How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

What I am trying to do is set up a tcp/ip game with the demo to play another friend. How is this done?

When I set up a server there is no option for me to join the game.

How can two people play direct tcp/ip?

-Blackwulf

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

[ November 15, 2003, 16:55: Message edited by: blackwulf ]

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

Well, I think I need a step by step guide on how to do this.

I have tried creating a server and followed up by opening a 2nd game and trying to connect as a client . However it says that the server I am trying to connect to is down.

-Blackwulf

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

Look in the sticky thread Newbies and Confused People on this page. There's a detailed description of how to set up a server.

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

I have been following the instructions in that thread on how to set up a server. However when I open up a 2nd copy of the game and try to join as a player I am unable to connect and it says that the server is down.

I can't seem to be able to join as a player no matter what I try.

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Hmmm are you sure its the right IP number and port? Do you maybe have a firewall running which might be blocking access to that port?

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

I am positive it is the correct IP & port #.

It is in fact behind a firewall but I have allowed access to that port and my opponent has no problem connecting to my server.

I also disable my firewall in an attempt to see if that was the problem and the problem persists.

FYI: I am able to host and play a DOM I game so I understand the concept. However something seems to be preventing me from hosting and playing a Dom 2 demo game.

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I wonder if the protection has been "upgraded" here along with thing like the price and the turn-limit demo. Maybe the game no longer allows connection by the same IP? Of course using a proxy would get past that.

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">If that is in fact the case how can two people play the game tcp/ip? Would you need a third party to host and not participate in the game? I sure hope that is not the answer.

[ November 15, 2003, 19:31: Message edited by: blackwulf ]

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

<font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">No that's not the problem. I've done it successfully. I'm not sure what blackwulf's problem is.

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

Well, perhaps I am missing a step along the way. I really need a step by step guide on how to do this from someone that has done it before. The thread Newbies and Confused People does not really provide this.

-Blackwulf

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

Maybe you need to enter your internal IP address rather than external IP address if you are behind a router, though I'm not sure. Your friend will need to enter your external IP address. Your internal address (normally 192.xxx.xxx.xxx) can be attained by running "ipconfig" from a command prompt. The external one you can get by logging into your router or visiting a website that tells you your external ip address.

Make sure the port number you entered is open (I suspect that is the problem). To do this, you need to log into your router and configure it. I was unable to play FF-XI, for example, until I found out how to go into my router and open up over 50,000 different ports... FF-XI was programmed by idiots. It also has the worst UI ever, like 1000X worse than Dominions 1. Otherwise, it's an OK game. As for how to open up ports, it was a pain in my router (SMC), and probly is a pain in all routers, but you need to look at your documentation to figure it out. Mine had none, so I downloaded it in PDF form from the manufacturer, and it was so unprofessionally done that it took me literally 3 hours to figure out the process. But hopefully yours will be simpler=) Otherwise, you could try using some port like 25 or 80 that is almost certainly open (but that may have side effects... I don't really know much about ports).

-Cherry

P.S. Don't read that as a slam on Dominions I - before Dominions II, I thought it was the best strategy game ever - but that's despite its UI, not because of its UI.

[ November 15, 2003, 23:10: Message edited by: Saber Cherry ]

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

Here, is the mystery...

I don't have a router, just a firewall. Even if I turn off the firewall I still am unable to connect to my server as a client.

My opponent has no problem connecting to my server with or without my firewall on. The problem is that I cannot seem to connect to my server as a player.

I feel that there is some basic step I am missing. This is what I do...

#1. I start a game with the shortcut configured as described in the newbie/confused player thread.

#2. I ctrl/escape back to windows and start a normal client game and try to connect to my server. It is here where I am unable to connect.

Is there something I should be doing prior to these two steps?

-Blackwulf

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

Ctrl-escape? Hmm. Why not try running the server in a window, and just minimizing it? Maybe ctrl-escape is messing it up.

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

No dice, I just tried your windows mode suggestion but same result. Here is how I have the server shortcut configured now..

"C:\Program Files\dominions2demo\dom2demo.exe" -x --nointro --quickhost --tcpserver --port 1024 --noclientstart --nosound --nomusic --window

I simply start the server get to the screen with all the nations listed as open and minimize the window and start a second game as a client and try to connect via the network.

[ November 15, 2003, 23:51: Message edited by: blackwulf ]

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

I don't think it's anything like that. It seems pretty clear it's some sort of networking problem.

Have you tried varying the port number? I used 7000, for example, with no problem. But I'm not behind a firewall.....

I would turn off the firewall, make it so that it doesn't start up on startup and do a cold boot. Hopefully that would at least isolate the problem.

Out of curiosity, which OS are you using?

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

Raen has some good suggestions and I would like to second them.

If that doesn't work then try these switches, change 1024 to whatever port you are using but don't change the ipadr:
--tcpclient --ipadr 127.0.0.1 --port 1024

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

Have you tried letting your friend host, and you joining his server?

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

As long as you are not running a webserver on your PC use port 80 or 8080.

Sammual

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

The server wants to be a server. Once you have it setup you need to put it down to the bar or window it (ctrl-esc, alt-enter, things like that) and open another copy of the game to be your client.

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

First I would like to thank everyone for their help. Thank you very much!

This is what did the trick for me..

I switched the port to 7000 and I added the additional switches that Johan K suggested to my client launch shortcut.
--tcpclient --ipadr 127.0.0.1 --port 1024

I think the key was the tcpclient switch without it I still can't connect. But when applied it works like a charm.

I am running windows XP Home Edition. I also am running Zone Alarm firewall. I have two shortcuts on my desktop with the following configurations.

SERVER SHORTCUT
"C:\Program Files\dominions2demo\dom2demo.exe" -x --nointro --quickhost --tcpserver --port 7000 --noclientstart --nosound --nomusic --window

CLIENT SHORTCUT
"C:\Program Files\dominions2demo\dom2demo.exe" --tcpclient --ipadr 127..... --port 7000

Thanks Again!

-Blackwulf

Re: How do you set up a tcp/ip game?
 

ok im happy that you got it working
the problem might be that you checked the orginal ip from dom2 screen right ?
because it does not show right well it shows the IP of the computer but what people need to know is the gateway for it to work
you can check it by running dos promt
and typing ipconfig