Setup Configuration

The Setup Tab is the first page in the MapMixer mutator configuration interface.  It contains the main settings that define the way MapMixer controls a game session and also allows you to launch the game.

You can open up this menu from the standard UT2004 Mutator Interface or via a shortcut placed in the UT2004 Main Menu.  You may also use the console command menu to open this menu in Instant Action games or Listen Server games (when using the host machine).

The following is a description of all the settings in the Setup Page.

Session Map List

Session Start
This drop-down-list allows you to determine whether the map list is initialised at the beginning of a session or whether the last session's map list is resumed.  This can be useful if the game crashes and you want to continue the same map list when you start again - useful when running a server.  The options are:

Init Map List
The map list is initialised/created at the start of every session and the map index is reset to the beginning of the list.

Resume First Map
The previous session's map list is used and the map index is reset to the beginning of the list.

Resume Current Map
The previous session's map list is used and play continues from the current map from that session.

Resume Next Map
The previous session's map list is used and play continues from the next map after the last map played from that session.

Note: The Session Start options that resume the last session's map list will force the Reload First Map option.  This means that you can use any map to start the session (from the UT game menu) and MapMixer will automatically reload the relevant map and continue the last session. (Note: The Reload First Map option is irrelevant when launching the game from the MapMixer Config Menu!)

Init Map List at Next Session
This check box becomes visible only if the Session Start option is set to resume the last session's map list (ie any other setting than Init Map List).  This option forces the Map List to be initialised once only at the beginning of the next session - further sessions will still resume as per the Session Start setting.

Source Type
This drop-down-list allows you to pick between the following three choices as a map list source for the game.  Each choice will show or hide certain controls, so you know which ones are applicable in each case.

UT Map List
Uses the current UT map list that is selected from the Instant Action or Host Multiplayer game menus.  The game type that you pick from these menus will determine the game type of the map list.  This Map List Source is not generally recommended as the others give you greater flexibility.  This option is not available when you open the Config from the Main Menu Shortcut.

Custom Map List
MapMixer allows custom map lists to be created and when you select this option, another drop-down list appears below allowing you to select the custom map list.

Auto Create Map List
This option will enable you to select from a Games Types List that you create in the Games List section.

Auto Switch Game Type
This option will appear only when the Source Type is Custom Map List.  When enabled, MapMixer switches game types for each map in the Custom Map List, otherwise it uses the game type and rules that the match starts with.  This is also a simple way of forcing a Custom Map List to a specific game type.

Switch Game
This option will appear for the Source Type Auto Create Map List. The option determines how and when MapMixer will choose between the game types in the selected Games List.  This option requires a Games List to work and also a Rules List to enable game type switching.  All of the following options creates a single map list for the session, except for the first option Manual:

Manual
Instead of creating a single map list for the session, separate map lists for each game type in the Game List are created.  You can switch between these Game Types as you decide.  You can use a console command to specify the new game type (or pick one randomly) but the easiest way is to use the in-game Admin Menu.  MapMixer will keep track of your location in each of the Game Type's Map List, so when you return to it you pick up from where you last left it.  Use this method of creating a map list if you want full control over game type switching.  For example you might want to start playing DeathMatch but then after a while you can change to any other game type (specified in the Games List) whenever you feel like it.

Cycle In Order
When you create your Games List you can use drag-and-drop to change the order that the game types appear in the list.  When you use the Cycle In Order option, MapMixer will sequence through each game type in the order specified in the Games List.  Use this method if you want to sequence through a series of game types in a specific order.

Cycle At Random
This works in a similar way to the Cycle In Order setting, however, the order of the game types is shuffled at the beginning of each cycle.  This means that, for example, if there are three game types in your Games List then the order is shuffled and then sequenced through till the three game types are used, then it repeats the process again, ie by first shuffling the order of the game types.

Random
MapMixer picks the game types at random from your Games List, although it will make sure that each new game type picked is different from the last one.

Priority Random
When you create your Games List you can give each game type a Priority.  Each game type is chosen at random but the priority indicates which game types should be chosen more often, so a higher priority for a game type means that there is a greater chance that it will be picked.  This option does not force a new game type for each selection, as does the Random setting.  There are no guarantees of game type selection - it's purely random, based on percentages.

Priority Shuffle
Like Priority Random, this uses the Priority assigned to each gametype in the Games List, however, the way gametypes are chosen is different.  Before generating the Map List, MapMixer pre-allocates the number of maps that will be chosen for each game type, based on the priorities given to each.  This has the effect of more precisely regulating how many maps of each game type are chosen, whereas the Priority Random mode is more random.  Also, this mode guarantees that at least one map from each game type in your Games List will be selected.  The last step in the session map list generation, is to apply the Distribute Shuffle (mentioned below) method of randomising the map list.  This has the effect of giving you a more consistent and evenly distributed session map list.  You would most likely want to use this mode (Priority Shuffle) over Priority Random, unless of course you don't necessarily want your gametypes evenly spaced out and a more predictable amount chosen.

