Setting Up a Game - Zero-K (2024)

Commands[edit]

The game lobby allows the game experience to be customized by typing commands into the chat input line. Some useful commands:

• !help gives a list of all commands.
• !map <mapname> sets specific map. Entering !map without <mapname> starts a poll with four maps relevant to the game mode you have set currently.
• !spec <playername> will move the specified player to Spectators. Without <playername>, it is equivalent to !specafk and moves all AFK (marked with a "z^zz" icon) players to Spectators.
• !endvote ends the current poll.
• !type <gametype> changes the room type. The game type can be FFA, Teams, Coop, Custom or 1v1.
• !resetoptions resets custom options.
• !title <newtitle> changes the room title.
• !kick <playername> removes a player from the room and starts a penalty timer. Use only as last resort to remove disruptive players. Consider using !spec <playername> instead if you just don't want the player to participate in the next game.
• !start or !poll start starts a game. !poll start will start a poll asking players to vote when they are ready to start a game.
• !y or !n is how you vote in a poll. Of course, it's usually easier to just click the green check mark or red X button instead.
• !maxplayers <number> changes the maximum number players for the room. Spectators are not counted.
• !force force-starts a game before the regular set-up time expires at the beginning of the game.
• !exit exits the game in progress.
• !balance attempts to balance players in two teams by skill. You can also !balance <numberofteamsyouwant>.
• !predict gives a calculated victory chance prediction for the current teams.
• !password <password> sets password for the room. To remove the password, enter !password without a value.
• !notify plays a ring sound when game ends.

Playing with Friends[edit]

For a Skirmish match, go to Multiplayer, Custom Game, Host Game, set a password, select Game Type: Custom.

For Campaign co-op on Steam: Go to Steam friends list, click your friend and press Invite to Lobby, then select a planet on the campaign screen and press Start.

Propose Battle[edit]

You can use the "propose battle" command to propose a battle with certain characteristics. It will be hosted and populated once a number of players have accepted to join. The command will show a link that has to be clicked by other players to accept the proposal. By default, the game will be hosted with a password, but you can use !password to make the game public.

• !proposebattle <parameters> can be followed by the parameters minelo, maxelo, minsize and maxsize. For example, "!proposebattle maxelo=1600 minsize=6 maxsize=6" would propose a six-player game for players with rating (maximum of teams and MM) below 1600.
• !endproposal stops a proposal and prevents people from joining a hosted game if they have the link.

Proposal links do not work until the proposer looks at the lobby (due to command buffering while the proposer is playing).

Advanced Options[edit]

Further information: Battle Options

On the left of the current map preview, there is a button called "Options." Here, you will be able to change the game settings in many ways. For example, set a metal multiplier or allow players to spawn anywhere on the map.

Disabling Units[edit]

In Options, open the tab named "Start". In the empty box to the right of Disable units enter the name of a particular unit from the List of All Units. Separate multiple entries with the plus (+) symbol.

Playing Unsupported Maps[edit]

The game's website has a listing of all maps. If you are trying to play a certain map and the lobby isn't changing to that map, you have probably selected an unsupported map. To set it, you need a private/passworded lobby. Enter !password <passwordvalue> to make it private. The value can be anything, even just one letter. Now go to the website and click on PLAY ON THIS MAP, or type the command !map <mapname> (substitute "<mapname>" with the actual name of the map). You can now remove the password by entering !password without a <passwordvalue>.