Sheap-Hosted Games (benatar.snurgle.org)

[Sheap]

There are a few games which I am supposed to be hosting, taking over for Norfleet and Graeme, as well as one which I have been hosting from the start. But my Internet access is not fresh today and as a result none of these games are likely to be available.

I will have my Internet working tomorrow (Thursday) and will have all hosted games available by then.

For games with timers, I will delay the timer a day if necessary.

[Sheap]

I'm going to bump my own post here (sorry everybody) just to make sure that people see it.

My internet is working again and I should have my games up and playable within a few hours. The old Return of the Rejects game is already working most likely.

NOOooo! http://www.techno-mage.com/~zen/circle.GIF

[JJ_Colorado]

Sheap,

Ben Claverie wanted me to play his position in some MP game which he said you are hosting. He said you had his pwd, and I should contact you. Can you PM me and let me know how to connect, what pwd is, what nation he is, if he's allied with anyone or at war w/ anyone....or as much of that info as you can give me? I think he is already gone on vacation unfortunately.

Regds,
John

[Sheap]

Bad news - I don't know who that is, and I don't know anybody's password at all.

Sorry I can't be more helpful http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

[Sheap]

Oh look, someone sent me their password in a private message.

I'm going to put 2 and 2 together, get 5 and send you the info http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Sheap]

I regret my incredible slowness in fixing my server. A combination of Internet failures and real-life things conspired to delay me for two whole days.

BUT!

Things are alive now. The following games will be up in the almost-immediate future (i.e. I am doing them now and will post the information in this thread).

(taking these games over for Graeme)
KaranGame
Modded

(taking these games over for Norfleet)
Cradle_Of_Zen
Clueless_Newbs

I don't know much more than what is posted here.

[Sheap]

OK. Here we go.

All games are hosted on benatar.snurgle.org. Mind the spelling. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif In the event of another DNS related outage, the IP is 24.8.118.21. But that IP may change. The hostname, however, will always be correct.

Norfleet's Games:
Clueless_Newbs: This game is over already. Move along, nothing to see here.
Cradle of Zen: 5 players, plus 2 AI. Port 2004. 24h quickhost.

Graeme's Games:
KaranGame: Nine players, plus one AI. Port 2001. Untimed quickhost. (This might be wrong - I can't find the thread for the game).
Modded: 5 players, no AI. Port 2003. This game is on 48h quickhost.

I have the original game data as sent by Norfleet and Graeme. So if any problems crop up, and you let me know first turn, I can potentially roll back the game to the original state. The most likely problem would be some sort of map related fiasco.

[Graeme Dice]

OK. Here we go.
I have the original game data as sent by Norfleet and Graeme. So if any problems crop up, and you let me know first turn, I can potentially roll back the game to the original state. The most likely problem would be some sort of map related fiasco.



Make sure that you've installed the fixed Version of hoburg_S.dm that is available at Fixed Hoburg Alliance (http://homepage.usask.ca/~gdd851/hoburg_S.dm)

If you don't, then Ashikaga's troops on the server will be armed with only fists, and there will be severe inconsistencies in the battle replays.

[Sheap]

Make sure that you've installed the fixed Version of hoburg_S.dm that is available at Fixed Hoburg Alliance (http://homepage.usask.ca/~gdd851/hoburg_S.dm)



All the mods I have are the ones you sent me. I'll double check and make sure it's the same mod.

[Sheap]

OK, I checked.

The mod appears to be the same content, but the one you sent me had been converted to RTF text format. So I downloaded the new one and reset the server.

I'm surprised it loaded the game at all. A little worried too.

This is my first time hosting a modded game. Do I have to enable the mods using commandline switches? Shouldn't it just use the mods automatically? And as a result shouldn't it have puked on the invalid .dm file? Or would that happen only when it was time to generate the turn? No turns have been generated yet.

[Sheap]

Now that the patch is out, I should say that I am not planning to upgrade to 2.13 right away. Largely because, Last I heard, the Linux patch is not working, and I host on Linux.

Once the patch is working, I can leave the decision up to the players in the games. It will be possible for me to run 2.12 and 2.13 games simultaneously.

This policy applies to the benatar.snurgle.org games on these ports:
Return of the Rejects (2000)
KaranGame (2001, formerly Graeme hosted)
Modded (2003, formerly Graeme hosted)
Cradle_of_Zen (2004, formerly Norfleet hosted)
CasualCarnage (2005)
Pantheons (2006)

as well as any future games that I might host.

[Cohen]

Who's subbed me in Karan Game?

[The_Tauren13]

im playing your karan game cohen

[Cohen]

I noticed you did a good job in the Last turn.
Do you want to keep the game for yourself? Sadly my Abysya was doomed even before your sub.

[The_Tauren13]

yes i would love to keep it actually http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Stormbinder]

Yes, good major battle vs Ulm Last turn Tauren.

[Sheap]

More patch info...

In general: As of now the Linux patch is not working at all, this prevents me from upgrading just yet. Once the Linux patch is fixed, it will be up to the organizer of the game whether to update that game to 2.13 or keep it at 2.12. I can run some games on 2.12, and others 2.13, so not everyone has to upgrade at once.

It seems there is a fairly serious bug in 2.13 causing crashes with various artifacts. Until the scope of this bug is determined, and either fixed or workarounds discovered, I'm going to recommend against using the new patch, but the final decision is up to the players.

Anyone that upgrades to 2.13 will still be able to play on 2.12 servers, but the battle replays will be wrong. Not sure if the reverse is true or not, it probably is.

[Maltrease]

Mr. Sheap,

Our Karan game is having a problem. It is saying the turn file is corrupted.

Please nuzzle us back to health.

[Sheap]

I am sorry I have been paying zero attention for the past 3 days or so to anything Dominions related.

