Brutal Doom is a definitive gameplay enhancement mod for the GZDoom and Zandronum engines.
It adds realistic gore, dismemberments, headshots, executions, lightning effects, particles, smarter enemies, and makes gun louder and beefier.
This guide will show you how to play Brutal Doom Co-op Multiplayer with a friend over simulated LAN.
(For a video guide on how to configure Brutal Doom, scroll to the end of this post).
Prerequisites
Before fragging enemies with your friend, you will need the following:
- DOOM or DOOM II WADs (Available on Steam or GOG.com)
- GZDoom
- ZDL
- Brutal Doom v21
- Radmin VPN
Instructions
Step 1
Download and extract GZDoom (gzdoom-x-x-x-Windows-64bit.zip, ~20 MB) to your folder of choice. (This folder will form the base of your Brutual Doom setup).
Download and extract ZDL (ZDL_x-x.x_Win_x86.zip, ~2 MB), and copy all the files to your GZDoom folder that you created above.
Download and extract Brutal Doom v21, and copy the brutalv21.pk3 file over to the GZDoom folder that you created above.
Step 2
With the base modding configuration set up, you need to copy over the DOOM WADs to the GZDoom folder.
Steam
If you bought DOOM from Steam, the directory containing the WADs should be located at:
<Steam directory>\SteamApps\Common\<game name>\base
More info here: How to use source ports with games downloaded from Steam
GOG.com
If you bought DOOM from GOG.com, the directory containing the WADs should be located at:
C:\GOG Games\DOOM
More info here: https://www.gog.com/forum/doom_series/setting_up_gzdoom
Find the DOOM.WAD or DOOM2.WAD from the relevant directory above, and copy the WAD file(s) to your GZDoom folder.
Next we’ll setup Radmin VPN. Radmin VPN will allow you to create a simulated LAN network that will allow you to play Brutal Doom cooperatively over the internet.
Step 3
Download and install Radmin VPN. (Your friend needs to do the same).
Create a new network in Radmin VPN, and let your friend connect to it.
Verify that both your connections are “green” in the Radmin VPN client.
Take note of your IP address in the Radmin VPN client, we will be using it later
With the Radmin VPN network setup, you are now ready to host a co-op Brutal Doom game that your friend can join (You can read my TrackMania Nations Forever Multiplayer post to see similar instructions using Radmin).
Step 4
Next we’ll make the game ready to play by configuring ZDL (ZDL is a frontend (“launcher”) for ZDoom based Doom engine source ports).
Launch ZDL by opening the ZDL.exe file.
Navigate to the General settings tab.
In the left column, Source ports, click the plus icon and locate and open the GZDoom executable (gzdoom.exe).
In the right column, IWADs, click the plus icon and locate and open your Doom WADs.
Your General settings window in ZDL should now look similar to this:
Next, navigate to the Launch config tab.
In the left column, External files, click the plus icon and locate and open the Brutal Doom mod, brutalv21.pk3.
In the right column, Source port, make sure GZDoom is selected, and that your Doom IWADs are listed.
Step 5
Now comes the fun part, hosting and playing the game cooperatively with your friend.
Instructions for the person hosting the game:
For the purpose of this guide, I will assume that you will be hosting a Co-op Doom II game that your friend will join.
Click on the arrow icon (▼) left of the Host button to open the multiplayer settings panel.
Set Game mode to Co-op and Players to 2.
Your multiplayer settings panel should look like the screenshot below: (I have highlighted the important settings in red).
Next, click the Host button.
A GZDoom “Waiting or players” window will popup.
Instructions for the person joining the game:
Now that you are hosting the game, your friend needs to join from their side.
Make sure they have followed all the previous steps in this guide.
Click on the arrow icon (▼) left of the Host button to open the multiplayer settings panel.
They need to set the Game mode to Co-op and Players to Joining.
In the Hostname/IP field, they need to fill in the IP address of the Host from their Radmin VPN client.
Next, they can click the Join button.
They will now connect to your session, and you should both be playing Brutal Doom Co-op.
For a guide on how to configure and make Brutal Doom look good, I recommend watching the ADVANCED guide to GZDoom, ZDL, ReShade, & Brutal Doom video.