Command line parameters

This is a full list of the supported command line parameters. A number of additional parameters are supported in addition to those present in the DOS version.

General options

Parameter Description
-config <file> Load main configuration from the specified file, instead of the default.
-extraconfig <file> Load additional configuration from the specified file, instead of the default.
-file <files> Load the specified PWAD files.
-iwad <file> Specify an IWAD file to use.
-nomusic Disable music.
-nomusicpacks Disable substitution music packs.
-nosfx Disable sound effects.
-nosound Disable all sound output.
-ravpic Take screenshots when F1 is pressed.
-response <filename> Load extra command line arguments from the given response file. Arguments read from the file will be inserted into the command line replacing this argument. A response file can also be loaded using the abbreviated syntax '@filename.rsp'.
-savedir <directory> Specify a path from which to load and save games. If the directory does not exist then it will automatically be created.
-version Print the program version and exit.

Game start options

Parameter Description
-autohealth Automatic use of Quartz flasks and Mystic urns.
-fast Fast monsters. This option is not allowed when recording a demo, playing back a demo or when starting a network game.
-loadgame <s> Load the game in savegame slot s.
-moremana Mana pickups give 50% more mana. This option is not allowed when recording a demo, playing back a demo or when starting a network game.
-nomonsters Disable monsters.
-respawn Monsters respawn after being killed.
-skill <skill> Set the game skill, 1-5 (1: easiest, 5: hardest). A skill of 0 disables all monsters.
-warp x Start a game immediately, warping to MAPx.

Display options

Parameter Description
-1 Don't scale up the screen. Implies -window.
-2 Double up the screen to 2x its normal size. Implies -window.
-3 Double up the screen to 3x its normal size. Implies -window.
-display <x> Specify the display number on which to show the screen.
-fullscreen Run in fullscreen mode.
-geometry <WxY> Specify the dimensions of the window. Implies -window.
-height <y> Specify the screen height, in pixels. Implies -window.
-noblit Disable blitting the screen.
-nograbmouse Don't grab the mouse when running in windowed mode.
-nomouse Disable the mouse.
-width <x> Specify the screen width, in pixels. Implies -window.
-window Run in a window.

Networking options

Parameter Description
-autojoin Automatically search the local LAN for a multiplayer server and join it.
-class <n> Specify player class: 0=fighter, 1=cleric, 2=mage, 3=pig.
-connect <address> Connect to a multiplayer server running on the given address.
-deathmatch Start a deathmatch game.
-dup <n> Reduce the resolution of the game by a factor of n, reducing the amount of network bandwidth needed.
-extratics <n> Send n extra tics in every packet as insurance against dropped packets.
-nodes <n> Autostart the netgame when n nodes (clients) have joined the server.
-oldsync Use original network client sync code rather than the improved sync code.
-port <n> Use the specified UDP port for communications, instead of the default (2342).
-privateserver When running a server, don't register with the global master server. Implies -server.
-randclass In deathmatch mode, change a player's class each time the player respawns.
-server Start a multiplayer server, listening for connections.
-servername <name> When starting a network server, specify a name for the server.
-solo-net Start the game playing as though in a netgame with a single player. This can also be used to play back single player netgame demos.
-timer <n> For multiplayer games: exit each level after n minutes.

Dehacked and WAD merging

Parameter Description
-aa <files> Equivalent to "-af <files> -as <files>".
-af <files> Simulates the behavior of NWT's -af option, merging flats into the main IWAD directory. Multiple files may be specified.
-as <files> Simulates the behavior of NWT's -as option, merging sprites into the main IWAD directory. Multiple files may be specified.
-deh <files> Load the given dehacked patch(es)
-merge <files> Simulates the behavior of deutex's -merge option, merging a PWAD into the main IWAD. Multiple files may be specified.
-noautoload Disable auto-loading of .wad files.
-nocheats Ignore cheats in dehacked files.
-nwtmerge <files> Simulates the behavior of NWT's -merge option. Multiple files may be specified.

Demo options

Parameter Description
-longtics Record or playback a demo with high resolution turning.
-maxdemo <size> Specify the demo buffer size (KiB)
-nodemoextend Record or playback a demo, automatically quitting after either level exit or player respawn.
-noshortticfix Don't smooth out low resolution turning when recording a demo.
-playdemo <demo> Play back the demo named demo.lmp.
-record <x> Record a demo named x.lmp.
-recordfrom <savenum> <demofile> Record a demo, loading from the given filename. Equivalent to -loadgame <savenum> -record <demofile>.
-strictdemos When recording or playing back demos, disable any extensions of the vanilla demo format - record demos as vanilla would do, and play back demos as vanilla would do.
-timedemo <demo> Play back the demo named demo.lmp, determining the framerate of the screen.

Compatibility

Parameter Description
-gameversion <version> Emulate a specific version of Hexen. Valid values are "1.1" and "1.1r2".
-setmem <version> Specify DOS version to emulate for NULL pointer dereference emulation. Supported versions are: dos622, dos71, dosbox. The default is to emulate DOS 7.1 (Windows 98).
-v10override If provided, the check for the v1.0 IWAD file is disabled, even though it will almost certainly cause the game to crash.

Obscure and less-used options

Parameter Description
-artiskip Don't allow artifacts to be used when the run key is held down.
-cdrom Save configuration data and savegames in c:\hexndata, allowing play from CD. (windows only)
-dumpsubstconfig <filename> Read all MIDI files from loaded WAD files, dump an example substitution music config file to the specified filename and quit.
-mb <mb> Specify the heap size, in MiB.
-mmap Use the OS's virtual memory subsystem to map WAD files directly into memory.
-nogui If specified, don't show a GUI window for error messages when the game exits with an error.
-scripts <path> Development option to specify path to level scripts.