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.
-devparm Developer mode. Implies -nograph.
-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.
-nograph Disable graphical introduction sequence
-nomusic Disable music.
-nomusicpacks Disable substitution music packs.
-nosfx Disable sound effects.
-nosound Disable all sound output.
-novoice Disable voice dialog and show dialog as text instead, even if voices.wad can be found.
-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
-fast Monsters move faster.
-loadgame <s> Load the game in slot s.
-nomonsters Disable monsters.
-random Items respawn at random locations
-respawn Respawn monsters after they are killed.
-skill <skill> Set the game skill, 1-5 (1: easiest, 5: hardest). A skill of 0 disables all monsters.
-turbo <x> Turbo mode. The player's speed is multiplied by x%. If unspecified, x defaults to 200. Values are rounded up to 10 and down to 400.
-warp x Start a game immediately, warping to level x.

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.
-nodraw Disable rendering the screen entirely.
-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
-altdeath Start a deathmatch game. Weapons do not stay in place and all items respawn after 30 seconds.
-autojoin Automatically search the local LAN for a multiplayer server and join it.
-avg Austin Virtual Gaming: end levels after 20 minutes.
-connect <address> Connect to a multiplayer server running on the given address.
-dedicated Start a dedicated server, routing packets but not participating in the game itself.
-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.
-left Run as the left screen in three screen mode.
-localsearch Search the local LAN for running servers.
-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.
-query <address> Query the status of the server running on the given IP address.
-right Run as the right screen in three screen mode.
-search Query the Internet master server for a global list of active servers.
-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
-maxdemo <size> Specify the demo buffer size (KiB)
-playdemo <demo> Play back the demo named demo.lmp.
-record <x> Record a demo named x.lmp.
-solo-net Play back a demo recorded in a netgame with a single player.
-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
-donut <x> <y> Use the specified magic values when emulating behavior caused by memory overruns from improperly constructed donuts. In Vanilla Strife this can differ depending on the operating system. The default (if this option is not specified) is to emulate the behavior when running under Windows 98.
-gameversion <version> Emulate a specific version of Strife. Valid values are "1.2" and "1.31".
-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).
-spechit <n> Use the specified magic value when emulating spechit overruns.

Obscure and less-used options

Parameter Description
-cdrom Save configuration data and savegames in c:\strife.cd, 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.
-flip Flip player gun sprites (broken).
-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.
-work Set Rogue playtesting mode (godmode, noclip toggled by backspace)