Archipelago

Setup Guide

Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos

A complete first-time installation, single-player, and Archipelago setup guide for Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos

GuideBeginner Installation Guide
LanguageEnglish
AuthorsDaivuk

Guide

Follow the setup path below and expand optional details as needed.

This guide assumes you are using a Windows PC and have never installed a Doom mod or an Archipelago custom world before. Follow the sections in order. You do not need to understand Doom modding to use the launcher.

Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos is shortened to APBDIC in this guide.

Before You Begin

You need:

  • A Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC.
  • An internet connection.
  • A legal copy of DOOM + DOOM II. The Steam release is the easiest version for the launcher to find.
  • Enough free space for the launcher, UZDoom, and the map packs you choose.

The APBDIC download does not include commercial Doom game files, Brutal Doom, Corruption Cards, or community map packs. The launcher helps you put the required files in the right places.

Do not share DOOM.WAD, DOOM2.WAD, or other commercial game files. Each player must provide their own legal copies.

A Few File Words

  • A ZIP is a compressed folder. It must be extracted before you use its contents.
  • An EXE is a Windows program.
  • An IWAD is a commercial base-game file such as DOOM.WAD or DOOM2.WAD.
  • A WAD is usually a Doom map pack.
  • A PK3 is usually a Doom gameplay mod, such as Brutal Doom or Corruption Cards.
  • An APWorld teaches a local Archipelago installation how to generate this game. Most players do not need to install it.

Part 1: Download And Extract The Launcher

  1. On the Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos game page, click Download Launcher.

  2. Wait for APBDIC-Launcher.zip to finish downloading.

  3. Open File Explorer and go to your Downloads folder.

  4. Right-click APBDIC-Launcher.zip and choose Extract All....

  5. Choose a permanent location. A simple location is:

    C:\Games

  6. Click Extract.

  7. Open the extracted Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos folder.

  8. Double-click AP Brutal DOOM - IC Launcher.exe.

The final launcher path will normally be:

C:\Games\Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos\AP Brutal DOOM - IC Launcher.exe

Do not run the launcher from inside the ZIP. Do not move only the EXE out of the extracted folder. The EXE needs the included assets and UZDoom folders.

Avoid installing under C:\Program Files, because Windows may prevent the launcher from updating files there.

If Windows Shows A Security Warning

Only continue if you downloaded the ZIP from the official APBDIC game page. In the Windows protected-your-PC window, click More info, confirm that the file is the APBDIC launcher, and then click Run anyway. If the file came from somewhere else, cancel and download it again from the official page.

Part 2: Open Settings

Click Settings at the top of the launcher.

For a normal first-time installation, leave the five folder boxes alone. They should point inside your extracted Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos folder. The important default folders are:

C:\Games\Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos\UZDoom
C:\Games\Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos\UZDoom\IWAD
C:\Games\Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos\UZDoom\PK3
C:\Games\Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos\UZDoom\WAD

The Essential Files section shows Installed in green or Missing in red. Your goal is to make every item in this section show Installed.

Part 3: Install UZDoom

  1. Find UZ DOOM under Essential Files.
  2. Click Install on the same row.
  3. Wait. Do not close the launcher while the download is running.
  4. Watch the Log at the bottom of Settings.
  5. When it finishes, the UZ DOOM row should say Installed.

The launcher currently installs UZDoom 5.0.0-rc.1 and all engine files it needs. If an older managed copy is detected later, APBDIC updates it automatically.

Part 4: Install DOOM.WAD And DOOM2.WAD

These two commercial files cannot be included with APBDIC.

The easiest method is Steam:

  1. Buy and install DOOM + DOOM II on Steam.
  2. Wait for Steam to finish installing the game completely.
  3. Return to APBDIC and open Settings.
  4. Find DOOM.WAD under Essential Files and click Install.
  5. Find DOOM2.WAD and click Install.

The launcher searches your Steam libraries and copies both files into its IWAD folder. It does not remove or change your Steam copy.

