Deus Ex Multiplayer ("DXMP") allows you to play competitive games against other players in two game types: Death Match and Team Death Match.
DXMP does not allow cooperative play through the single-player story and, in the maps provided with this patch, there are no AI opponents. The action is strictly player versus player (or team versus team). Maps created for the single-player version of Deus Ex cannot be used for multiplayer games -- only multiplayer maps will work. You can recognize a multiplayer map because the map name is prefaced with "dxmp" (e.g., "dxmp_silo.dx").
Deus Ex is as much about character development as it is about player skill. That's as true of Deus Ex multiplayer as it is of the singleplayer game. That means the experience of playing DXMP is a little different than you might be used to, if you're an experienced player of some of the more traditional deathmatch games. In Deus Ex you won't move as quickly; weapons aren't as accurate; and your character's weapon skill levels have a dramatic impact on weapon effectiveness.
The solution to these "problems" lies in exploiting the skill and augmentation systems:
If you feel like you're moving too slowly, note that you always have the Speed augmentation. Use it and you'll move much faster, jump further and be harder to hit. (You'll also have to be on the lookout for bioelectric cells, but that may be a tradeoff you want to make...)
If your weapons seem inaccurate, increase your skills appropriately (see below).
IMPORTANT NOTE: Many things are different from the Deus Ex single-player game! This readme file outlines those differences.
Before joining your first game, go to the main menu and select "Multiplayer."
From there, select "Player Setup." Here you can pick your name, appearance, team, connection type and whether you want pop-up help messages to appear as you play. If you've selected Auto as your team designation, when joining a game, you will be automatically assigned to the team with fewer players.
On the "Multiplayer" menu you will see a listing for "Augmentations." You may want to select this option to go to the Augmentations screen. If you want to jump right in, you can use the default augmentation selections we've provided. If you want to customize your character, you can use the Augmentation screen to determine which augmentations your character has. See the "Augmentations" section of this readme file for more information.
The following key bindings are important for DXMP play. These functions should be bound to keys of your choice in the the Keyboard/Mouse Menu. Keys are rebound in multiplayer just as they are in single-player. These functions should be bound to keys before starting a DXMP game for the first time!
Note that in the multiplayer version of Deus Ex you can remap the Function
keys so augmentations can be activated from any keys on the keyboard.
Also, the following are the default key bindings for the new multiplayer functions.
If these keys are not bound to anything else when the patch is installed then
they will be bound to the MP functions below.
Once you have created a character and bound the multiplayer keys, you are ready to join a game. Make sure you are connected to an internal network or, via modem or broadband connection, to the internet. Select the appropriate connection type on the Player Setup screen.
Back on the Multiplayer menu, select "LAN Game" or "Internet Game," as appropriate. This takes you to the screen that allows you to join or start ("host") a game.
If there are games in progress, they will be listed at the top of the screen. Click on one of those games and you get information about how the host has configured his or her session (see "Hosting a Game," below). With a game highlighted, click on the "Join" button and you will enter the game.
If you don't see any game names in the window at the top of the screen, you can create a game of your own by clicking on the "Host" button.
Every multiplayer game requires a PC to act as host. The host machine can also be used by a player in the game. (This is a "non-dedicated server.") The more powerful the host machine is the better overall game performance will be. If you are behind a firewall, make sure that ports 7790, 7791, 7792 and 27900 are allowed through.
When hosting a Deus Ex multiplayer session you can change the following settings to customize the game in a variety of ways:
For additional server performance tweaking, you can edgethe following entries in your DeusEx.ini, in the [IpDrv.TcpNetDriver] block. We've created default values that should work in most situations, but they are available for tweaking:
When players try to join a game you are hosting, they see either an IP Address or a server name. If you want players to see a server name, do the following:
Five maps are included with Deus Ex Multiplayer. Other maps may become available later, created by the development team or by users with the Deus Ex SDK.
If you wish to add new maps to the list available on the server, do the following:
Once you join a game, you'll notice that the interface has changed. Specifically, the Datavault Screens from Deus Ex single-player (inventory, notes, goals, etc.) no longer exist in Deus Ex multiplayer.
