|

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! |
|
|