Files
BT411/players
arcattackandClaude Opus 4.8 8368163b04 Lobby loop: auto-rejoin between rounds + seat reclaim + live mission edits
The between-rounds arcade flow (first-playtest-night field request): at
mission end every pod exited, seats dropped, and every round required
everyone to re-run join.bat with no way to adjust the mission.

1. AUTO-REJOIN: StopMission (operator END / mission clock -- NOT a
   window close) sets gBTMissionStoppedByConsole; after the matchlog
   upload btl4main relaunches the pod into the join wait with the same
   cmdline (BT_CALLSIGN/BT_MECH ride the inherited environment).

2. SEAT RECLAIM: the assigned tag is mirrored file-scope
   (BTRelaySelfTag) and re-presented as the 3rd SEAT_REQUEST payload
   field (BT_SEAT_CLAIM); the relay holds a dropped seat for its tag
   for 90s and a returning player gets their EXACT seat back -- static
   ordering across rounds, the real-pod model.  Non-claim joiners skip
   reclaim-held seats.

3. LIVE MISSION EDITS: the console gains "Apply mission settings"
   (enabled while a session runs) writing arena/time/weather/length
   into the session egg; the relay re-reads the file at round reset and
   egg release (roster shape locked mid-session).

Verified 2-pod 3-round: pods self-relaunched after each clock end; the
SECOND-to-rejoin still reclaimed its original seat (ordering held); the
between-rounds edit landed ("mission length now 75s").  Known edge
noted in the KB: a stale ready flag from a not-yet-exited old conn can
satisfy the launch gate mid-rejoin -- operators launch on green dots.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-07-23 00:28:56 -05:00
..

BattleTech {VERSION} -- multiplayer client
==========================================

IMPORTANT: FULLY EXTRACT this zip first (right-click - Extract All).
Do NOT run anything from inside the zip.  The .bat files must sit next
to the 'content' and 'build' folders.

TO JOIN AN INTERNET GAME:   double-click  join.bat
   -- pick your CALLSIGN and MECH, click JOIN (your choice is sent to
   the operator; waits for the session if it's not up yet)
TO JOIN A LAN GAME:         double-click  join_lan.bat  (operator's LAN;
   same callsign/mech menu)
SINGLE-PLAYER:              double-click  play_solo.bat  -- opens the
   mission menu: pick your mech (all 18), map, experience level,
   colours, weather and mission length, then launch
{STEAM}STEAM INTERNET PLAY:        double-click  play_steam.bat  (EXPERIMENTAL --
{STEAM}   needs the Steam client running; host or join from the menu)

Your seat is assigned automatically; you'll pilot the mech you picked
in the join menu (the operator can override it).
When a round ends your game AUTOMATICALLY rejoins for the next one
(same seat, same mech) -- just wait for the operator's next launch.
Close the window to leave for real.
If the game closes unexpectedly, send the operator content\join.log.

AFTER A MULTIPLAYER SESSION: the game writes a small match report,
content\matchlog_<date>_<time>_<number>.txt.  Please send the operator
the newest one -- we combine everyone's files to verify damage, kills
and scores worked correctly across all players.

You start INSIDE the cockpit with the pod's MFD panels composited
around the view (one window).  The red MFD buttons, radar rails and
joystick buttons are all MOUSE-CLICKABLE -- right-click a button to
latch it held.  Press V any time to toggle the external camera.

CONTROLS (keyboard):
  W/S or Up/Down ....... throttle lever        X / NumPad5 ... all stop
  A/D or Left/Right .... turn pedals           Alt ........... reverse thrust
  Q/E .................. torso twist           R/F ........... torso aim
  NumPad 8/2/4/6 ....... torso aim/twist (alt) Shift ......... throttle up
  1 or Space ........... main trigger          2 ............. middle thumb
  3 or Ctrl ............ upper thumb (missiles) 4 ............ pinky
  V view | B look-behind | M control mode | N schematic | J/K/L MFD pages
  G (hold) + fire key .. regroup a weapon onto that trigger -- or hold a
     weapon panel's red PROGRAM button with the mouse and tap a fire key;
     the joystick diagram on the panel shows the binding live.

An Xbox controller works out of the box.  Rebind keys in
content\bindings.txt (regenerates with defaults if deleted).

This build: {VERSION}.  Private -- do not redistribute.
{EXPIRE}Test builds STOP WORKING 14 days after they are made -- if the game
{EXPIRE}says it has expired, just grab the operator's newest zip.