NeoTF Installation Guide

📋 Important Installation Notes ▼

Platform Assumptions

This tutorial assumes you are using Windows (note slash directions for Linux) and have installed STEAM in the default directory (C: drive).

Prerequisites

You must have installed TFC and/or Dedicated server applications before proceeding. For Dedicated Servers, use the application from the STEAM games menu, not the standalone HLDS application.

Directory Structure

For different server types, your TFC folder locations will be:

Dedicated Server: C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\YOURNAME@EMAIL\Dedicated Server\tfc

Listenserver: C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\YOURNAME@EMAIL\team fortress classic\tfc

Standalone HLDS: C:\HLServer\tfc

🖥️ 1. Installing NeoTF on Dedicated Server ▼

1.1 - Installing on Clean STEAM Server

Step 1: Locate Your TFC Directory

When you installed STEAM with your email account (e.g., YOURNAME@EMAIL), it created a folder structure. Navigate to your dedicated server TFC folder:

C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\YOURNAME@EMAIL\Dedicated Server\tfc

Step 2: Modify liblist.gam File

In your TFC folder, find and edit the liblist.gam file:

For Windows Server:

Replace: gamedll "dlls\tfc.dll"
With:    gamedll "addons\NeoTF\dlls\ntf.dll"

For Linux Server:

Replace: gamedll_linux "dlls/tfc_i386.so"
With:    gamedll_linux "addons/NeoTF/dlls/NeoTF_i486.so"

Step 3: Create Directory Structure

Create the following directories and extract NeoTF content:

models\neotf\ Extract all NeoTF custom models here

sound\neotf\ Extract llama sound files and ntf_tpoint map sounds (breather.wav, rwind.wav, waterfall2.wav)

sprites\glyphs\ Extract glyph sprite files here

maps\ Extract ntf_* maps here

maps\neotf\ Create for loadconfig feature - put map config files here

addons\NeoTF\ Extract the complete NeoTF folder here

Step 4: Configure Server Settings

Add the following line to your server.cfg file and extract the CVAR config:

exec ntf_cvars.cfg

Extract ntf_cvars.cfg to your TFC directory so the server can execute it.

Step 5: NeoTF Folder Contents

After extraction, your addons\NeoTF\ folder should contain:

areas\ FoxBot area files

data\ Storage for messaging system

dlls\ ntf.dll (Windows) or NeoTF_i486.so (Linux)

docs\ All NeoTF documentation

help\ ntf_help files

ntf_users.ini Authorization system file

ntf_config.txt Windows DLL loader config

ntf_configlinux.txt Linux SO loader config

ntf_glyphs.txt Glyph configuration file

ntf_welcome.txt Welcome message file

Steam ID Authorization

Your WON ID will not work in TF 1.6. You need to find your STEAM ID by going on any dedicated server (NOT a LAN server) and typing "status" in console to obtain your STEAM ID from the output.

Warpath Map Issue

The TF1.6 dll loads extra sprites and models for teleporters, which may cause a crash when loading the map "warpath" if you have all features enabled.

1.2 - WON Server Installation

WON Server Support Discontinued

All Half-Life games now use STEAM. You cannot create WON Dedicated servers anymore. Visit the STEAM website for more information: http://www.steampowered.com/

🏠 2. Installing NeoTF on LAN Server (Listenserver) ▼

2.1 - Installing on STEAM Listenserver

Step 1: Locate Client TFC Directory

Navigate to your client TFC folder:

C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\YOURNAME@EMAIL\team fortress classic\tfc

Step 2: Create/Modify liblist.gam

You may need to create this file if it doesn't exist (see Section 5.1). Edit or create the liblist.gam file:

For Windows:

Replace: gamedll "dlls\tfc.dll"
With:    gamedll "addons\NeoTF\dlls\ntf.dll"

For Linux:

Replace: gamedll_linux "dlls/tfc_i386.so"
With:    gamedll_linux "addons/NeoTF/dlls/NeoTF_i486.so"

Step 3: Set Up Directory Structure

Create the same directory structure as the dedicated server (see Section 1.1, Step 3), but in your client TFC folder.

Step 4: Configure Listenserver Settings

Add to your listenserver.cfg file:

exec ntf_cvars.cfg

Extract ntf_cvars.cfg to your TFC directory.

Listenserver Authorization

To authorize yourself on the listenserver, use "STEAM_ID_LOOPBACK" or "VALVE_ID_LOOPBACK". Authorize other players via IP address, as everyone else will have the same ID (usually "STEAM_ID_LAN").

Feature Recommendations

You may want to disable the custom models feature and the glyphs feature to get the "warpath" map to load properly on listen servers.

