Unfortunately, my original plan was to do it over internet using the TCP/IP option (a couple of the prospective players are too distant to do a LAN game). My attempt at connecting to a local server was to find out if the problems I was having were due to any firewall or router setting. Apparently that isn't the case.
Anyways, thanks for the suggestions. I'll see what more poking I can do. I think, at this point, we may swap over to something that doesn't require the stars to be in proper alignment to play, however.
Still, it will be a fun setup if I can ever get it to work.