fRaBs deathmatch
Main - Updates - Single Player - Deathmatch - Level Editing - FAQ - Credits - Links

`I. General Information`
`II. Modem-to-Modem Play`
`III. Internet Play Using TCP/IP`
`IV. Deathmatch Levels`
`V. Maps`

`General Information`

`The current incarnation of Abuse supports the IPX`
`protocol, which is normally used for Local Area`
`Network (LAN) play. However, there are ways to use`
`the IPX multiplayer feature of Abuse under other`
`conditions as well.`

`Basically, if you have a LAN, then the way you`
`begin a network game is by having one person start`
`a game and having the other people on the LAN join`
`that game. Firstly, make sure you install the IPX`
`protocol for Windows 95/98 on your computer. If,`
`upon loading, Abuse detects your IPX drivers, then`
`you can skip this step. A correctly-configured`
`situation should have the game loading up and at`
`the title screen, you should see a 'Networking'`
`button with two computers and a cord connecting them.`

`If you don't see the Networking button, then go to`
`the Windows Control Panel, and select the 'Network'`
`icon. It will give you a list of networking protocols`
`that are set up in Windows on your computer. If you`
`don't see the IPX protocol listed with those options,`
`then click the 'Add' button. Select the 'Protocol'`
`option from the menu and click the new 'Add' button.`
`There will be a list of 'vendors' that pop up, after`
`Windows builds a driver information database. Select`
`'Microsoft' and then click the IPX/SPX protocol option`
`and add it to your computer. Make sure you have your`
`Windows CD with you, as the driver installation will`
`require it. You may need to restart your computer`
`upon completion of the drivers' installation.`

`Alternatively, you may be able to find an archive with`
`the IPX/SPX drivers for Windows at Microsoft's web site,`
`or somewhere else on the Net. If you already have the`
`IPX protocol installed and Abuse isn't detecting it, the`
`first thing to do is to try reinstalling the drivers.`
`If that doesn't work then I don't know what to tell you.`
`Also, please note that Abuse multiplayer does not work`
`in Windows NT.`

`The 'Start a New Game' button at the 'Networking' screen`
`in Abuse will bring up an options menu for how many`
`players can join the game (up to a maximum of 8), and`
`a choice of small, medium, or large deathmatch levels.`
`These levels (S,M,L) are played in a rotation, whose data`
`is stored in small.lsp, medium.lsp, and large.lsp, in the`
`addon/deathmat directory. Both the Options and the LISP`
`files for the level rotations are pretty self-explanatory.`

`If you are joining a game, and someone has already started`
`a new game on the LAN, you should see a button on the first`
`'Networking' screen in Abuse that shares the 'name' of the`
`game that the Server started (by default in fRaBs, this`
`name is 'EvilWumpus').`

`Modem-to-Modem Play`

`A modem-to-modem game is not natively supported by the`
`current Abuse engine. There is a workaround, however.`
`Firstly, as with any of these other multiplayer options,`
`you will need the Windows IPX drivers installed on your`
`machine. Secondly, you will need your computer configured`
`as a Dial-Up Server (DUS). I believe Windows 98 has DUS`
`materials included with it, but if you're using Win95 or`
`if these instructions don't apply to Win98 as well, then`
`you will have to download the Win95 DUS addon. You can`
`find it on the Net in more than one place.`

`You and the person you are playing will need to decide`
`who wants to be the DUS and who wants to dial in to the`
`server. Whichever computer has more bandwidth should be`
`the DUS, but if you encounter any problems then you can`
`always switch roles. For this reason it is a good idea`
`to set up both computers as a DUS and also set up short-`
`cuts to dial up the other computer.`

`The DUS archive will warn Win98 that it will not work if`
`you try to install it in Win98, but you can ignore this`
`warning... in my experience it has worked anyways. Upon`
`installation there will be an option in your 'Dial-Up`
`Networking' folder, under the 'Connections' menu, called`
`'Dial-Up Server'. It will open a little window with an`
`option to allow caller access, among other things. By`
`'allowing caller access', you are allowing anyone that`
`knows the password to dial into your computer. Enabling`
`this option also puts a new icon in your taskbar that`
`will stay there forever until you revert to 'no caller`
`access'. Once you allow caller access, you can modify`
`the password with the 'password' button. The 'server`
`type' button will automatically put the server mode to`
`'default' which should work for you.`

