So I'm playing the Dissolution of Eternity addon for Quake 1 (using DarkPlaces source port), for anyone who doesn't know the "Plasma Gun" is upgraded ammo for the Lightning Gun. Basically, when I shoot it, I just get the sparkling blue ball of energy in front of me, but it doesn't move or do anything. Rarely it works and shoots the ball, but not often. Any ideas?

It's not the gun that is bugged. That is a known bug in DarkPlaces.

There a some other things that DarkPlaces breaks – movement physics are radically different.


Edit: This mod fixes the nail positions and talisa mentions the plasma gun bug as well: http://quakeone.com/forum/quake-mod-releases/finished-works/10032-nail-position-fix-for-quake-and-mission-packs

Is this a recent bug? Seems rather strange that such a major bug would still be in the game, considering how long Dark Places has been around for.

No, I wouldn't know about it if it was new. I have not used DarkPlaces for about a decade.

I recommend using either Quakespasm or vkQuake (Based on Quakespasm but uses Vulkan rendering API). They are pretty much the most popular and best source ports in Quake. The only issue you may run into is running Nehahra mod which uses some exploits to run properly and Quakespasm/vkQuake has an issue with it nor any Nehahra mode which Darkplaces has (Mark V Quake source port has the -nehahra command line option)

And I recommend FitzQuake Mark V because it's the most authentic Quake sourceport engine (weapon popping, skybox moving, portal drawing), it has convenient build-in crosshair 2 (dot) and various bar settings (normal, gl, quakeworld like) with addition of few special effects (not needed). Yes, it has support for Nehahra but not Nehahra movie (incorrect pallete, wrong skybox) and Warpspasm works properly compared to Quakespasm.
As for the Arcane Dimensions all maps except ad_sepulcher works properly in single-player. In multiplayer there are issues with limit data (missing animation, sounds, etc.)

Quakespasm 0.93 (latest) has full support for Arcane Dimensions though, but i suggest to use SimonOC' modified 0.92 version, quakespasm-spike-admod.exe (very nice effects) for that mod.

I don't know for anyone else but i hate crosshair 1 (+), editing gfx.wad is a pain, and for some reason normal dark Quake portals look like portals from Lost Chapters / Quoth mods in Quakespasm 0.93, in Mark V classic Quake and Quoth portals look as they used to be.

Lastly it's super easy to create a server in Mark V (with simple port 26000 forwarding enabled in router settings if needed) and play with you friends all supported mods.
I couldn't setup multiplayer in Quakespasm outside my network (Wifi + LAN)

Burn the heretic ;-)

Just look at this nicely done crosshair 2, i can easily fall in love with it, figuratively speaking ;)