Savage (FPS + RTS)

[M1khail]

System Requirements
CPU: Dual Core
RAM: 4GB
GPU: 500mhz
VRAM: 512MB

About Savage

Savage is a game from 2003 which is a fantasy hack and slash mixed with tech, it combines FPS & TPP with RTS. The sequel Savage 2 focussed more on the RPG side using skill points.
Watch the promo and the hack and slash footage if its your style.

Synopsis: An apocalypse brought man to near extinction, those whose survived were savages.

The near extinction allowed animals to evolve in peace until they encountered humans. Battles were fought over resources, fuelling perpetual war.

Basically its Humans (Guns & Melee) Vs Beasts (Magic & Melee)

It Supports 64 Players and would be suitable for a subnet war

However there is a learning curve for the Commander/RTS aspect, (what to build) and you can't play without Commanders.

Check the flow chart to see where your play style is.

More info Savage XR - Gameplay

Installing

Savage went open source and so the community at https://savagedrx.com has picked up maintaining the game
Requires a login to play
Create a Login, use a password that is unique to savage due autologin plain text storage

Standalone

1. Download Savage here.
2. Run the installer.
3. Get the map pack extract all the .s2z and .jpg files into the \SavageDRX\game\world folder (It doesn’t matter If you override or not) https://github.com/Igor-ua/savage-drx-maps/archive/refs/heads/master.zip
4. Run Savage DRX, you will get firewall popups and UAC popups, allow them all.
5. Savage will auto update before it allows you into the Main Menu.

Learning Savage

Since Savage is an indie game and has a niche community, the community added tutorials in the game, which covers harvesting, commanding and melee.

1. Launch Savage.exe and in the main menu, Click Tutorial,
2. Learn a race (Humans or Beast), Click the race, it’ll load the map, then join the team, they will be narration to help you along the way.
   Don't bother viewing the replays, they don't work

At a minimum do both races. You may opt to do the melee and skirmish to get a test of the action.

For further reading, there is a PDF located in SavageDRX\Help\SavageXR_Guide.pdf

Hosting

At the time of writing (April 2025) dedicated.bat doesn’t work

The Savage GUI doesn’t allow to configure settings, unless you know the console commands, configure your settings in the config file.

All the server settings are stored in autoexec.cfg in the \SavageDRX\game folder,

Or you may opt to manually type it in the console (~)

You may copy and paste and add it in autoexec.cfg
If you’re typing it in the console, the settings are saved itn%appdata%\savagedrx\savagedrx\startup.cfg

//Server settings 
svr_name "My Server for DadLan" 
//server password is optional otherwise leave it blank
svr_password ""
svr_maxclients 66
svr_adminPassword "myserver"
svr_nonvipslots 66
svr_realfps 120
svr_gamefps 120

Note: If you’re *hosting with a password, you need to key in the password via the console, then attempt to host again, other people joining will get a popup to enter password
cl_password serverjoinpassword

Troubleshooting

Issue: When attempting to host, clicking Launch doesn’t do anything
Solution: This is due to the domain name change for the developers, bring down the console ~

Type in or paste in
svr_mapurl "https://sav1maps.savagedrx.com"
svr_staticurl "https://savagedrx.com/"

Then try again.

Issue: Respawn time is too long
Solution: As the host, bring down the console and type or paste in sv_respawntime 10000
This will set it to 10 seconds.

Ingame Admin commands

Only the host can execute these commands

Type the command in the console (~).

Adding Bots

botadd x y

Where x is the amount of bots and y is the team.

Example botadd 4 2

Will add 4 bots to team 2.

Removing Bots

botrem x

Removes bot by ID number.

Example botrem 2

Will remove a bot where their ID number is 2.

Respawn Time

sv_respawntime x

Where x is the time in microseconds.

Example sv_respawntime 10000 Will set the respawn time to 10 seconds. **Note:**Default is 30 seconds

LAN

Note: If you’re playing between subnets, the host must advise their IP address to allow players to manually join.

To Host:

1. Get your LAN IP Address, Open Command prompt and type in ipconfig, you may have several but pay attention to the ethernet address for the DadLAN events. WireGuard will show up as unknown adapter
   
   
2. Host logs into the game, goto in click Play>Host Game> select a map or leave default > Launch
   
   
3. Announce your game in discord gaming chat or your subnet with your LAN IP Address for the DadLAN event otherwise your WireGuard IP address for remote/internet play.

