Multiplayer Game

First of all, one of the players needs to host a game, to do so, he must run the MPSERVER.exe found in the main Commandos BEL or BTCOD folder:

The submenu " MULTIPLAYER GAME" can be found in the "NEW GAME" menu in Commandos. This option allows you to connect to a network game or Internet server that is awaiting the arrival of new players.  In order to be able to play a multiplayer game, there must be a computer in the network that is acting as the Server. To act as server, a computer must be running the Multiplayer Server application that is provided in the Commandos Start Menu folder. This program is accessible from the Start menu next to the game, and is called "Multiplayer server".

MPSERVER.EXE

This executable, when ran, will create a dedicated commandos game on that system.  A user can play on this system, but unless the system is a PII 300/ 64MB Ram system, play will be slow.  You will be given an IP address.  This in turn is given to clients to enter when prompted in the game.

Users will connect to the server.  There is a PING (latency) limitation of 300ms.  If a client attempts to connect with a higher ping, they will be rejected.  Lowering this limit will speed the game.  Increasing it will probably slow the game, but allow more users.  If you play Commandos with high latency, you will see the flashing NETWORK CABLE

The easiest way to change the ping limit is to RIGHT CLICK on the mpserver.exe file, and create a shortcut.
Then right click on this shortcut and choose PROPERTIES.    Then add the -ping XXX command. (XXX is the desired limit)

e.g. mpserver.exe -ping 200

When running Multiplayer Server, a window will display the IP address of the computer in which the application is running. Those players who wish to join a new game session with that computer, as a server must know this address and specify it when connecting.  The first person who connects to the server will be the HOST for that game.  The Host specifics mission details for the game.

As soon as a game server computer is running, following these steps can create a multiplayer session:

FIRST STEP: the players connect to the server

When a player selects " MULTIPLAYER GAME " from the "NEW GAME " submenu in Commandos, the following window will be displayed:

Select server
The option "SERVER IP ADDRESS" permits you to indicate the IP address of the server (you must type it in). As we have seen above, this is the address shown by the Commandos program Multiplayer Server when it is run in the computer that will be used as the server. When this option is selected for the first time, the address is displayed as IP 0.0.0.0.  Select the IP option and press Enter to type in the Host IP address. Once you have typed one in, the address will be kept in a configuration file and will be set by default each time you enter Commandos. If in another game session, the server should change, all the players will need to re-enter the new IP address before connecting.

Select player name
In the option "PLAYER NAME" each player will enter a name or nickname that identifies him. This name will appear later on the list of connected players and under the photos of the soldiers in the Commandos selection screen. The first time you will see DEFAULT as the name of the player, but once you have typed in a name, it will be kept in a configuration file and will be the default name each time you start Commandos. If two different players were to use the same name, the game server would accept this, but this is a situation that should be avoided.

Connection to the server and player inscription
The option "CONNECT TO GAME SERVER" will check to see whether a game session has begun in the server and will attempt to join it. The first player to connect to the server will be considered from then on as the Master, and his menus will have some additional options. In any case, once a player has activated the option "CONNECT TO GAME SERVER", the following menu will appear in his computer:

In the computer of the Master player (the first player to connect) the word MASTER will be displayed to the right of the word "Players", and in the last line there will be a Select mission button which is not available to the other players.

It is only possible to join a Multiplayer session while the Master is in the screen called "Players". Once the Master has selected a mission by using the Select mission option, the group of players will be closed and it will no longer be possible to join that game session.

If at the time the option "CONNECT TO GAME SERVER" is activated, the program Multiplayer Server is not running in the server, or the sign-up phase for players has finished, the "close session" warning will appear in the message window.

The line labeled "Players" is informative and shows how many players are connected to this game. Their names appear on the list that is displayed below "Players", which means that the number of players is equal to the number of names that appear on that list. When it is the Master who enters the game, the number of players shown is 1 and on the list there will be just his name.

Next, you will see a chat box for dialogue among the players, followed by a line on which each player can write his own messages. When someone, from his computer, sends a message (and ends that message by pressing Enter), his phrase will appear on the player message list, proceeded by the name (or nickname) of the transmitting player. In this stage, for example, the Master can use the message window to warn everyone that he is about to select a Mission.

During the player sign-up phase, any player may use the option "Exit" to disconnect from the network game and return to the Main Menu. This will remove him from the list as a player in this game session. If it is the Master who does this, then another connected player will inherit this role.

Finally, the option "Select mission", only available in the Master's computer, closes the player admissions phase and begin the next phase: selecting the mission.

System Messages during a network game session
The message window will also display, in all network game menus, the messages issued by the system that will have a different color than the players' messages. These messages include, for example, those that advise of the success or failure of a mission. When any of these circumstances occurs, in all computers there will appear a menu window with the message issued by the system in the list of messages.

Second step: the Master selects a mission
When the Master considers that there are enough players and selects the option "Select mission", the following menu will appear in all the computers.

The new menu will show on the top line the number of players that are connected and how many missions can be selected. Then it shows a list of the available missions. These missions will be the ones in which there are at least as many allied soldiers assigned, as there are players involved.

The message exchange window is still on display in this menu so that it is possible for players to communicate with each other during this stage. Just as in the previous menu, all the players can still select the option "Exit" to leave the game session, although it will no longer be possible for new players to join.

Finally, the option "Accept mission", only available to the Master, closes the mission selection stage and moves on to the next one, which is the selection of the Commandos. The mission that has been selected by the Master from among the available missions will be loaded in the computers of all the players, and will then proceed to the next screen.

Third step: the players select their commandos
Once the mission has been selected, a screen like this one will appear in all computers:
This is the last step before starting to play. The message exchange window is still on display in this menu so that it is still possible for players to communicate with each other during this stage.

Now you will see a gallery of photographs of the Commandos who participate in the selected mission. When a player clicks on one of the photographs, his name will be displayed under that portrait. This soldier will now "belong" to that player, and will be controlled by him during the game (the other players will not be able to give him orders). A second click on a character that "belongs" to you will cancel your selection, leaving the character free to be selected by any of the other players in the game.

A player will only be allowed to select the number of Commandos to which he is "entitled". For example: If there are 4 players and 4 characters, then each player will have the right to one character. If, however, there are 4 players and 5 Commandos, one of the players may select two characters, but once this happens, the other players will only be able to select one.

Once all the characters have been assigned to a player, and only then, will the Master be able to select the option "Continue" (an option that is only available to the Master). The Master also has the exclusive option "Select mission", which allows him to return to the mission selection window.

When the Master selects the option "Continue", the Multiplayer game will begin. Have Fun!