Last updated: August 5th, 2003

Cheats and hacks
The NS development team takes cheats and hacks very seriously. NS v2.01 will have full VALVe Anti-Cheat (VAC) and Cheating Death support, to combat hacks.

If you have found a downloadable cheat or cheating site, please send it to cheats@natural-selection.org.

All cheats will be examined and addressed. Your efforts will help VALVe and the NS team combat hacks and the fixes will help other Half-life mods as well.


General gameplay FAQs

What is Natural Selection?
Natural Selection is a hybrid first-person/real-time strategy game. There is a resource model, a tech tree, structures and upgrades, just like a traditional RTS (like Starcraft or Command and Conquer). It is mostly played in first-person, but one player can become the Commander and plays from a top-down perspective.

What will I need to play?
You need a Pentium II 400 mhz machine CPU (or equivalent non-Intel), 32 megabytes of RAM and any graphics accelerator supported by Half-life. Software rendering support is not currently planned. You also need an internet connection, a keyboard and a mouse. Windows 95 and above are supported. Lastly, you'll need a copy of Half-life or Counter-strike retail. If your machine runs one of these well, it should run Natural Selection comparably.

What are the objectives?
The aliens must kill all the marines and their infantry portals. The marines must kill all the aliens and their hives. That's the only goal. Aliens start with one hive and can build up to two more.

How do I join a team?
All players start in the "ready room". You pick your team visually, by walking through one of the doors. To leave a team, press F4 or type "readyroom" in the console. If you ever get stuck in a spawn in the ready room, you can type "jointeamone" or "jointeamtwo" in the console.

What is the pop-up menu?
All players on both sides (except the Commander) can access their pop-up menu by holding down their right mouse button. Hold down the right mouse button, and your cursor will appear. Move the cursor over the desired option, then let go to perform that action. Letting go off the menu will not perform any action. The menu can also be used by clicking once to open it, then clicking again to select an option.

Do weapons have secondary functions?
There is no secondary fire on the weapons. The visual pop-up menu is bound to the second mouse button by default. This is a trade-off to allow many more options in the game without having to bind extra keys.

How do I build structures?
The marines and builder-aliens build structures by looking at the base of the structure and holding their use key. They will see a progress bar showing the building's current state. Structures must be built before they become active. On the alien team, only Gorges can create and build structures.

How do I get more ammo?
Aliens never run out of ammo, they only run out of energy (see below). Marines can get more ammo by receiving it directly from the Commander, or by walking up to an armory and holding down their use key. The armory is a generic green building, but there will be an icon super-imposed on it. Just try holding your use key on many different buildings until you see your ammo going up and you hear a clicking sound. Of course, your Commander may not build an armory. In that case, it's best to just scream for your life. Aliens never run out of ammo.

When do I respawn?
Aliens respawn after 10 seconds, if there's a hive available to respawn him. More hives means dead players can be processed faster, and back into the game faster. Marines respawn at infantry portals. An infantry portal takes also takes 10 seconds to process a marine, and more infantry portals mean dead players can get back into the game faster. If your team has suffered many recent losses, you will get in line in the order you died, and it may take significantly longer for you to respawn back in.

How do resources work?
The resource system is relatively simple, but there are a few rules to know.

1. Marines have no individual resources, only team resources. Aliens have no team resources, only individual resources. Only the Commander can spend resources for the marine team. Aliens can use resources to change into a new lifeform, to build structures (resource towers, upgrade chambers and hives), and to evolve new traits.

2. The marine team starts with 100 resources. Every alien starts with 25 resources.

3. Resources are most reliably collected by building resource towers on top of an empty resource nozzle (a circular disk on the ground with a nano-steam coming out of it). Once a tower is built, it awards the owner's team one resource point every four seconds. For aliens, this gets split evenly among all players.

4. Finally, when any player kills an enemy, they are awarded 1-3 resources, randomly. For marines, this goes to the team resource total. For aliens, this goes to the individual alien that made the kill.

Is there location-specific damage? I think it would be neat if the aliens had strange vulnerable spots.
Currently, there is no location-specific damage. This may change in a future version.

Is friendly fire on or off? How tournament-friendly is NS?
NS was designed to excel in a tournament or clan environment. There are two modes that a server can run in. Tournament mode and Casual mode. Most public servers will be running in Casual mode, where friendly fire is off, players spawn in more readily and the some of the game mechanics are a more forgiving. In Tournament mode, friendly fire is on and the game is as competitive and hard-core as possible. See the Clans and Tournaments forum for an updated list of differences between casual and tournament mode.

Most or all public servers will want to run in casual mode, and most or all tournaments will want to use tournament mode. When friendly fire is enabled, damage can be done to friendly players and structures, but damage is done at only 33%.

