Port Forwarding / Networking Help Please

[SneakyEcho]

Hi, I'm running a dedicated server. I've set a rule for my windows firewall, and I've port forwarded for my router.

My friends cannot join, the connection times out. If I join it locally (127.0.0.1) i can get in fine, and then invite my friends. Then they connect with no issue instantly.
I don't understand why they can connect when using the steam invite, but not directly with my IP. Is there any way that I can "fake" an invite to them so that they can join when I'm not around, or are there any people knowledgable with networking that might know why the Steam invite works but direct does not?

Any help would be appreciated!

[GinsengSamurai]

Are they trying to connect with your internal IP or your public IP? Regardless, they should be using your public IP to connect. So it would be your PublicIP#:Port#

Also, make sure both TCP and UDP port ranges are added to your inbound rules.

[SneakyEcho]

Yeah, I did TCP and UDP, and they were using my external IP as found from the game / what's my ip websites. It's just strange that Steam invites bypass whatever port issue I'm having with direct connect.
Once they've connected once, they can't even use continue to join back in. The connection needs to come from a Steam invite or it won't work.