Visit the KOTS Website At: http://www.planetquake.com/kots
Visit the KOTS Website At: http://www.planetquake.com/kots
Email questions/comment to: Norb
VERY IMPORTANT - you can't play KOTS unless you do the following:
You need a password and this is the hardest part, well the only hard part, about playing KOTS, the password. The best way to do this is to edit your config. If you don't have a config, create one. There are a lot of tutorials out there for doing this. You will need to add the following line to your config:
set kots_password yourpass u
This will NOT mess up other mods. So you can add this to your regular config. You need to replace 'yourpass' with your own unique password. This is how we track your stats and make sure that no one else uses your name on the server. Once you play KOTS on a server, we will not let anyone else use that name on that server without the password. What's the 'u' for? Well it tells QuakeII that this is a user variable and it will send it to the server, for us to read and add to your data file. If you do not do this, you will not be able to play, we won't let you in. If you don't do this in your config, you can type it in at the console once your in the game. But you have to type it twice. For some reason it is not sent to the server until you type it twice once your in the game. But that's all you have to do. Don't forget. You will definately want to add this to your config, take my word, it's much easier and you can forget about it. No spaces in your password please.
Added for latest version: Passwords are optional. But if you don't set one up, someone else can play as you. I did this for the newbie who just wants to try KOTS out. So you can have a blank password now. It will remain a blank password until you set one, just follow the directions above to set one.
use tball - throw a teleportation ball
use tball self - explode a teleportation ball
use mrox - use multiple rockets
thrust on - turn on jetpack thrust
thrust off - turn off jetpack thrust
cloak - toggle cloaking
tball - A tball is a teleportation ball, it works like a grenade, but when it explodes it creates a teleportation field. Everyone in the field get teleported to a random spawn point.
mrox - These are rocket launcher upgrades. When used, they countdown like a quad damage but for 60 seconds. While in use you will fire three rockets instead of one.
thrust - This is a level super power, meaning that you can't use it until you reach that level (see levels). When activated you will be able to fly.
cloak - This is also a level super power. When activated your character will become cloaked whenever they are still. Be carefull, this super power uses cells as energy.
What is King of the Server (KOTS)?
Well it's a lot of things:
KOTS is a server side only mod. That means that clients don't have to download anything. Well, that's not absolutely true. If the server that you're playing on is running maps that aren't part of the QuakeII release, then you'll have to download them. Any good server admin is going to provide a means or a link to get the maps that they're running on their server.
KOTS is deathmatch. If other mod developers want to add KOTS support to their mods, they can contact me. It's should not be too hard for me to whip something up that is compatible. But for now, if you join a KOTS server, prepare to frag.
First it's a way to track your progress against other players on the same server. From the first moment that you start playing KOTS, your progress is tracked and saved. We keep track of your kills, how many times your killed and we give you a score based on a few different factors. You lose points when you die, dying is bad. You gain points when you frag, fraggin is good. Score is calculate based on how much health you removed from the target to kill them. So if you walk into a room where two players have been going at it and wipe them both out, you're not going to get a lot of points, you didn't have to do much to kill them, but if you are in a huge fight and bring someone from 100 health to death, your going to get a bunch of points. One more factor is figured in your score, if you have very few points, it's easier to get points. As you get a higher score, points are harder to earn.
How do we do this? Well, first you need a password and this is the hardest part, well the only hard part, about playing KOTS, the password. The best way to do this is to edit your config. If you don't have a config, create one. There are a lot of tutorials out there for doing this. You will need to add the following line to your config:
set kots_password yourpass u
This will NOT mess up other mods. So you can add this to your regular config. You need to replace 'yourpass' with your own unique password. This is how we track your stats and make sure that no one else uses your name on the server. Once you play KOTS on a server, we will not let anyone else use that name on that server without the password. What's the 'u' for? Well it tells QuakeII that this is a user variable and it will send it to the server, for us to read and add to your data file. If you do not do this, you will not be able to play, we won't let you in. If you don't do this in your config, you can type it in at the console once your in the game. But you have to type it twice. For some reason it is not sent to the server until you type it twice once your in the game. But that's all you have to do. Don't forget. You will definately want to add this to your config, take my word, it's much easier and you can forget about it. No spaces in your password please.
Added for latest version: Passwords are optional. But if you don't set one up, someone else can play as you. I did this for the newbie who just wants to try KOTS out. So you can have a blank password now. It will remain a blank password until you set one, just follow the directions above to set one.
How do you see your ranking against other players? We provide a tool for Server admins to run that will generate an HTML page showing the rankings. This tool is very easy to use and basically reads all of the player files and ranks them against each other. Your Server Admin will have to provide you with their website so that you can go there and view your stats. I post the ranking from my server on this website every day. I will also post the results from any Admin who wants me too, or doesn't have their own website.
What else is KOTS? Well there is an option in KOTS to make it a little like an RPG, in that you start weak and gain powers as you gain experience. So what we have done is create levels at certain amounts of score. There are ten levels and each has their own special ability that you will get.
So as you gain levels, you get these cool powers and can use them. You start with 100 health at level 0 and gain 100 more health with each level. So what about level 0, well there are two things that we have put in to help you out. Power armor is more effective at Level 0 and you gain more points for health removed at level 0. The points needed to get to the next level get increasingly harder. Level 1 only requires 200 points and Level 2 requires 500, Level 3 1000, etc.
Death penalities also depend on level. If you get fragged by someone your own level, you lose two points. By someone of a higher level, you lose 0 points (hey they have more abilities). But if you get fragged by someone a lower level then you, you lose points dependent on how many levels below you they are.
This provides the ability that I really like, to build up your character. To make them better. Sure you start out really wimpy, but if you stick it out and build your character up, look what you get!
The KOTS Global Data Server (GDS) is one server on the internet that the KOTS mods communicate with. When you set up KOTS, go into the server.cfg file shipped in the zip and you will see two variable for the server, the password and the ip. Comment both of these out if you are running on a lan or do not wish to use the GDS.
What the GDS does is store all client data. So that when a player switches from one KOTS server to another, they keep their stats, especially their score which determines their level. It also allows us to rank all KOTS players across all servers.
Norb - Coding, Web Site
Mother - Coding
Inferno - Artwork
Lt. JonMaster - Testing