How to record fake demo in CS2

My configs

Installation

1. Download the configs: https://github.com/eirisocherry/cs2-editing/releases
2. Extract them to ..\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\cfg
3. Adjust _reset.cfg to your needs, so you can reset the game settings at any time

Launch options

-insecure -console -language english

-insecure disables VAC
-console enables console
-language english sets game language to english

Usage

1. Join the game
2. Type exec _core, reset and fake in the console
3. Join a map
4. Type fake or press [F1] to enable custom gamemode
5. Read the pop-up menu to learn more about the config

If you want to adjust the config, edit _fake.cfg

Sharing

When sharing demos:

1. Use the following naming format: <kills>_<weapon>_<kill_type>_<map> (ex: 1k_r8_jumpshot_mirage)
2. Don't forget to attach links to workshop maps you were using (ex: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3082340867)

Workshop maps can be found here:

Main cores (required for plugins to work)

Download

CounterStrikeSharp and MetaMod installation guide: https://docs.cssharp.dev/docs/guides/getting-started.html

Grant your account admin perms, otherwise some plugins won't work

Offical guide: https://docs.cssharp.dev/docs/admin-framework/defining-admins.html

1. Get your steamID (just paste your steam url on this site and it will show your steamID): https://steamid.io/
2. Create empty admins.json file in this directory "...Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\addons\counterstrikesharp\configs"
3. Open admins.json, paste the code below and replace Rikki and STEAM_0:0:162909995 with your <nickname> and <steamID>

{
	"Rikki": {
		"identity": "STEAM_0:0:162909995",
		"flags": ["@css/changemap", "@css/generic"]
	}
}

4. Don't forget to save the changes

Set FollowCS2ServerGuidelines to False, otherwise skin changer won't work

Edit ..\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\addons\counterstrikesharp\configs\core.json and set FollowCS2ServerGuidelines to false

Plugins

Plugins list: https://www.ghostcap.com/cs2-plugins-list/

>>> CS2 Inventory Simulator Plugin (skin changer, easy to setup)

Download

https://github.com/ianlucas/cs2-inventory-simulator-plugin

Installation

Extract addons folder to ..\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo

Usage

1. Sign in https://inventory.cstrike.app/ with a steam account you play on, craft any skins you like and equip them:
   
2. Depends on what server do you use:
   a) Local server: rejoin the game (close cs2.exe and open it again) to apply the skins from the site
   b) Dedicated server: type !ws in a chat to apply the skins from the site

If you want to use a custom graffity, get close to the wall and type !spray in a chat

>>> Weapon Paints (skin changer, harder to setup)

Installation

1. Download WeaponPaints.zip: https://github.com/Nereziel/cs2-WeaponPaints
   Extract gamedata folder to ..\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\addons\counterstrikesharp
   Extract WeaponPaints folder to ..\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\addons\counterstrikesharp\plugins
2. Generate MySQL database: https://www.freesqldatabase.com or https://www.freemysqlhosting.net
3. Join any CS2 map to generate WeaponPaints.json file and leave the game
4. Edit ..\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\addons\counterstrikesharp\configs\plugins\WeaponPaints\WeaponPaints.json, paste your database info and set CmdRefreshCooldownSeconds to 1, so you will be able to change skins every second
   
5. Install these plugins:
   https://github.com/NickFox007/PlayerSettingsCS2
   https://github.com/NickFox007/AnyBaseLibCS2
   https://github.com/NickFox007/MenuManagerCS2
   Simply extract addons folder to ..\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo

Usage

Join the game and type one of the following commands in the chat (not in the console):
!skins
!knife
!gloves
!agents

Use https://wiki.cs.money to quickly visually overview all existing skins in the game

If new skins have been released and you wanna try them out, check if the plugin got a new version and simply repeat the installing process
Of course, new plugin releases will be delayed, don't expect the developer to update them right after the cs2 update

Disable plugins (required to be able to play on VAC secured servers)

>>> How to disable plugins (in case you want to play on VAC secured servers)

1. Edit Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\gameinfo.gi and remove Game csgo/addons/metamod line
   
2. Remove -insecure option from launch options to be able to join VAC secured servers
   
3. Join the game and type exec _reset in the console to reset the game settings
4. If you still can't access VAC secured servers, then verify game files
   

>>> How to enable plugins (in case you want to record a fake demo with plugins)