It says my base is under attack...where?
If you're the Commander, just press your jump button, and you'll go right to the alert. If you're an alien, spin your view around until you see a red halo. This is a teammate or friendly structure that's taking damage.

Can you play marines vs. marines or aliens vs. aliens?
The current release doesn't have these scenarios, but the game is designed to support it. This will be supported in the future. Note: these alternate gameplay modes won't "take over" the original modes, so if you don't like the idea of these modes, you won't have to play them.

Can I use the NS textures, technology, game world, concept art or anything else for any purpose other then Natural Selection?
No. The team has worked very hard to create the NS universe. Please don't e-mail or post asking to use our textures, models or technology for other projects. You can, however, use any artwork from NS for an NS fansite, or NS community resource. You may never use anything from NS to make money, nor may you ever state or imply that any NS assets were made by anyone other then the NS team. If in doubt, e-mail flayra@overmind.org before using anything. Any inappropriate use of any NS content will be pursued aggressively.

How can I become a beta tester?
We don't need any more beta testers at this time. If and when we do need more beta testers, they are always selected the same way. The ONLY way to become a beta tester is to make mature and insightful posts on the forums. We look for beta testers to balance the game, but also want them to help direct the future of Natural Selection. Beta testers become "Veterans", or experienced NS members that make suggestions for new features and guide the growth of Natural Selection. We are looking for small numbers of professional gamers or insightful players that can communicate and write up their thoughts clearly. We will ask most people if they would like to become a Veteran, please do not contact anyone or post on the forums asking to be a beta tester. Posts or e-mail of this nature will be ignored and might be deleted.

I hate cheaters, they ruin online games. What are you doing to prevent cheaters from ruining Natural Selection?
Natural Selection will ship with VALVe software's Anti-Cheat support (VAC). They have been kind enough to support NS for version 1.0. The team will also work with other cheat protection software authors on request.

This game looks like a clone of that awesome movie, Aliens. It also looks a lot like the game Aliens vs. Predator.
That's not a question.

Some folks think we are copying the movie called Aliens. The development team would be lying if any of them said that they didn't like the movie, or that it didn't influence them in any way. Aliens was perhaps the most influential sci-fi movie ever made. Like a lot of people our age, we're huge Aliens fans. We've been inspired by the movie's visuals and drama, but Natural Selection has nothing to do with those aliens, Vasquez, or LV-426. Our aliens don't look at all like the ones in Aliens, they don't have acid for blood, etc. Natural Selection fits into the "aliens vs. humans" genre as does Event Horizon and Starcraft. We chose to use familiar subject matter then innovate in the gameplay. The fact that the setting is familiar to people increases the appeal and means more people to play with!

For some reason, a lot of comparisons are made to the excellent Aliens vs. Predator, even though that was primarily a scary single-player first-person-shooter and we're a multiplayer-only first-person strategy game. You can play as an alien, but that's where the similarities with AvP end.

What's this "first-person strategy" stuff?
This is the heart and soul of Natural Selection. The game is a hybrid real-time strategy game (RTS). What this means is, there is a resource economy, on both sides. A team's resources dictate whether a player can respawn after death, what weapons a team can buy, what upgrades can be researched, what lifeform an alien can morph into, and more. The marines can have one player on the team that can use the command station. This command station allows the player to view the world from a top-down perspective, just like an RTS. He can research technologies, buy weapons for teammates, resupply ammo, etc. He can also select "units" (which are all real live players) and give them orders. For instance, he can lasso select two players and right-click on a balcony in a nearby room. The Commander and both players hear a "move to waypoint" order, then the players on the ground see their new waypoint. If they move to that area, the waypoint disappears and the order is completed. In this way, the Commander can deploy forces, equip players and even micromanage battles to get an advantage. He can also decide how important individual battles are, and choose to spend as many (or as little) points depending how important he perceives the encounter to be. Seeing all your "little people" and having a responsibility for them is a wonderful feeling. The commander mode could bring both casual and competitive teamplay to the next level.

I've read that the aliens can "wordlessly communicate". What are you talking about?
This is accomplished through a few mechanisms. When an alien can see an enemy, all aliens can see that enemy. That is, a 'blip' is drawn where the enemy is, and all aliens can see it, even through walls. In a similar fashion, aliens can always see each other. This means aliens can really play of each other spontaneously and without having to give orders, type or talk. Maybe an alien is about to attack a group of marines, but then notices another alien crawling through a ventilation shaft towards the rear of the marine base, so he waits a few seconds instead. Then just as the other alien is about to emerge to flank the marines, he decides to attack simultaneously from the front. This will promote coordinated action by the aliens, but without forcing them to stop and communicate. We are also working on a language system not unlike that used by turkeys and coyotes to allow the aliens to communicate verbally without the marines having any idea what they're saying (and with nice dramatic effect).

