List of Command Line Parameters

This is a list of user level Command Line Parameters that players have access to use while launching City of Heroes/Villains, in alphabetical order. In cases where the command line parameter can also be used as a slash command, the launch parameters will link to the slash command page.

Working Command Line Parameters

-assetpath options	Points the game client to the piggs folders, in load order.
-canskippraetoriantutorial
-clientage
-clientframe
-clientlooptimer
-compatiblecursors ★	Enables useage of basic windows mouse cursors instead of graphical cursors (command line option).
-console	Turns on debug console (where printfs go).
-CoV	Sets your login theme to city of villains with launch parameters.
-createmapimages
-cutscenecameramat
-demoplay	Start playing the specified demo file.
-desaturatedelay
-desaturatefadetime
-desaturateweight
-disablevbos
-dofullverify
-emailonassert
-enablevbos ★	Turns on vertex buffer object extension
-exitlaunch ★	Set program to run when game exits.
-forcecrashcheck
-forcefullrelight
-fullRelight ★	Do not cap number of relit vertices per frame.
-fullscreen ★	Sets video mode to fullscreen.
-fxsoundvolume
-gamemode
-gfxreset	Resets all graphics settings and launches the game in windowed mode.
-ignorebaddrivers
-imageServer
-inactivedisplay
-launchedfromsteam
-launcher
-legacylayout	Enables existing installs of the game client to find certain files when you aren't launching the game with Tequila, Island Rum, or the Homecoming launcher.
-lodbias ★	Multiplier for LOD (Loss of Detail) distances for entities (alters the Character Detail setting in Options).
-lwc
-maxfps ★	Sets the maximum limit for frames per second that a player's client can utilize, whether the game is in focus or not.
-maximized
-maxInactiveFps ★	Limits max frames per second while the game is not in the foreground.
-maxtexunits ★	Limits number of textures used, set to 4 to emulate GF 4/5 path
-minimalloading
-mtu ★	Sets the mtu size for client-generated packets (command line option).
-no_nv_clip	Disable using nvidia specific vertex profiles for user clipping. (use on command line).
-noARBfp	Disables use of arbfp shader path, uses vendor-specific fragment shaders instead.
-noATI	Disables use of r200 shader path, uses only arb shaders instead.
-nodebug	Turns off error printing.
-noNV	Disables use of nv1x/nv2x shader path, uses only arb shaders instead.
-nooverride	Disallows override files (command line option).
-noPBuffers
-noperforce
-nopixshaders
-nopopups
-norenderthread	Tell the client not to use a separate thread for rendering graphics.
-noStencilShadows
-noverify
-NV1X	Forces nv1x rendering path.
-NV2X	Forces nv2x rendering path.
-packetmtu
-port
-priorityBoost ★	Set the game process priority to Above Normal rather than Normal when running in the foreground.
-profile_spikes	Save profiles of any frame longer than the specified time in ms.
-profile	Save a profile of the current frame for up to the specified number of frames.
-profiling_memory ★	Set the number of mb of memory to use for profiling.
-project	Set project registry key (coh / cohtest / cohbeta).
-R200	Forces r200rendering path.
-reduce_mip ★	Reduces the resolution of textures to only use the reduced (mip-map) textures. must pass as command line arg -reducemip or you need to subsequently run unloadgfx.
-refreshrate
-renderthread	Tell the client to use a separate thread for rendering graphics.
-scene
-screen	Sets x and y screen dimensions. should be constrained to 640x480,1024x768, 1280x1024, 1600x1200, etc.
-setlocale
-setregion
-skin
-skippraetoriantutorial
-soundmat
-steamisinitialized
-stopinactivedisplay	Stops rendering when the game is not the foreground application.
-testdisplayvalues
-testgameprogress
-testvec1
-testvec2
-testvec3
-testvec4
-texwordedit
-texwordeditor	Edit the text layout for translatable textures.
-trainingshard
-uiskin	Sets your preferred login theme.
-usedxt5nmnormalmaps
-useARBassembly	Forces use of arb assembly shader path.
-usecelshader	Enables or disables the cel shader graphics setting.
-useCg	Use cg shaders instead of arb.
-usedlauncher
-usefp	Use a floating point render target for hdr lighting effects if available.
-useTexEnvCombine	Forces use of texture_env_combine shader path.
-verify
-viewcutscene
-vis_scale	Controls draw distance for World Detail (1.0=default).
-worldname

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Unknown or Non-functional Command Line Parameters ^†

-safemode number	Forces most compatible graphics and audio settings. (non-functional)
-dxt5nm_normal_maps	1 = use dxt5nm cvompressed normal maps, 0 = use dxt5 normal maps (old mode).
-novbos	Turns off vertex buffer object extension.

† It's possible that many of these command line parameters work, but how to get them to work is currently unknown. Maybe you'd have better luck in figuring some of these out? We could use your help...