In multiplayer you can access all necessary functions from the 3D view and never have to switch screens.
Most of the changes are self-evident but one thing to note: Your inventory is more limited in multiplayer than it is in single-player and the size of objects is no longer a factor in whether or not you can carry something. In DXMP, you can carry only three weapons, three demolitions and four miscellaneous items.
The weapons can be any size and type and always appear in the three left-hand slots on your object belt.
The demolitions always appear in the three slots in the center.
The miscellaneous items always appear in the four right-hand slots. You can't rearrange the items in your object belt but, with just ten items available, with dedicated slots for specific object-types and with size being a non-issue, you shouldn't have to.
One other important interface issue to remember: Use your IFF capability. Objects and characters that turn the crosshairs RED are always enemies or enemy owned. Objects or players that show up as GREEN are allies or ally owned. Objects that show up WHITE are neutral.
Skills work much the way they do in Deus Ex single-player. However, in multiplayer you do not acquire skill points (SP) by solving game problems; instead you acquire skill points by defeating opponents.
When you begin a game or respawn after your character dies, you will be prompted to upgrade your skills.
To acquire or upgrade skills, press the key that you bound to the "Buy Skills" function, as described above. All players begin with the first skill level and two upgrades are possible. Depending on the Host, some game may begin with all skills at the maximum level (making buying skills unnecessary).
Here are the multiplayer specific functions of the available skills. (Note that swimming skill has been eliminated from the list for multiplayer games. This skill's function has been merged with the Aqualung augmentation.)
Computer
Upgrading the computer skill reduces the amount of time required to break into
a computer security system and take control of cameras and turrets. Unlike single-player
Deus Ex, all players can hack in multiplayer but your speed increases with skill
level. However, you can only hack enemy-controlled or neutral computers; you
can't hack a computer that has already been hacked by an ally.
Electronics
This skill reduces the number of multitools required and the amount of time
needed to override a keypad lock or bypass a turret (returning it to a neutral
state).
Environmental Training
This skill increases the duration and effectiveness of the Adaptive Armor, Ballistic
Armor and Hazmat Suit. (Note: While this feature is enabled in DXMP, no such
suits are placed on any of the levels included with the multiplayer version
of the game. It is included here in support of users who wish to include these
items in maps of their own creation.)
Lockpicking
Upgrading this skill reduces the number of picks required as well as the amount
of time needed to pick a non-electronic lock.
Medicine
Upgrading the medicine skill makes Medkits more effective in restoring lost
health points (HP).
Weapons: Demolition
Upgrading this skill grants players greater accuracy and higher damage with
demolitions (e.g., LAMs, gas grenades, EMP grenades). If your skill level is
higher than the skill level of the player who placed one of these weapons as
a proximity trap, you have more time to disarm it before it goes off.
Weapons: Heavy
Upgrading this skill grants players greater accuracy, speed and damage with
heavy weapons, just as in the single-player game.
Weapons: Low-Tech
Upgrading this skill grants players greater accuracy and damage with low-tech
weapons, just as in the single-player game.
Weapons: Pistol
Upgrading this skill grants players greater accuracy and damage with pistol
weapons, just as in the single-player game.
Weapons: Rifle
Upgrading this skill grants players greater accuracy and damage with rifle weapons,
just as in the single-player game.
The Host of each multiplayer game determines how many augmentations players begin the game with and how many are gained upon defeating opponents.
Before joining a match, players can opt to use the default priority for augmentation selections or use the Augmentation screen to select how important each augmentation is to him or to her, individually. Click on the appropriate buttons to select the augmentations you want.
As in the single-player game, each augmentation has an opposite, so player may only pick one. For instance, the Vision augmentation is the paired opposite of the Cloak augmentation. There are 8 pairs of augmentations. The Aqualung augmentation is the only augmentation without an opposing augmentation. (Note: The augmentation oppositions are NOT the same in multiplayer as they are in single-player!)
