IN-GAME MAP LIST WITH CUSTOM MAPS?

[Alucard]

Is there a way to create a list of custom maps, to be launched directly from the local muliplayer menu?

I would like to play many custom maps, with bots direct from steam deck without using console every time.
I was thinking of a possibility to create a file that would automatically start the console command when you select the map in question from the newly inserted list in the game menu.

Do you think it is possible to do something like that?

Or if you know of any other similar ways to make it easier to launch custom maps without a console, it would be very helpful!

[K-Bone]

From what I've tried thanks to a mod that added some of the 64 player DM maps. Yes! ( https://www.moddb.com/games/quake-2/addons/id-software-ftp-maps-for-quake-2-remastered ) From this mod I figured that the map list is just an maplist.json file where the entries are entered like this {
"bsp": "q2dm7",
"title": "The Slimy Place",
"episode": "baseq2",
"dm": true,
"bot": true
},
Hope it helps

[Alucard]

Originally posted by K-Bone:

From what I've tried thanks to a mod that added some of the 64 player DM maps. Yes! ( https://www.moddb.com/games/quake-2/addons/id-software-ftp-maps-for-quake-2-remastered ) From this mod I figured that the map list is just an maplist.json file where the entries are entered like this {
"bsp": "q2dm7",
"title": "The Slimy Place",
"episode": "baseq2",
"dm": true,
"bot": true
},
Hope it helps

I see here that the mod has you put a .pak file in the directory.

What you mean is that once you start the game with this mod, it creates another maplist.json file ?

so possibly what you could do, is install this mod to have this file created.

Then install other custom maps, and eventually put them in this file that he creates so they come up in the map selection drop down menu in the game?

[Kyper]

You're better off setting g_map_list in a config file and then executing that file in the console (or bind a key to execute that config if you don't like using the console all the time). Some details here:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/2320/discussions/0/3808409598688153125/#c3808409598694836299

Otherwise, if you still want to go down the UI route to make custom maps appear, the basic steps are:
1. Get a copy of mapdb.json from rerelease\baseq2\pak0.pak or that mod linked above
2. Modify mapdb.json to your liking
3. Create a new pak with your modified mapdb.json and place it in rerelease\baseq2\

You will need a Pak explorer tool such as PakScape. The mapdb.json is right at the root of the Pak, so extract that and then open it with your preferred text editor. Then, copy one of the existing entries, preferably one of the multiplayer only maps (ex. q2dm1, or q2ctf1 if you're adding custom CTF maps) and then modify the copied entry with your map details. It looks like the game loads the file from top to bottom, so if you place your entries at the bottom then you'll need to scroll down in the UI to select them. Be mindful of commas and curly braces; run your JSON through a validator if needed.

Once your mapdb.json is completed, you'll need to put it into a Pak in order to have it override the original mapdb.json (not sure if there is another way to override the original without a custom Pak). Create a blank Pak with PakScape or whatever tool that works for you, save it and name it something like pak8.pak and then place it in rerelease\baseq2\ . Make sure you do NOT overwrite the original pak0.pak file.

Finally, load your game, create a Local lobby, and then check if your custom maps can be selected in the UI.

[StoneCold]

Originally posted by Alucard:

Originally posted by K-Bone:

From what I've tried thanks to a mod that added some of the 64 player DM maps. Yes! ( https://www.moddb.com/games/quake-2/addons/id-software-ftp-maps-for-quake-2-remastered ) From this mod I figured that the map list is just an maplist.json file where the entries are entered like this {
"bsp": "q2dm7",
"title": "The Slimy Place",
"episode": "baseq2",
"dm": true,
"bot": true
},
Hope it helps

I see here that the mod has you put a .pak file in the directory.

What you mean is that once you start the game with this mod, it creates another maplist.json file ?

so possibly what you could do, is install this mod to have this file created.

Then install other custom maps, and eventually put them in this file that he creates so they come up in the map selection drop down menu in the game?

You can modify your existing maplist.json file inside pak0.pak using a tool such as Quark. Just keep in mind that if you custom maps, you will need to have nav files for each one, so you will need to create navs for each otherwise the bots will just stand still and not move around.