Command-Line Reference
Contents
Launcher Flags
The following command-line options can be chosen from the launcher.
Graphics
-spec
Enables specular mapping. Only polygons mapped with textures for which a shinemap exists will recieve specular lighting. Specular maps are specified with the base map name plus "-shine" (i.e. TCov3A-shine.pcx).
-glow
Enables glowmapping. Only polygons mapped with textures for which a glowmap exists will be glowmapped. Glow maps are specified with the base map name plus "-glow" (i.e. TCov4A-glow.pcx)
-jpgtga
Enables the use of TGA and JPG file formats for image files. If a ship is showing up partially invisible, select this option.
-pcx32
WARNING - HIGH MEMORY USAGE
Enables PCX files to be loaded into 32-bit memory. This will not imporove the rendering of any ships in-game, and is usually more of a burden on performance than is worthwhile. Use at your own risk. Removed from launcher options after 3.6.7.
-cell
Enables cell shading. This will make graphics appear more "cartoonish". For use with media in mv_cell.vp. Not considered a standard enhancement.
-mipmap
Enables mipmapping.
-nomotiondebris
Disables motion debris.
-2d_poof
Applies nebula poofs in 2d, effectively preventing them from forming intersections with ships.
-noscalevid
Disables scaling of video clips.
-cache_bitmaps
Caches bitmaps between missions, which will ideally reduce the load-time from one mission to another.
-missile_lighting
Applys lighting to missiles.
-rlm
Obsolete Argument
Enables more accurate lighting model for OpenGL mode. Always on in current builds, so this command-line option has been removed.
Game Speed
-img2dds
Converts all images to DDS (compressed) format. Decreases memory usage but potentially reduces image quality.
-no_vsync
Disables vertical sync.
HUD
-dualscanlines
Adds a second pair of scanning lines to the target window when scanning an object.
-targetinfo
Displays target info, such as name and class, beside the targeted object.
-orbradar
Enables 3D radar (the Orb). 3D radar will replace the standard 2D version.
-ballistic_gauge
Adds an ammo gauge to the HUD when armed with a ballistic weapon.
-rearm_timer
Displays time remaining until rearm and repair from a support ship is complete.
Gameplay
-nobeampierce
Causes beams to hit (and damage) shields before they impact a ship's hull. This is a global flag, but this behavior can also be modified in weapons.tbl.
-smart_shields
Enables "smart" shield recharging. Shield recharge is distributed to the most damaged shield quadrant instead of being distributed equally across the entire shield and be wasted when a quadrant is full.
-ship_choice_3d
Use ship and weapon models in ship selection and weapon loadout. Completely disables the standard ANI interface on those screens.
-3dwarp
Use full geometry for the subspace warp effect.
-warp_flash
Enable a flash at warp in and warp out.
-UseNewAI
Tells the game to use new AI routines. This argument alters mission balance and is not considered a standard feature.
-tbp
Enable feature set for The Babylon Project
-wcsaga
Enable feature set for The Wing Commander Saga
Audio
-snd_preload
Preload mission sounds. Useful in preventing game stuttering when sounds are played for the first time.
-nosound
Disables all sounds.
-nomusic
Disables music only.
Multiplayer
-standalone
Creates a standalone server.
-startgame
What does this do?
-closed
What does this do?
-restricted
What does this do?
-multilog
What does this do?
-clientdamage
What does this do?
-mpnoreturn
Disables return to the flight deck screen after a mission completes.
Troubleshooting
-fixbugs
Obsolete Argument - Removed in builds after 3.6.7
Originally used to disable certain crashing behavior as a stop-gap measure. This feature is not available in current builds.
-nocrash
Obsolete Argument - Removed in builds after 3.6.7
Originally used to disable certain crashing behavior as a stop-gap measure. This feature is not available in current builds.
-oldfire
What does this do?
-nohtl
WARNING - VERY SLOW
Reverts to software rendering mode. Does this work any more?
-no_set_gamma
Disables the gamma settings in the options screen.
-nomovies
Disables all video playback.
-noparseerrors
Disables some parsing warnings and makes other parse errors non-fatal. Do not rely on this when creating new tables, the errors are there for a reason.
-safeloading
Loads missions the old way. Typically safer, but slower.
-query_speech
Determines if the current build includes text-to-speech.
-d3d_bad_tsys
Enable inefficient texture system.
-novbo
Disables OpenGL VBO.
-noibx
Disables IBX caching of model geometry data. This will dramatically increase load times, but will help troubleshoot a model if one is working incorrectly.
-loadallweps
Load all weapons, even those not used.
