This webpage hosts useful information about the Halo dedicated PC server that is becoming more difficult to find as the years go by.
init.txt file commands
[collapsible_item title=”In Game Commands”]
CLS
Clears the console screen text. Text will also automatically clear after the console has been closed for 5 seconds. USAGE: “cls”.
CONNECT
Used to connect to a server using Direct IP. USAGE: “connect <IPAddress>:<Port> <password>”. EXAMPLE: “connect 1.2.3.4:5678 sniper” will connect to the server at IP Address 1.2.3.4, running off of port 5678, using password “sniper”. If there is no password, then just forget about the password part. Personally, I’d just use the Direct IP option in the Multi-Player screen because it’s faster.
DISCONNECT
Used to disconnect from a server. Once again, using the menus would me much faster. USAGE: “disconnect”.
HELP
Gives you help on a command. USAGE: “help <command>”. EXAMPLE: “help sv_players” would give you a few lines on how to use sv_players. Not all commands have a help “screen”.
MOUSE_ACCELERATION
Used to change the mouse acceleration. USAGE: “mouse_acceleration <number>”. EXAMPLE: “mouse_acceleration 3” sets acceleration to 3. Personally, I don’t notice a difference if it’s on 0 or 5.
QUIT
Exits Halo and brings you back to the desktop. USAGE: “quit”.
RASTERIZER_FPS
Displays a frame rate counter with current, average, maximum, minimum, and dropped percentages. USAGE: “rasterizer_fps <true/false or 1/0>”. EXAMPLE: “rasterizer_fps 1” turns on the display. NOTE: You can also press Ctrl+F12 to display a different frame rate counter if you don’t have the console, or just don’t feel like typing.
RCON
Ahh, rcon. The wonderful command that lets you be the admin of someone else’s server. USAGE: “rcon <password> <command>”. See our rcon guide for more details. All commands listed on this page are also usable via rcon, including kicking and banning.
SHOULD_PLAY_MULTIPLAYER_HIT_SOUND
Toggles the “ding” you hear when you hit someone on or off. USAGE: “should_play_multiplayer_hit_sound true/false or 1/0”. EXAMPLE: “should_play_multiplayer_hit_sound 0” will turn off the ding.
SV_BAN
Used to ban people. There are two ways of using this command. You can either use the number method, described in our guide, or you can use the name method, which is simply replacing the number with their name. NOTE: As far as I know, if you use the name method, you must use proper case. USER and UsEr would be 2 different people. When a person is banned, they are banned until either the time values specified expire (they will still be in the banlist, but will be able to join), or you manually un-ban them. See our guide that I linked to earlier for more detailed instructions.
SV_BAN_PENALTY
Used in conjunction with sv_tk_ban, sv_tk_grace, and sv_tk_cooldown. Used to determine the length of time someone is banned for their 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th or higher offences for getting auto-banned from Team Killing too much. USAGE: “sv_ban_penalty <1st offense> <2nd offense> <3rd offense> <4th offense>”. EXAMPLE: “sv_ban_penalty 1s 2s 3s 4s” would ban the person for one second, then they can come back into the server. If they get auto-banned again, they will be banned for two seconds before they can come back in, and continuing until their 5th auto-ban, at which time they are banned permanantly until you manually unban them (see sv_unban). If you only want to give then one second chance, then you would only specify a value for the 1st offense, and the game will automatically set the 2nd offense as “indefinite”.
SV_BANLIST
Displays all users currently banned, how many times they have been banned, and an ID number used when un-banning. USAGE: “sv_banlist”.
SV_BANLIST_FILE
Specifies the file that Halo reads from/writes to when people get banned, or to see if someone is already banned when they try to join. USAGE: “sv_banlist_file <file name not including the .txt extension>”. EXAMPLE: “sv_banlist_file red” will change the file name to “bannedred.txt”. NOTES: No matter what you put as the file name, it will always have “banned” at the beginning, and .txt at the end. Also, you are unable to change the path of the file. It will always be located in your My Documents folder.
SV_END_GAME
Ends the game, displayes the Carnage Report, and allows you to start another game. USAGE: “sv_end_game”.
SV_FRIENDLY_FIRE
Changes the friendly fire setting. USAGE: “sv_friendly_fire 0/1/2/3>”. 0=whatever the setting is in the gametype; 1=friendly fire off; 2=shields only; 3=friendly fire on. EXAMPLE: “sv_friendly_fire 2” will set friendly fire to shields only. NOTE: Whatever this is set to will override the setting in the gametype.
SV_GAMELIST
Displays all gametypes available for you to make a server with. These names are used in conjunction with sv_map and sv_mapcycle. USAGE: “sv_gamelist”.
SV_KICK
Used to kick people. When this command is used, the victim of the kick can freely rejoin whenever he/she wants. USAGE: “sv_kick <name or number>”. The players’ numbers are acquired from using sv_players.
SV_MAP
Used to change maps. USAGE: “sv_map <map name> <gametype name>”. EXAMPLE: “sv_map bloodgulch slayer” will change to Blood Gulch using the Slayer gametype. If the map name or gametype name includes spaces, put it in quotes. Get map names from sv_maplist and gametype names from sv_gamelist.
SV_MAP_RESET
Restarts the current map. Unless you are running a dedicated server, I find the ESC -> Game Options -> Restart Game to be much quicker. USAGE: “sv_map_reset”.
SV_MAPLIST
Displays all available maps for you to use. USAGE: “sv_maplist”.
