[13-1] Llamah Stuff

New to Quake? Learn why the mouse is king, how to check your ping for smoother online play, and the best video modes for maximum frames per second.

Hey there! So you're diving into Quake and want to make sure you're set up right? Even if you've been around the block a few times, it's always good to double-check your gear and settings. This section covers some key things that can make a huge difference in how you play, especially online.

A. Controller Choice: Mouse is King!

Alright, let's talk controllers. If you're thinking about using just the keyboard, you're going to have a tough time. Keyboard turning in Quake is super choppy because the 'keyticks' (how much the game registers a key press) are really large. You *can* try to fix this by lowering cl_yawspeed, but honestly, it just makes turning way too slow. The real kicker is that while you're slowly turning to see what's around you, a mouse player has already spotted you and is lining up their shot. Mouse aim is way more accurate, and it lets you do crucial moves like flicking and circle-strafing. A good mouse player can outmaneuver a keyboard player easily. Seriously, the keyboard just doesn't have any advantages here. Joysticks and gamepads aren't much better, and a steering wheel... well, let's not even go there. If you don't have a mouse, a trackball is your next best bet, but the mouse is really where it's at.

B. Why Am I Losing Online? Ping and Latency Explained

Feeling like everyone else in online games is hitting every shot and dodging like a pro while you can't even land a hit? It's probably not just you sucking (though maybe a little!). A lot of it comes down to 'latency' or 'ping'. This is basically how long it takes for your game data to reach the server and come back. To check yours, just open the console (usually the tilde key `~`) and type ping. It'll show you a list of everyone's ping times. If their pings are way lower than yours, they have a better connection, and that's why they seem so much faster. If your ping is consistently over 350ms, you're lagging badly and should definitely switch to a different server. If everyone has similar pings and you're still getting owned, then yeah, you probably just need to play Quake more!

C. Video Mode: Smoothness Over Resolution

When it comes to video settings, you want to prioritize frames per second (FPS) for smoother gameplay. For older machines like a P60-100, stick to VESA mode 1 or mode 0. If you have a slightly beefier P120-166, modes 1 through 3, plus some low VESA modes, should work well. The key goal is to get over 35 FPS without shrinking your screen size. That buttery-smooth motion is way more important than having a super sharp picture in Quake.

D. Can I Play Online with a 14.4k Modem?

Technically, yes, you *can* connect to an internet game with a 14.4k modem. But are you really 'playing'? Probably not. A 14.4k modem just can't handle the amount of data Quake sends, especially with the default sys_ticrate set to .05. You might have a slightly better experience if you can find a server running a higher sys_ticrate, like .1 or more, but honestly, it's going to be a struggle. Don't expect to get many good games out of it.