Once you've constructed your personalized list of augmentations, set your augmentation priorities -- the order in which you'll acquire and upgrade augmentations. Do this by highlighting an augmentation in your list then press the up or down arrow to arrange the list as you wish.
Most augmentations function as they did in Deus Ex single-player but there are a few differences. Multiplayer uses for all augmentations are outlined below.
Aggressive Defense System
Energy Drain: Low
Enemy rockets detonate before they hit you, doing reduced damage. Large rockets
(like the LAW) may detonate close enough to cause considerable damage to your
character even if you activate the Aggressive Defense. Agressive Defense does
not detonate thrown LAMs, Gas Grenades, or EMP Grenades.
Aqualung
Energy Drain: Low
Allows you to stay underwater 12 times longer than normal. This also doubles
the player's swimming speed.
Ballistic Protection
Energy Drain: High
Reduces the effectiveness of melee weapons and ballistic weapons (e.g., rifles
and pistols) by 40%.
Cloak
Energy Drain: Moderate
Makes you invisible to enemy players. Electronic devices and players with the
Vision Enhancement augmentation can detect you. Upon drawing a weapon you uncloak
and become visible to all. In Team Death Match players who are cloaked are still
visible to their allies.
Combat Strength
Energy Drain: Low
You do double damage with melee weapons (e.g., combat knife).
EMP Shield
Energy Drain: Very Low
Reduces the effectiveness of EMP attacks against you by 95%.
Energy Shield
Energy Drain: Moderate
Reduces the effectiveness of attacks from the plasma gun and flamethrower by
80%.
Environmental Resistance
Energy Drain: Low
Reduces damage from poison and gas by 90% and eliminates poison and gas vision
reduction entirely. Note that turning on this aug after you already have vision
problems will not remove the vision effect.
Microfibral Muscle
Energy Drain: Low
Allows you to pick up large crates.
Power Recirculator
Energy Drain: None
Reduces the energy drain of other augmentations. Note that the Power Recirculator
is automatically activated when any other augmentations are activated.
Radar Transparency
Energy Drain: Very Low
Makes you invisible to electronic devices such as cameras, turrets and proximity
mines (e.g., LAMs).
Run Silent
Energy Drain: Low
You move completely silently regardless of speed.
Speed Enhancement
Energy Drain: Very High
Allows you to move twice as fast and jump twice as high.
Spy Drone
Energy Drain: Moderate
Creates a small, remote-controlled drone. Pressing the firing key (or mouse
button) while the drone is active delivers powerful EMP damage to any player
or electronic device in the vicinity of the drone.
Targeting
Energy Drain: Moderate
You do 40% more damage with all weapons. You can also see an enemy's health.
Vision Enhancement
Energy Drain: Moderate
Allows you to see enemy players in the dark from any distance. For a short distance
you can see through walls and see cloaked enemies. Enemy players appear in red.
Most tools and items in Deus Ex multiplayer function as they do in the single-player game. Differences are noted below.
BioElectric Cells
Restore 50 points of BioElectric energy.
Corpses
Searching a fallen character -- enemy or ally -- recharges your BioElectric
energy by 25 points.
Lockpicks
Lockpicks can be used to unlock resource cabinets and locked doors.
Medbots
Completely restore your character's health. Medbots require 30 seconds to recharge
after each use. Medkits Counter the effects of poison and fire.
Multitools
Used to hack keypads which open Repairbot storage areas and small equipment
caches. Multitools can also be used to change the allegiance of turrets (see
"Turrets," below).
Repairbots
Fully charge your character's BioElectric energy. Repairbots require 30 seconds
to recharge after each use. Note that, in the provided multiplayer maps, repairbots
are always found in compartments that must be opened by hacking a keypad.
Turrets
In multiplayer, turrets are indestructible, regardless of what weapon you're
using or your skill level with it. However, they can be temporarily disabled
by EMP attacks. EMP attacks completely disable a turret for 10 to 30 seconds.