Game Type Period
This option is available with the Source Type Auto Create Map List. It specifies how many maps from each game type should be played before switching to another game type.

Max Map List Length
This option is available with the Source Type Auto Create Map List. It determines the total number of maps to insert into the map list from the Games List.

Game Rules
This drop-down-list will appear when Game Type Switching is possible.  It lets you set the list of rules to be used in the session when switching between game types.  This is a requirement when any form of game type switching is used!

Shuffle Map List
This option is applicable for the Source Type UT Map List or Custom Map List.  This option determines how (or if) a map list is shuffled when the session's map list is initialised (eg at the beginning of a session).  The options are:

Standard
The order of the original Map List is used as is.

Shuffle
The map list is simply shuffled.

Distribute
The map list is split into its game types and recomposed, evenly spacing out the game types.  This is useful if you create a map list made up of many game types and want to distribute them out evenly when playing.

Distribute Shuffle
Similar to the Distribute option but the maps are shuffled before the map list is recomposed.  Think of this option as being like the Shuffle option but taking game types into consideration.  Instead of simply shuffling the map list, it also spreads out the game types evenly.  Whereas if you chose the basic Shuffle option then there would be no way to avoid clusters of maps of the same game type in the session map list.

Use Favourites
This option enables the use of the Favourite Maps feature.  This is not available when the Switch Game option is set to Manual.

Map List Repeat
This drop-down list specifies what action to perform when the end of the session's map list is reached.  You may choose:

Stop
If Auto Map List Advance is activated then it will switch off at the end of the session's map list.  An admin may manually navigate to a new map in the list.

Repeat
The session map list repeats from the beginning

Shuffle Repeat
The session map list is shuffled and then starts over from the beginning of the list.

Reinitialise
The session's map list is reinitialised according to the Source Type option (above) and then starts over from the beginning of the list.  This can be useful if using the Auto Create Map List option or using the Distribute Shuffle option on a Custom Map List.

Match Start and End

Skip Match Start Countdown
This option will abort the match start countdown (ie 3..2..1..) that appears before match start. The UT Match Start Countdown is there to warn players to prepare themselves because the match is about to start.  However, in Instant Action games you may wish to de-active this countdown using this MapMixer option.

Choose either to never abort the countdown or only for Single Player (offline), Network (Internet/LAN) or both.

Auto Map List Advance
This is just a technical way of saying what UT does by default at the end of the match :)  The difference here is that you can stop the next map from loading automatically at the end of the match or simply change the time until the next map follows.  You may prefer to disable this option and navigate to the next map at your leisure using the Navigation Keys, for example.

Miscellaneous

Use Map Defaults
Enable Map Default overrides for each map per game type.

Mutator List
Enables the use of a Custom Mutator List for the game.  Note that a single Mutator List combines mutator lists for each game type.  Select the first option "(none)" to disable this option.

Default Skill
This option allows you to set the default bot skill level when there is none other set.  For example, if you launch the game session from MapMixer's Config Menu then this option sets the bot skill level for the session (unless overridden by other settings).  If you were instead, launching the game session in the standard way (through Instant Action or Multiplayer), you may like to set this option to "(none)" and the bot skill is used from the UT2004 Game Rules menu.

Player Counts

Number of Players
This option controls how MapMixer manages player counts.  The options are:

Not Set
MapMixer will not adjust player counts at all.

Specify Number
Allows you to set the exact number of players for every map in the game session, unless overridden by another setting.

Auto Adjust
Each map contains a recommended minimum and maximum player count and this option will automatically adjust the number of players according to these settings for each map.  Use the Adjust Level option below.

In a Single Player offline game, the minimum and maximum player counts are set the same, so the number of bots will be equal to the minimum (or maximum) number of players minus one (ie you).

In a Multiplayer game, the minimum number of players is adjusted and the maximum number of players becomes the Highest (see below).  So therefore UT2004 will add bots if the number of human players is less than the minimum number of players defined for each map.

Players vs Bots
Humans play on one team and bots on the other.  As each human player joins the game, UT2004 adds a bot to the opposing team.  Note that this option is only relevant for Multiplayer Team games.  Do not use this option if you are playing a single player game or a non Team game.

Lowest, Highest
These two options set the absolute minimum and maximum player counts for the whole session, even if you are using the Auto Adjust option.

Adjust Level
When using the Auto Adjust option above, you can use the Adjust Level option to refine the number of players for each map, according each map's recommended minimum and maximum player count.

Lowest, Low, Medium, High, Highest
These five options indicate the level in between the recommended minimum and maximum player counts to use.  For example: Lowest and Highest will use the recommended minimums and maximums, and Low, Medium and High are placed evenly between.

Random
The Random option will pick any number in between the minimum and maximum recommended player count.

Team games are taken into account, so if you use the Specify Number or Auto Adjust options and the match is a team game then the number of players will always be an even number so that the teams are matched in size.

