Setting Up the Map Rotation on Your Quake 3 Arena Server

Set up and customize a map rotation cycle on your Quake 3 Arena dedicated server using the levels.cfg configuration file.

By default, base Quake 3 Arena does not support a map cycle file. However, you can achieve the same effect with a scripted workaround using the levels.cfg file.

💡 Tip: Some mods such as OSP will automatically add all compatible maps from the server for your current game mode.

How To Modify the Map Cycle

Create the Levels File

In Files, create a file called baseq3/levels.cfg.

You can change which map config is loaded by going to Startup and changing Exec/Gamemode. If you leave this as levels and load a mod, it will use this map list. We recommend removing levels.cfg from Exec/Gamemode and using configs built into your mod (for example, OSP will select all maps for the active game mode) or creating your own custom map list.

Add Your Map Rotation

The default file uses this format:

set map1 "map q3ctf4; set nextmap vstr map2"
set map2 "map q3ctf3; set nextmap vstr map3"
set map3 "map q3ctf2; set nextmap vstr map4"
set map4 "map q3ctf1; set nextmap vstr map1"
vstr map1

How Does It Work?

Each set command defines a step in the rotation. Think of it like a playlist for game maps.

For example:

set map1 "map q3ctf4; set nextmap vstr map2"

This says: "Play the q3ctf4 map. After that, move to step 2." At the end of the list, the last entry loops back to the first, creating a continuous cycle.

Here is an example using the FFA maps. It cycles through all 19 default deathmatch maps:

set map1 "map q3dm1; set nextmap vstr map2"
set map2 "map q3dm2; set nextmap vstr map3"
set map3 "map q3dm3; set nextmap vstr map4"
set map4 "map q3dm4; set nextmap vstr map5"
set map5 "map q3dm5; set nextmap vstr map6"
set map6 "map q3dm6; set nextmap vstr map7"
set map7 "map q3dm7; set nextmap vstr map8"
set map8 "map q3dm8; set nextmap vstr map9"
set map9 "map q3dm9; set nextmap vstr map10"
set map10 "map q3dm10; set nextmap vstr map11"
set map11 "map q3dm11; set nextmap vstr map12"
set map12 "map q3dm12; set nextmap vstr map13"
set map13 "map q3dm13; set nextmap vstr map14"
set map14 "map q3dm14; set nextmap vstr map15"
set map15 "map q3dm15; set nextmap vstr map16"
set map16 "map q3dm16; set nextmap vstr map17"
set map17 "map q3dm17; set nextmap vstr map18"
set map18 "map q3dm18; set nextmap vstr map19"
set map19 "map q3dm19; set nextmap vstr map1"
vstr map1

Full Quake 3 Arena Map List

Here is a list of all the default map names you can use to create your own custom levels.cfg:

q3dm0 - Introduction
q3dm1 - Arena Gate
q3dm2 - House of Pain
q3dm3 - Arena of Death
q3dm4 - The Place of Many Deaths
q3dm5 - The Forgotten Place
q3dm6 - The Camping Grounds
q3dm7 - Temple of Retribution
q3dm8 - Brimstone Abbey
q3dm9 - Hero's Keep
q3dm10 - The Nameless Place
q3dm11 - Deva Station
q3dm12 - The Dredwerkz
q3dm13 - Lost World
q3dm14 - Grim Dungeons
q3dm15 - Demon Keep
q3dm16 - The Bouncy Map
q3dm17 - The Longest Yard
q3dm18 - Space Chamber
q3dm19 - Apocalypse Void
q3tourney1 - Powerstation 0218
q3tourney2 - The Proving Grounds
q3tourney3 - Hell's Gate
q3tourney4 - Vertical Vengeance
q3tourney5 - Fatal Instinct
q3tourney6 - The Very End of You
q3ctf1 - Dueling Keeps
q3ctf2 - Troubled Waters
q3ctf3 - The Stronghold
q3ctf4 - Speedtrap