How to host a multiplayer game with friends: In-Depth (by Loafcat) tutorial - SWAT: Elite Force mod for SWAT 4: The Stetchkov Syndicate

Note: this tutorial was submitted by a third-party author (Loafcat). If there are questions, concerns or inaccuracies, please direct your questions to him!

Set a Static IP Address

• Make sure you're connected to the Internet, either via an ethernet or wireless connection.
• In your Windows search bar, type "CMD", without the quotation marks and hit enter.
• This will open up the command prompt. Type "ipconfig", without the quotation marks, and hit enter.
• You will see a list with several "Media disconnected" statements. Find the list with more information. You will need IPv4 Address and Default Gateway.
• Keep the command prompt open.
• In your Windows search bar, type "Control Panel", without the quotation marks and hit enter.
• Select the green text, "Network and Internet".
• Select the green text, "Network and Sharing Centre".
• Next to "Connections", top-right of the menu, select the blue connection type. This will have your router name in brackets.
• Select "Properties" with the admin prompt symbol next to it.
• Double left-click "Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)".
• Set the two options to "Use the following IP address:"
• IP address: copy the IP address seen in the command prompt panel next to "IPv4 address" into this section
• Press "TAB" and the "Subnet Mask" should auto-complete. If it doesn't, copy it from the command prompt panel.
• Press "TAB" and match the "Default gateway" section from your command prompt panel into the "Properties" panel.
• "Preferred DNS server:" can be set to "8.8.8.8" and "Alternative DNS server:" can be set to "8.8.4.4".
• Select "OK" on the two panels, then "Close" on the final. Your connection may drop momentarily, and then return if done correctly. If your connection does not return, follow the steps again, and set to "Obtain IP address automatically". Feel free to contact me if this occurs

Port-forward

• With the command prompt panel still open (follow previous steps if you have closed it), copy the "Default Gateway" address using CTRL + C.
• Launch your preferred browser. In the address bar in the top, paste the "Default Gateway" address and press enter.
• Default usernames and passwords are usually "admin", if this isn't the case, contact your ISP, or use Google to find out more.
• Once you are at your ISP's configuration menu, search for relevant tabs to "Port Forwarding".
• You will need to create a new rule, assign it to your IPv4 address, seen in the command prompt panel, and port-forward both TCP and UDP through ports "10480-10487".
• Searching "How to port forward (ISP provider name)" will often provide you with very accurate guides. This is useful, as the menus differ from ISP. I can help somewhat case-to-case if needed.

Host the game

• Launch your game.
• Select "Host Game".
• Set the "LAN/Internet option" type to "LAN" instead of "Internet". This seems counter-productive if you are knowledgeable on these terms, but as the SWAT servers are down, this method overcomes the verifications run by the game. LAN serves as a virtual Internet in this instance.
• You may set a password, although it is not necessary, and has been known to cause some connection issues.
• Now using your computer, launch your preferred browser and visit (https://www.whatsmyip.org/), this is your public IP. Send this to your friend who wishes to connect.
• Have your friend select "Join Game" from the main menu, then "Direct IP". Now they must paste your public IP address, enter the password if one is set, if not ignore that box, then press the check/tick logo to connect.