If someone would like to write a post about the various fan patches/mods, what the current state of Descent multiplayer is, and so on, I'd be very grateful and would sticky that puppy in a heartbeat.

Thanks!
-Chris

I'll tell you something about the multiplayer. About 24 of us had a tournament a few months back over a period of a couple of weeks. I came in second. It was damned close.


NOW! Multiplayer is still alive. I've been reading in places about Descent for the Wii about people getting ther nostalgia goggles back on. They just need to know that it has not died yet. I didn't figure that out until 3 years ago.

Let's get down to business about setting up Descent 3's multiplayer. I wrote some instructions on how and where to find updates, trackers for games, and IRCs.





Descent 3 Multiplayer








To get started, you need Descent 3 to be updated to 1.4. Go to http://www.descent3.org/downloads.php

If you have 1.5, you need the switcher here: http://www.dateiliste.com/en/descent-3/6-descent-3-files-section/499-descent-3-14-version-switcher.html or you can just uninstall and reinstall and update to 1.4. But just so you know, almost NOBODY USES the 1.5 patch because it just added more bugs. There is one guy that I see on the trackers, but my guess is that he just lives under a rock.


After you go to the downloads site for the 1.4 patch, do these steps:
1. Grab [insert your country here] patch Ver 1.4.

2. If you have Mercs as well, grab the Dual Juel fix.


Then you need Vortex here: http://www.slyclan.de/

Download it, run it.

There are several things you need to do before starting a game. You can go ahead and click on D3 serverlist and see all of the games, but you can't play yet.

1. Go to settings, D3 Settings, and where it says Retail v1.4, find the MAIN.EXE in your Descent 3 directory.

2. If you have Pyromania, do the same thing for Retail V1.5 and MOD Pyromania.

3. If you you are signed into a chat room (later on) and you don't want it to exit you out while you are playing, in the same screen, look at the bottom with the 3 check boxes. Uncheck Disconnect all IRC-Connections.

4. If you want 1 on 1 help. First, go to connect, and then you are presented with 4 chat room options. Well, 3, because PXO is KIA

Gamesurge is annoying to start. But go ahead and assign a nickname to yourself, then an alternative, don't wory about the real name, put your nick name again if you want, BUT MAKE SURE TO HAVE NO CAPITAL LETTERS. Then User Name can be the same as your nick again, BUT MAKE SURE TO HAVE NO CAPITAL LETTERS. If you sign in and it doesn't allow you, read what went wrong, and try again in a minute. If you try again too fast, it will say that you tried again to fast.

Descentforum is the place where I usually hang out in as NUMBERZero. It is a more friendlyer atmosphere there. Descentforum.net is a German site so there are a lot of Germans there, but there are a lot of Americans (me) there too. We all speak English, so nothing to worry about. The German clan there, VEX, host Entropy and CTF games every week on a certain date and time.

Shadowfire... nothing ever happens there.

5. Vortex has an auto-download feature for levels. Right click or double left click on a level that has a red mod or level name, then click on download mod or level. Then delete the zip when it is finished.


And that's basically it. You may get killed a lot in the beginning, but if you keep at it, you will improve tremendously. There is a server that has a bunch of BOZ players in it. Those are bots. They cheat, I swear they do. But you can mess with those guys if you want. Just don't mess with the ones with Vauss or MD.

I sometimes host servers. I usually host a no-mod Subway Dancer. Regular Subway Dancer is an overplayed level. The weapons there take NO SKILL to use and the pilots who fly there on a regular basis sometimes have problems in normal matches. I don't have any auto download links for the levels that I host, but you can find a big mission database at http://www.enspiar.com/dmdb/.
Planetdescent.com used to be a great source, but it has crashed.



Here's the game tracker now if you'd like to see.
http://d3.descent.cx/tracker.d3

You don't need Vortex to get into the chat rooms. You can use something else like Ice Chat.

You don't need Vortex to start a game. Just use the tracker to find the IP address of the game, write it down, start D3, multiplayer, Direct TCP/IP, then find games at this address. Write the address into the box provided. It is the IP:Port that you write in. Looks like this: 87.106.184.173:2089
That's the IP to the BOZ match if you want to get started NAO! (Ehh, it may be outdated. give it a shot anyway)

There is also some tool called the Descent 3 Direct IP Launcher. You can type in the IP into that. You can find that here: http://www.dateiliste.com/en/descent-3/6-descent-3-files-section/130-descent-3-direct-ip-launcher.html

You cannot host any servers as of now. You can get instructions here as well. They may be a little confusing, but you can ask questions from anyone.
http://www.dateiliste.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17%3Ahosting-descent-3-game-servers&catid=3%3Aplaying-descent-3-online&Itemid=4&7a0755f27cd237741a7868a944518045=c82086b21707f477105ec760980cff98


You are now up to speed.
NUMBERZero (Cypher501)




If you want to host, you have to open some ports. You also need some tool that gets you on the trackers. It is that bottom link.