SV_MAXPLAYERS
Sets the number of max players able to join the game. Changes to this value take effect immediately. USAGE: “sv_maxplayers 1-16”. EXAMPLE: “sv_maxplayers 5” will set max players to 5.
SV_NAME
DEDICATED SERVERS ONLY! Sets the server name. If the name includes spaces, put it in quotes. Maximum length is 63 characters. USAGE: “sv_name <name>”. EXAMPLE: “sv_name hello” will change the server name to “hello”.
SV_PASSWORD
DEDICATED SERVERS ONLY! Sets the server password. Maximum 8 characters. If the password includes spaces, put it in quotes. USAGE: “sv_password <password>”. EXAMPLE: “sv_password green” will set the server password to “green”.
SV_PLAYERS
Displays a list of all players currently in the server, along with their ping, score, number of times they TKed, the time until one TK is removed (see sv_tk_cooldown), and an ID Number used when kicking or banning. USAGE: “sv_players”.
SV_PUBLIC
DEDICATED SERVERS ONLY! Used to set whether or not the server shows up in the GameSpy server list. Used before the map cycle begins. USAGE: “sv_public 1/0”. EXAMPLE: “sv_public 0” hides the server. A similar way of using this in a hosted server, would be to make a LAN game, then people need to use Direct IP to join.
SV_RCON_PASSWORD
Sets the rcon passowrd. Maximum 8 characters. USAGE: “sv_rcon_password <password>”. EXAMPLE: “sv_rcon_password yellow” will set the password to “yellow”.
SV_SINGLE_FLAG_FORCE_RESET
Used in Assault gametypes. Normally, when the timer runs out, and someone is holding the flag, the timer will remain at :00 until that person with the flag drops the flag, or scores. Turn this on to force the flag to reset when the timer runs out, even if someone is holding the flag. USAGE: “SV_SINGLE_FLAG_FORCE_RESET 1/0”. EXAMPLE: “SV_SINGLE_FLAG_FORCE_RESET 1” turns this on, and forces the flag to reset when the timer runs out.
SV_STATUS
Displays the status of the server. On a dedicated server, this will automatically display every 15 seconds. On a hosted game, even though it says it is a dedicated server, it’s not. USAGE: “sv_status’.
SV_TIMELIMIT
Sets the time limit for a game. This setting overrides the setting in the gametype. Maximum time is 599 minutes. USAGE: “sv_timelimit <time in minutes>”. EXAMPLE: “sv_timelimit 60” will make the next game have a time limit of 1 hour (60 minutes).
SV_TK_BAN
Number of Team Killing “points” needed until that person gets automatically banned. USAGE: “sv_tk_ban <number>”. EXAMPLE: “sv_tk_ban 5” will set the server to automatically ban someone after they reach 5 “points”.
SV_TK_COOLDOWN
Used to determine how many seconds before one Team Killing “point” is removed from a person’s record. USAGE: “sv_tk_cooldown <number>”. EXAMPLE: “sv_tk_cooldown 60” will make it so that every 60 seconds, one “point” will be removed from a person’s record,
SV_TK_GRACE
Used to set a grace period that any one person will be able to get a Team Killing “point”. USAGE: “sv_tk_grace <number>”. EXAMPLE: “sv_tk_grace 5” will only allow any one person to get one “point” for every 5 seconds. Should the player Team Kill again before this 5 seconds expires, they will not acquire another “point”.
SV_UNBAN
Used to unban someone. USAGE: “sv_unban <ID Number>”. Get the ID number from sv_banlist. EXAMPLE: “sv_unban 4” will unban whoever has the ID Number of 4.
[collapsible_item title=”Halo Dedicated Server Only Commands”]
SV_MAP_NEXT
Used to go to the next map in the map cycle. USAGE: “sv_map_next”.
SV_MAPCYCLE
Displays the current map cycle. Also displays an ID number used when using sv_mapcycle_del. USAGE: “sv_mapcycle”.
SV_MAPCYCLE_ADD
Adds a map to the map cycle. USAGE: “sv_mapcycle_add <map name> <gametype>”. Get the map name from sv_maplist and gametype names from sv_gamelist. If the map name or game type name includes spaces, put it in quotes.
SV_MAPCYCLE_BEGIN
Begins the current map cycle. USAGE: “sv_mapcycle_begin”.
SV_MAPCYCLE_DEL
Removes a map from the map cycle. USAGE: “sv_mapcycle_del <ID Number>”. Get the ID number from sv_mapcycle.
SV_MAPCYCLE_TIMEOUT
Sets the amount of seconds to allow the Carnage Report to remain on the screen. Set to 0 to close the server after the current game is over. USAGE: “sv_mapcycle_timeout <time in seconds>”.
Example init.txt file
sv_name “My dedicated server” sv_public true sv_maxplayers 8 sv_password levitate sv_mapcycle_timeout 15 sv_mapcycle_add bloodgulch “CTF” sv_mapcycle_add putput “team slayer” sv_mapcycle_begin
Downloads
Custom Halo Gamemodes
Included in download is:
- ShottyNoShields
- Players have no shields and only shotguns (Play on small maps for most fun)
- RocketTag
- Juggernaut but with only rockets kill the juggernaut to become him then any kills count toward your score.
- Rockets
- Standard Slayer with only rockets
- Snipers
- Standard slayer with only Snipers
Place GameTypes in the directory below:
C:\Users\<YourUsername>\Documents\my games\Halo\savegames
Halo Maps Download
The Multiplayer Maps for Standard Halo needed for a dedicated server.
Halo Server Extra References
http://halo.bungie.net/projects/halopc/content.aspx?link=halopc_dedserver#consolecommands