Ask a pony, get an answer

[sparklepony]

Hey guys I have noticed a few threads kicking about asking about various issues with either gameplay or how to dual patch or what have you, so sparklepony decided "why not start a one stop help thread?" So what I am attempting with this thread is to 1. Create a one stop shop for troubleshooting anything to do with call of duty 2. answer any questions that you may have of me

 

If you feel that you have expertise in a subject that was posted in this thread, or just want to show off your knowledge (even to prove my answers wrong) please feel free to contribute I want to keep this thread alive as long as possible to help as many people (or robots) as I can

 

So I guess I'll start off the thread with a question as kind of an example while also picking what I feel is an important and informative topic.

 

**please note that the questions and topics of this thread should be kept objective, rather than subjective, questions like "what gun is best?" are impossible to answer definitively**

 

 

and now to stop this banter and get on with the thread!

 

 

 

What's a config and how can I use it to improve my gameplay?

 

A config is a text file found in your game folder that has a changelog of all of your settings and loads them every time you enter a game. The way that you can use this config to your advantage and improve your game is to change it to your liking.

 

But the first line of my config says "generated by Call of Duty, do not modify"

 

Just pretend it doesn't

 

Now the goal of writing your config is to get the right "feel" for your playstyle while also getting the maximum performance out of it, ideally you want to be able to get 125, 200 or 250 frames per second while playing as these plateaus cause various unintended mechanics to your gameplay that you can use to your advantage, find the one that your computer can most comfortably reach, and lock your framerate using the command "com_maxfps 250" (change the 250 to 200 or 125 based on your needs)

 

 

there's just no way I can hit 125 FPS let alone 250, and I have my game at the lowest graphics settings

 

 

I'm glad you brought that up, because you are what the french would call, wrong, my good sir.

 

the in game options for graphics are very limited and will not let you do the bulk of the things that can give you that final boost to your FPS plateau.

 

Do you really need to see those shells as they fall from your gun? didn't think so, seta cg_brass "0" should do the trick for you

 

how often do you think man I really think that the sun and details on the walls add to this game? probably never so try using these commands

 

 

seta r_drawDecals "0"

seta r_drawSun "0"

seta r_drawWater "0"

 

Say goodbye to detailed player models and grass with these commands

 

 

seta r_lodScaleRigid "4"

seta r_lodScaleSkinned "4"

 

 

shiny guns are pretty, but, you guessed it, graphics lag seta r_specular "0"

 

Ok I took all your advice where's my Über FPS?

 

The last thing you should do is lower your screen resolution....significantly, until you have your desired FPS, I play on a 1920x1080 screen but if you look in my config

 

seta r_mode "1280x1024"

 

 

So now that we have covered the basics of FPS, lets talk hit registry

 

OMG your still talking?

 

yes

 

Fine tell me about my hit reg

 

max packets is the amount of info that you send to the server, you want to keep this as high as you can without compromising your ping, if possible use seta cl_maxpackets "100"

 

But all the websites i checked gave me a "magic number" to set this at, what's that about?

 

Thats all just a bunch of phooey, the higher you can go, the better simple as that

 

edit: also for reg you will want to input /snaps 30

 

 

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That's about as much detail as I am going to go into for the time being, I hope that with what I wrote someone will find it helpful (or even take the time to read that much) and if you didn't find it helpful, feel free to ask, especially about things to do with writing configs/maxing your fps/ponies

 

I anxiously await your questions/tidbits of information that you have/can give about CoD4 and can't wait to answer and help any way I can.

 

and remember, sparklepony #1 10-8 24/7"

Edited January 10, 2012 by sparklepony

[UT_ski_bum]

Hey Sparkle! That is a great start to a "Teach me to be 1337 like pony article"

[LainTime/Bazingaa^_-]

Can you do all this in-game using the console?

And what is your computer setup?

[sparklepony]

This is all usable in game through console, just instead of using seta before the command use a slash like seta cl_maxpackets "100" would be entered as /cl_maxpackets 100 the reason things say seta is because I was copying them straight from my config

I know more of these codes as well if you guys want them, but a lot of stuff I have in my config is promod only

 

as for my computer set up it is listed on my xfire http://www.xfire.com/profile/penguinbeer/

 

but as a summary I'm running a quad core AMD with 8gigs of RAM and a GTX 460 graphics card

Edited January 10, 2012 by sparklepony

[LainTime/Bazingaa^_-]

Okay thanks! I have my fps set to 125 but I will try using your tip.

Can I copy the config file as a backup and use it if I don't like the configs? Or I can just make a new profile and try it out before I use it on my main profile! But thanks for the tip and I hope it can improve my gameplay

[sparklepony]

You could probably just copy your current config to your desktop and keep it for back up, I always have a copy of my latest config on my desktop so that even if I uninstall CoD I have a copy, that thing has been three years in the making I don't want to lose it. For the most part with these changes you won't notice too much, grass will disappear when you get far away from it (be careful cuz grenades do too!) but none of these changes I mentioned are really that overwhelmingly noticeable (except for the resolution change) if you wanted to go as hardcore into it as I did with removing things to squeeze out max performance I can show you how to take the camo off of your guns even

 

Just as an example...this is what I see on my screen (that weapon has blue tiger camo on it in the pic)

 

Edited January 10, 2012 by sparklepony

[LainTime/Bazingaa^_-]

Nice! But I don't think I will go that hardcore to remove the camo

Will try some of these things later when I get home

[Funksdead]

My personal feelings on cfg modding is not good. It is just a step away from hacking if you ask me. I know there are plenty that do it. It can and does give a unfair advantage. that is undeniable or else you would not be doing it. I can proudly say I run 100% stock install. When you take away light, shadows, moving grass and debris it is not fair to other players. If you want to play that way you stick to pro-mod settings and pro mod servers.