Experimental
-env
Enables environment mapping. Direct3D only. Environment mapping intensity will be determined from the intensity of specular maps.
-alpha_env
Enables alpha environment mapping. Direct3D only. Environment mapping intensity will be determined from the alpha channel of specular maps.
-decals
Enables damage decals.
-ingame_join
Enables ingame joining in multiplayer. FIXME: Host option?
-tga16
Converts all TGA images to 16-bits. Reduces memory footprint at the expense of image quality.
Development Tools
-fps
Displays current frames per second.
-pos
Displays current position coordinates of camera.
-window
Runs the game in a window. No check to make sure that resolution is no higher than your desktop resolution, so be careful.
-timerbar
Displays a timing bar across the top of the screen. Timebar format varies by build.
-stats
Shows statistics.
-coords
Shows coordinates of the mouse cursor.
-show_mem_usage
Shows memory usage.
-pofspew
What does this do?
-tablecrcs
What does this do?
-missioncrcs
What does this do?
-dis_collisions
Disables all collisions.
-dis_weapons
Disables weapons rendering.
-output_sexps
Outputs SEXPs to sexps.html.
-output_scripting
Outputs scripting to scripting.html.
-nograb
Unix only. Disables focus grabbing in a window.
Other
The following options are not available as checkboxes in the launcher. Many require parameters, which follow the flag seperated by a space. The prototype for use in this case is "-option argument"
Graphics
-ambient_factor
This must be entered into the "Custom flags" field. This is a multiplier applied to the intensity of ambient lighting. Ambient light is lighting applied to all parts of a ship. FS2's standard value is 120. Try 75 for a good and realistic looking value. However, that is relative.
-spec_exp
This must be used with the -spec command line parameter and must be entered into the "Custom flags" field. Adjusts the size of the shiny spot on ships. Higher number mean smaller spots. Default is 16, however 11 is recommended. However, that is relative.
-spec_point
This must be used with the -spec command line parameter and must be entered into the "Custom flags" field. Adjusts how much laser weapons contribute to specular highlights. Higher number mean greater contributions. Default is 1.0, however 0.6 is recommended. However, that is relative.
-spec_static
This must be used with the -spec command line parameter and must be entered into the "Custom flags" field. Adjusts how much suns contribute to specular highlights. Higher numbers mean a greater contribution. Default is 1.0, however is 0.8 recommended. However, that is relative.
-spec_tube
This must be used with the -spec command line parameter and must be entered into the "Custom flags" field. Adjusts how much Beam Weapons contribute to specular highlights. Higher numbers mean a greater contribution. Default is 1.0, however 0.4 is recommended. However, that is relative.
-clipdist
Changes the distance from the viewpoint for the near-clipping plane.
Takes one argument decimal specifying the distance to the near-clipping plane.
Gameplay
-mod
Specifies a higher priority game directory.
Takes one argument string, the name of the directory in which the target mod is contained. Explicit use of this command line should be unnecessary as the launcher has MOD options, though multiple mods are supported and do require manual entry.
Data precedence with -mod is as follows (mod directory "moddir")
- moddir/data/(appropriate directory)/
- moddir/data/
- moddir/
- Freespace2/data/(appropriate directory)
- Freespace2/data/
- Freespace2/
-fov
Specifies the Field of View for the player eyepoint.
Takes one argument decimal specifying the angle of the viewing cone in radians, from 0 to 2*pi
You can set the cone of view making things look bigger/smaller. The problem with this is that if you choose a small FOV, you will have a squashed look on the edges of your screen - stretched edges with a too high FOV. It is recommended to change the FOV as FS2 normally has some perspective distortion at the screen edges (FOV too high). Set the FOV to something like 0.39 - it will fix the distortion problem, and (as a nice side effect) will make everything look bigger and more realistic scale-wise. The default is 0.75, if you go higher, you'll get the fish-eye effect. Feel free to experiment. This must be entered into the "Custom flags" field
Multiplayer
-gamename
Specifies the name of the game to be created by a stand-alone server.
Takes one argument string, the name to be assigned to the game being created.
-password
Specifies the password for a stand-alone server.
Takes one argument string, the required password for the game being created.
-allowabove
Specifies a player's minimum rank for joining a game on a stand-alone server.
Takes one argument integer, the points ranking above which a player must be to enter the game.
-allowbelow
Specifies a player's maximum rank for joining a game on a stand-alone server.
Takes one argument integer, the points ranking below which a player must be to enter the game.
-port
Specifies the port on which to run for a stand-alone server.
Takes one argument integer, the port which the game should use to connect.
-connect
What does this do?
-clientdamage
What does this do?
-timeout
What does this do?