If the automatic search cannot find them, locate your legal DOOM.WAD and DOOM2.WAD files and copy them manually into:

C:\Games\Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos\UZDoom\IWAD

The filenames must end up exactly as:

DOOM.WAD
DOOM2.WAD

Part 5: Install Brutal Doom And Corruption Cards

These two downloads require a few manual steps.

Brutal DOOM v22 Test 6

  1. In Settings > Essential Files, find Brutal DOOM v22 Test 6.

  2. Click Manual Install. Your web browser will open the download page.

  3. Download the archive for Brutal DOOM v22 Test 6.

  4. If the download is a ZIP, right-click it and choose Extract All....

  5. Find brutal22test6.pk3 inside the downloaded or extracted files.

  6. Copy brutal22test6.pk3 into:

    C:\Games\Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos\UZDoom\PK3

Corruption Cards v6.3b

  1. In Settings > Essential Files, find Corruption Cards v6.3b.

  2. Click Manual Install.

  3. Download Corruption Cards v6.3b.

  4. Extract the download if it is a ZIP.

  5. Find CorruptionCards-v6.3b.pk3.

  6. Copy CorruptionCards-v6.3b.pk3 into the same PK3 folder:

    C:\Games\Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos\UZDoom\PK3

The PK3 folder should now contain these files:

apbdic-control.pk3
brutal22test6.pk3
CorruptionCards-v6.3b.pk3

apbdic-control.pk3 is already included with the launcher. If it is missing, extract the complete launcher ZIP again.

Close and reopen APBDIC if a manually copied file still shows Missing.

Part 6: Install Map Packs

APBDIC combines maps from supported Doom WADs into one board. A Small game uses 200 maps, so the base games alone are not enough.

  1. Stay in Settings.
  2. Scroll to Supported WADs.
  3. Click Install next to a map pack you want.
  4. Wait for that installation to finish before starting another one.
  5. Repeat for several map packs.

Most map packs install automatically. If only Manual Install is available, click it, download the pack, extract it if necessary, and copy the requested WAD file into:

C:\Games\Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos\UZDoom\WAD

Use the exact filename shown beside that map pack in Settings. Some packs need two files; copy both when the launcher lists both.

You do not have to install every supported WAD. Install only packs you want to play, but make sure their combined map count is large enough for your chosen Game Size.

Installation Checklist

Before creating a game, confirm all of the following:

  • UZ DOOM says Installed.
  • DOOM.WAD says Installed.
  • DOOM2.WAD says Installed.
  • Corruption Cards v6.3b says Installed.
  • Brutal DOOM v22 Test 6 says Installed.
  • APBDIC Control PK3 says Installed.
  • Several supported WADs say Installed.

Part 7A: Start A Single-Player Game

Use this section if you are playing without an Archipelago room.

  1. Click Single Player at the top.
  2. Choose a Grid Preset:
    • Classic Hexagon creates one large connected board.
    • Island Hop creates several islands connected by keyed teleports.
  3. Choose a Game Size:
    • Small uses exactly 200 maps.
    • Medium uses exactly 400 maps.
    • Large uses exactly 600 maps.
    • Extra Large uses every selected map and requires at least 100.
  4. In the WADs section, click the cards for the packs you want to include.
  5. Watch Total Maps. If red text says more maps are needed, select or install more WADs.
  6. Click New Game.
  7. Wait for generation to finish. Large games can take longer; do not click New Game repeatedly.
  8. APBDIC switches to Game when the board is ready.
  9. Select an available map tile and click Rip and Tear! to launch it.

Always launch maps through APBDIC. Starting uzdoom.exe directly will not load the correct board state, inventory, cards, or scoring information.

APBDIC stores your games under the launcher's runs folder. Return to Single Player > Load Game to continue an existing game.

Part 7B: Play In An Archipelago Room

Create Your Player YAML

Do this before the room is generated:

  1. Click Archipelago at the top.
  2. In YAML Generator, enter your player name. Use the name you want to use in the room.
  3. Choose the Grid Preset and Game Size.
  4. Select the WADs you want included.
  5. Make sure the selected Total Maps satisfies the Game Size requirement.
  6. Click Generate YAML.
  7. Choose where to save the .yaml file.
  8. Send that YAML to the room host or upload it with the room's other YAMLs.