1. Edit Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\gameinfo.gi and add Game csgo/addons/metamod line
   
2. Add -insecure option to launch options (otherwise plugins won't work)
   
3. Join the game and type in meta list to make sure plugins are enabled
   A) If no errors, you can start using fake cfg
   
   B) If you got an error then try reinstalling CounterStrikeSharp and MetaMod
   
   C) If you didn't get an error, but plugins still don't work, check for their updates (it may take a several days for plugin devs to fix them, so they work on a new cs2 version)

Plugins stopped working

Plugins may stop working in the following cases:

1. You accidentally launched the game with enabled plugins without -insecure that triggered the game to verify its files
2. You manually verified game files
3. CS2 received a new update

To fix the plugins:

1. Open ..\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\gameinfo.gi
2. Create a new line underneath Game_LowViolence csgo_lv and add Game csgo/addons/metamod

3. If plugins still don't work, check for their updates (it may take a several days for plugin devs to fix them, so they work on a new cs2 version)

Open ports, so friends can join you

First of all, you need to open ports, so your friends can join to your LAN server
I'll use RadminVPN for that, it's free: https://www.radmin-vpn.com/

1. Make a network and invite your friends
   
2. Add CS2 to firewall exceptions (cs2 must be opened)
   
   Once you did it, it should look like this
   
3. Disable other VPNs such as AmneziaWG, as they may conflict with RadminVPN
   (you can always test your VPN compatibility with RadminVPN later)

Local server

1. Type exec _core, reset and fake in the console
2. Join any map you like
3. Type in fake or press [F1] (read the pop-up menu to learn more about the config)
4. Type in status, copy the ip:port and send it to your friend (ex: 26.237.183.11:27015)
   
5. Tell your friend to type connect ip:port in the console, it will make him join your game (ex: connect 26.237.183.11:27015)

Dedicated server

Official guide: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Counter-Strike_2/Dedicated_Servers

>>> File that starts a CS2 server (start-cs2server.bat)

Create an empty start-cs2server.bat anywhere on pc

First line: path to the win64 where your cs2.exe is located
cd "D:\Apps\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\bin\win64"

Second line: server launch options
start /wait cs2.exe -dedicated -insecure +game_alias casual +map de_inferno +exec _fakeserver3.cfg

-dedicated launches CS2 as dedicated server
-insecure disables VAC
+game_alias casual sets a casual gamemode https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Counter-Strike:_Global_Offensive/Game_Modes
+map de_inferno sets a map
+exec _fakeserver3.cfg executes server config

Example:

>>> RCON (remote console control)

You must install the plugin to be able to use sv_cheats 1 commands through the game console
https://github.com/LordFetznschaedl/CS2Rcon

After installing the plugin, give yourself access to RCON:
Edit Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\csgo\addons\counterstrikesharp\configs\admins.json
and add "@css/rcon" flag to your account:

>>> Everyday usage

1. Start the server by opening the start-cs2server.bat
2. Open the game and type exec _core and reset in the console
3. Join your LAN server
   
   
4. Type in exec _fakeserver and exec _fakeserver2 (read the pop-up menu to learn more about the config)

_fakeserver.cfg binds and aliases adapted for dedicated server
_fakeserver2.cfg executes _fakeserver3.cfg on server side using rcon
_fakeserver3.cfg server config

5. Type in status, copy the ip:port and send it to your friend (ex: 26.237.183.11:27015)
   
6. Tell your friend to type connect ip:port in the console, it will make him join your game (ex: connect 26.237.183.11:27015)

>>> Workshop map

1. Get an id of a workshop map you wanna play on

2. Type !rcon host_workshop_map <id> in the chat (ex: !rcon host_workshop_map 3231465363)
   It will start downloading the map from workshop to \Counter-Strike Global Offensive\game\bin\win64\steamapps\workshop\content\730\
   Once downloading is finished, the map will be changed

Local vs Dedicated server

Local server

+ Easy to use  
+ `bot_place` works just fine  
- Bots drastically decrease perfomance
- "CS2 Inventory Simulator Plugin" updates your skins only when you rejoin the game (cs2.exe)  

Dedicated server

+ Bots does not decrease perfomance  
+ "CS2 Inventory Simulator Plugin" imidiatelly updates your skins once you type `!ws` in the chat  
- Harder to setup  
- `bot_place` doesn't work