================================================================================== ================================================================================== Worms Armageddon/Worms World Party Online FAQ v. 0.4 by Arc'engal (aka Edge AoM) ================================================================================== ================================================================================== ********************************************************************************** IMPORTANT This is an FAQ in progress. At present the issue of patches and how to work Wormnet is getting ridiculously popular on various message boards and indeed on Wormnet itself. Therefore I'm publishing the "how to work Wormnet" part of this FAQ early. The rest of the FAQ, including the various game types on Wormnet, will be published later. There may references to sections which don't exist. They do exist, they just aren't in this version. ********************************************************************************** Ok, let's get the copyright stuff out of the way first. This FAQ is an unofficial FAQ. The Author is not endorsed by Team17, Microprose, Windows, Microsoft, Trymedia or any other company involved in the production of Worms games. The author is writing this of his own free will and is not being paid for his work. This FAQ is copyrighted to Martin Thomas McGowan aka Arc'engal and should not be acredited to anyone else. This document should not be copied, directly or indirectly, to another guide without first, express permission and second, suitable credit given to the author. So don't you dare put this on your webpage with this first bit edited out. I will find you out, little man. Only Gamefaqs may display this FAQ at present. The author reserves the right to allow other sites permission to display this FAQ. ================================================================================== 1. Introduction ================================================================================== Welcome. So you've got a nice CD-ROM of Worms, and you're fed up playing against the computer? That's fair enough. The computer isn't the brightest of opponents to play against; it can only use about 10 weapons! If you want the real challenge of Worms, whether it be Armageddon or World Party, then you've gotta get online. That way, you can play against human beings, and take part in some of the neat speciality games that keep coming up! What, you thought Worms was all about pointing and shooting? Don't be daft! In some game types, pointing and shooting is illegal! Well, a straight point and shoot is anyway, you have to fire over-the-shoulder shots...you don't have a clue what I'm talking about, do you? In that case, I advise you to get straight to part 4, where I take you through all of the oddities of online play. First though, before you take on the world, you'll need to hone your skills in private. ================================================================================== 2. Worms General Skills ================================================================================== Lets talk about the computer. In front of you is a processing chip that can calculate exact angles and velocities to ALWAYS hit you...play the computer on difficulty 5 and you'll see what I mean! But yet, the computer isn't a tough nut to crack, because you can always guess what it's about to do. If you're on the other side of the map, underneath several layers of land, the computer won't hit you (unless it can air-strike). The computer's main fault is that it is not capable of using advancing movement methods. In other words, it can walk and occasionally jump; that's it. Human players have the intelligence to use far more advanced movement methods. They can use the ninja rope. They can use the jetpack. They are capable of using low gravity. They can use ALL of them at once. Therefore human opponents are going to be far more deadly than a CPU opponent could ever dream of being. If CPU's could dream that is. This means that just because you can own the computer (if you don't know what that means, you'll soon learn in section 4) 2 on 17 with all teams at Grade 5 (and it CAN be done!) then that's still no guarantee you'll do well online. Therefore you need to get some skills before you venture onto Wormnet. I'm not going to give you targets or anything because, basically, the odds are very few people will care. Worms is a game, and it should be treated like a game rather than a sport. If you own (section 4) everyone on WN, you're a great player but unless you are having fun, you're wasting your time. If that makes sense. That is, however, no excuse for being a pathetic player in the games of your choice. As you'll see in section 5, there are a variety of game types online, meaning there is something for everyone. Not being able to use a ninja rope is NO EXCUSE! If you can't use the rope very well, then try to get better with the bazooka and grenade weapons. This will allow you to play in BnG's instead of ropers. If you suck with the Bazooka and Grenade, then get some practise on the rifle range and get ready for some Team 17s. If you suck at all of the above, don't feel bad. When you first start playing Worms you will suck. It's a fact of life. Since you have no experience, you will suck. Just try stuff. When you find something you are OK at, stick with it, and practise it. Eventually you'll find your niche. ================================================================================== 3. How to