Every WAD selected in your YAML must also be installed in your local APBDIC WAD folder before you play.

Connect After The Room Is Ready

The room page or host will give you the server address and port.

  1. Open APBDIC and click Archipelago.

  2. In Server, enter the address and port, for example:

    ap.example.net:38281

  3. In Slot, enter the exact player name used in your YAML.

  4. Enter the room password if the host provided one. Otherwise leave it blank.

  5. Click Connect.

  6. Wait for the log to say that the AP run was loaded.

  7. Go to Game and play from the generated board.

Do not enter the room web-page address or tracker address in the Server box. Use the Archipelago server address and port shown for the room.

Do I Need The APWorld Download?

Most players do not need to install the APWorld. You only need it when your own local vanilla Archipelago installation will generate or host APBDIC games. It is not required merely to connect with the APBDIC launcher.

To install it through APBDIC:

  1. Install the normal Archipelago program first.

  2. Open APBDIC and click Settings.

  3. Under Updates, click Check for Updates.

  4. Click Install APWorld when the button becomes available.

  5. If asked for a folder, select Archipelago's custom_worlds folder. A common location is:

    C:\ProgramData\Archipelago\custom_worlds

  6. Close and reopen the Archipelago Launcher after installation.

The APWorld version should match the APBDIC launcher version.

Updating APBDIC

  1. Open APBDIC and click Settings.
  2. Under Updates, click Check for Updates.
  3. If a launcher update is available, click Install Launcher.
  4. Confirm the prompt and let the updater close, update, and reopen APBDIC.
  5. If you use a local APWorld, install its update from the same section and restart the Archipelago Launcher afterward.

The updater preserves your launcher configuration, runs, saves, and downloaded game files.

Troubleshooting

The Launcher EXE Is Missing

Make sure you extracted the ZIP instead of opening it like a folder. If your antivirus quarantined the EXE, verify that the ZIP came from the official game page before restoring it or downloading it again.

An Essential File Still Says Missing

  • Confirm that you copied the file into the folder shown in Settings.
  • Confirm the exact filename. Windows may hide filename extensions by default.
  • Make sure the file is not still inside another ZIP or nested folder.
  • Close and reopen APBDIC after manually copying files.

DOOM.WAD Or DOOM2.WAD Cannot Be Found

Confirm that Steam completely installed DOOM + DOOM II. If automatic detection still fails, copy your legal IWAD files manually into the configured IWAD folder.

New Game Or Generate YAML Is Greyed Out

The selected WADs do not contain enough maps for the chosen Game Size. Select more installed WAD cards, install more supported WADs, or choose a smaller Game Size.

A Map Pack Still Says Missing

Check the filename displayed beside the pack in Settings > Supported WADs. Some downloads contain several folders or optional files; APBDIC needs the exact listed WAD file in its configured WAD folder.

UZDoom Opens Without APBDIC Features

Close UZDoom and launch the map from the APBDIC Game view. Confirm that apbdic-control.pk3, brutal22test6.pk3, and CorruptionCards-v6.3b.pk3 all show Installed.

Archipelago Will Not Connect

  • Confirm the room is running.
  • Copy the server address and port exactly.
  • Use the slot name from your YAML, not your Discord or website username.
  • Check the password with the room host.
  • Allow APBDIC through Windows Firewall if Windows asks.

You Need More Help

Copy the latest useful lines from the Log at the bottom of Settings and include them when asking for support. To request support for another map pack, contact prominence87 on Discord.

Moving Or Removing APBDIC

To move APBDIC, close the launcher and move the entire Brutal DOOM - Infinite Chaos folder together. Do not move only the EXE.

To keep a backup, copy the entire folder—especially assets, runs, and saves—to another drive. To uninstall it, close APBDIC and delete its folder. The legal Doom installation managed by Steam remains separate.