`Now, have the person dialing into your DUS to go to the`
`'Dial-Up Networking' window on his computer and make a`
`new connection in which they dial up your home phone number`
`and put in your DUS password. When he/she connects to the`
`appointed DUS, you will hear your modem make some noise.`
`Remember that nobody can dial your server when you are`
`online or on the phone. Alternatively, unless you 'disable`
`caller access' after playing, the computer may 'intercept'`
`incoming phone calls and think they are attempts to log`
`into your DUS. Be careful.`

`Once the DUS is working and a player dials in to you,`
`things work as they normally would... one person runs`
`Abuse and sets up the game (the DUS) and the other person`
`joins this game. Generally the gameplay is decent if`
`the two modems are physically in the same city/area,`
`comparable to Abuse's single player speed on a 486/33.`
`Note that any IPX games (such as Quake) will work with`
`this DUS 'workaround'.`

`Internet Play Using TCP/IP`

`Abuse was planned to have native TCP/IP support, and this`
`would have been impressive back in 1995 (before Quake`
`even!). It would have been as revolutionary as the`
`developer's name, Crack dot Com... now there is about a`
`hundred million companies with a dot Com in their names, but`
`Crack dot Com was one of the first. But as it stands, only`
`the Linux versions of Abuse and fRaBs have TCP/IP support.`

`Once again, there is a workaround to this. You may have`
`heard of various programs such as Kali which let you play`
`lots of old IPX games over the Internet using TCP/IP. Now`
`there is a free IPX -> TCP/IP program called Kahn, and it`
`even supports Abuse/fRaBs. The Kahn homepage will help you`
`learn the ins and outs of this fine piece of software, as`
`well as provide you a copy of the latest version.`

`Kahn works with a IRC-type client and a little launchbar.`
`You basically add an icon for the fRaBs executable to the`
`launchbar and use the button to run the game. There are`
`some cool icons to use for the fRaBs launchbar in /icons,`
`although it is my experience that Kahn doesn't detect the`
`.ico files here automatically. Thus, in the input box,`
`once you try and go to the /icons directory to select an`
`icon, you need to use the file name of the icon itself.`
`I use frabs2.ico, but there is also a frabs1.ico... what-`
`ever one you like best.`

`Note that this launchbar icon is essential to gameplay`
`over Kahn. You cannot just run Abuse with the Kahn program`
`running; you must click the launchbar icon. If things work`
`out you should be able to set up a multiplayer game and`
`have the other person detect your game as described`
`previously. For me, gameplay has been very slow (about half`
`a frame/sec). I get better performance out of most other`
`Kahn-supported games, for some reason. However, if you know`
`someone close to you that cannot connect to your computer`
`with a local phone call, this option may be best for you.`

`I'm sure Kahn is not the only type of software that does`
`IPX support over TCP/IP, so be sure to try out others.`

`Deathmatch Levels`

`All of the deathmatch levels in fRaBs are crafted by`
`people in the Abuse community, for free. It's a labor`
`of love. :)`

`The levels are listed in the order in which they were`
`added to fRaBs.`

`Small Levels`

`1. A Little Hot! (alitlhot.spe) by /Messiah\`

`A LSABER_100 ammo is in the center of the level, and`
`is surrounded by switch-activated firebomb turrets`
`which other players can use to kill you.`

`2. Get Cross! (getcross.spe) by /Messiah\`

`An upside down cross with napalm ammo is in the center`
`of a small cave. It's surrounded by lava, and accessible`
`by an automatically-moving platform.`

`3. Spacy Tiny DM (spacytdm.spe) by /Messiah\`

`This one is similar to Get Cross, only there's no lava`
`traps and more firepower. The Firebombs are at the`
`highest precipice.`

`4. Red-Green DM (redgrndm.spe) by /Messiah\`

`Small level with red foreground and background, and green`
`flyers that respawn and wreak havoc.`