Note When playing the Team Deathmatch Game Type with maps that have a recommended minimum player count of 2, MapMixer will automatically change this to 4 (and also maximum player count if need be) so as to differentiate normal DeathMatch and Team DeathMatch in maps such as DM-1on1x style maps.

Use BotMixer
This option is visible only when the BotMixer AddOn is installed.  Click on the BotMixer button to open the BoMixer Config.

External Game Launch Options

First Map
When starting a game in the standard way (from outside the MapMixer Configuration), MapMixer cannot select the first map to start a session with because it is a mutator and mutators don't come into operation until a level is loaded.  Therefore the user has to select this first map in the usual manner from the game menu, whether it is a single player game or a server based game - from the point that this first map loads MapMixer can then take over the map selection process.  So the question remains: how should MapMixer treat this first map with regard to its own map list?  Should it simply ignore the map and then proceed through the designated session map list or should it try and do something with this map with regard to its own map list?

The First Map option controls what MapMixer will do with the map that started the game.

Ignore in List
MapMixer ignores the first map (ie the map that was selected from the game menu to start the game), with regard to the chosen map list (whatever the source is) and then proceeds with its map list from the beginning.

Move to start of List
The game menu map is located in the chosen map list and moved to the beginning of the list.  If the map is not found in the list then it is inserted at the beginning.  Successive map choices then follow this map in the list.

Jump to position in List
If the game menu map can be located in the chosen map list then MapMixer jumps to that point in the map list.  If the map cannot be located in the map list then it starts at the beginning of the list.

Reload First Map in Map List
If you start the game in the standard way (from outside the MapMixer Configuration), MapMixer can only be invoked as a mutator, it doesn't gain full control of the game options until it runs for the first time and can then take control over successive maps.  This means that you have to set up the first game manually via the UT game menu.  By using the Reload First Map option the first map in the map list is reloaded by MapMixer giving it full control over the match options.

It is important to understand how the Reload First Map in Map List option interacts with the First Map option (above).  The Reload First Map option will always reload the first map in the map list.  So you need to consider what the First Map option will do to determine what the actual map will be that is reloaded!  If you choose the First Map option "Ignore in List", then  MapMixer will not reload the map you chose from the UT Game Menu - instead, it will reload the first map in the MapMixer Map List.  On the other hand, the other two First Map options "Move" and "Jump" will cause the original map to be reloaded at the corresponding point in the list.

Admin Options

Setup
Select an Admin Rules List to apply to Multiplayer Network games.  Click on the Edit button to open the Admin Rules Lists Editor and create a list of Multiplayer Network Rules.

Add Mutator Server Packages
With this option enabled, MapMixer will add each mutator's package name to the current maps Server Packages list.  That way, a client only needs to have the mutators installed on their machine for the current map.  MapMixer automatically adds it's own Server Packages for it's own client and BotMixer (if used) regardless of this setting.

Note: The Add Mutator Server Packages option could cause problems if using a mutator that has separate Server and Client-side functionality, as a Server Package would be added for the Server-side component but not the Client-side component, which is the exact reverse of what you want.  However, you can manually exclude packages from being added by doing the following:

Open the MapMixer.ini file in a text editor (in System folder) and locate the group [MapMixer.MapMixer].  In this group add the following line(s):

sPackageExceptions=MyPackageName1
sPackageExceptions=MyPackageName2

Where MyPackageNameX is the name of a mutator package that you don't want added to the Server Packages when a map is loaded.

The Setup Page allows you to configure how all the features of MapMixer work together.  You can save these settings for instant recall, either in the Configuration Menu or in-game via a console command.  If you load a configuration in-game, you also have the option to re-initialise the map list with the new configurations settings.

At the top left of MapMixer's Setup Page is a drop-down list and two buttons: Save and Delete.  These controls allow you to Manage your Configurations.

To save the current configuration, simply type a name into the drop-down list and click on save.

To load a current config, simply select the pre-saved list in the drop-down list.  To load a config in-game, see the LoadConfig console command.

To delete a saved config, select it and click on the delete button.

Note that only items in the Setup Page of the Configuration are saved!  Map Lists, Mutator Lists, Game Rules Lists etc are not affected by saving and loading a MapMixer Config.

Starting the Game from the MapMixer Configuration

There are two ways you can use MapMixer.  See here for more info.

At the left bottom of the Setup Page there are three buttons: Dedicated, Listen and Play.  They each start a variant of an Unreal Tournament game session.  If you use these buttons to launch the game then MapMixer is able to directly invoke the first map in a session.  This differs from the standard way of launching a game (ie by exiting the MapMixer Configuration and starting the game from the standard Menus) because in that instance, MapMixer has no control over the first map that starts a session and you must use the First Map and Reload First Map in Map List options above.

Dedicated
This starts an Unreal Tournament session as a multiplayer network Dedicated Server.

Listen
This starts an Unreal Tournament session as a multiplayer network Listen Server.

Play
This starts an Unreal Tournament session as a single player game.
To start a Standalone Spectator game, simply Shift-Click on the Play button,