DISCLAIMER: This guide is not mandatory if you already know the basics of Doom Modding, however,
if you are going to play the Vanilla edition, I highly recommend that you follow the steps in the "Vanilla Setup" section of the guide.



----- Mandatory Info -----
IMPORTANT INFO: YOU DON'T NEED ALL THE IWADS.
DISCLAIMER: Setup may be completely different depending on if you are not using the same source port this guide suggests.

First of all, you need the offical .wad files; such as "Doom.wad", "Doom2.wad", "Plutonia.wad", and "TNT.wad" (we are going to refer to these as Iwads)
In order to access these files, you have to purchase the game.

Doom 1 and 2 can be purchased on Steam, GOG, and many other sites.
Doom 1 (Steam): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2280/DOOM_1993/
Doom 2 (Steam): https://store.steampowered.com/app/2300/DOOM_II/
( Doom 1, only gives you, well... "Doom.wad"; while Doom 2 has "Doom2.wad", "Plutonia.wad", and "TNT.wad" )

After you install them, you have to "Browse local files" in Steam and search for the wads mentioned above.

After you have the wads, you need to download a source port (or you could use the steam version [scroll down below for it] ), the amount of them is near the triple digits, so if you are new, I highly recommend you follow the source ports the guide suggests.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: Most source ports are setup the exact same way: copy an Iwad, and whatever mod version you want to use (mod files can be found in their respective folder[s]) into the source port folder. If it is different from this method it will be metioned.
MORE IMPORTANT INFO: YOU DON'T NEED ALL THE IWADS.


---- Windows Setup (Regular Edition) ----

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT INFO: The regular edition CANNOT be played through any source port where it imitates the behavior of the original release.(Dos-Box, Chocolate Doom, etc).
If the regular edition cannot be played, you can either use a different edition, or use a different source port.




Here is the link, where you can download the latest version (paste this into your web browser): https://github.com/fabiangreffrath/woof/releases/download/woof_12.0.2/Woof-12.0.2-win64.zip

Setup is the same as Mandatory Info

However, if you want a better experience, I strongly recommend you tweak some non-complicated settings, as to improve the experience.



---- Windows Setup (Vanilla Edition) The easy way ----
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT INFO: The vanilla edition is NOT recommend because of it's low quality music, and can be a pain to set up, especially if you use DOS-BOX. I would only use it if you are an extreme purist, or if it is the only version available to you.
MORE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT INFO: Vanilla1.wad is for "Doom.wad", while Vanilla2.wad is for "Doom2.wad", "Plutonia.wad", and "TNT.wad".

However, if you wish, you have 2 methods, one easy and one annoying and difficult.

The easy way:

First, download Chocolate Doom: https://www.chocolate-doom.org/wiki/index.php/Downloads (choose the Chocolate Doom for Windows option)

then copy and paste "Regular.deh", "Vanilla1" if you are playing Doom.wad; "Vanilla2" if you are playing "Doom2.wad", "Plutonia.wad", and "TNT.wad", to the Chocolate Doom folder.

After that, create a batch file (by creating a .txt file, and then changing it to .bat).

Paste this in the batch file:

chocolate-doom -deh Regular.deh

Then you have to decide if you're going to use "Vanilla1", or "Vanilla2". If you want to use either, you have to use the -merge command for it, so here's an example, using "Vanilla2":


chocolate-doom -deh Regular.deh -merge Vanilla2.wad


It's the same for "Vanilla1.wad", just paste the file name. But one final step: choose the iwad using the -iwad command: so here's another example, using Doom.wad




chocolate-doom -deh Regular.deh -merge Vanilla1.wad -iwad doom.wad



---- Windows Setup (Vanilla Edition) The hard way ----
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT INFO: The vanilla edition is NOT recommend because of it's low quality music, and can be a pain to set up, especially if you use DOS-BOX. I would only use it if you are an extreme purist, or if it is the only version available to you.
MORE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT INFO: Vanilla1.wad is for "Doom.wad", while Vanilla2.wad is for "Doom2.wad", "Plutonia.wad", and "TNT.wad".

However, if you wish, you have 2 methods, one easy and one annoying and difficult.



