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Optimizations

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Revision as of 20:13, 6 February 2010 by Optic Delusion (Talk | contribs) (Graphics Optimizations: SP: soothing smoothing)

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This article discusses how to optimize a client to get the moust out of it.

Graphics Optimizations

Clients that run older video cards or system may experience problems due to low frame rate. Low Frame rate ( less then 40fps ) can cause a sort of "fake" lag on the client and affect network performance. This in turn can and will affect gameplay.

Many of the graphics settings do affect frame rate. Users should attempt to change these settings in order to increase the frame rate. It should note that performance may degrade if some options are turned "down". One example of this is the texture filtering method. On any system with modern hardware ( from the last 8 years ) it should be set to LinearMipmapLinear as this is what most hardware is optimized for. This is mostly apparent on Apple's OSX operating system.

Other settings such as lighting, shadows, and smoothing can assist in increasing frame-rate. As a last resort the overall resolution of the client can be lowered.

It should be noted that BZFlag may not run on all hardware configurations. Some extremely low quality levels may not offer a playable experience on all maps, most notably those that use meshes.

Time of Day

For instances of maps that are run at "night" it is possible to change the local time of day so that it is easier for a user to see opposing tanks. the - and = keys by default allow a user to change the local time of day. This change does not affect the server.

Tune the radar

You will find soon, that the radar is actually the most important part of the screen. So make it as big as possible and transparent. Also set it into Enhanced style. However, on some maps big radar will fool you, if the map author has left some huge unimportant objects visible on a radar, but such maps usually aren't very playable and unpopular.

Shots must be clearly visible on the radar, so look at the settings "Radar Shot Size" and "Radar Shot Length"

Other settings

Set Display Threads to off to have larger visible area.

Set Track Marks setting as high as possible --- that will help you to track cloacked and st tanks.

Get the most information during the game

Use look button (the same you lock with GM) to find what flag someone carries. This button is a great help on maps without radar --- use it to figure where other tanks are, especially cloacked.

Hear attentively the sounds to figure weather there is a stealth jumping. It works well if you are somewhere high, so the enemy needs to jump to you.

As already mentioned, watch tanks marks to figure st's and cl's. Shadows from stealthed tanks can also help.

Listen for your teammates --- they provide some valuable information, e.g. enemy's st positions. You should be familiar with bzflag jargon.

Use you radar against campers. Imagine there is a laser camper higher then you. Get laser flag, hide some where he cant see you and turn to him. Then use 4 and 5 keys (or shift + wheel) to make him coincide with a special tick on the radar. So now you are aiming at him. Then jump and when you'll see camper, shoot. If you are lucky he won't be able to react fast enough and shoot you.

Key mapping

There certainly must be a separate article. Players usually find there own input settings, however there are some styles and useful ideas.