Action Quake FAQ
last updated on 11/17/98

Answer:    You were just shot in the head.  Action Quake is based more on "reality" than your average mod.  Anyone can be lethal with some skill and some luck, no matter what weapon or how much health they have.

Answer:    No, with one exception.  Everyone starts with a pistol and a knife, and you may also carry one special weapon and one special item.  In teamplay, you get to start with a special weapon of your choice, and you may pick up one additional special weapon beyond that.

Answer:    Bind one key to 'drop item,' and another to 'drop weapon.'   Pressing one of these will toss your current special weapon or item away, freeing up your slot to scavenge anything you find on the ground.

Answer:    Bind a key to 'weapon.'  Pressing that key will cycle through three zoom factors (2x, 4x, and 6x,) then back to normal.  Old versions of Action Quake used the 'lens' command to zoom in, but it was changed to "weapon," with version 95.

Answer:    Bind a key to 'weapon.'  Pressing that key will prepare the knife to be thrown.  Fire at will.

Answer:   There is no grappling hook.

Answer:    Bind a key to 'reload.'   The shotgun and the sniper rifle reload one shell at a time.  The machine guns and the pistol reload one clip at a time.  The handcannon reloads one shot at a time.

Answer:    Your accuracy while firing a gun is directly related to your speed.   Shots fired will be most off the mark if you are running as you shoot.   The shots get more accurate the slower you move.  In other words, if you want to be accurate, HOLD STILL!  If you can crouch, your accuracy is at its best.  Of course, holding still makes you easier to hit, but that is the trade off... you can't get something for nothing!  Just remember, one shot to the head will kill, so precision counts.

Answer:    Bind a key to 'opendoor.'  Then when you are near a door, press that key.  This command also closes a door that is already open.

Answer:    You've been wounded in battle and are bleeding to death.  Quick! bind a key to 'bandage.'  Use it whenever you get shot, or your health will slowly drain away.  Note:  You can't shoot or reload while bandaging, so try to find someplace out of the way.

Answer:    Like we said, this mod is based more on "reality" than most.  You can jump down two crates worth, or about twice your height, and not get hurt.  More than that and it will be painful.  Very.

Answer:    You've either been shot in the legs, or you've taken damage from a fall.  Either way, you must bandage yourself to stop the limp.

Answer:  Pick a team and wait until the next round.  As soon as one team eliminates the other, a new round will start and you will get to play.  Recommendation: join the team with fewer players.  If teams are tied for players, choose the team with fewer points.

Answer:  The server uses "non-official" models and/or skins; ie, they weren't included in the official client pak.  If Quake can't find the skin or model requested by the server, it uses the default model/skin, which for Action Quake is the "resdog" skin.  You know, the guy in the black suit and sunglasses.  What you need to do is get the models/skins that the server uses.  The easiest way to do that is to turn on the "auto-download" feature included with Quake2.  Go to your multiplayer menu and choose 'player setup.'  At the bottom of the list, you'll see a line that says "download options."  Go there and change every option you see to "YES,"  then reconnect to the server.   Now you will begin downloading the models/skins that you need directly from the server.  It can take a long time if you have a pokey phone modem like me, so be prepared for a wait.  Don't worry about unzipping or anything like that, because the server puts everything into the proper place on your hard drive.  Once its all downloaded, the game starts as normal and you may frag at will.

Answer:  Pull down your console (usually with the ~ key) and type team 1 or team 2, depending.  You can also type the name of the team you want to join in place of the number.  For example, typing 'team swashbucklers' will switch you to the Swashbucklers team.

Answer:  Bind a key to the radio sound you want your teammates to hear.  [bind KEY "radio treport"] is one example.  Pressing KEY will call out, "Team, report in!"   For a complete list of the radio binds, consult the radio.txt that came with the clientpak.  Additionally, installing the clientpak should have dropped a zip file with some sample .cfgs into your quake2/action folder.  Browse these sample .cfgs for the radio commands too; they have been bound to the number pad and the number keys.  Cut and paste at your pleasure or peril.