Manual

Back to Index

Starting Rival Species

To start up Rival Species,

• Open Half-Life
• Click "Custom Game"
• Select " WH40k:Rival Species"
• Click "Load".

Alternatively, to create a shortcut on your desktop,

• Right click on the desktop, select "New" form the popup menu
• Select "shortcut",
• Browse to HL.exe (usually in c:/sierra/half-life).
• Click next, type "Rival Species" as the name, then click finish. You will see a shortcut called Rival Species appear on your desktop with the Half Life logo
• Right click on the new shortcut and select "Properties" from the popup menu.
• In the target box, add "-game rspecies -console".   For example, mine currently looks like this "C:\SIERRA\Half-Life\hl.exe -console -game rspecies". You can also change the icon by click change icon, and browsing to the Terminator Cross icon in the Rival Species folder.

Changing Information

• From the main menu select "multiplayer"
• Click "controls" to change your controls
• Click "customize" to change your name (if you do not do this you will be named "Servitor")
• Graphics options can be changed from the "customize" button on the main menu.

Keys

Default Key	Console Function	Description
F4	respawn	Respawn after you've died
Q	specialmove	Special Move or Ability: varies depending on class (e.g. sprint for Berserker, fly for Assault Marine, deployment of heavy weapon)
F	use	Use items such as buttons and getting on and off your bike
M	classmenu	Brings up your current race's class menu
K	weaponmenu	Brings up the weapon menu for your class.

Finding a Rival Species Game Online

To find a Rival Species game online,

• On the main menu click the "multiplayer" button
• Select "Internet Game"
• Use the "filter" button. (Make sure no options are crossed, and then cross "are playing game")
•  Select "Rspecies" from the drop down menu
• Click the "filter" button
• Use"update" button to update your list of servers to match the filter.
• Select the server you want
• Click "join".

Alternatively, come to our IRC channel (#wh40k on Quakenet), and talk with people in there for a game. To get an IRC client, go to http://www.mirc.com/. There is also a link to a list of servers on the sidebar of the Rival Species homepage.

Entering Rival Species

When you join a game of Rival Species, the first thing you will be faced with a series of menus for selecting your team, class and weaponary. You can view information about a menu item by holding you cursor over it.  Clicking a menu item selects it.  There is a time limit of a few seconds for selecting your team, class and weapons. If you do not make selections within the time limit default selections if the cheapest class and weapons will be made for you.  Click the "Continue" button to leave the curent menu. Depending on the map that is being played, different teams, classes and weapons will be available to you, based on which ones the map author deemed best for the storyline/terrain of the map.

Rival Species is a round-based mod, which means that each game is split into sections.  You are given a limited number of points each round to spend on you class and weapons.  Unlike games such as Team Fortress or Day of Defeat, you must put serious thought into which class to choose. Some classes have more or better equipment available than others, and these will cost more points.  Try to choose a class which will tactically bolster your team, and not one that will only give YOU an advantage in combat.  You can see your team mates classes on the scorebaord. Next you will be faced with the weapon selection menu. This is probably where your personal style of play will come into effect the most. You will have access to different weapons depending on what class you selected in the previous stage, and each weapon costs a different amount. Again, it is probably best to try and bolster the efficiency of your team when selecting weapons. For instance, there is little point in a small team consisting of two Lascannon wielding Space Marines, as you will both be ripped to pieces in any kind of close combat. A fourth menu is available only to the team leaders (see bellow).

Playing The Game

Each round lasts until either all of one team have no respawns remaining, or the objective of the map (see the Map section for objectives) is completed. When a new round starts, each player has to choose their team, class and weapon(s) for this round.

As soon as a player has chosen their weapon(s) they are spawned, and are free to play as they will. , but don't worry, you can always bring the menus up again and choose a new class or weapon during the round (not advised at any time other than the start of the round, as it will eat up most if not all of your spawns later on!) Once free to move, it is really up to you what you do. You can either try to complete the objective or simply try and kill as many of the enemy as possible.

Features

There are certain features in the game which merit special attention.

