A setup for multiplayer collaboration

Fiver · January 4

I have been introducing TDM to some non-gamer friends for some time. They seem to enjoy it, and we have (with some effort) completed some missions. But they have expressed frustration over learning the many controls, especially movements and the precision required for positioning the avatar to perform the task at hand.

About a year ago I read this post by @MirceaKitsune, and (though possibly unrelated to what MirceaKitsune described) I thought about the possibility of splitting up the gaming controls over more than one gamepad: a setup for collaborative gameplay, where less experienced players (or players with disabilities) can enjoy the story, help solving puzzles, and still participate in some elements of gameplay themselves (control lockpicking, control lantern/map/compass/spyglass, control readables, control bow et.c.).

One gamepad can be the master gampad and work the same as in single player mode. A more experienced player can use this master gamepad and then, one by one, delegate some easy tasks to less experienced co-players. When a co-player seems to master their task, or if they say they want more to do, then more tasks can be delegated to them. This can be done while the mission and story progresses. I also think it will be easier to keep everyone engaged with the game when they all have a specific task to perform at any moment in the game rather than just watch someone else play. Some players may be more comfortable mastering one functionality before moving on to the next.

I already use the Linux program QJoyPad to add some extra features to my gampad configuration when I play by myself. For the multiplayer setup, I configured QJoyPad to map buttons for gamepads 2, 3 and 4 to keyboard letters to control some functionality.

One possible setup using QJoyPad and four gamepads could look like this:

Spoiler

* Start QJoyPad
* Jack in all gamepads in order 1 2 3 4
* Select profile TDM (Create one if it does not exist)
* Optionally verify button mappings (Set buttons and save profile if no mappings are set)
* Start TDM (gamepad 2 will be master due to defect)
* Disconnect gamepad 4 3 2 1, then connect gamepad 1 2 3 4
* Gamepad 1 will be master

* Gamepad 1 is master and controls everything as set up in DarkmodPadbinds.cfg

* Gamepad 2 controls locks:
** select keys (k) or picks (p)
** frob (right click) (e.g. pick lock, use key, pick pockets, but also to take/open things or to carry people)
** walk (wasd), lean (qe), crouch (x), jump (space)
** throw/attack (click) (e.g. bow)
** start for objectives (o)
** slow mouse on right stick (for looking and bow)

* Gamepad 3 controls tools:
** lantern (l), maps (m), compass (v), spyglass (g)
** frob (right click)
** start for objectives (o)
** slow mouse on right stick (for looking)

* Gamepad 4 controls readables:
** right (i) to select readable from inventory, button "use" (u) to read, up/down to flip pages (the two keys left of backspace)
** frob (right click) (e.g. to read, or take, a highlighted book)
** throw/attack (click) (e.g. bow)
** start for objectives (o)
** slow mouse on right stick (for looking and bow)

Tips:
* QJoyPad settings:
** slow mouse on right stick is set to gradient speed 2 (for high precision)
** when setting the frob (right click) to a gamepad's analog trigger, set it to only activate on the upper half of the response from the analog trigger
* If connected to a screen with delay, player 1 can look at the computer screen because movements are more time sensitive
* If it does not work, try restarting QJoyPad then start TDM

Other than some simple testing by myself I have not yet tested this in practice, but I will if I get the opportunity.

QJoyPad only works for Linux, but someone may possibly know of similar software for Windows.

Until this defect is closed, you will have to disconnect the game pads after you start TDM, and you must reconnect them in order 1, 2, 3, 4.