Can I link your site from my site?
Of course. Use this animated banner, created by Crinity. Right-click the banner, select "Save as..." to download it. Please use the main site URL, like so: http://www.natural-selection.org.

I feel bad playing so much NS without paying a dime. Can I support the team somehow?
While we surely don't expect people to pay if they don't have to, enough people have asked this that we've set up a contributor program, called The Constellation. To read more about the benefits of joining, click the link in the nav bar on the left. No matter what, don't feel guilty about not paying...just make sure to play!

Are you guys looking for a publisher or distributor?
If you think you want to publish or distribute NS, we would love to discuss this with you. Please send serious inquiries to flayra@natural-selection.org.

Isn't there an Aliens vs. Predator game called Natural Selection?
FOX Interactive made a quiet announcement about a new game with this name, but have sinced changed the name to "Aliens vs. Predator: Primal Hunt". We also have trademark, so it's here to stay.

Is there an IRC channel or place to chat about Natural Selection?
Yes. Just use MIRC or any other IRC client, connect to a GamesNet server and join channel #naturalselection. You can also access it over the web immediately by going to The Ready Room and clicking "NS IRC Web Chat. While you're there, say hello to Hectate for us.

Can I help you create Natural Selection?
We don't need any more team members right now, but there are other ways to help. We're hoping to see a lot of custom maps and artwork coming out of the community. If you've created something you're proud of, let us know. If your work is good enough, we may ask your permission to put it into the game.

Is VALVe software involved in the creation of NS? Are you planning to get it in retail?
Not at this point. The team would love to get more involved with VALVe, but there is no formal affiliation or arrangements at this time. VALVe does help the team from time to time with information about the SDK and the Half-life engine.

Will I ever have to pay for NS? Will we ever see NS on Steam?
Natural Selection will always be free. We are working with VALVe to get Natural Selection on Steam.


Marine Gameplay FAQs

What's the deal with the Commander?
The marines need one player on their team to play the Commander. A player chooses to command by walking up to the command station (it phases in at the start of the match), and presses his use key. There can be only one Commander at a time. While it's possible to play a game without one, it will be very short and is not recommended. The Commander plays the game from a top-down RTS view, while everyone else on the server play from a first-person view. He can only see what his teammates can see.

The Commander can spend the team's resources on technology buildings, new weapons, upgrades for his marines, turrets and more. He also plays a large role in combat as well, as he can resupply his troops mid-battle. The "eject" command can be used to allow players to get rid of a malicious Commander (use the pop-up menu, move up then left). The Commander cannot be killed while using the command station. The command station can be destroyed however. If it's destroyed, he will suddenly appear next to it, and is now vulnerable.

How do I create squads as Commander? Which squad is best?
Hold your duck key, and press 1-5. That will create a squad, and will tell the marines on the ground that they are now part of that squad. Squad 5 is best.

How do I stop being Commander?
There is a red logout button in the upper right of the commander interface. Press it to leave the command station. Once you've left, anyone can become a new Commander.

How do I get access to new weapons?
The marines can only get new weapons if the Commander researches and buys them. For the Commander to equip a marine, he must build an armory, and then manufacture new weaponry. He creates this weapons anywhere on the map, where they can be picked up by marines.

What are these big blue circles on my screen?
The moving circles are aliens that are detected by the motion-tracking upgrade. An unmoving circle is an order that the Commander has given you. The order will blink, and will tell you what the Commander wants to do and where to go. Following orders and performing tasks for the good of the squad is what being a Frontiersman is all about.

I want a better weapon and heavy armor so I can pwnz0r some aliens. Should I keep pestering the commander until I get them?
No. Nothing is more frustrating for a Commander then a soldier's repeated pleas for better weapons and armor. Check to see how many resources your team has (at the top of your HUD) before asking for anything. If you resources are over 100, it might be appropriate to start asking for equipment. Remember: a Frontiersman is there to serve his Commander and try to execute his battle plan. If you don't want to follow orders and support the Commander, go command on a different server or join the alien team instead.

When you're playing as a soldier on the marine team, you're pledging to follow orders, even if it means your death. Get in the spirit of it and discover teamwork.


Alien Gameplay FAQs

What is the blue bar on the left side of my screen?
That's your current resources. Spend your resources on evolving upgrades, new alien lifeforms, or building structures.

What is the yellow bar indicator on the right side of my screen?
That's your current energy. All alien abilities cost energy and if you don't have enough energy to perform an action, you can't do it. The only way to get energy back is to wait while it slowly replenishes. The adrenaline upgrade will speed your energy recovery rate.