The hard way ( using DOS-BOX ) :

First create a folder in your default drive (for me it's C:/) called Doom.

Then copy every thing in the Vanilla Edition folder, and paste it to the Doom folder.

Copy all your iwads and paste "Doom.wad" in Setup 1, and "Doom2.wad", "Plutonia.wad", and "TNT.wad" in Setup2.

Look into the Doom 1 and Doom 2 files, and copy these specfic files "DOOM.EXE" and "DOOM2.EXE"

Paste "DOOM.EXE" into Setup1, and paste "DOOM2.EXE" into Setup2

Now download DOS-BOX: https://www.dosbox.com/download.php?main=1
After that, find where DOS-BOX is installed and change certain settings in DOS-BOX(version number)Options.bat:


fullresolution=1920x1080
output=opengl



mount c c:\Doom
c:\


Friendly reminder before moving foward: Vanilla1.wad is for "Doom.wad", while Vanilla2.wad is for "Doom2.wad", "Plutonia.wad", and "TNT.wad".

Then run DOS-BOX and type:

deusf -app Vanilla1.wad

then type:

deusf -app Vanilla2.wad



Then exit DOS-BOX for now.


This takes all the sprites from the orginal iwads, and merges it with the mods, which allows it to be compatible with DOS-BOX.
Now with your modified mods, move Vanilla1.wad into Setup1, and move Vanilla2.wad into Setup2, and move Regular.deh into both Setup 1 & 2.
Next you can setup both DOOM.EXE and DOOM2.EXE (modify controls, audio, video) by typing this in DOS-BOX:


For DOOM.EXE:
cd Setup1
setup
If you want to launch DOOM.EXE, launch setup, and then click "Save parameters and launch DOOM"


For DOOM2.EXE:
cd Setup2
setup
If you want to launch DOOM2.EXE, launch setup, and then click "Save parameters and launch DOOM2"

Now we are going to edit the mod files further, mostly the .deh file.
But before we do that, copy "CWSDPMI.EXE", "DEHACKED.EXE", "DEHMAKE.BAT", and "DEHPICK.EXE"

For Vanilla1.wad:
run DOS-BOX, and type:

cd setup1

dehmake



Stop typing, and press y:

then exit DOS-BOX.



For Vanilla2.wad
run DOS-BOX, and type:

cd setup2

dehmake


Stop typing, and press y:

then exit DOS-BOX.


Now that we have edited both the wad, and the deh files, we can actually run it now!



For Vanilla1.wad:
run DOS-BOX, and type:

cd setup1

regular.exe -file vanilla1.wad

Stop typing and press enter.




For Vanilla2.wad:
run DOS-BOX, and type:

cd setup2

regular.exe -file vanilla2.wad

Stop typing and press enter.

---- Mac Setup (All verions) ----

If you are playing on Mac, your options are VERY limited, especially if you are using the M chip. The only source port I found that can work on modern macs, is GZdoom: https://zdoom.org/downloads (if it wasn't obvious, click the "Macintosh Intel & M1" version in the GZdoom menu)

Installing mods on GZdoom is a bit different: you have to put your Iwads in the file location: ~/Library/Application Support/gzdoom/

In order to access the "Application Support" folder, copy and paste this: ~/Library/Application Support/
using the Go/Spotlight Function.

If there is no gzdoom folder in Application Support, then create one, and paste your Iwad(s) in it.
After that, just paste in the Regular edition in the gzdoom folder (not the Application support folder)

Then, paste in whatever version you want to use (all versions work in GZdoom)

Again, when you first boot up any source port, you should tweak some settings, as to enchance the experience.




If you are using an Intel or older mac, I recommend Zdoom, a much less complicated version of GZdoom, and is much easier to set-up: https://zdoom.org/downloads (if it wasn't obvious, click the "(Macintosh Intel & PowerPC)" in the GZdoom menu)

Setup is the same as Mandatory Info.

However, in the rare case where it DOESN'T work, try GZdoom (setup is written above).



---- Other Operating Systems ----

Unfortunately, I have no experience in other operating systems, let alone in Doom modding.

However, here's a list of source ports which shows what operating systems it is compatible with: https://www.doomworld.com/classicdoom/ports/?platform=3