MP Game - Pandemonium (noob/int game) - running

[archaeolept]

But Dominions requires the client to be actually connected to the server, so it's not possible to do this

I take it the problem is that you are not allowed to install Dom II on your work machine? and the machine you use at lunch has no internet connection?

[Thufir]

archaeolept said:

I take it the problem is that you are not allowed to install Dom II on your work machine? and the machine you use at lunch has no internet connection?

Or is it a matter of downloading your turn?

deccan said:
With SEIV, I was able to download turns at work, get them back to my home computer, play the turns at lunch time, and then upload the turns when I come back after lunch. But Dominions requires the client to be actually connected to the server, so it's not possible to do this.

I actually do sometimes download my turns, and work them out offline. The UI for this is not obvious, and I've never transferred the files in an MP game, but I have many times in SP and I don't see why that wouldn't work for MP as well.

When you connect to the server, and enter your kingdom, the client saves two files that reflect your turn: NationName.2h and NationName.trn (e.g. pythium.2h and pythium.trn). If you connect at one location, copy those two files onto a disk (or use email or whatever), then copy those 2 files into your dominions2 install dir, in a folder named "Pandemonium2", you should be able to load up your turn, and set up all your orders on the second computer (in your case your home computer?).

In playing your turn, it will write your orders into the .2h file once you exit by the "E" key (or by escape, if you chose the save game option when you quit), and you can then copy that file (I'd copy both files to be safe), back on your disk and take it to the computer you upload with. Or, if possible and you prefer you can connect back to the server again from your second computer and upload the turn from there.

Often when I am downloading my turn, I am careful to not submit it before I've entered my orders. If you want to be sure to do this, when you first connect to the server to receive your new turn results DO NOT type "E" to quit the connection. Entering "E" uploads your turn file and will cause the server to think you have submitted your turn, even if you entered no orders. Instead hit "escape" and chose the "save game file" as you exit the game. It will give you a warning about not having uploaded your turn, but you can ignore that as that's exactly what you want to do anyway.

Does any of the above make sense? And/or does it solve your problem? It's not as complicated as the length of this post would indicate - the length just means I need to go take a tech writing course

[deccan]

Thufir said:
When you connect to the server, and enter your kingdom, the client saves two files that reflect your turn: NationName.2h and NationName.trn (e.g. pythium.2h and pythium.trn).

The problem is that you need to connect with a Dom2 client to the server. With SEIV, you just connect to the server with any old browser, download the files, copy them to disk and then bring them to the computer with the game installed.

And yeah, I'm not supposed to install games on my work computer. It's a crappy computer anyway and playing on it would just be tedious.

Bit the bullet anyway and played during lunchtime. I can't do it all the time though, so don't count on it. Main problem here is that I may be busy during lunchtime, or else need to meet with people etc.

[Thufir]

deccan said:

The problem is that you need to connect with a Dom2 client to the server. With SEIV, you just connect to the server with any old browser, download the files, copy them to disk and then bring them to the computer with the game installed.

I get it. Nice feature on SEIV's part.

Anyhow, I wouldn't worry about as this group of players is widely spread throughout the world, and I'm sure we're not going to be doing any blitzing in this game

[Gandalf Parker]

deccan said:

The problem is that you need to connect with a Dom2 client to the server. With SEIV, you just connect to the server with any old browser, download the files, copy them to disk and then bring them to the computer with the game installed.

Is that SEIV or PBW?

It sounds like the standard email files arrangment done thru a web page. That can be done with Dom2 also (the game is a PbEM game). The "connect to the server" is an option added later which alot of players preferred.

The .2h file is the file your game creates (2h stands for "to host") and the .trn is what the host sends back to you.

[deccan]

Gandalf Parker said:
Is that SEIV or PBW?

It sounds like the standard email files arrangment done thru a web page. That can be done with Dom2 also (the game is a PbEM game). The "connect to the server" is an option added later which alot of players preferred.

The .2h file is the file your game creates (2h stands for "to host") and the .trn is what the host sends back to you.

PBW of course. I realize that this isn't really a failing of Dom2. It's just that on geo's SEIV server, players are free to either connect directly using an SEIV client to the server, or to download and upload files from and to the website using a regular browser, while on the mosehansen server, the only option is to connect with a dom2 cllient. And of course, I realize that since the server service is being provided for free, I should be grateful for what there is already (and I am!)

Still the fact is that for me personally, the PBEM approach would be a lot more convenient, since I use different computers at different times of day at different locations.

[Sheap]

I really don't see how uploading files manually is any more convenient than using the game client to do it. I suppose if you had one computer with internet access, but no game software, and another computer with the game, but no internet, and wanted to download on the first computer and copy to the game system with a floppy or something.

Another case might be if you are playing behind a firewall, and the firewall doesn't allow you to connect to the game server, but does let you contact webpages.

Are you in these situations? Or something else?

[Aku]

list of players again

Pangaea PrinzMegaherz
R'lyeh msew
Ermor Aku
Man jarenko
Mictlan Boron
Abysia Thufir
Arcoscephale frosted flake
Vanheim odd_enuf
Jotunheim anatoli11
Ulm deccan

and man(jarenko) is going to stale soon

[deccan]

Sheap said:
Are you in these situations? Or something else?

Basically right. I can get web access on my work computer, but can't install games on it. I get install games on my own computer, but getting Online with it in the daytime is inconvenient (it's the company's telephone line). Getting Online with my personal computer in the evenings is usually fine.

Another situation I sometimes find myself in is I'm travelling with my laptop. With SEIV, I go to the nearest internet cafe, download my turn files, copy 'em onto a USB flash device, transfer that to my laptop, play the turns on my laptop, copy the files containing the commands for the turn back on the USB flash device, go back to an internet cafe and upload my turns. Very handy.

[Thufir]

Aku said:
and man(jarenko) is going to stale soon

And so it goes - Jarenko are you out there?