2.2 - WON Listenserver Installation

Legacy Version Required

Use the previous NeoTF version (ver 1.8.7) for an old WON LAN server. The current version does not support the old WON system.

WON Installation Steps

1. Unzip the zip (or tar) file into your old Half-Life directory
2. NeoTF installs everything under tfc/addons/NeoTF
3. For non-metamod servers, edit tfc\liblist.gam as shown above
4. For metamod servers, follow Section 3 instructions

🔗 3. Getting NeoTF to Work with Other MODs ▼

3.1 - FoxBot Integration

Metamod Requirement

You MUST install NeoTF and FoxBot WITH Metamod for the Bots to use NeoTF features. See Section 3.2 for Metamod information.

WON Listenserver Setup

Use the FoxBot GUI installer and select the NeoTF option. FoxBot will automatically set up your files (liblist.gam, plugins.ini) to load the NeoTF dll.

STEAM Server Setup

1. First install Metamod and FoxBot per their instructions
2. Make sure FoxBot is loaded as a plugin by Metamod
3. Use the most current Metamod version: 1.17.x (with STEAM support)

FoxBot Directory Placement

The FoxBot folder must be placed in the root game directory containing the HLDS launcher:

Dedicated: \SteamApps\YOURNAME@EMAIL\dedicated server

Listenserver: \SteamApps\YOURNAME@EMAIL\team fortress classic

Configure Metamod for NeoTF

Add the following entry to your server's autoexec.cfg file in your TFC folder:

Windows servers:

localinfo mm_gamedll addons/NeoTF/dlls/ntf.dll

Linux servers:

localinfo mm_gamedll addons/NeoTF/dlls/NeoTF_i486.so

Avoid Double Loading

Remove any NeoTF entries in plugins.ini or metamod.ini file or liblist.gam file, otherwise Metamod will try to load NeoTF twice, causing the error: "Host_Error: SuckOutClassname: parse error"

3.2 - Metamod Integration

About Metamod

Metamod (http://www.metamod.org) provides plugin capability for addons. Tools such as Adminmod (http://www.adminmod.org) use metamod. Thanks to RedFox, NeoTF is now capable of running as a metamod plugin.

Step 1: Install Metamod

First install metamod/adminmod per instructions. Once complete, your liblist.gam should have:

gamedll dlls/metamod.dll
gamedll_linux dlls/metamod_i386.so

Step 2: Configure Plugins

Your plugins.ini file (or metamod.ini for older MM versions) should list your metamod plugins. Example:

linux dlls/csguard_mm_i386.so
linux dlls/admin_MM_i386.so

or

win32 dlls/admin.dll

Step 3: Add NeoTF Plugin

Add NeoTF to your plugins.ini (or metamod.ini) file:

Windows:

win32 addons/NeoTF/dlls/ntf.dll

Linux:

linux addons/NeoTF/dlls/NeoTF_i486.so

Path Format

Paths should use unix-style forward slashes (/) and not backward slashes (\), even on Windows platforms.

3.3 - Non-Metamod Libraries

HPB Bot and Other Addons

Some addons (like HPB bot) aren't metamod plugins. To make them work with NeoTF, modify the appropriate config file:

Windows servers - edit:

addons\NeoTF\ntf_config.txt

Linux servers - edit:

addons/NeoTF/ntf_configlinux.txt

Configuration File Contents

These files contain a SINGLE LINE with the name of the .dll or .so file you want NeoTF to load.

For HPB bot on Windows:

HPB_bot.dll

For HPB bot on Linux:

HPB_bot_i486.so

⚙️ 4. Miscellaneous Configuration ▼

4.1 - Installing Glyphs

Glyph Configuration

The list of glyphs and usage commands is in ntf_glyphs.txt. To install a new glyph:

1. Place the .spr file in addons/NeoTF/sprites/glyphs
2. Add an appropriate line in ntf_glyphs.txt

Glyph File Format

Format: (name) (filename) separated by at least one space

attention sprites/glyphs/t_atten.spr

Where "attention" is the display name and the path is the exact filename.

Glyph Requirements & Limitations

• New glyphs must be 32x32 with alpha transparency (can be animated)
• Keep names and filenames short with NO spaces
• Half-Life has precache limits shared between sprites and models
• Large numbers of glyphs may cause crashes on map load
• Glyphs are disabled by default - some maps like "warpath" will crash

4.2 - Authorization System

Setting Up Authorization

Some NeoTF commands require authorization. Create a file called ntf_users.ini in your TFC directory with the format:

authid-or-ip:authlevel

Authorization Parameters

authid-or-ip: Player's STEAM ID or IP address
authlevel: Sum of authorization codes for desired commands

Authlevels are described in the sample ntf_users.ini file included with NeoTF. Commands are detailed in ntf_admin_commands.txt.

