THE POPULOUS BIBLE
R.13 Learning PopRe Matchmaker
This guide was created by Shaman's Reincarnated members. Watch the original in THEIR SITE.
First thing for a new player to tackle is to use the MM as it is intended to be, look no further ahead this tutorial will help you understand all the features and working of the MM.
OK, so this is how the MM will look like when you log in, I have marked all the things you possibly need.
SOME QUICK SETTINGS:
1) Auto Hut: Will search for a game match and put you in a hut.
2)Settings: Open settings Tab
3)Log Out: Log out of MM
4)Map List : Opens a list of all mappacks
5)Minimize: Minimizes the info box
6)Port Test: Will test your ports(7575 UDP)
OK, so next up is the settings tab(found on top right corner, see image). This tab pretty much self understood, only thing u will need to consider is Populous sub tab.
Well this doesn't require a screenshot just read ahead and you will understand everything.
1)Populous : In this tab you should set the directory to where your game in installed, below that you can select either of software mode or hardware mode, select any it doesn't change much just some graphics.
The send screenshot every minute will so as it says, you can enable it or disable it.
2)Graphics : Set the resolution you want to play in and usually players play in 800x600 and 1024x768.
Enable DxWnd to fix color problem but it will bug your alt tabbing out of game if needed, I press scroll lock key instead. If you want to stream your game then DxWnd is a must. High frame rate would be good almost everybody has it enabled. Other settings are normal as you would understand.
3)Controls : Fix Mouse, Autocast, Scrolling Tooltips and stay selected are a must, otherwise you can experiment with those settings.
4)Audio : Everything is self explained here.
5)Networking : Just leave this area alone, but if you are an expert then you don't need any tutorial.
6)Capture: For people who wants to stream or record their populous games.
Ok, Settings are done now. Time to see how to set up the game when you are the host.
Game setup tab will show up when you join the host hut. It is divided in 5 parts namely Players, Hut settings, Level, Map additions, Game.
1)Players : Here you have multiple settings, the + and - signs let you choose number of players (max. is 4 min. in 2) small boxes having numbers are pings, if any players has a 'X' or '?' instead of any number, then you cannot launch. The colored boxes denote starting positions of players(starting positions of tribes are marked on the level).Randomize colors will put random starting positions. The boxes with spectacles when ticked make the respective player a spectator who can only watch other player playing and cannot build, cast spell, etc(but he can chat in game).
2)Hut Settings : Here you can set restrictions to who can join the huts you are hosting and set the mappack. You can set password as you need, next is a slider which can set restrictions to the ranks(restrict hut for players below warrior rank or players above firewarrior rank etc). Next is a drop down list where you can select a mappack that you want to play(there are dozens of mappacks with 6-7 levels in each!!). Below that is the mappack menu button which will popup a menu containing all mappacks and maps, here you can see more details about the map like trees, totems, etc.
3)Level : Here the different levels present in the mappack you selected will be shown, you can take a look at the starting positions of the tribes.
4)Map Additions : Select what you want already prebuilt for you and other players here. You can select prebuilt huts, towers, braves, training huts, mana, etc. (don't forget to discuss these settings with the players you are playing with)
5)Game : Here you can select if the game will be ranked or not (non-ranked games will not change any of your skill and points rating). Next up is a timed game setting, here you can set for how much time the game will go on until the selected victory condition is triggered(if you set game length to 20 minutes and victory condition to armageddon then after 20 minutes the game will automatically trigger the armageddon, and the game will be decided by who will win the arma.). Below that is the launch game button which will launch you to in game setup screen.
On the bottom right corner of the Matchmaker, near the nicknames, you can see the ''Legend". click and hold to read and understand what each status means.
You need to know that the two previous matchmaker images will change depending on the matchmaker skin you are using. This one is the default, once you install the matchmaker.