XP should have no problems starting up D3, but if you have problems with Vista or 7, use their compatability mode on D3's main application.


And I'll let everyone else fight over D2X-XL and DXX-Rebirth, but my preferance is Rebirth by a mile.

And so far, D1 and D2 multiplayer is about opening some ports host side and some swapping IPs from the host. There are no trackers yet becides Kali. I think Kali uses DXX-Rebirth. If you are going to fight a war, do it efficiently, unremittingly, or don't do it at all--I'm not into ethics, I'm into efficiency.--Benjamin St. John "Descent" by Peter Telep

Descent 1 & 2 Mods for Modern OS's

Descent Rebirth (D1xx & D2xx)
Runs Descent 1 & 2 in "old School" mode with optional texture smoothing and improved music options.

Descent 2X-XL (runs both Descent 1&2)
Runs both Descent 1 & 2 on an improved D2 engine and offers more advanced lighting FX. (among other stuff)

**Please refer to their respective forums for Tech support as neither are without their occasional bugs **


Patches (Descent 3)

Most people run version 1.4
a new patch which resolves patching problems is here:
All descent 3 Patches
(Not a direct link. There are some choices you need to make)

Some people are running version 1.4 and version 1.5
1.5 info available here:
http://www.descent3.com/patch/D3_1.5_BETA_Patch.exe
(Also found in the link above)



Game browsers

kquery, available at: http://www.kquery.com/ a kquery tutorial is HERE
kquery is no longer "supported" but still works as a browser.
(for Descent 3 only)

Vortex available at: http://www.slyclan.de/ (includes automatic level download feature)
(for Descent 3 only)

Kali available at: http://kali.net/ (Chat/ game browser)
(primarily Descent 1&2 and/or any IPX networking games - Very old games many still use it)

Kahn is dead... sadly.

the CX tracker at: http://d3.descent.cx/tracker.d3
(Descent 3 of course)

Gamespy available at: http://www.gamespy.com/
(Descent 3)

**a quick word to the unknowing: MindSpring, Heat, Mgames (or something like that), and PXO are no longer operational**

Text Chat
pxo chat is dead, people still chat on irc. you can get in via a java chat client here: http://suncho.com/chat.html

if you have an irc client a tutorial on how to set it up for descent chat is here: http://suncho.com/irctut.html (Vortex)

irc.gamesurge.net, port 6667, channel: #descent3
irc.descentforum.net, port 6667, channel: #descent
irc.gamesurge.net, port 6667, channel: #descent3rookie


Voice Chat
Talk over the internet while in a game. Similar to voice chat in PS3 or Xbox
There are currently 3 popular voice-over chat programs: Teamspeak3, Ventrilo, and the new kid on the block, Mumble. You will need to know where/what channels to use as each server is hosted privately, so this isn't exactly "just install, jump on and get into a descent channel". Although, most Clans/groups host one as they are typically free.

You can download:
TEAMSPEAK: Here
Read about the Teamspeak Descent Channel here

VENTRILO: Here

MUMBLE: Here


Mac Info
Mac D3 1.4.1 patch can be found HEREat Descent3.com.
Further info and patches can be found HERE on Fusion's site and he writes: "I have found Ircle to be a good Mac IRC app, easy to config. I use it in OSX, I believe there isa OS9 ver as well."


Linux Loki users:
How to fix level checksum error


Additional Descent Related Resources:

Planet Descent

Moon's Site

Descent Valhalla


Please notify me of any dead or otherwise bad links.
** D3 Patch links updated 4-11-11**

Thanks, Duper! That's perfect.

...

Wasn't this a bit short? I admit I'm a tad biased.

D2X-XL is a "souped up" version of Descent 2 also allowing to play Descent 1 levels, where it will use Descent 1's original sounds, textures, robots, and AI. It uses OpenGL for rendering and is available for Windows XP/Vista/7, Linux and Mac OS X.

It offers

• Fully dynamic colored lighting, lightmaps, per pixel lighting
• Improved, fast renderer with full transparency support, utilizing multiple cores when available
• High resolution textures and models
• High quality sound (44.1 KHz)
• Lots of effects (particles (smoke, rain, snow, etc.), lightning, ambient sound, real-time glow, light trails, volumetric light coronas, etc.)
• Improved cockpit (weapon icons, lock, target and damage indicators, mini map, RADAR)
• Bigger levels (up to 8000 segments, 3500 objects, 2047 walls) with sky boxes and new mechanics
• Full per mission modding of all game elements (models, AI, textures, sound, music)
• New game modes (real CTF, Monsterball, Entropy)
• AI and physics improvements
• Different ship models and physics (light interceptor, standard fighter, heavy bomber)
• UDP/IP based multiplayer with up to 16 players and tracker support for easy locating of game servers
• Anaglyph stereoscopic (3D) rendering (amber/blue, red/cyan, green/magenta)
• Improved menu and mission folder structure (allowing for arbitrary subfolders)
• In-game context-based help function explaining all settings
• Automated installer and built-in updater
• Lots of bugs from the original code fixed
• ... and more

Of course you can turn off what you don't like.

