Multiplayer

From System Shock 2 Wiki

System Shock 2 multiplayer supports up to 4 players for cooperative play through the single-player game.

Contents 1 The patch 2 Finding other players 3 Connecting 3.1 Hamachi 3.2 Ports used by System Shock 2 4 Gameplay 4.1 The Start 4.2 Save games 4.3 Items 4.4 Death 4.5 Difficulty 5 Mods 5.1 Fan Missions 6 Problems 6.1 Incorrect IP Address

The patch

To enable multiplayer in System Shock 2 players need to have version 2.3 of the game. This version of the game has a multiplayer option on the first game-menu. If there is no option available, players will need to download the patch.

Finding other players

The easiest way to find other willing players is to use the IRC channel #systemshock (on Starchat). Adding |wtp (want to play) to your nick let's others in the channel know you're looking for a game.

Connecting

Hamachi

Hamachi is recommended when one or more players are behind a router or firewall. After connecting to Hamachi, players need to create a network or join an existing one together. Some points to remember when using Hamachi to play System Shock 2:

• The Hamachi IP address is the one to use in System Shock 2.
• Players may need to disable any firewalls they have from monitoring the Hamachi ethernet adaptor.
• Players should only create or connect to Hamachi networks while playing.
• Do not idle in Hamachi networks.
• Leave all Hamachi networks before closing the program. This is done by right-clicking on each network and selecting "Leave network".

Ports used by System Shock 2

System Shock 2 uses DirectPlay. Players not using Hamachi will need to forward ports on their router.

• Forward (TDP & UDP): 2300-2400
• Forward (TDP & UDP): 28800-28900
• Trigger port: Outgoing: 47624 Incoming: 47624

Gameplay

The Start

Players will not see each other at the very beginning of the game, though chatting is still possible. Each player does the training individually. Once on the Von Braun, all players will be visible to each other. It is best to coordinate the final year of training so that all players complete it together.

Save games

The host saves the game. The same people (and setups) need to resume a saved game. If one of them is missing a box will appear that contains the missing players belongings.

Items

Cyber modules, logs and research results are shared among all players. Players can share any items like weapons, ammo, implants, etc. by dragging them from thier inventory into the world or directly on another player. Sharing nanites is done by holding the "split" key (Control by default) and dragging.

Death

Only one person needs to activate the Quantum Bio-Reconstruction Machine (QBRM). All players will be ressurrected there. If a player dies without the QBRM activated, they will just be returned to the last used bulkhead. If one of the players leaves the game the other player(s) will see a box with his belongings where he "died". Ranged weapons and Psi-Powers (eg Localised Pyrokinesis) will harm other players. Melee weapons will not.

Difficulty

The difficulty is set to Hard in multiplayer games and can not be changed. With Crion's Impossible MP mod, players can play on 'impossible' difficulty. All clients have to install the mod.

Mods

Cosmetic mods like Cyberblutch's Rebirth and STHUP only affect the players who have them installed. Mods that change gameplay or fan missions need to be installed by all players.

Fan Missions

Only a handful of fan missions (FM) are currently prepared for multiplayer games. (The FM author needs to set spawn-points for all players in the map.) To play multiplayer FMs they need to be installed by all players. Multiplayer-enabled FMs include:

• Iceman's Ancient
• Christine's Ponterbee Station

Problems

Here are several things to remember when playing a multiplayer game:

• System Shock 2 multiplayer can be very unstable. Players are recommended they save before using bulkheads and elevators as crashes happen mostly during level changes.
• Players can not join a game that has already started without them.
• Players can not rejoin a game they have left unless all players disconnect, reconnect and load a previous saved game where all players are present.

Incorrect IP Address

Sometimes when using Hamachi, System Shock 2 will still bind to your other network adaptor and end up listening on the wrong IP address. There are a couple of ways to solve this. One is to block System Shock 2 from using your regular network adaptor by using a software firewall. The other is to change the order in which the network connections are accessed by programs. To do this, go to Network Connections under Control Panel. From the Advanced menu select Advanced Settings.... Then, under the Adaptors and Bindings tab, move the Hamachi adaptor to the top of the Connections list. You may need to reboot your computer.