Mann vs Archipelago

This project turns a Team Fortress 2 Mann vs Machine server into an Archipelago randomizer.

• The classes, the weapon slots and the missions start locked.
• Every wave your team clears is a check. Checks unlock things, here or in another player's game.
• Everybody on the server shares the same unlocks.
• Bots fill the empty seats on RED, so two people can play waves that Valve balanced for six.
• Your friends install nothing. They join with a normal Team Fortress 2 client.

The three steps

Every run is the same three steps. The book follows them in order.

1. Install the server. One file on Windows or Linux, or a Docker stack. The first start downloads about 14 GB of game files.
2. Create the Archipelago session. Choose the run options, generate a seed, upload it to archipelago.gg, and give the server the room address. See Create the session.
3. Invite your friends. Give them a connect line. See Invite your friends.

Then read The first session so you know what the first evening looks like. The launcher, tab by tab explains every screen, and the campaign tracker shows the run to your players.

Quick start on Windows

1. Download tf2ap.exe from the latest release.
2. Run it. Windows warns about it. Click More info, then Run anyway. The warning is a false positive; see Install on Windows.
3. Press Start. Wait for the download to finish.
4. Install the Archipelago app.
5. In the launcher, open Settings, then Player options, and press Generate seed.
6. Upload the generated file at archipelago.gg/uploads and create a room.
7. Paste the room address into Settings, then Archipelago room, and press Restart.
8. Send your friends the connect line shown under the buttons.

New to Archipelago?

Read Archipelago words, for MvM players first. It is one page. Archipelago and Mann vs Machine use the same words for different things, and the rest of the book assumes you know which is which.

Where to get help

• Troubleshooting finds which part is broken.
• Debug logs, in the launcher's Settings, writes one file with everything a helper needs. Send that file when you ask for help.
• Issues go to GitHub.