Turrets can also be affected by multitools. Multitooling a turret will set it
to a "bypassed" or dormant state. In addition a computer that controls a turret
can be hacked to change the alliance of that turret. Turrets controlled by your
team attack enemies that come within range but do not attack you or your allies.
Ammunition for a weapon is automatically gathered when you pick it up. To replenish your ammo, simply find and pick up another weapon of the same type, or activate a large ammo crate (which restocks all weapons in your inventory). There are additional ammo types that may be found individually, such as WP rockets or 20mm.
Assault Rifle
Skill - Weapons: Rifle
Automatic weapon with good damage at medium and short range.
Assault Shotgun
Skill - Weapons: Rifle
Automatic shotgun with excellent damage at short range and good damage at medium
range.
SawedOff Shotgun
Skill - Weapons: Rifle
Very powerful at extremely short ranges.
Sniper Rifle
Skill - Weapons: Rifle
The sniper rifle does excellent damage at long range, especially when its telescopic
sight is active. At short range its effectiveness is greatly reduced.
Flame Thrower
Skill - Weapons: Heavy
Burns victims at very close range. Anyone damaged by this weapon catches on
fire and continues to take damage for 15 seconds, until they die or until the
flame is extinguished. The flame can be extinguished by using a Medbot, using
a Medkit or by jumping into water.
GEP Gun
Skill - Weapons: Heavy
Fires small rockets. When a target is acquired and locked the missile tracks
that target. This weapon is equipped with a very effective telescopic sight.
Note that you will not turn as rapidly with this guy equipped.
LAW
Skill - Weapons: Heavy
One-shot, fire-and-throwaway long range rocket. Most powerful damage blast in
the game.
Plasma Gun
Skill - Weapons: Heavy
Fires a burst of plasma, doing splash damage. Especially good for suppression
fire at long and medium ranges.
Crossbow
Skill - Weapons: Pistol
Fires poison darts at short and medium range. The poison does continuous damage
and obscures the victim's vision for 15 seconds, until the victim dies or until
the poison is neutralized. To neutralize poison, use a medkit or a medbot.
Pistol
Skill - Weapons: Pistol
Good for close and medium range.
Stealth Pistol
Skill - Weapons: Pistol
Less damage than the Pistol but faster rate of fire and far quieter.
Combat Knife
Skill - Weapons: Low-Tech
Extremely short range, moderate damage weapon.
DragonTooth Sword
Skill - Weapons: Low-Tech
Most powerful LowTech weapon but short range and noisy. Note difference from
single player: The sword now has a longer range, and attacks over a small area
within the swing arc, rather than hitting one single point.
Throwing Knives
Skill - Weapons: Low-Tech
Totally silent, short and medium range attack for moderate damage with a very
fast rate of fire.
EMP Grenade
Skill - Weapons: Demolition
EMP attacks drain most or all of your BioElectric energy, depending on your
proximity to the point of impact. EMP grenades set as proximity mines do not
detonate when allies are in range -- they detonate only when enemies are in
range. You can't take EMP Grenades placed by allies as proximity traps.
Gas Grenade
Skill - Weapons: Demolition
Gas Grenades inflict poison damage. They also obscure vision while you're within
the clouds and for 15 seconds after you leave the clouds. You can nullify the
effects of gas by activating the Environmental Resistance augmentation or by
using a medkit or medbot. Gas grenades set as proximity mines do not detonate
when allies are in range -- they are detonated only by enemies. You can't take
Gas Grenades placed by allies as proximity traps.
LAM Grenade
Skill - Weapons: Demolition
As in Deus Ex single-player, LAMs can be tossed like grenades or set as proximity
mine. LAMs set as proximity mines do not detonate when allies are in range --
they detonate only when enemies are in range. You can't take LAMs placed by
allies as proximity traps.
Programmers
Matt Baer
Alex Duran
Designers
Ricardo Bare
Clay Hoffman
Monte Martinez
Artists
Clay Hoffman
Rob Kovach
Audio
Alex Brandon
QA
Dane Caruthers
Andy Dombroski
Additional Design and Programming Input
Chris Carollo