Caveat: While you can use D2X-XL in a "vanilla" mode, using all the features requires a rather powerful graphics card supporting pixel shaders (at least PS 2.0) and render buffers. Some effects will also use a lot of processor power, so a multi-core CPU doesn't hurt either.

"Bugs happen" ... but I am going for a "fix often, fix early" approach, so most bugs that are reported are fixed with a day or two.

We have a D2X-XL group on Steam we are using to organize multiplayer games. Coop games seem to be pretty popular in the D2X-XL community, but the last big anarchy events we've had have been a while ago (first quarter of 2010), where we had some 12 players Descent 2 games going. What would be needed here is a player who would take organizing regular D2X-XL anarchy events into his or her hands because many people only seem to wait for somebody to offer such events again.
Descent 1 & 2 for Windows, OS X & Linux
Only a dead troll is a good troll.

...

I think this post leaves some room for interpretation regarding what's needed. I believe that most people prefer reading a few properties about each game in a nutshell over having to click their way through several websites trying to find more information.
Descent 1 & 2 for Windows, OS X & Linux
Only a dead troll is a good troll.

Its been mentioned that most people run version 1.4 for descent 3. I recently bought descent 3 and the expansion pack from gog.com to start playing again. The readme file list the game version as 1.4. I wanted to know if the patch given at (D3_1.4_Patch.exe - link provided by Duper) fixes any existing bugs still in the version provided from GOG or if I'm good with what I installed.

Thanks,
-Seb

No, that version should be fine. GOG is supposed to be play ready so if it says version 1.4, you should be good!

Don't forget to do the system setup at the load menu. Read the readme for line commands to improve performance if it's needed. If there's any teching needed open up a separate thread.

You really gave my the "munchies" to get back and play Descent 3 online.
I reinstalled the game (v1.0) and tried to install the patch to 1.4.
But I got the message:

"Old File not found. However, a file of the same name was found.
No update done since file content do not match."

I tried the US and the EU patchs,Im from Israel so I guess I have the EU version.
Anyone can help me?

ok.. revising post.

you need to install patch 1.2 then 1.3 THEN 1.4.

These patches are like 8 years old. It's only been in the last couple of years that most patches are bundled, but even still that isn't always the case.

good luck!

Oh, I should have guessed that
Thanks for the help.

Edit:
grr still doesn't work.
tommorow i'll re-install it and try again.
Worst case i'll just buy it from GOG.

Download the 1.4 fix. It is in my tutorial. First link. If you are going to fight a war, do it efficiently, unremittingly, or don't do it at all--I'm not into ethics, I'm into efficiency.--Benjamin St. John "Descent" by Peter Telep

The problems will never end
I cant connect to http://www.descent3.com:

Oops! Internet Explorer could not connect to http://www.descent3.com
Suggestions:
?Try reloading: www.-descent3.-com/-downloads.-php
?Search on Google:

Thats why I downloaded the patches from planet descent.

derp <.>
It was fine a few days ago. Hmmm. I'll try to find another.

EDIT: Apparently the .com was changed to .org, but it is down reguardless.
*fixed in my main post incase it comes back up. If you are going to fight a war, do it efficiently, unremittingly, or don't do it at all--I'm not into ethics, I'm into efficiency.--Benjamin St. John "Descent" by Peter Telep

Goznik, what version of Descent 3 do you have?

i.e. .. what nationality and was it the "jewell case" version? The original set was sold in a paper sleeve.

In the game it writes version 1.0

I think is was was a full cardboard box. which I dont have for many years.
I now have only a cardboard "book" that opens and the two cd's are in.
Both box and "book" have the half-brown half-blue sky on them with the shield booster.
(It could be that I remember wrong and it was only the cardborad book).

Sorry but I didnt have the time to try and make it work again, I'll work on it soon.

I sure hope Descent 4 isn't as buggy as Descent 3 was. I know D3 explored new ground and pushed the limits, but a good beta test is necessary. And offering it to us on this forum to beta test it would be cool.

Well, part of the problem there is they ran out of time and rebuilt the game half way through their development phase.

Read the whole thing here on the Descent 3 Post-mortem. Very insightful.