The Required Files
The install for any add on bot to make a multiplayer game into a singleplayer game is often confusing.
The official files changed in 2019, the guide for the official files worked and now they don't.
I cannot recomend the offical installer anymore and in 2023 I have deleted it.
Please use my installer from my website dodbits as it is a lot quicker than the official complicated and now broken guide.
Link to an easy install method (DoD:S only) Day of Defeat Source RCBot2 installer by INsane...
https://www.dodbits.com/dods/index.php/downloads/download/43-rcbot2-installation-packages/188-day-of-defeat-source-rcbot2-installer
You will note that sits in a section of the dodbits downloads that also has map pack links...
https://www.dodbits.com/dods/index.php/downloads/category/43-rcbot2-installation-packages
It's a good idea to bookmark that page, come back once in a while because...
1. Maps are not in the installer... they are nearly 2GB now.
2. If RCBot2 updates you can download a smaller release... makes sense?
3. Only map pack 1 and 2 are there now (Dec 2023) but there will be further map packs.
The Installation Of The RCBot2 Program
Before we start you need the 2023 RCBot2 installer from my website, download link. [www.dodbits.com]
Also, on the website is a page that shows how to get Day of Defeat:Source and install RCBot2 [www.dodbits.com] ,you do need Day of Defeat:Source to play with this bot.
The small amount of reading before we install is based on all the comments below, things do go wrong so... let's do some checks first.
If it starts to go wrong the forementioned web page also has a FAQ and a help section. [www.dodbits.com]
The most common issue - where your files are. You may have a problem.The most common issue is not setting the correct address for the files in the installer.
Step 6 below is where most go wrong.
That is covered in depth in help item 2. [www.dodbits.com]
That help section may be important to read for some BEFORE INSTALL
That is, if you have installed Day of Defeat:Source on a C: drive, then moved it with the technique that Steam describes here.
If you used that "Moving a Steam Installation and Games" technique from Steam just be aware that steam may not have updated your registry settings.
It's important as the installer reads your registry and "suggests" it found your dod folder.
It may have only found your old address as Steam just didn't update it when you moved your game install.
I have a feeling a lot would have moved to a new drive after installing on the C drive and running out of space.
The help item Section 2 [www.dodbits.com] offers two methods to fix.
The quickest is editing the registry and fixing that for good but also ... dangerous for most people. Don't know what "regedit" is? In that case use Method 1.
Method 1 is uninstalling and reinstalling DoD:S. That fixes it (the registry address error) the same way, it just takes longer.
Have I got this wrong registry address issue?For players who have not moved the game after installing... you should be ok to start setting up. If you have Day of Defeat on another drive and Steam on the C:drive you should be fine.
If you are not sure, or have moved the game on to another drive, you should really check now.
To check where your game folder address really is right-click the game icon in the Steam Library - click Manage - Browse local Files.
After that a Windows explorer window will pop up.
You will see a "dod" folder. Double-Click on it.
The dod file address is correct for the installer.
You can now right-click in the address bar and "Copy address as text". (see image below)
Place that in a new text document, you can use that to check in step 6 later.
One more thing, if you did install in the wrong place, the installer will make an entry in your Windows Settings - Apps - Installed Apps. Use that as it knows where files were put and cleans all the files up.
Sorry about all that preparation but installing hundreds of files in the wrong place is a pain to clean up.
A minute or two reading now... is best.
Step 1. Unzip the downloaded zip file wherever you placed it.
Double-click on the application "Setup RCBot2 for Day of Defeat Source"
Step 2. You will likely get a warning, select “More info” link then the “Run anyway” button.
Step 3. The normal UAC nag box may come up... select “YES”
Step 4. Select “Next>”
Step 5. Read this as there are links to pages for support maps, you can look at the links, bookmark them to install more maps later.... for now Select “I Agree”
Step 6. This next step is where things can go wrong for those that have a different drive other than the C drive or have some fancy folder.
The installer application needs to find a “dod” folder. On a C drive install that is...
64 Bit - C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Day of Defeat Source\dod
32 Bit - C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\Day of Defeat Source\dod
Your Steam could be on another drive... but that's not important. These are game files.
What is critical is where your "dod" folder is like a typical D: drive install might look like this...
D:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Day of Defeat Source\dod
There are many different and unique drives and folders,
You need to check that yourself and,
It must end in the "dod" folder.
