![[14-3] Console Commands](/images/heroes/quake.webp)
Master Quake's console commands with this comprehensive guide. Learn about player customization, network settings, aliases, binds, and more to enhance your gameplay.
These commands can be entered directly into the console, run from the command line (preceded with a + sign), bound to keys using bind or alias, or executed from a configuration file. For most commands with parameters, entering the command alone will display its current setting. Quake console commands are case-sensitive and only accept lowercase entries.
A command whose description is unknown means its function is not fully understood or confirmed.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
_cl_color # | Sets the player's colors. # is calculated as (shirt color * 16) + pants color. Maximum value is 221. Does not affect color command values. |
_cl_name $ | Sets the player's name to $. |
_com_baud # | Unknown. |
_com_init $ | Seems to set the modem init string to $, but is not affected by com# settings. |
_com_type # | Unknown. |
alias $1 "$2;"$3;"$4..." | Creates a new Quake command named $1, which executes a sequence of existing commands ($2, $3, $4, etc.). Aliased commands must be enclosed in quotation marks and separated by semicolons. Aliased commands can be bound to keys. |
ambient_fade # | Unknown. Default is 500. |
ambient_level # | Controls ambient sound volume. Default is 0.3. |
begin | Unknown. Not valid from the console. |
bf | Performs a background flash similar to picking up an item. Resets the palette, which can fix erratic colors in Windows 95. |
bgmbuffer # | Sets the music buffer size in bytes. Default is 4096 (4K). |
bgmvolume # | Changes music volume from 0.0 to 1.0. Not all CD-ROM drives support variable volume. 0 is off. |
bind $1 $2 | Binds the key $1 to the action $2. Actions containing spaces must be enclosed in quotation marks. Keys that can be bound include A-Z, 0-9, F1-F12, TAB, ENTER, SPACE, BACKSPACE, arrow keys, ALT, CTRL, SHIFT, INS, DEL, PGDN, PGUP, HOME, END, PAUSE, SEMICOLON, MOUSE1, MOUSE2, MOUSE3, and ~ (tilde). F1-F12, TAB, and ~ can only be bound on the command line or in a .cfg file. The ESC key cannot be bound. |
centerview | Centers your view. |
cd [off|on|reset|play #|loop #|stop|resume|eject|remap #1 #2...|info] | Controls the CD audio system. Options include turning it off/on, resetting, playing/looping/stopping/resuming tracks, ejecting the CD, remapping tracks, and getting CD-ROM information. |
changelevel $ | Servers only. Changes the current level to $. See the map $ command for valid entries. |
cl_anglespeedkey # | Sets player turning speed. Default is 1.5. |
cl_backspeed # | Sets player backward movement speed. Default is 160. |
cl_bob # | Sets weapon bobbing amount. Default is 0.02. |
cl_bobcycle # | Sets the duration of a complete weapon bob cycle in seconds. Do not set to 0. Default is 0.6. |
cl_bobup # | Defines the topmost point of the weapon bob cycle. Default is 0.5. |
cl_forwardspeed # | Sets player forward movement speed. Default is 200. |
cl_movespeedkey # | When +speed is activated, all normal movement rates are multiplied by #. Default is 2.0. |
cl_nolerp # | Unknown. |
cl_pitchspeed # | Sets player pitch change speed (lookup/lookdown) via keyboard. Default is 100. |
cl_rollangle # | Controls the angle the player leans during fast turns. Default is 2.0. |
cl_rollspeed # | Controls the speed of player leaning during turns. Default is 200. |
cl_shownet # | Controls network traffic display. 0: hides numbers, 1: shows numbers. The meaning of the numbers is unknown but appears related to client-server traffic. |
cl_sidespeed # | Controls player strafing speed. Default is 350. |
cl_upspeed # | Sets the speed at which the player floats using +moveup. |
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