ANNOUNCEMENT: How to connect to TG servers

**WhiskeySix** · 01-23-2009, 11:46 AM

This thread is intended to provide players all the information they need to enjoy Left 4 Dead on TacticalGamer servers! We will be updating it as server setup or updates require! If you have trouble connecting to the servers, please post in the Technical Support forum!

TG Server-List and Usage Guide

- How do I join using the Lobby System?

How does a game lobby work?

What sv_search_key should I use?

How do I configure my sv_search_key?

- How do I join using the SteamGroup?

- How do I join using the Server Browser?

- Why isn't my lobby connecting to the server?!

- Why can't I open the console?

- How do I add [Open Server Browser] to my main-menu?

- How do I join using the IP Address?

- Who are the L4D admins?

**WhiskeySix** · 01-23-2009, 11:53 AM

TG currently hosts four Left 4 Dead servers:

TacticalGamer.com - VS Adv
IP: 75.125.97.195:27015

sv_search_key: tgvsadv

TacticalGamer.com - No Meds #1
75.125.97.199:27015

sv_search_key: tgnomeds

TacticalGamer.com - No Meds #2
75.125.97.197:27015

sv_search_key: tgnomeds

TacticalGamer.com - Coop
75.125.97.194:27015

sv_search_key: tgcoop

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**WhiskeySix** · 01-23-2009, 12:03 PM

Join a server using the SteamGroup server-list

This is the most simple way to connect and start playing. You don't need to have an extensive friends list, as everyone in the TGL4D group can see that a game is forming right in the main menu!

Click here to join the steamgroup!

To start a game via the steam group, just wait for the list of servers to appear on the main menu as shown below-left. NOTE: it can take up to a minute or two for your client to find all a group's servers, so be patient - the list WILL eventually come up! Once you click the server-list, you'll be presented with a menu that shows the servers. Simply highlight a server and click JOIN to start/join a game on that server!

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**WhiskeySix** · 01-23-2009, 12:17 PM

How do I get my Lobby to connect to TG's server?
Servers can be tagged with a special "search key" that allows lobbies to find and connect to them. In other words, a Lobby Leader can restrict the Lobby's search-engine to only find servers with a specific key. To do this, a parameter called sv_search_key must be configured on the Lobby Leader's computer.

TacticalGamer.com currently has three different search-keys to bring you to the appropriate server:

tgcoop - Coop Servers

tgvsadv - Versus Advanced-mode Server(s)

tgnomeds - Versus Normal-mode Server(s), with pills-only

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**WhiskeySix** · 01-23-2009, 12:28 PM

How Does a Lobby work?

In Left 4 Dead, a Lobby is basically just an in-game chat-room for players to gather and organize a match. In addition to the chat facility, the Lobby includes "search parameters" that the Lobby Leader can select, such as game-mode, difficulty-level, map, etc. Once two or more players are in the Lobby, the Lobby Leader can click "START THE GAME" At this point the Lobby goes out to search for a suitable server and then connects players to that server.

The menu system is a little confusing in that there are several places where it looks like you can create a lobby. The easiest and most reliable way to create a lobby is via the main menu, exactly as shown below:

NOTE: It's important to understand that when you're in a Lobby, you are NOT in a game and NOT [yet] on a server. Once everyone is ready to go and the leader hits start, you are connected to a server found by the Lobby's search engine.

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**WhiskeySix** · 01-23-2009, 12:38 PM

How do I configure my sv_search_key?

You can configure this parameter in the console. Simply hit the ~ key to bring up the console and then enter the command "sv_search_key tgcoop" (or whichever key you'd like), as shown below.

Alternatively, if you have a favorite server, you can setup a default search key. To do this, open Steam, via the Launch Options for L4D. Add the command "+sv_search_key tgvsadv" to the list, as shown below:

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**WhiskeySix** · 01-23-2009, 01:28 PM

Why can't my lobby find the server?!

-You just returned to the lobby - If you were playing on a server and returned to lobby (either via vote or by the game ending), there is a delay before that server will be connectable again. To make a long story short, it may take up to 3 minutes for the server to become "unreserved" so that your lobby will find it. (Use this time between games to stretch and grab another beverage ).

-All servers are full - Check the steamgroup server-list on the main-menu or use the server-browser to see the status of the servers.

- You have the wrong search key - Open your console, type sv_search_key and hit enter to see what your search key is set to.

-The server is crashed - It happens. To see if the server is crashed, try connecting to it directly as shown below. If you're still unable to connect, please drop a quick note in the Contact an Admin forum, or find one of us in steam.

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**WhiskeySix** · 01-23-2009, 01:38 PM

How can I connect to servers using the IP Address?

Servers can be joined directly using the server's IP Address. To do this open your console and use the connect command as shown below:
> connect 75.125.97.195

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**WhiskeySix** · 01-23-2009, 01:58 PM

How Do I Join Using the Server Browser?

Left 4 Dead has a "hidden" server-browser which can be opened by typeing openserverbrowser into your console. This will bring up a window as shown below. Note that you can go to the Favorites tab and add the TG servers using their IP addresses.

(See post below For details on how to open this directly from your main menu.)

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**WhiskeySix** · 01-23-2009, 02:06 PM

How do I open the console

By default the ~ key is used to bring up the console.

Note: The console is disabled by default. To enable it, go into Options / Keyboard/Mouse and enable it as shown below.

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**WhiskeySix** · 01-25-2009, 07:35 PM

Who are the L4D Admins?

Please add these volunteer's to your friends list!

Avs (Add Friend...)

Disciple (Add Friend...)

Lorax (Add Friend...)

Tampa-Tony (Add Friend...)

WhiskeySix (Add Friend...)

Whistler (Add Friend...)

Kebab-Kastike (Add Friend...)

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**WhiskeySix** · 01-29-2009, 11:26 AM

How do I enable Open Server Browser option in my main-menu?

The main menu can be edited (link) to give direct access to the server-browser, as shown here:

It's then simply a matter of adding the TG servers to your favorites. You do this using IP Addresses:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Avs

What are the server IPs?

75.125.97.195:27015 - TacticalGamer.com - VS Adv
75.125.97.199:27015 - TacticalGamer.com - No Meds #1
75.125.97.197:27015 - TacticalGamer.com - No Meds #2
75.125.97.194:27015 - TacticalGamer.com - Coop

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**WhiskeySix** · 03-11-2009, 11:17 AM

Updated: Wednesday 11.Mar.09 - Server reorganization