How do I install and run wads on Vanilla or GZDoom?

[Frangalho]

I've never installed anything before and I, honestly, ain't very good with this stuff.

I'm mostly afraid of messing with the game's files and ruining them (although, in steam's case, it might be as simple as restoring the game's integrity).

Will I need another source port? How exactly can I install and play, say, No Rest for the Living or After Doom?

[DavidN]

Welcome! The good news is that you don’t have to modify anything :) Doom is built so that custom wads are layered over the top of the base game when they’re loaded, so you never modify the original game’s data.

 

You need an IWAD such as DOOM2.WAD, which contains the base data for the game. Running that WAD in a source port or vanilla will play the game as it was. In most cases, if you drag a custom WAD on to the source port’s executable, it will load the base IWAD with the custom WAD on top of it, and it’ll replace whatever levels it’s designed to.

 

If you’re on true vanilla, the command line is DOOM2.EXE -file MYWAD.WAD - most source ports will use a similar syntax if you’re a terminal user.

[RataUnderground]

The simplest way is:

-Download a sourceport that suits you. Some of the community favorites are GzDoom, DSDA, Nugget Doom, Doom Retro...
-Install it in a folder and copy DOOM.WAD or DOOM2.WAD to that folder (most mods work on Doom 2, so I recommend the latter)
-Download any mod you want and simply drag it onto the sourceport executable.

 

There are other more advanced ways that offer better control (such as using a launcher), but that's the basics.