Multiplayer over the internet

Step-by-step instructions for playing MoO2 internet multiplayer. Compared to another guide here does not require port forwarding and is more detailed. Works both for Steam and GOG game.

About this Guide

This guide explains how to play MoO2 multiplayer over the internet. Unlike "Network multiplayer guide" it does not require port forwarding and is also more detailed. The instructions are for Steam version, but can be adapted for GOG and other DOSBox based distributions. See non-Steam section for details.

Method 1: Using the 1.50.8 Launcher

Things get simpler if you have version 1.50.8 of the unofficial fan patch. You don't need to edit any files then.

1. For all players, run the Launcher GUI and select:
   
   network -> client
   connect to -> moo2.thedopefish.com
   
   then click launch.
   
   
2. One of the players has to create server. In main menu click MULTI PLAYER, select NETWORK GAME, click START NEW GAME (or LOAD GAME if you are resuming an old game), choose game settings and server name (default MOX-0 might be already taken) and click accept. Tell server name to the client(s) and wait until they join.
   
   
3. On client(s) in main menu click MULTI PLAYER, select NETWORK GAME, click JOIN NEW GAME and select your server from the list.
   
   
4. When all clients have joined click START NET GAME on server.

Method 2: Manual

1. Ensure all parties use the same version. Version number can be seen in main menu screen in bottom right corner. It should be either:
   
   • Everyone uses the same version of 1.50 fan patch.
     
   • Everyone uses 1.40b23 (Steam and GOG English defaults).
     
   • Everyone uses 1.31 and the same language. Playing, e.g. German 1.31 vs French 1.31 is not supported. All non-English versions on Steam and GOG are 1.31.
   This step is important, since the game may crash or hang instead of telling you of version conflict.
   
   
2. Find your Master of Orion 2 local files. In Steam you can do it in library by right clicking on Master of Orion 2 -> Properties -> Local Files tab -> Browse Local files. Open dosboxMOO2_single.conf with notepad and first delete all text there, then paste the following instead:
   

   [IPX]
   ipx=true
   
   [autoexec]
   ipxnet connect moo2.thedopefish.com
   mount C ".."
   c:
   orion2.exe
   exit
   

   Save and close the file.
   
   
3. Proceed with steps 2-4 of method 1.

Non-Steam Versions

For GOG version instructions are the same. Note that since you replace dosboxMOO2_single.conf on step 2, you need to start single player version to play. Multiplayer GOG launcher does not support symbolic server names, so you can't use it for server I mention.

For versions obtained outside of Steam and GOG (e.g. original CD) you'll need to create your own dosbox config and install dosbox to run the game. The simplest setup would be to take config given in step 2 and change mount command to

mount C "C:\path\to\moo2\"

Using orion95.exe (windows 95 build) is possible but not recommended for MP because of heavy lag and the need to use additional software to emulate IPX over internet.

[Toivo ja Teemu Milto]

The game needs a lot cheaper ships and a lot more expensive command points. That would be realistic. It would remove the tens of turns of tiny ship building and the masses of doom stars in the end. Also the doom stars and star fortresses need a lot more hitpoints progressively from small ships. Battleships would never detonate with one super powerful blast, but battleships would cost one base worth of command points. Titans require five bases and doomstars 20. 10 smallest ships would be supported by one base and cost two turns to build after Starbase. I have 32X mod with all the cherries. I can't code.

[Lucky Loke]

Big thanks for this. Me and my kid are now playing together!

[Kassu]

Does moo2.thedopefish.com still work?

We are trying to use the patch 1.50 and apparently we feel we are doing things right, but still ew arte not abvle to discover our game. Only empty list to join is displayed...

[Sir Gregor Pent]

So, how do I get the fanpatch?

[Darkforger]

Created a Discord server for like minded MP players.. welcome to join and arrange matches

https://discord.gg/UFUeqQ

Cheers
Darkforger

[ManyHeadedMishaps]

The graphical use interface is, well, the graphical user interface. It refers to all the visual ways that the game interacts with the player. Buttons, images, and pretty much all graphics

[PotatoGreenland (McMiilu)]

what the heck is a GUI (Graphical user interface)

[ManyHeadedMishaps]

On the version of MOO2 for Mac I'm not seeing the big list of files in the local files that includes dosboxMOO2_single. Where is it or if it doesn't exist how do I do this modification?

[KKH]

Enter:
ipx=true
ipxnet connect moo2.thedopefish.com
orion2.exe

[GaryBlanks]

Thank you for this:

[IPX]
ipx=true

[autoexec]
ipxnet connect moo2.thedopefish.com
mount C ".."
c:
orion2.exe
exit

It worked perfectly!!!!!