get onto Wormnet, and how to use it ================================================================================== ---------------- Part 1: Patching ---------------- This section of the FAQ will guide through the in's and out's of patching Worms Armageddon. Please note that installing the wrong patches will create absolute havoc on your game so please read this section very carefully. *IF YOU HAVE THE TRYMEDIA VERSION OF WORMS ARMAGEDDON YOU DO NOT NEED THESE PATCHES TO PLAY. HOWEVER, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PLAY IN PATCHED GAMES AS A RESULT. THIS IS A BIT MESSED, BUT YOUR BEST BET IS TO FIND A CHEAPO COPY OF THE STANDARD WA IF YOU WISH TO PLAY PATCHED PEOPLE* --------------- The Beta2 Patch --------------- This is available for download from the Team17 website. This will update your game to version 3.0.5.0 regardless of what version you have already, so you do not need the "update" patch, even if you only have version 1.0. This is also the patch which will allow you to play Worms Armageddon on a PC running Windows 2000/ME or Windows XP. If you run Worms Armageddon on either of these O.S. without patching, you'll simply be told it's not NT compatible...which doesn't make sense since you aren't running NT, but I digress. To download the patch, copy and paste the link below into your browser: *********************************************************************** ftp://ftp.team17.com/pub/t17/patches/pc/WA_Update-3.0.5.0_Beta_2.exe *********************************************************************** Once the download is complete, run the installer and install the patch as you would any other software. ---------- Pre-beta 3 ---------- Pre-beta 3 is a second patch for Worms Armageddon. It does the same as beta 2, only this version seems to crash far less than Beta2. The catch is this patch is unofficial, and the beta 3 patch actually hasn't been officially released yet. If you intend to minimise Worms Armageddon a lot (e.g. to check up on Trillian or other such programs) then I seriously recommend using pre-beta 3, as crash rate upon minimising is just above nil. This installation is different from the Beta2 patch. Firstly, download this zip file by putting the address into your browser: ********************************************************************** http://www.eifclan.com/files/wa.zip ********************************************************************** This will download a zip file to your computer. Place this on your desktop at present. Now, go to your Worms Armageddon folder, normally c:/team17/wormsarmageddon , and go to the WA.EXE file (which should have the game logo as it's icon). Right click on this file and rename it WA-OLD.EXE. Now, go to the zip-file you just downloaded and extract the file, using Winzip, Winrar or any other such program. If you do not have a zip-extractor then go to http://www.winzip.com and download a trial version. That will be sufficient for this job. Extract the file to the Worms Armageddon folder (C:/team17/worms armageddon). Once you've done all of this, you should have two icons with the game logo on it. One should be called WA-OLD.EXE and the other one should be called WA.EXE. WA.EXE is now pre-beta 3 enabled. Enjoy. Note that any shortcuts you have to this file need not be changed; they are still pointed towards WA.EXE so you do not need to change their target. ----------------------------- Part 2: Connecting to Wormnet ----------------------------- To connect to Wormnet you need to have the following. - A connection to the Internet by a dial-up or broadband modem. - A genuine copy of Worms Armageddon Got them? Good. Read on. After establishing your connection to the internet, boot up Worms. From your main Worms Armageddon screen, you can access Wormnet by clicking on the bottom left hand square, with the Worms on PC's graphic. This will take you to the Network Game screen. Select "Internet Game" by clicking the image at the top right. You'll now be offered to choose a server. Note that you'll only be given one choice of server. Choose it anyhow by double clicking it. If you have done this correctly, you'll now see a screen asking you to login. Double click this option. You get to type in a name of your choice. The password is irrelevant as this feature was disabled years ago; only your name matters. Type in your choice of name and random characters as the password. Seconds later, you should hear a little brass solo and you'll see Wormnet on the screen. Welcome to our home. ------------------- Ammendum: Your name ------------------- Even though you can log in with any name, with no need to register, it goes without saying that your name is important. People on the Internet can't see you, and you don't get an Avatar on Wormnet. Therefore your name is the only thing that reflects your personality. Some names are more effective than others of course; calling yourself gothicsadist2002 might get you some strange looks, but it's a good name if it reflects who you are. My name, Arc'engal, is a standardised one that I use everywhere (except Gamefaqs, since you can't freely change your profile name and karma is non-transferable). It's a pun on archangel, as if you hadn't guessed, made to sound like a name from a certain video game series. If you have a standardised name, use it. More than likely, no-one else will have thought of it, and it will remain your unique identifier. Calling yourself after your initials is also a fairly common practise. Just ask TJH (my clan leader) or MPH (who's one of the