#1

May come in handy for our Alien Swarming...

More can be found on the Wiki.

The following was taken from here.

The Commands

These are useful commands to enhance your alien swarm experience. You use these by entering them into the developers console. To do this, go to options, keyboard/mouse, and checkmark enable developer's console. The default key is the ~ key.

To make these commands automatic so you no longer have to enter them every time you start up the game, you must create an autoexec file in: C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\common\alien swarm\swarm\cfg

Create a file in notepad named "autoexec.cfg" (Include the quotation marks when you save it under saveas!) Place any console commands you want to be entered within that file. Alternatively, try placing them in the newmapsettings.cfg file in the cfg folder.

Client Side Commands

asw_realistic_death_chatter 1
asw_hear_from_marine 1
Enables the marines to chat with eachother during gameplay. For example, Wildcat and Wolfe keep track of who kills the most bugs, and they often comment on this with some friendly banter.

asw_auto_reload 0
Disables the auto reload.

asw_marine_labels_cursor_maxdist 1000
Always show health bars under marines. Good for medics.

mat_grain_scale_override 0
Removes the grain effect on the screen.

asw_camera_shake 0
Removes the camera shake effect when hit by an enemy.

asw_fast_reload_under_marine 1
Places a fast reload bar under your actual marine so you don't need to look in the corner to time your reload. Or rely on the poor cursor fast reload bar.

asw_flare_b
asw_flare_g
asw_flare_r
Change the flare colors.

exec 360_controller_pc.cfg
enables Xbox 360 controller support. See also WildBill's modified configuration. Courtesy shackanaw

asw_pick_stim_music
This command allows you to pick a custom .mp3 or .wav to play during adrenaline. It even brings up a little menu to pick the file, like for when choosing sprays in other Source games. Note: Problems have been reported. Warning: May disable your adrenaline music entirely

openserverbrowser
Opens server browser.

bind "cl_emote 6"
Will bind the old good Anime Smiley to the key of your choice.

cl_emote x
Where X=
0 - Medic call
1 - Need Ammo
2 - Regular Smiley
3 - Stop
4 - Go
5 - Be careful
6 - Anime Smiley
7 - Ready?
cl_emote with anything not defined will result in an anime smiley

For classic AS fans:

mp_friendlyfire 1
asw_marine_ff_absorption 0 (classic ff damage makes a return)
asw_marine_ff 0 (weapon lock/anti TK Guard mode[!!!]) or 1 (default; Guard off)
asw_marine_ff_guard_time 5.0 (Weapon lock time in seconds; default value. Set to desired duration, or make it indefinite for Moses.)
asw_sentry_friendly_fire_scale 1 (Sentries damage and kill players who get in the way)
asw_weapon_safety_hull 0 (Default; dictates how willing AI is to shoot you to get at Swarm. May or may not make Sentries decide to not kill you if you're in the way, a very valuable fix for the Flamer Sentry if so. Play with the numbers and post your results!)

Note: Some of these do not work in multiplayer.

Server Side Commands

firstperson
asw_hide_marine 1
asw_controls 0
First one enables firstperson mode, second one hides your marine so you can see, third one changes the camera controls to be more FPS like.

asw_custom_skill_points 1
If used before people connect to the game, the host is allowed to spend points on the Marines' stats. Disclaimer: Not really supported or well balances, use at own risk.

asw_ignore_need_two_player_requirement 1
Game will ignore the two player requirement. In other words, you can go rambo.

asw_horde_override 1
asw_wanderer_override 1
Enables an AI director like in L4D.

asw_horde_class asw_parasite
Enables the AI director to spawn parasites (scary!)

asw_show_all_singleplayer_maps 1
Enables mission chapter selection in singleplayer.

asw_cam_marine_dist XXX (default 412)
Set camera distance.

asw_cam_marine_pitch XX (default 60, 0 on the floor, 90 directly above)
Set camera angle

asw_cam_marine_shift_enable X (1 for on, 0 for off, if you put your cursor toward the edge of the screen the game will let you see further that direction)
Enable/disable screen shift.

asw_cam_marine_shift_maxx XXX (default 300)
asw_cam_marine_shift_maxy XXX (default 200)
Set screen shift distance (note, two different variable for both planes, top-bottom and left-right)

sv_cheats 1
asw_tilegen
Used to open the tile generation map editor.

make_game_public
make_game_friends_only
Self explanatory.

Other stuff

Split screen commands discussion located here.

Immense amount of commands can be found here: http://www.wyrdysm.com/arcalane/randomstuff/alienswarm_asw_command_list.txt

And here: http://files.definebyte.co.uk/alienswarm_cvarlist.txt

Regarding bots in multiplayer games

To add a bot to your game:
cl_selectm (marinenum) (slot)
(marinenum) being numbers 0-7 for Sarge, Wildcat, etc. through Vegas, respectively.
(slot) being 0-3, for players 1-4, respectively. Slot number -1 can also be used to add to the first available slot.

