discern which weapon the player is wielding)?
- Does this PPM have skins for Capture the Flag (blue and red)?
- Does this PPM include a good sound pack?
- Does this PPM make me laugh?
FINAL ROSTER AND MY NOTES: (see .txt files in each PPM folder for more info)
- Amber - Includes my own Uberbitch skin plus custom sounds.
- Beavis & Butthead - SILLY. NO VWEP ☹
- Brawn - Choice of two FIXED blasters. Compatible with Morbo skins.
- Crafty - SILLY. Switched sound pack and chose standard vweps.
- Crakhor - Pseudo-standard ID Software PPM.
- Cyborg - Standard ID Software PPM.
- DDZ - Replaced sound set since some were broken and looping.
- Eric Cartman - SILLY. NO VWEP ☹
- Female - Standard ID Software PPM.
- 46
- Homer - SILLY. NO VWEP ☹
- Hunter
- Male - Standard ID Software PPM.
- Marine
- Pepsi_Man - SILLY. Supermale variant with custom sounds.
- Ratamahatta - Found version with vwpes and sound at Gamers.org.
- Slith - CUSTOM VWEP ONLY ☹
- Supermale - Includes my own El_Nakedo skin plus custom sounds.
- Swear_female - SILLY. Female variant with nudity and custom sounds.
- Swear_male - SILLY. Male variant with nudity and custom sounds.
- TourettesGuy - SILLY. Male variant with my own skins and custom sounds.
- Waste
- Zumlin
I think my PPM collection will please most players, but for those who aren't satisfied or are curious to explore more PPMs and skins, you can download the file "all-players.zip" from Tastyspleen.net and examine the hundreds of PPMs and corresponding skins therein.
Instructions for changing which bots/skins are used by the bots can be found in the Configuring Custom Bots section of 3rd Zigock II Users Guide V0.93.
MORE DEATHMATCH MAPS
I added additional deathmatch maps. To help the bots navigate these maps, I added route (.chn) files for these maps. You extracted these maps into the Quake 2\baseq2\maps folder, and there you can also find .html and .txt files which describe these maps.
The console commands to launch individual maps are as follows:
- Standard Quake2 deathmatch - map q2dmX (where X = 1 through 8)
- Ztn2 deathmatch map - map ztn2dmX (where X = 1 through 5)
You can find more routes here:
Ponpoko.tri6.net
And you can probably find more deathmatch maps for these routes at:
Gamers.org
INTARWEB LOCATIONS (where I got this stuff)
PROGRAMS USED MAKING THIS
7-zip
GIMP
MD2 Viewer 1.4
Audacity
CONSOLE COMMANDS CHEAT SHEET
zigmode x - Flag keeper mode on/off (off = 0, on = 1), off by default, map (re)start required
spectator x - set the spectator mode on/off (off = 0, on = 1), off by default
botlist BenzoBots - easier bots, featuring a wide variety of PPMs
botlist EasyBots - same as BenzoBots, but even easier
botlist SillyBots - switch to a botlist which uses even sillier PPMs
botlist SillyEasy - same as SillyBots, but even easier
sv spb x - spawn x bots, in sequential order from current botlist
sv rspb x - spawn x bots, in random order from current botlist
sv rmb x - remove x bots
exec q2dm.cfg - play the standard Quake2 deathmatch maps against 11 bots
exec ztn2.cfg - play Ztn’s maps against 4 bots
exec (whatever)Test.cfg - launch one of my bot tests, see the 3zb2 folder for available tests
map q2dmX - play standard Q2 deathmatch map, set the variable X to 1 through 8
map ztn2dm1 - play "Painkiller" map
map ztn2dm2 - play "The Killing Machine" map
map ztn2dm3 - play "The Rage" map
map ztn2dm4 - play "Recycler" map
map ztn2dm5 - play "The Crucible" map
Neat. Thanks
totally awesome and excellent I think it's kind of cool that the enemy say cuss words a lot and so do the prisoners like ******* son of a bitch ahh **** you I like it.