top 50 players on Wormnet). Note that Wormnet does not allow spaces. If you wish to use a space in your name, it is the standard practise to use a lower case x, for example: INCREDIBLExHULK. x's are also used if you ever join a clan (section 4 for those who have lived in a dustbin long enough not to know what a clan is), because it is normal clan practise to add a "tag" to your name to show your clan alliegence. For example, if you belonged to the Imperial Command clan, like me, you would add xICx. Be warned though: using tags when you aren't a member of that clan is not going to win you any friends. Don't even give yourself a tag with random letters because you want to make it look like you're part of a clan. There are so many you've probably added yourself to a clan, regardless of randomness. Also, note that people's first indication of your playing skill is your name. Here's a tip. Don't call yourself "Jim" or any similar "first-name-screenname". This just shows lack of imagination and, probably, lack of playing skills. Something more imaginative will show you in a better light. You can use special characters in your name on Wormnet, but to do so you require a certain program. It's one of Annelid's, and it's located here: *********************************************************** *********************************************************** Finally, stick with the name you choose. Changing your name every time you go on Wormnet means people won't remember you (and they might not remember you anyhow but even more so with rapid name changing!). ---------------------------- Part 3: Connecting to a game ---------------------------- From the main Wormnet screen, go to "Anything Goes" by double clicking on it. Anything goes is located in the top part of the screen, along with "Party Time" and "Ropers Heaven". You can go to Party Time or Ropers Heaven if you wish, but there are always more people in Anything Goes. Now you should see a screen comprising of 3 windows: the huge main one, which is the chat window, and the two smaller ones, which show the games available and the people online. There is also a small bar underneath the chat window. That's where you type in what you want to say to Wormers worldwide. If you want to connect to someone else's game, it's easy to do. Look at the screen with the games on it and double click on a game to join it. Pay attention to the name; if it says "Shoppa" or "Roper" or something, you're going into a specialised game. If it says "no n00bs" and you are new to Worms, please don't go in, as the host only wants people who know what they are doing. Also, if you have installed the beta patch as instructed earlier in this tutorial, the game you select must have a beta sign before it (looks like a B). This indicates that the host is also patched. If you aren't patched and you join a patched game, you will crash. If you are patched and you join an unpatched game, you will crash also. Once you double click on the game, you'll be shown a screen which says something along the lines of: --------------------------- 40 *Connecting To host* game:shoppa hosted by TJH IP Address: 192.118.888.192 --------------------------- The 40 at the top is a timer. If it reaches zero the connection fails. Note that if the timer goes past 30 you might as well click "cancel" because either that person's computer has seriously bad lag or they can't host properly. If your CD drive activates, that's a good sign because it means a connection has been made. After a short download of team names and such like, you'll be taken to the game set-up screen. The second you are on this screen, it's a good idea to type "hi" or some other form of greeting into the chat window. This lets the host see that you are patched. How? you ask. If you are patched, your message will look like this: Arc'engal> Hi If you are unpatched, it will look like this: Arc'engal> Hi One space, patched. Two spaces, unpatched. After you've said hi, you need to enter a team into the game. Your teams are displayed above the chat window. Click on the one you want to use. If you have a team that is not called x-up, x being a number, then use it, as it will show you to not be a total newbie (who can't even be bothered to create a team). Unfortunately Worms is a bit tempermental as of late, and will crash if you try to create a new team. If you have access to a 95/98 system, create a team on there and transfer your team files by floppy to the ME/XP system. Once you've said hi and entered your team, continue to talk but keep an eye on the top left hand side of the screen, where the players names are shown. Beside each players name is a small graphic of a bulb. If TWO or more are lit (or the host's is if you're the only one who joined the game) then click on the large lightbulb icon just below the players names. This indicates you are ready to play. If the host makes any changes, all bulbs go out. Just click on the bulb again to re-indicate you are ready. A word of warning. Although a Wormnet game can support 7 players (only 6 teams though) there is an unwritten rule that the maximum for most games is 4. If you are the 5th or 6th person in, say hi as normal and enter your team. The likelihood is one of the other players will be unpatched, will be booted and you'll get in anyway. Once everyone has "lit up" (clicked their bulbs) then the game will begin after a short delay. For details on what to do once the game has started, consult Part 5 of this section. ---------------------- Part 4: Hosting a game ---------------------- If