Zandronum - Multiplayer ZDoom

Time for some updates! Zandronum 3.1 and 3.2 released!

Oops, I have been forgetting to post the occasional updates in this group. With Zandronum 3.3 (!) around the corner I would like to take some time and summarize where we are with the engine.

As pointed out in the previous post you should join our Discord by clicking here[discord.gg] so you don't miss out on any of the engine's progress that is happening. Zandronum is not (yet) available on Steam and as such this group remains a hub for people to organize games and sessions. But you might get a better chance for games by joining the server instead.

We are currently on Zandronum 3.2.1 and there has been a massive amount of improvements to the engine. The absolute MVP of these changes has been Adam Kaminsky

Labeled as a minor update, but it introduced a wide range of improvements for multiplayer, server administration, and ACS scripting.

Server & Administration

• New in-game server administration menu (RCON protected)
  
• Gameplay and compatibility settings properly locked without RCON access
  
• Map rotation synced to clients ("maplist" now works correctly)
  
• New vote types, including gameplay flag votes
  
• Server can broadcast PWAD MD5 hashes to launchers
  
• Added "sv_country" for launcher display

Multiplayer & Quality of Life

• Private messaging system ("sayto", "sayto_idx", and messaging the server)
  
• Scoreboard icons for lagging players and menu status
  
• Extended player identification info (health, armor, weapon, class)
  
• Console timestamps ("con_showtimestamps")
  
• Packet loss display and mitigation improvements
  
• Auto-ready option and intermission timer display
  
• OpenGL set as the default renderer for new users

Gameplay & Modding

• Large expansion of ACS functionality (gamemode control, player class changes, score control)
  
• Execute clientside scripts individually for better network optimization
  
• Send network strings between server and clients
  
• New GAMEEVENT script types (chat, player connect, actor spawn/damage, armor damage)
  
• Expanded GAMEMODE definitions with locked gameplay flags
  
• New DMFlags (shoot through allies, don’t push allies)
  
• Respawn delay control ("sv_respawndelaytime")
  
• Weapon swap command ("weapswap")
  
• Additional weapon bob and visual customization options

Networking & Demo Handling

• Improved packet loss handling
  
• "stat nettraffic" enhancements
  
• Demo playback now validates version strings to prevent mismatches

Fixes

• ACS functions and HUD messages
  
• Armor handling
  
• Missiles and sound syncing
  
• Bot behavior
  
• Crash issues (including decal overflow)
  
• Gamemode events such as CTF captures and returns
  
• Numerous multiplayer synchronization inconsistencies

Yet another minor update, but not any smaller than the previous version. Even better, this one grew to be even bigger!
This version adds a lot of new modding hooks and modern multiplayer features, plus a long list of online fixes.

Major Additions

• New AUTHINFO lump
  
• Revamped scoreboard + new SCORINFO lump for full scoreboard customization
  
• Custom vote support via VOTEINFO lump
  
• Built-in voice chat!
  
• Custom medals via MEDALDEF (awardable through ACS/DECORATE)

Server / Admin / Browser

• Multiple banlists + exemption lists
  
• Added resetmap command + vote type
  
• Server browser can filter servers by name
  
• Server can broadcast the current gamemode name (from GAMEMODE lump) to launchers
  
• Segmented launcher protocol to avoid oversized packet issues
  
• New rcon_logout command for safer RCON handling
  
• Optional mute reason support for ignore commands
  
• forcerename / forcerename_idx (forces a player name to a generic random one)
  
• sv_hostname cleanup + max length limit

Gameplay, Modes, and Multiplayer

• Domination reworked (control points can be contested)
  
• New Domination events: GAMEEVENT_DOMINATION_CONTROL / POINT / PRECONTROL / CONTEST
  
• sv_dominationscorerate to tune domination scoring
  
• sv_respawndelaytime changed to float (sub-second respawn delays possible)
  
• New dmflags like sv_donthidestats, sv_dontoverrideplayercolors, sv_nospawntelefog
  
• Join queue behavior improved + controls (queue position, skip queue, and a new event)
  
• New spectator options (cl_spectatormode, also called unrestricted mode)
  
• Ally/enemy icon control CVars + server dmflags to disable them
  
• Strife conversations now supported over client-server netcode

Modding / Scripting Highlights

• New ACS functions (examples): GetMapPosition, GetEventResult, GetActorSectorLocation, ChangeTeamScore
  
• GetChatMessage can optionally keep color codes
  
• Lump reading in ACS: LumpOpen / LumpRead* / LumpSize
  
• AddBot / RemoveBot ACS functions
  
• Menu control from ACS: OpenMenu / CloseMenu (MENUDEF)
  
• BanFromGame ACS function (timed bans, capped by sv_maxacsbanduration)
  
• GetPlayerStatus (bitfield: typing, voice, console/menu, lagging, etc.)
  
• SetGameplaySetting (change gameplay-related settings dynamically)
  
• SetPlayerSkin / GetPlayerSkin, plus GetSkinProperty
  
• A_ClientsideACSExecute (per-client effects without network traffic)
  
• GAMEEVENT_LEVEL_INIT (runs very early during level init)

Weapons / Visual / Console Tweaks

• Console movement options: con_interpolate + con_speed
  
• snd_lockmusic (locks music changes like a playlist)
  
• blood_fade_usemaxhealth (blood intensity scales to max HP)
  
• Expanded weapon sway/bob controls (motion/jump/still bob speeds + DECORATE properties)
  
• cl_noswitchonfire (prevents auto-switch on pickup while firing)
  
• DPI-aware on Windows (better high-DPI behavior)
  
• NetIDs now unsigned (max NetID doubled to 65535)

Fixes (high level)

• Many online-sync and event reliability fixes (chat coloring, freeze/unfreeze, event triggers, etc.)
  
• Chasecam / spying / spectator edge cases (including crash fixes)
  
• Numerous Heretic/Hexen/Strife networking and actor-sync fixes
  
• Long-running server stability fixes (including overflow issues around long uptime)
  
• Server browser fixed (broken since 3.1 due to unsafe command restart behavior)
  
• Map rotation, join queue, and vote edge cases (including hub traversal behavior)
  
• A large number of specific actor/weapon/pointer sync fixes in online games

After this we've also gotten a minor update as Zandronum 3.2.1 releases, and this is where are currently playing on.
And soon Zandronum 3.3 will be released, but this warrants its own post when the time comes.

Version history for Zandronum can additionally be found here[wiki.zandronum.com] where everything above and more is summarized.

Here's to many more years of Dooming!