If it does not automatically find it, browse to your “dod” folder in the drive and location you installed Day of Defeat:Source game files.
The below image is correct for Day of Defeat:Source that was installed on the D drive
The point is here, the installer needs to find your "dod" game files and it needs a correct folder set.
Step 7. Click “Install” then “Finish” on the last screen. It will install the files and make 2 desktop shortcuts...
The first desktop shortcut "RCBot2 Day of Defeat Source" is made on your desktop to run the game. This is important as a local Day of Defeat:Source server needs to be in the “insecure” mode for the RCBot2 MetaMod plugin to work.
The second icon "RCBotProfiles" is for advanced settings of the bots, read below - "To Configure the Bots." It's not required right now.
Step 8. We can test it now.
1. Click on the "RCBot2 Day of Defeat Source" desktop icon
2. Select a map, run it and the bots will start.
3. The bots are set for a 32 player server.
If you want to adjust the default 32 player setting it's simple.
Start Day of Defeat: Source
In the "Create Server" panel "Sever" tab set your map to play.
In the same "Create Server" panel go to the tab "Game"
Adjust "Max. players" setting to what you want, 1-32 players.
Press the "Start" button.
The command that game panel uses by the way is a normal Valve "maxplayers" command, only set that before loading a map not during a game.
Don't forget.... this installs a default set of files and waypoints for the bots and no extra maps.
Every now and again new maps and waypoints are made you can add them manually.
Make sure you visit the dodbits page for upgraded waypoints and a large map download if custom maps are your thing....
Known RCBot2 waypoints and Map Downloads...
https://www.dodbits.com/dods/index.php/dods/rcbot2-for-dod-s/known-rcbot2-waypoints-and-map-downloads
For most people this will be the end of the installation and you can stop here.
If you want to learn more or something didn't go right. Read on.
A Word About Launch Options, VAC And Steam URL Shortcuts.
Step 9. In step 7 note we talk of 2 desktop shortcuts the installer makes.
One desktop shortcut is for playing and the other for adjusting the bot program.
This bot program needs an “insecure” command to run correctly, it's a metamod plugin.
You may delete the shortcut accidentally later, or it simply does not work.
Then you place "-insecure" in your Steam Library launch options.
This used to be easy, just make a shortcut from the Steam Library and put in the "URL" of the shortcut...
steam://rungameid/300 -novid -insecure
That doesn't work anymore.
Placing in launch options to steam URL addresses is not allowed it's too open to abuse.[www.bleepingcomputer.com]
Here is what the (launch options) commands do...
-novid
This is just a normal command most players put in, it will stop the Valve intro’ screen (annoying short video) from running and skip directly to the game. It's optional and does not affect the RCBot2 files at all.
I included it in your shortcut because most new players don't know about it and really like it... may as well put it in now if you are new to this game.
-insecure
This is a command to start the server without Valve Anti-Cheat. This command is critical for the RCBot2 files to start and run.
So now your Day of Defeat:Source can start the RCBot2 files you are good to go for a local single player mode.
Why use desktop shortcuts to start RCBot2?
Because if you place "-insecure" in your Steam Library shortcut and you intend playing on both secure servers (VAC enabled) and use RCBot2 on a LAN (insecure server via the -insecure in your launch options), you will see this message...
What happens if you try and join a VAC enabled server with "-insecure" in your launch options?
Not much, apart from not being able to join a multiplayer game.
1. You will NOT get a VAC ban.
2. You will NOT be able to join a VAC enabled server.
3. You CAN join a VAC disabled server.
What will happen is you will just get an error message telling your game is in insecure mode.
It's because you have that "-insecure" in your Steam Library - Properties - general - "Launch Options".
If it's there remove it for Multiplayer and only start RCBot2 via a desktop shortcut.
Then go to the General - Launch Options input area and delete "-insecure".
So now you can connect to an online server again.
If for some reason your RCBot2 desktop shortcut does not work see the help issue on my website. [www.dodbits.com]
Configure The Bot Files. Skill Levels And Other Commands.
Step 10. To configure the bot files you can use the second shortcut called "RCBotProfiles".
Edit 4th Oct 2023 and update 28 Dec 2023:
This entire section was about the tool that comes with RCBot2 called “RCBotProfiles.exe” .
Update 28th Dec 2023 -
Confirmed by tests - Stop using “RCBotProfiles.exe” for Version 1.51.