there are no games that you like the look of on Wormnet when you go on, you can host one of your own, providing your computer is adequate. If you only meet the minimum specs for Worms, don't even bother hosting. Your computer will barely be able to handle the game, never mind the communication with up to 6 other PCs. Also, if you've got a 56k connection, seriously think before hosting. Some 56k hosts are great, others are crap. If your browser is running at a decent speed, then it's safe to assume your connection is pretty good so you should be OK to host. Otherwise, don't. If you've got anything worse than 56k then don't even bother coming on Wormnet to be honest. You can get 56k modems for about £20/$30 nowadays if you look in the right places. In addition, even if you've got a 3Ghz processor with all the trimmings, AND broadband cable, you still won't be able to host if you have a firewall up. If you're using Windows XP, it is likely you have one up. XP comes with a software-based firewall which is ON by default. You can de-activate it, if you wish, but this leaves your computer open to attacks. Do you want a ton of nasty viruses? No? Best you leave the hosting to other people. If you have faith in your copy of Norton Antivirus or other such program, then by all means deactivate your firewall and host! Hosting is a great experience and it allows YOU to control the game, to set your own rules and generally have a good time. To deactivate your firewall in XP, follow the following instructions: ----------------------- De-activating firewalls ----------------------- 1. Open the start menu. 2. Highlight "net-work connections", then the connection you will be using to go on Wormnet. 3. Click on the "Advanced" tab, then uncheck the box marked "put up a firewall". If a prompt comes up, click ok. Then click OK to apply the settings. That's it. ----------- How to host ----------- Once in "Anything Goes", click on the "host" button located at the top right of your screen, above the window which displays the players present. This will open up a window which asks for a name and password. This bit is important. The game is not asking for YOUR name and password, it is asking for the name of the GAME and the GAME'S password. Typing in a password here means that your game will be locked to all those who do not know the password, and if you haven't told anyone, well...how do you expect them to get in? Once you've done that, you'll be on a set-up screen. Here, you can decide the options for your game. If you're playing a normal then select the scheme and you're done. If you're playing a specialty game then you'll need both a scheme and a map. Select your scheme in the normal fashion as you would offline, by selecting it from the pull down menu located underneath the map. As you do this, note some of the more common options are available immediately to you. Worm health, game time, turn time, wormselect on/off and whether the worms are placed manually or randomly are all available without going into their respective menus. You can alter them, as you would in the menu, here. For things like weapon volumes and retreat times, you need to enter the menus. The weapons menu and the main option menu have icons to the right of the common options. Click on the respective icon to enter the menu and do as you please. If you want infinite banana bombs, you can have infinite banana bombs. Just don't expect anyone to like it very much. To change the map, you can either left-click on it to generate a new, random map, or you can right click on it to enter the map editor and load a map from the pull down menu. For more information on the map editor consult the read-me that came with your game. Then, once everything is sorted, you'll either have players in already or they will be arriving. You can tell someone is trying to connect by your CD drive suddenly speeding up. 2 seconds after that happens, their name will appear at the top left hand side of the main hosting screen. As the host, it is your responsibility to ensure that all players are patched, and know the rules (if any). This is where names come into play. If someone has a name that does not look very pro, then ask them if they know the rules. If they say no, either explain the rules or boot them by left-clicking on their name. Once you are ready, symbolise you are ready by clicking on the lightbulb, as you would do if you were joining a game. Once everyone has lit up, click the "Start Game" button at the bottom right hand side of the screen. This starts the game. ------------------- Part 5: In the game ------------------- Once you are in the game, you play as normal. If you are playing a specialist game type, or you are the host, press "page down" as fast you can to open up the chat window. Traditionally, the host types the rules on the chat window in case you either forgot them or he didn't mention them before starting the game. Note that, while the host has power over the rules in any game, some rules like "don't attack the host" are sometimes said as a joke. This probably doesn't need to be said, but if a rule like this is ever brought up it is a JOKE. DO NOT take it seriously. And yes, I have known people to take rules like this seriously. What do you mean you are sorry you couldn't drown your worm!? Once you know the rules (and what they mean) you can play! Just play as normal, adding the traditional "ns" and "bl" where necessary to the chat window, and indulge in the intelligent(?) conversation of worm's players around the globe.