4.3 - Setting CVARs

CVAR Configuration

NeoTF includes ntf_cvars.cfg containing all CVARs that affect NeoTF behavior.

Add this line to your server.cfg (or listenserver.cfg):

exec addons/NeoTF/ntf_cvars.cfg

🚂 5. STEAM Issues & Solutions ▼

5.1 - Creating liblist.gam File

When You Need This File

If you don't have a liblist.gam file in either client or Dedicated server folders, you'll need to create one (the default is locked in the gcache file).

Creating the File

1. Open a text editor (notepad)
2. Create new file with these settings:

// Team Fortress Classes Game .dll Listing File
// Load order is determined by file order.
game "Team Fortress"
url_info "www.teamfortressclassic.com"
url_dl ""
version "1.6"
size "37000000"
svonly "0"
cldll "0"
type "multiplayer_only"
// Don't show models in browser, since you don't pick them there anyway.
nomodels "1"
mpentity "info_tfdetect"
gamedll "addons\NeoTF\dlls\ntf.dll"
gamedll_linux "dlls/NeoTF_i486.so" 
secure "1" // Enable VAC security modules

Saving the File

3. Choose "Save As"
4. Change file type to "All Files"
5. Filename: liblist.gam
6. Choose appropriate folder and save

5.2 - Liblist Overwrite Solution

STEAM Update Problem

This affects Dedicated servers using ANY addon MOD that runs from a modified liblist.gam file (Metamod, Adminmod, etc.). Every STEAM update overwrites this file.

Post-Update Procedure

Perform these steps after every STEAM update:

1. Back up your modified liblist.gam file, make it read-only
2. Delete the existing liblist.gam file
3. Start up a normal TFC dedicated server
4. Shut down server once loaded and running normally
5. Replace the new extracted file with your modified read-only file
6. Restart your Dedicated server

🗑️ 6. Removing NeoTF from Server ▼

6.1 - Non-Metamod Server

Windows Server Removal

Edit tfc\liblist.gam and replace:

Replace: gamedll "addons\NeoTF\dlls\ntf.dll"
With:    gamedll "dlls\tfc.dll"

Linux Server Removal

Edit tfc\liblist.gam and replace:

Replace: gamedll_linux "addons/NeoTF/dlls/NeoTF_i486.so"
With:    gamedll_linux dlls/tfc_i386.so

6.2 - Metamod Server

Plugin Removal

Simply remove the NeoTF entry from your plugins.ini file (or metamod.ini for older versions) or any NeoTF localinfo entries in your autoexec.cfg file.

6.3 - Shared Resources Removal

Directory Paths

STEAM Dedicated: C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\YOURNAME@EMAIL\Dedicated Server\tfc

STEAM LAN: C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\YOURNAME@EMAIL\team fortress classic\tfc

WON LAN: C:\Sierra\Half-Life\tfc

Files and Folders to Delete

Remove these items from your TFC directory:

I. Delete "neotf" folder inside "tfc\models" folder

II. Delete "neotf" folder inside "tfc\sound" folder

III. Delete "neotf" folder inside "tfc\maps" folder

IV. Delete "glyphs" folder inside "tfc\sprites" folder

V. Delete "NeoTF" folder inside "tfc\addons" folder

VI. Remove "exec ntf_cvars.cfg" line from all config files

VII. Delete the ntf_cvars.cfg file

🐛 7. Bugs & Support ▼

Bug Reporting

Please report any bugs with an accurate description to the Forums at http://www.planetneotf.com

👥 8. Credits & Contact ▼

Credits

See ntf_help.txt for complete credits information.

Contact Information

The NeoTF website is currently at http://www.planetneotf.com

📚 Quick Reference Summary ▼

Essential Installation Steps

1. Modify liblist.gam - Point to NeoTF dll/so file
2. Create directories - Extract content to proper folders
3. Configure authorization - Set up ntf_users.ini
4. Load CVARs - Add exec ntf_cvars.cfg to server config
5. Test installation - Start server and verify functionality

Common Issues

• Warpath crashes: Disable custom models/glyphs features
• Steam ID auth: Use STEAM ID, not WON ID for TF 1.6
• Metamod conflicts: Don't load NeoTF twice
• Update overwrites: Backup and restore liblist.gam after STEAM updates

Key Files: liblist.gam, ntf_users.ini, ntf_cvars.cfg, ntf_config.txt

Key Directories: addons/NeoTF/, models/neotf/, sound/neotf/, sprites/glyphs/