If you have the desktop shortcut "RCBotProfiles" from the older installs, delete it.
Start RCBot2 with the other desktop shortcut "RCBot2 Day of Defeat Source"
The tool "RCBotProfiles.exe" did have some minor issues in RCBot2 1.3 but now in this new version will not even launch RCBot2 and not find MetaMod.
I know that this tool was popular and yes, you can use some of it but it now has too many errors.
To replace what the “RCBotProfiles.exe” tool used to do I recommend you stop here in the guide and...
Visit the dodbits RCBot2 section.[www.dodbits.com]
Read why you shouldn't use “RCBotProfiles.exe” Link here.[www.dodbits.com]
Read the section on manually editing the config.ini file[www.dodbits.com] , and replace the config.ini in dod\addons\rcbot2\config with the one at the bottom of that page.
For the bot profiles read this page on doing that manually[www.dodbits.com] too. The method using “RCBotProfiles.exe” does not produce valid files, just edit them manually.
Sorry about this but the official RCBot2 download and manual in the latest 2023 version is plain wrong.
You will see that reading the links provided. I will report this to the GitHub group.
Final Items To Be Aware Of - Maps And Waypoints.
Step 11. There are other items to cover for RCBot2, it depends on how far you want to go.
There is the ability to waypoint maps. There is a guide to waypointing in the waypointing tab.
That is, place in the paths that alter the bots behaviour and give them the ability to carry out a planned attack on that map.
You can read all about those in this folder…
<your drive: your folder>\steamapps\Day of Defeat Source\dod\rcbot2\manual
Step 12. A final word… on waypoints, just because you have a bot system now and can play most maps it does not mean you can play all maps, especially a lot of custom maps.
Unlike CS:GO that can make waypoints automatically, for this older type of bot program you not only need the map but also the waypoint files for that map.
The location of the waypoint files in 2023 are in…
<your drive: your folder>\steamapps\common\Day of Defeat Source\dod\rcbot2\waypoints\dod
That's also a good list to use and find the other custom maps you may enjoy in a single player mode beside the standard maps.
There are not too many videos or help out there but it's similar to old SturmBot and ShrikeBot systems for the goldsource Half - Life 1 dod methods.
YouTuber "JustBad" ...
YouTuber "[APG]RoboCop[CL]" has a playlist mostly for TF2...
But he does have one on Day of Defeat:Source....
There are a few map download sites you can use to find maps for DoD:s.
l recommend you visit my RCBot2 page for waypoint and map support every now and again in case I find more maps and their waypoints.
https://www.dodbits.com/dods/index.php/dods/rcbot2-for-dod-s/known-rcbot2-waypoints-and-map-downloads
Update November 2023... dodbits.com has a growing RCBot2 section...
dodbits RCBot2 support pages[www.dodbits.com]
That now includes a waypointing guide.[www.dodbits.com]
I do have a set of binds for waypointing with RCBot2. They certainly do help while you are learning how to waypoint. download them here.[www.dodbits.com]
What they do is add an autoexec.cfg file in dod\cfg. It adds binds to your Keypad keys and has an image file you can print out to remember what key does what and what command that key will produce.
There is a YouTube playlist that uses those binds...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3iM0fNimcI&list=PLexa8eTVMg8AuVWHVPVcdwUuqhCpG9phx&ab_channel=dodbits
This game isn’t dead… not with these bots running around your local server.
Thanks to Cheeseh who created RCBot2 and others like [APG]RoboCop[CL] ( [APG]RoboCop[CL] ) who maintains RCBot2.
Visit the forums and say thanks[rcbot.bots-united.com] , use it to ask questions if you are thinking of waypointing a map.
There is a RCBot2 Steam group RCBot2 Steam group
A discord group (so I am told) is the best place to ask questions.
There may be changes to this guide as time rolls on, a special thanks to all the persons reporting their many and various issues in the comments below.
Without your input I have no idea what the problems are... you are awesome, this one is for you.
INsane - http://www.dodbits.com/dods/index.php
Source: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1757780901
More Day of Defeat: Source guilds
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- Clases de Personaje y Armas
- Bots para Day of Defeat Source
- Day of Defeat: Src +
- Simple guide to installing mods for Day of Defeat: Source
- Installing Custom Skins
- HOW TO OPEN THE GAME
- Gua Bsica, Clases, y Mapas del Day of Defeat Source
- Combat Engineer Achievement
- Hail Mary Achievement