"....while playing as these plateaus cause various unintended mechanics to your gameplay that you can use to your advantage...."

 

Those that say well I need to do it because my PC wont run it ....really ?? The requirements are not that high and you, Sparkle, definitely do not need to do anything with the PC you are using. I am sure most modders are accomplished players and have no need for this. Meh, if it makes you feel better do it then cry afterwards when i still own most of your asses.... So all you modders keep modding and I will keep putting you to sleep.

[rolf]

I agree with Funk. One of the most annoying things in my opinion r_lodScaleRigid. It's like aimingboxes on counterstrike, modifying player textures that everyone is orange, things like that. Sure, it is possible in the game, but it gives an unfair advantage.

 

 

Can't we get punkbuster cvar restrictions on some semi-hacks?

[sparklepony]

Funk, you are right, I don't need to do any of this, as I can run CoD4 at 125 FPS max settings, but even if you don't agree with my use of graphical interface changes there is no denying that commands to give you better reg are in no way detrimental to the game and in fact I find it ridiculous that the game designers didn't automatically do things like setting snaps at 30. But The point of using these configs over stock isn't about removing textures to make the game easier to play, in fact I have a harder time seeing with my config than I do stock, the whole reason these configs came about is that at LANs, everyone uses the same computers, so you have to make a config that will run at either 100/125/200/250 FPS because in a first person shooter, every frame counts, one lost frame can be the one that makes you skip over your target rather than shooting him.

 

 

Can't we get punkbuster cvar restrictions on some semi-hacks?

 

If you are using the standard cvar restrictions, then I have no issues with you guys implementing them, with the touch of two toggles, my config is 100% competition approved and legal.

 

But all in all I see this issue the same way I see addons in WoW...some players refuse to use them saying that "you can raid just fine with stock ui" while I load my screen up with them, because the way I see it, the devs left these commands unlocked for a reason, and that reason was to let you customize your game the way that you want. If this was "borderline cheating" then the commands would have probably been locked.

 

But in the end it's all a personal choice, and I like the smooth flowing feel of my config, while others like the heavy soldier feel of the stock one.

[rolf]

About that r_lodScaleRigid, it is by more than one servers considered 'not allowed'. I'm not saying it's an hack, but if you watch the following video you'll agree it's at least such that everyone is supposed to have the same. Because it gives an unfair advantage.

 

And yes, with PB there is a possibility to deny changing values; including r_lodScaleRigid. But for some servers, binding shooting to a scroll wheel can be avoided to in that way, or whatever.

 

(not embedded for a reason)

[Funksdead]

I agree about equal settings for lan competitions and promod gaming and things of that nature. where everyone is using it thats fine. But a player I will use you for example is not dealing with the same issues I am using a stock config. Flying debris, leaves, shadows, light all are affected by modding the cfg. Yes, you are correct that sometimes the cfg is actually worse but once it is tweaked to your needs and styles its a advantage. I have played enuff shooters to know when a talented player has done some config mods to take it to the next level. Thats when i say if thats how you want to do it then go play pro mod exclusively where all are close to running the same style cfg mods. remember there is nothing wrong, technically speaking, with what you and others do. Moral corruption is what you need to deal with....lol. We have know intentions of running any cvar blockers. Most people that go out looking for cfg mods need them because either they have a PC from 1998 or they actually are not a good player. My view is this:

Good player with modded cfg dangerous

Bad player with modded cfg still bad player

[TuNNel-Rat]

About that r_lodScaleRigid, it is by more than one servers considered 'not allowed'. I'm not saying it's an hack, but if you watch the following video you'll agree it's at least such that everyone is supposed to have the same. Because it gives an unfair advantage.

 

And yes, with PB there is a possibility to deny changing values; including r_lodScaleRigid. But for some servers, binding shooting to a scroll wheel can be avoided to in that way, or whatever.

 

(not embedded for a reason)

A picture says 1000 words but that video tells it all. Agree with Funk too

[sparklepony]

if I could use stock cfg and know 100% that im not going to get frame drop, miss that next jump and die, I probably would

 

But I do agree with you funk, a bad player is a bad player, no matter what they do to their cfg, it's like an F1 driver in a beater against an idiot in a nice car, the F1 driver is still going to drive better

Edited January 11, 2012 by sparklepony

[Iceman24]

Well I have retracted my previous post on this subject. If the higher ups see that this level of config is not fair then I will support that desicion no matter what. Those who saw my previous post. I had a change of heart and Funk hit the nail on the head.

Edited January 11, 2012 by Iceman24