About
This is a simple tutorial to get you started with setting up Descent, and hopefully answer some questions regarding the config file, mouse sensitivity, resolution settings and common problems associated with the standard DOSBox version sold on GOG.com.

This topic primarily concerns problems related to Descent using DOSBox, as sold here on GOG, and hopefully contains some helpful tips, and solutions to common problems - which can be achieved by editing the config file (explained later).
You should also check out A_Future_Pilot's sticky FAQ which is good for beginners getting started with all things Descent and contains (amongst other useful things) some info and links to Descent Rebirth. It's a good hub of general Descent info. So if you're interested in that, or have other questions, head over to his FAQ and you might find the answer. http://www.gog.com/forum/descent_series/descent_1_2_faq_please_read/page1. For those (especially beginners) who are having problems, and want to quickly learn about the config file, please read on...

The info in the paragraphs below is mainly to help beginners who may not know about how the config file can be used to change settings and remedy problems.
This topic is more focused on problems to do with locating the config file in DOSBox Descent 1 and 2, and how to change settings, particularly mouse sensitivity (a common issue), therein. I've thrown in some tips relating to the nature of the game's handling, as I've noticed some new players have found the game a bit disorientating to begin with. If you're finding the controls a pain, or are wondering how to edit the config file, please read on...

Ship Control
One problem I've heard that some people have with the game is the handling. A common mistake is to think you're playing as 'flying Doom Guy'. To those who've never played Descent before, and are struggling with the feel of the game, here's a little something to bear in mind: The degree of mouse movement you apply is akin to the degree of steering in a car, motorbike, plane or any other vehicle really. Think of it more as 'steering-acceleration' ie. the degree and speed that you move the mouse determines how quickly, and severely you turn. It's different to, say - a first-person-shooter such as Quake - in which you move your mouse as though it's your own head, to immediately and directly look at something. Think of it as steering as opposed to looking. It's all physics / momentum. You apply your turns; your weighty craft catches up - a lot like a plane. The result is not immediate; it takes time for your craft to turn and manoeuvre itself based on the input you are giving it. You are not directly rotating the craft as you would a character in a FPS; instead, you are indirectly causing the craft to move based on the amount of turn you apply and the speed in which you move your mouse across the mouse mat.

Having said that, here are some control suggestions for in case you want it a bit more familiar, keys-wise - like Quake in a space ship. In the options menu, use the arrow keys to move to a chosen action eg. 'accelerate', (alternatively, use the mouse pointer to highlight) then press 'Enter' (mouse: left-click) on any action, eg. 'accelerate' and then press the key you'd like to use for the chosen action. Try these keys:

- Accelerate - 'W'

- Brake/Reverse - 'S'

- Slide Left - 'A'

- Slide Right - 'D'

- Slide Up - 'Spacebar'

- Slide Down - 'Left-Shift'

- Roll Left - 'Q'

- Roll Right - 'E'

All the other keys, I leave at their default values. I also use mouse acceleration; otherwise known as things like "enhance pointer precision" etc. I switch this to 'On' in my computer's Control Panel/Hardware/Mouse/Pointer Options.
Also, somewhere in the mouse options within the game, is a checkbox for "invert pitch up/down". I click this to change it to 'Y' for 'Yes'. This means that when I move my mouse forward or 'up' - if you will, my craft will raise it's nose (look up, in other words).
*note: the above controls information also applies to another version of Descent, called D1x Rebirth. They also give the Rebirth treatment to Descent 2. Think of it as a restoration of old Descent; or 'Descent HD' if you will.

As for vanilla DOSBOX Descent, and the way it looks; there is a lot of pixilation. It is to do with the upscaling on modern displays. Interestingly, if you use incompatible Output/Scaler modes by editing the Config file you may get a tiny, tiny picture in the centre of your screen. This is more or less the true image how it would have looked on old monitors (only smaller). The upscalers force-in extra lines between each line of the original 'true' image so as to stretch the image to make it fit today's monitors with their zillions of pixels (with ugly results, I know). For these reasons, I highly recommend trying the Rebirth mod, as it is much more suited to today's machines.

How To Locate The Config File To Change Mouse Sensitivity
A lot of people complain about the controls being too sluggish even with the sensitivity slider at maximum setting. Think of this value as 100%. Where do you go from here? Well, 200%, 300%, 512% - pretty much whatever you want!
How to do this? The trick of course is to edit the config file to 'teach' the game that the 100%-max-setting-slider means whatever you tell it. Here's how...

1. Firstly, if you've tinkered about with the DOSBox that came with the game you might want to reinstall GOG's DOSBox Descent 1 or 2 depending, (not Rebirth - that's nothing to do with this) because messing with the DOSBox sliders can make the config file look a bit confusing to read. A reinstall will fix this. If it's weird it will read like this, all horizontal, like: "ThisIsA bit blah". As opposed to a more neat list like:
- Ah
- Much
- Better....you get the idea :)
**Please skip to step 2 and continue onwards before reinstalling to verify if this is the case. You may still be able to do it without reinstalling.**

2.Go to your computer's File Explorer program or equivalent and search: C:\GOG Games\Descent and Descent 2
*the above is the default location. Obviously, if you've stashed it somewhere else, then type the path for the file's location.

3.Open Descent or Descent 2 depending on which game you want to edit. These are the yellow file folders at the top of the list.

4.Next, look for a file named (only, and nothing else) 'dosboxDescent' or 'dosboxDescent2' depending on which game you want to edit. This should open with Notebook or similar. Open it.

5.Next you will see a lot of text. Right at the top of this text is info and instructions; each line beginning with a '#' symbol. Don't change these. These are just for you to read. Instead, DO THIS: ---> Near the top, just below the first set of '#'-instructions, you'll see a small paragraph, well more of a short list of values and phrases that DO NOT begin with '#'. This is where you need to be looking. In this little list is the word "sensitivity". Next to it is a value of 100. Delete '100' and type a value of, well anything really. I personally deleted '100' and typed '400'. So now it's 4x more sensitive.

6.Close the window. You'll be asked if you want to save the changes. Click 'Yes'. Fire-up the DOSBox version of the Descent game you just edited in the usual way. Done.

Graphics/Resolutions/Filters Etc.
Back in the config file, if you look further down the list, you'll see all the output and scaler options. Try experimenting with different combinations if you like. To do this, simply delete whatever it says and type something else in it's place. If you're wondering what to type, each paragraph of changeable values is always preceded by a paragraph in which each line starts with those '#' - symbols. These instructions - which is what they are - tell you which things you can type in the following paragraph. Remember: just like when you changed mouse sensitivity, you should only change the lines that don't start with #.

Of interest is a value called 'Aspect'. If, next to 'aspect', it says "false", that means it is being allowed to stretch the image to fit Widescreen (16:9) displays. This results in an unnatural 'squashed' looking-image; not what the developer intended for the standard 'square' (4:3) monitors of the time. If you wish to change to the old square-'o'-vision, simply delete the word "false", and type "true". Bear in mind that if you are playing on a widescreen monitor, you'll get black borders down the left and right sides of the screen. You will however, get the correct image, or rather: aspect, displayed as it was back in the day. It will still look more pixelated than you remember it from ye olde days of old because of the scaling malarkey, and as such not much can be done about that apart from getting Descent Rebirth which is free, works with your GOG Descent 1&2 and is a much better fit for modern computers and displays - all the while without plopping on the memory of the original. From a great height. Down a dimly lit tunnel. Again, I highly recommend it! Descent Rebirth, that is.... :)

Hope you found some useful info somewhere in all of that! Have fun!