When I'm an alien, what are all these glowing circles everywhere?
This is the alien "hive sight". This allows the aliens to know more about the status of their team, via the communal hive mind. These circles show you friendly aliens or structures that under attack, or enemies that have been "marked" via Parasite.

How do I crawl on walls?
Alien players always spawn in at a hive as a Skulk. The skulk has the ability to crawl on walls and ceilings. Just look up a wall and move forward. It takes some practice (and some getting used to), but good players will learn to use it outflank their enemies and move quickly across the map with it. Wall-running can be disabled by holding the "crouch" key. This can be useful for dropping to the ground or in conjection with the leap ability.

How do I fly?
The Lerk alien can fly, just by tapping the jump key. This works much like a first-person Joust (TM). Note that flying costs energy.

I'm an alien, and some of my weapons are disabled. Why?
Aliens get access to new weapons by getting more hives. Weapon category 1 is always available, and weapon categories 2-4 are only available when aliens have hives (each hive unlocks the next category). Be sure to keep your hives protected to keep your abilities. As an alien, use your hive sight to see where the alert is. Marines are oblivious to alerts.

What does a Gorge do?
Gorges can create alien structures to grant alien powers and upgrades to the members of his team. These structures can also be used for defense and for spreading the alien infestation faster. The builders are less focussed on combat, but get points and status by killing enemies with their defensive structures, and by building structures. They can also spin webs and heal their teammates and structures. Some people have nick-named this alien "Pudgy" or "Piggy" because of the extra bulk he needs to produce the alien structures. It's not his fault, it's a genetic thing.

How do aliens get more hives?
Only Gorges can create new hives. They do this by finding a hive location (look for a translucent hive hanging from the ceiling, hive locations are also visible on hive sight). Once a gorge finds an empty hive location, he can use his pop-up menu to create a hive (right->down) if he has at least 80 resources. It then takes 2 minutes to gestate. As the hive builds, it will slowly fade in, until it finally swings down and activates. Active hives heal nearby aliens, support more upgrades and unlock new abilities and lifeforms.

How do alien upgrades work?
Gorges can build all sorts of structures. He can build offensive chambers (turrets), resource towers (only on nozzles, these gather resources for your whole team) and upgrade buildings. The upgrade building include defensive chambers, sensory chambers and movement chambers. Each one gives your team access to a new upgrade. When an upgrade chamber is built, all aliens on your team have the ability to choose one upgrade from that category. Once they make this choice, they cannot change their mind until they die and respawn. The more upgrade chambers, the better that ability. For example, one defensive chamber would allow aliens to pick level 1 "carapace", "regeneration" or "redemption". If a builder now builds a second defensive chamber, it would automatically change their level 1 ability to a level 2 ability, making it more powerful. The alien team can have up to three of each type of upgrade chamber.

Each upgrade chamber also has a secondary ability. Defensive chambers heal nearby players and structures, movement chambers allow aliens to teleport back to the nearest hive and "energize" nearby players, and sensory chambers cloak all nearby players and structures.

What does Parasite do?
The Skulk has an ability called "parasite". When he hits an enemy with it, that enemy becomes permanently marked. All aliens on his team will always be able to see where that player is. It also does a small amount of damage. Parasite important targets to increase the chance that one of your brethren will attack it.

How does Charge work?
The Onos has the ability to charge. Activating this abilities allows the alien to move very quickly and to do massive amounts of damage to any enemy player or building he touches. Just activate it once and you will be charging until you run out of energy.



Competitive Play FAQs

What console commands does the team view as exploits?
NS was meant to be played without the console. Any command or behavior that requires the console or a custom .cfg to operate is considered an exploit and won't be allowed in official competitive play, whenever enforceable.

I run a competitive ladder or tournament. Can someone from the NS team work with me to draft a set of rules?
There are so many ladders and tournaments that the NS team doesn't have time to work with individual groups. Additionally, it's better for the community if there is one set of rules that everyone plays with. When in doubt about a rule or policy, look at CAL-NS and follow their lead.

What are the essential competitive rules at least?
Here are the basics, as the NS team designed the game for:

1. Tournament mode on (mp_tournamentmode 1)

2. Teams of six (6v6). Each side plays both alien and marine at least once.

3. Play happens on official maps, on any that are widely considered to be balanced (ns_eclipse, ns_caged, ns_tanith, etc.)

4. No plug-ins or add-ons should be required.

5. Console access disabled, and all tweaks allowed are in the out of game interface.

6. Use of VALVe Anti-Cheat (VAC) or Cheating-Death (CD) whenever possible.