Internet Hosting

Internet hosting Requires Port 11235 UDP & TCP to be forwarded to the computer with the game running. Internet hosting won’t list your game in the server browser, you must announce your server details via discord

1. Setup port forwarding to the hosting computer.
   TP-Link Routers
   Netgear Routers
   DLink Routers
   Telstra Routers
2. Host logs into the game, goto in click Play>Host Game> select a map or leave default > Launch
   
   
3. Announce your game in discord gaming chat with your public IP Address.

Poor mans dedicated server

For DadLAN or Internet

If you have another computer to host, you may opt to make a poor mans dedicated server.

1. Activate WireGuard
2. Create a Login, use a password that is unique to savage hosting due autologin plain text storage.
3. Install Savage Savage DRX Community Server
4. Get the map pack extract all the .s2z and .jpg files into the \SavageDRX\game\world folder (It doesn’t matter If you override or not) https://github.com/Igor-ua/savage-drx-maps/archive/refs/heads/master.zip
5. Run Savage DRX, you will get firewall popups and UAC popups, allow them all.
6. Savage will auto update before it allows you into the Main Menu.
7. Configure Server settings and map, launch the game
8. Join Spectator
9. Alt tab from the game and minimise the app

Tips

• Your personal settings and clear text login are stored in %homepath%\documents\savagedrx
• You may practice as a commander by hosting your own server.
• The Game is won when the HQ, Stronghold or Lair(Beast) is destroyed.
• For Players, gold is required to purchase gear.
• For Commanders, gold is required to build Guard towers and to bank roll players who can’t purchase gear.
• Commanders earn gold by mining gold or earning tax(up to %100) on players.
• Melee/Gun skill difference will determine if the game even progresses to Tier 2 or Tier 3.
• Only Commanders can unlock new gear for players and build new spawn points, however red stone is required.
• For Melee, its possible to achieve a 360 swing if you time the animation well.
• Humans can block, Beasts can leap, this ability is unique to the race.
• Beasts are OP in Melee, Humans are OP in Guns. It does make for interesting and drawn out battles.
• The server host can add in tier 1 bots to balance the skill difference between teams.

Strategy Player

• Kills NPCs for gold (Low tier are Monkits, Oschores)
  

  
  

• Intercept and kill incoming enemies in the early game, you may opt to attack instead.

• Attack the enemy workers (early game)
  

  
  

• Attack the base (any structure)

• Follow your commander orders (attack, defend, build)

Strategy Commander

Note: This assumes the players will follow the commander orders, you can imagine an open public server would create a bit of chaos

1. Secure red stone mine, there should be one next to the base.
   
   
2. Send workers to mine stone and build more workers (max is 10).
   
   
   
3. Tell the players any incoming attackers (early game), you may select the player and right click the enemy (like in a RTS). You may delegate officer roles to players so that they can mark enemies, structures and resources.
4. Build Arsenal or Nexus(Beast).
   )
   
   
5. Research Crossbow or Venom(Beast).
   
   
   
6. Research Rabid(Beast).
   
   
7. Build Magnetic Factorium or Fire Shrine(Beast).
   
   
   
8. Research ScatterGun or Ember(Beast).
   
   
   
9. Build Research Center or Arcana (Beast).
   
   
   
10. Research Medkit & Ammo pack or Mana and Stamina crystals (Beast).
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
11. Upgrade HQ/Base to Tier 2.
12. Secure a 2nd Stone mine, direct your players to a stone mine and place a garrison or sublair(beast).
    
    
    
    
    
    
13. Research Savage or Stalker(Beast).
    
    
    
14. Research Repeater or Fire Blaze (Beast).
    
    
    
15. Build Siege Workshop or Charm Shrine(beast).
    
    
    
16. Research Ballista or Summoner(Beast).
    
    
    
17. Upgrade HQ/Base to Tier 3.
18. Research Legionnaire or Predator (Beast).
    
    
    
19. Research Catapult or Behemoth (Beast).
    
    
    
20. Research Coil Rifle or Fireball (Beast).
    
    
    
21. Try to build another garrison or sublair(beast) closer to the enemy base, this will allow players to spawn from there and save travel time.
    
    
    

Commander discretionary plays

• Your own build order.
• Alternate tech such as electricity, chemical or Entropy(Beast) and Strata(Beast).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Techtree Human
  Techtree Beast
• Guard Towers (Ranged attack, splash damage, shield, healing).
  
  
  
• Tax rate.
• Buff a player for 15 seconds (buff armour, instant heal, buff speed, buff attack damage).
• Garrison or Sublair(Beasts) placement.
  
  
  
• Portal placement(Teleporter for Beast like in TF2).