Spawns	Depending on how many points you spent choosing your weapon and your class, you will have a certain number of respawns left (shown in the top right of the HUD). When you are killed (or hit the respawn button) you will use up one of these respawns, and will appear back at your base with full health, ammo, and the guns you last selected from the menu. If you die and run out of respawns before the end of the round, you will turn into a spectator, and will have to watch the rest of the round.
Team Leaders	(Captains, Warsmiths, Farseers...) are powerful characters, but generally cost many points. There can only be one per team. All Team Leaders can select what classes are available for the next round at the start of each round, meaning they can determine the tactical makeup of their team.  Since only a certain amount of classes are available the leader must choose thise classes best suited to the map or attacking the classes the enemy is expected to use.  Buttons on the Leader menu marked "Forbid" idicate that the corisponding class is currently allowed to be used, clicking a "Forbid" button forbids players from using that class and changes the button to "Allow".  Buttons on the Leader menu marked "Allow" indicate that the corisponding class currently cannot to be used.
Class Leaders	At the beginning of each round, the player with the highest score of each class will automatically become the class leader (Space Marine Sergeant, Chaos Aspiring Champion, Eldar Squad Leader or Exarch).  By staying within a certain radius to your leader your character is augmented with extra speed. When you enter and leave the radius a message will appear in the centre of your screen informing you of the event. Some class leaders also get access to special weaponry that is not available to the rest of their class.
Dreadnoughts(including Wraithlords)	Now fully implemented. Dreadnoughts are huge machines, several times the size of a man with heavy armour and weapons capable of wreaking carnage over a huge area. The Dreadnoughts of different teams are armed differently, though the functionality of each remains basically the same. They can be selected in the same way as any other class, but there is a limit on how many are available. Both weapon mounts are available at once, and can be used using the primary and secondary fire buttons. Dreadnoughts are very difficult to kill so they cost many points and generally only have one spawn.  However they can be susceptable to anti-tank weapons such as lascannons.
Bikes	Bike are available for certain classes as a weapon selection.  They are usefull for quickly getting to or from an objective, but manouvering a bike requires some practice.  If you decide to take a bike you may get off at any point by pushing the USE key. To get back on simply walk up to your bike and push the key again. This only works for your bike so you will not be able to get on any random bike left lying around by other players.
Jump Packs	These are only accessible to one class in each team (Assault Marines, Raptors and Swooping Hawks). Jump packs can be used to gain strategic advantages for your team (by using the speed and ability to fly over terrain) and also to give you a boost getting into close combat. To use a jump pack just hold down the specialmove key (default Q) key to fire the thrusters. This will give you a boost into the air for as long as you hold down the button. The only things limiting how much you can fly is the height of the map, and the amount of Energy you have (displayed on the bottom right of the HUD).  Once you run out of Energy don't worry, it will gradually recharge.
Heavy Weapons	These must be deployed to be used. Heavy weapons deploy automatically when you are wielding them and press the primary fire button or the specialmove key (default Q). Whiel you are deploying or deployed, your movement will be restricted.  Once deployed and be able to fire the heavy weapon. To "un-deploy" yourself, simply press the specialmove key again.  Heavy weapons are most accurate used when you are stationary.
Energy	Jumping drains your personnal Energy (as indicated by the red bar on the bottom right of the HUD).  You will only be able to jump a few times in a row before your energy is exhausted and you are unable to jump anymore.  Your energy will gradually rechange over time.  The number of consecutive jumps you get depends on your race and class.  Come very heavy classes, such as Dreadnaughts and Terminators are unable to jump at all.  Energy is also consumbed by Jump Packs (see above) and some special weapons.

Objectives

 There are currently five types of objectives that a map may feature in Rival Species, most maps only use one style of objective others mix them.  If in doubt consult the map details page for the specific map. 

Area Control	Teams must try and gain control of a number of areas on the map (usually indicated by Flags) .  Areas are controlled by walking though the Flag.  When an area comes under a teams control the flag will change to match that team.
Capture the Artifact	In a map of this type the opposing teams have to race to capture an object of some kind. The first team to capture their artifact return their artefact to their base or another special point wins the round. Artifacts are often found in an enemy base, and may be hidden.
Destruction	One or both teams must destroy an object such as a generator.
Direct Confrontation	This is the most basic type of objective. The aim is simply to wipe out the opposing team to win the round.
Arena Mode	This mode of game play limits the weapons to hand-to-hand combat weapons. This makes for a blood-filled match of closeup carnage!