Setting up a LAN

[Tim_Densham]

Hi. I'm having trouble setting up Raging Tiger/ATF across a LAN. Theoretically, this is possible, but LAN is not one of the options under multiplayer. What's the trouble shooting for this?

My intent is to buy enough systems to duplicate the BBS experience without having to involve outsiders. I see this as a great staff tool, if I can get it to work on the LAN.

Thanks, Tim

[Patrick Proctor]

The exact steps are listed in page 78 of the user manual, but here is a summary:

On each computer:

1. Start Raging Tiger.
2. Select "Multiplayer"
3. Select "Network"
4. You will be prompted as to whether you want this computer to act as the "sever". You want the server to be a computer that is, ideally, the fastest on the network.

For the server:
5. Select "Yes" when asked if you want this computer to be the "Server".
6. In the "Connection" drop down box, select "TCP/IP".
7. In the "Session Name" select an easy to remember name.
8. Select "OK". The computer will come up with a dialog that says "Connecting..."
9. Get the IP address of this computer...[*]In Windows 95 and 98, the best way to find your current IP address is to run winipcfg.exe. Go to START then Run then type winipcfg in the "open" box and click "ok". In the pulldown box select your network card and click "More Info>>" the IP address assigned to your computer will appear in the IP Address box.[*]In Windows XP or 2000, click run and then "cmd" and then OK. A black box will open. At the prompt (C:> or something like it) type "ipconfig" and hit the enter key. This will show you your computer's IP address for each network device (such as an ethernet card and wireless card, or modem) as well as other settings if you are connected to a network. In thevent that you are connected to a network, the IP address will be the internal address on your network. Likely something like 192.168.x.x.

For the next "client" computer (after doing steps 1-4 above).

10. Select "No" when asked if you want this computer to be the "Server".
11. In the "Connection" drop down box, select "TCP/IP".
12. Click on the "Refresh" button. You will be prompted to enter an IP address. Enter the IP address for the server. See Step 9 above.
13. Select "Refresh" again and, in the "sessions" box you will see the name the entered in "session name above.
14. Highlight it, and select "Join"

Both computers will go to a "Multiplayer" dialog. Either player can select "Start Game". Once the other player agrees, both players will be taken to the Game Map to begin moving units.

For each OTHER computer (up to 8 other computers), they repeat steps 1-4 and 10-14 above AFTER THE FIRST TWO COMPUTERS ARE AT THE GAME SCREEN.

Each time a player joins, the server will be prompted to permit the player to join, and assign him a faction (friendly or enemy). After he joins a faction, he can be "passed" units by players that have units. They do this as follows:

15. The player with units "drag-clicks" over the units he wants to pass to select them as a group.
16. The player then selects the name of the player he wants to pass them to by selecting his name in the "Pass Units" sub-menu of the "Multiplayer" menu.
17. The passed units will then appear on the receiving player's map, ready to use.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Patrick Proctor]

I forgot to mention:

Make sure any firewalls are deactivated for all participating computers.

Also, if a player is behind a router, you will not be able to connect to him unless you are ALSO behind THE SAME router.