`5. Tree-Small (treesmal.spe) by /Messiah\`

`Trees and caves and a little pocket full of ammo and goodies.`

`6. Small Bugs (bugssml.spe) by /Messiah\`

`Small portion of the Bugs level, with rearranged ammunition.`

`7. King of the Cross (kotcross.spe) by /Messiah\`

`Fly powerups abound in this battle of flying grenades vs.`
`firebomb and lightsaber.`

`8. Ruins (ruins.spe) by Leon`

`Well-balanced DM level with lots of ammunition. Leon did an`
`awesome job with the artwork.```

`9. Occult (occult.spe) by Leon`

`Another instance of Leon's new artwork. Don't fall too far or`
`the firebomb turrets will get you. Although sparsely decorated,`
`there is lots of ammo and it looks like a fun, balanced level.`
`Way to go Leon!`

`10. Cistern (cistern.spe) by Leon`

`A sewer occupies the bottom portion of this level, while the`
`midsection has respawning POWER_FLY items that make getting`
`around a breeze. Like Leon's other levels, he has a gratuitous`
`amount of frisbees, rockets, and grenades. Especially here,`
`the grenades are a handy weapon for drop-in attacks.`

`Medium Levels`

`1. Spacy Medium DM (spacymed.spe) by /Messiah\`

`This is not a larger version of Spacy Tiny DM. Vertically-`
`oriented level with invisibility. The emphasis is on sneaking`
`around. This one took a while... lots of attention to the`
`little details and sound effects.`

`2. Teardrop (teardrop.spe) by /Messiah\`

`Circle-shaped level with a smaller circle inside the bigger`
`one. At the bottom of each circle is flowing water that can`
`cause damage. Like the level before it, the POWER_SNEAKY can`
`come in handy. Plenty of room for strategic attacks here.`

`3. Aquarius (aquarius.spe) by /Messiah\`

`A blueish level with some more water. This is a level for`
`people who like to fly, and for people who don't mind having`
`a bunch of PUSHER arrows push them everywhere. There's one`
`single switch near the top of the level that affects access`
`all over the map, as well as switching on and off a pair of`
`gun turrets. Designed by my roommate, created by me. :)`

`4. Mad Race (madrace.spe) by /Messiah\`

`You'll want to try this level! It's centered around three`
`POWER_FAST items, and the only other objects are Hearts and`
`Napalm. :) Run fast, torch your opponents, and watch out for`
`the lightning. Way different from the other levels in fRaBs.`

`5. Laaz Rockit (laazrckt.spe) by /Messiah\`

`Named after an old metal band, this level has rockets and`
`frisbee ammo everywhere, and only a pinch of lightsaber. Tip:`
`If someone camps near the lightsaber ammo, remember that the`
`rockets have longer range than any other weapon.`

`6. Medium Bugs (bugsmed.spe) by /Messiah\`

`This is about half of the original Bugs level, with rearranged`
`ammunition. A bit smaller than the other medium levels.`

`7. 00DM (00dm.spe) by /Messiah\`

`Ever played a Quake deathmatch at the 'difficulty select'`
`level? You've got the idea here then. :)`

`Large Levels`

`1. Bugs (bugs.spe) by /Messiah\`

`This is THE deathmatch level. Every power item is included.`
`There's a few secrets, and lots of space (most of it vertical)`
`to cover. Features respawning ROB1s... make sure you kill them,`
`because you'll like what you find if you get to their source. :)`
`Also, there's some secrets on the highest ceiling... keep shooting`
`the ceiling, and wait at the very bottom of the level for that`
`slowly-respawning POWER_FLY.`

`2. Limestone (limeston.spe) by /Messiah\`

`A maze of caves. The POWER_FAST will do you well to get the other`
`power items. Keep in mind that the further in the mine you go down,`
`the easier it will be to get back up to the top... it's a bit of`
`a paradox. :)`

`3. JDM3 (jdm3.spe) by /Messiah\`

`My first shot at a deathmatch level. It centers around the`
`POWER_FLY object, but there is also a POWER_HEALTH and a`
`POWER_SNEAKY. The POWER_FLY is the key to controlling the`
`level, so be quick.`

Justin Cassidy
messiah15@dog.com