To remove a bot from your game:
cl_dselectm (marinenum)
(marinenum) again being numbers 0-7 for Sarge, Wildcat, etc. through Vegas, respectively.

These commands must be used directly from the lobby menu. Using them anywhere else will result in invalid command errors from the console.

For those suspicious of the ability to add bots to a game, let me clarify some points:
-- You do not gain any EXP from bot kills and bots simply share your level.
-- Bots can, unfortunately, be added by public game joiners. However, new players can still join, and once the lobby fills up, all bots will be automatically kicked and none will be able to be added.
-- When a player leaves (or is kicked from) a lobby, his/her bots will leave as well.

There are, of course, some issues with MP bots as well. Anyone giving a "hold" or "go" order will order all bots, regardless of rather he/she "owns" them or not - however, equipment orders and marine switching work as intended. Also, bots sometimes do not leave correctly when new players join until the lobby fills up to 4 players, as mentioned above - this is being looked into, but in the meantime, use the cl_dselectm command to remove bots if you don't have a full lobby joining.
Source: http://forums.blackcatgames.com/showthread.php?t=12996

Neat command from valve:
If you ever want to test how much damage something does, you can spawn an asw_target_dummy which (when attacked) will show you the DPS, total damage and last damage inflicted. To do this, turn on cheats via "sv_cheats 1", point your cursor at a spot on the ground somewhere and type "asw_ent_create asw_target_dummy". Then start whacking away!

If you want to use sv_cheats commands online:

1. Make a server.
2. Quit to main menu.
3. In the console, type "map lobby".
4. In the console, type "sv_cheats 1"
5. Invite friends
6. ????
7. Profit!

Note: These settings are overriden by the newmapsettings.cfg file:

mat_motion_blur_enabled 0
mat_grain_enable 1
mat_grain_scale_override 1.5
mat_local_contrast_enable 1
ai_no_steer 1

crosshair 1
r_flashlight_topdown 1
r_flashlightscissor 0
fx_glass_velocity_cap 600
cam_idealyaw 0
cam_idealpitch 90
cam_idealdist 412
fov_desired 75
c_maxpitch 360
c_maxdistance 1000
cl_retire_low_priority_lights 1
cl_interp_ratio 2

Last edited 17 May 2013 at 08:59.

#2

The LFD AI director looks good

#3

It does indeed. Apparently, Alien Swarm was made as a test platform for their LFD AI algorithms and such, so it is probably going to be very similar.

#4

Very cool. I am going to need a bit of time to get my head round it, yesterday it took me 5 mins to open the first locked door then I just leeroyed it through half the level.

#5

Originally posted by Gregory:
...I just leeroyed it through half the level.

Didn't think you were an MMO fan, Greg!? Mind you, I don't suppose you have to be an MMO player to understand that reference. Burrrrrr.

Cool, I am a bit rusty myself so we will figure it out after a while I am sure.

Last edited 17 May 2013 at 09:43.

#6

I haven't played this much but did enjoy it when i have played it.

I think it is definately worth another look what it the reference to leeroying through a level don't know that one?

#7

Leeroy was an MMO player that dive-bombed head-first into a RAID boss in WOW (shouting "Leeeeeeeroy!") and the video became quite popular. His guild were over-planning the tactics used and he got bored.

I am surprised you ain't heard of it.

Last edited 17 May 2013 at 09:51.

#8

Yes i did hear of that but seem to have forgotten all about it!

It was the perfect answer to overcomplex tactics.

I must find the video and watch it again it was very funny i seem to recall. Thank you cheers tar for reminding me.

Last edited 17 May 2013 at 09:56.

#9

That how I like to play left4dead, run in ahead of everyone an spoil the game, but I am that sort of person.

#10

So what did you think of Alien Swarm then Greg? Here is an interesting ditty: Me and Greg played it over the weekend too and had no problems whatsoever. Conclusion: You are cursed.

#11

It was good but the AI pissed me off, that why I was welding them on the other side of doors.

Also I would postulate that the logical conclusion is: The problem was solved after our first game.

#12

Originally posted by Gregory:
It was good but the AI pissed me off, that why I was welding them on the other side of doors.

Yea the AI is not top-notch, which is why I said the more players you have that are human, the better.

Me and Greg tried out hard mode, with onslaught enabled and that was frelling murder - but good fun. The trick, we found, was to ensure that one of the real players was a tech - to do the welding and such - much like you did when we played. That solved the majority of our issues.

Originally posted by Gregory:
Also I would postulate that the logical conclusion is: The problem was solved after our first game.

An interesting concept that is unfortunately entirely inaccurate, since you hosted all our games that night - yet I successfully hosted them when me and Greg played.

#13

Originally posted by Jimbobslimbob:
Here is an interesting ditty: Me and Greg played it over the weekend too and had no problems whatsoever. Conclusion: You are cursed.

Yes its his corrosive knackers affecting anything he comes in contact with that coupled with the fact he is that sort of person.