Creation of MP server (How to...?)

[majko333™]

Hello. Friend and I are trying to create multiplayer server, but neither one of us knows how. Even after following step-by-step previous discussions about creating MP server, nothing worked. So here is what I tried: 1. Hosting Hamachi server (after creation, friend joins in), 2. Disabling firewall (Domain, private and public), 3. Launching VIC2, 4. Changed default name (Player to xxx), 5. Naming server after IPv4 of Hamachi server, 6. Waiting and losing hope.
What am I doing wrong?

[Komisarek]

Hamachi doesn't work for me, we use tunngle. Try that.

[Lembley42]

Tunngle or Evolve tend to do less issues to create a connection. Not really a server in any case though but thats a different thing.
Even better is to simply connect via your normal IP. The Host has for that to simply open some ports in his router and ta-da. Most stable and easiest to invite more people into :)

[majko333™]

Thanks for your advices. I'm looking forward to play MP as soon as it's possible. :)

[Lembley42]

Some tutorial I had laying around; first things you seem to know, tip section can be useful for you then.


You need to either open some ports in your router so your friends can directly connect over you IP (Port 1630..1641 I believe), or, easier, you need a free third-party program like Hamachi / Evolve / Tunngle to play over that.
When you got that, open a group / Network and invite your friends in it / give them the network login details.
When they're in, simply start the game up, hit Multiplayer -> Host, and wait for your friends to join. You might need to disable the firewall as the host.

Your friends should join over "Join Internet Game" and insert the hosts Hamachi /... IPv4 (the 25.xx.xx.... one).

Some possible connection problems :
- Somebody already has the same name as you. Take care that everybody picks his own name instead of keeping the default "Player" name. You can change it in the bar over "Host" in Multiplayer.
- The checksum is false. Make sure everybody has the same version of the game and no modifications like mods etc. (many players change the end_date in common/defines.txt). Also, if you start a game in Singleplayer or Multiplayer, your checksum changes, so everybody has to freshly restart the game everytime you play.

To minimize desyncs :
- If the game desyncs / crashes / whatever for one player, save and rehost the game - it is important that everybody restarts the game completely anew to get the standard Checksum back. Playing with resign is possible, but is extremly prone to more desyncs.
- Do not join the host's game until the savegame has finished loading up.
- Do not pause the game for too long , especially at start. Just pause it for a minute to get most of your stuff in order, then start with speed 1 until everybody's really ready - speed 1 is is so slow, it might as well be paused anyway :)
- Do not write in the chatbox in the "Waiting for Players..." when you start a MP-game (the ingame-chat is fine)
- Check that when the savegame is loaded for everybody, that everybody is indeed at 100%. Otherwise rejoin the room.