I stopped this game while we decide what to do, and posted in the game thread, we should continue discussion there.

[Thufir]

Hey Sheap,

Could you set CasualCarnage to 5 day quickhost? We've got a guy out of town for a few days.

Thanks,

Thufir

[Mardagg]

I cant connect to ReturnoftheRejects.
Anyone having problems,too?

[Cainehill]

Not just ReturnOfTheRejects - can't connect to any of the 3 games I'm in that are hosted by Sheap right now, actually.

[Thufir]

It does seem that the server is down. Anyone heard from Sheap lately on IRC? I sent him a PM yesterday, and haven't heard back.

[archaeolept]

I can connect to my one game on snurgle. Sheap did show up Last night for a little bit - he's been swamped, though hopefully things will get back to normal next week.

send him an email.

[Thufir]

archaeolept said:
send him an email.



I don't have his email, and it's not on his profile. If anyone already has his address and could send an email that would be dandy, or if someone wants to PM me his email, I'd be happy to send one.

[Fritzermeister]

As i took over Trollheim for 1000 yard stare in the Modded Game - Who else out there is in this game.

[Cainehill]

I'm Ashikaga in that one.

[archaeolept]

according to sheap :
<Sheap> All games fixed except Casual Carnage and KaranGame.
<Sheap> BUT
<Sheap> check for inconsistencies
<Sheap> also say that the prognosis for Casual Carnage is not good.
<Sheap> It seems to have a different, more serious problem than the others
<Sheap> (server hangs - no nagot, just freezes)

[Cainehill]

Two of my three there are up (Fat_Obstreperous_Jerks and the Modded game) but Cradle of Zen is still down.

[The_Tauren13]

are sheap-hosted games going to 2.14?

[reverend]

Pantheons is running, seems ok.

Yes, I'd prefer to update to 2.14 as quickly as possible.

[Stormbinder]

reverend said:
Pantheons is running, seems ok.

Yes, I'd prefer to update to 2.14 as quickly as possible.



I disagree. Personally I would prefer to wait until Mose will upgrade his server.

BTW it seems like KaranGame is still down atm.

[Pickles]

I get a strange response to this - it flickers on the screen with teh mation flags & if I click mine - timing it just right I get my previous turn which I have done not the next one which the flickering flag says I have not,

Anyway I will follow it up when I am sober

Pickles

[archaeolept]

hmm we have that problem w/ Karanian_conquest. it is very strange.

a lot easier than trying to click is to just hold down your mouse button in the appropriate spot.

[The_Tauren13]

I'm getting the same thing in Pantheons. And it doesn't help if you actually manage to click it... it just opens up the previous turn, not the current one.

[Boron]

I have the same problem http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif
My other game on Sheap's server seems to be fine though .

[reverend]

Stormbinder said:

reverend said:
Yes, I'd prefer to update to 2.14 as quickly as possible.



I disagree. Personally I would prefer to wait until Mose will upgrade his server.





May I ask why? Unlike the 2.13 patch, which had a few errors, this one fixes network problems and other bugs. While I've never seen a reason to play a non-latest Version, with 2.13 I understood people who wanted to stay with 2.12.

With 2.14 however, I see no reason to keep playing the older Version.

[alexti]

I have the same flickering problem with Pantheons too.

[Fritzermeister]

I am resistant to this for 2 reasons... First 1000 yard stare says that the new patch is buggy, and since I don't look into that sort of thing and he does I trust his judgement.

Second - since 1000 yard hosts my other games and he is not upgrading yet - that would make it difficult for me to upgrade on one and not the other.

However this all may be moot if he changes his mind

[reverend]

It's quite easy to have multiple Version of Dom2. Just copy the old .exe before patching. Then you can start dom213 (for example) to play games that haven't been upgraded, and the patched dom2 for games on 2.14.

So, on the client side, there is no problem. And so far, "new patch is buggy" has been said about all patches. For some (2.13) it was true, for others not so. In the end, everybody updated anyway, so why not do it right away. This way, IF the patch is buggy, at least we can figure it out and give Illwinter bugreports.

[alexti]

I've tried to wipe out my previously done turn. I still get blinking screen and when I try to get a turn from the server I'm getting Nagot gick fel: "ppt: error reading ret turn". It looks that something broke on the server http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[Cainehill]

reverend said:

Stormbinder said:

reverend said:
Yes, I'd prefer to update to 2.14 as quickly as possible.



I disagree. Personally I would prefer to wait until Mose will upgrade his server.





May I ask why? Unlike the 2.13 patch, which had a few errors, this one fixes network problems and other bugs. While I've never seen a reason to play a non-latest Version, with 2.13 I understood people who wanted to stay with 2.12.

With 2.14 however, I see no reason to keep playing the older Version.



Because no one _knows_ what new bugs are going to be in a new patch until after it's been tested under load, ie, by playing under the new patch. Illwinter didn't exactly announce in the change list, "We broke some artifacts so it'll crash the game" - it was first discovered by players. Then Illwinter did an admirably quick job of getting a patch out to ostensably correct the bugs, but also doing other things, thus possibly putting new bugs in.

And if you'd read the threads, you'd see that people do seem to be encountering a new bug that is making it difficult for them to play the game.

[archaeolept]

i haven't heard of any bugs w/ 2.14. questionable routing, like storm's AQ and banelord, was happening w/ 2.12.

[Cainehill]

I believe people are talking about a bug with 2.14 where they can't select their nations to play the game.

On top of which, it's a bit early for any other bugs to have shown up.

The bogus routing is showing up all over the player - PD commanders not retreating, etc.

[reverend]

Exactly. The problems with Sheaps server seem to be just that. Problems with Sheaps server.

Now that Esben already has updated, I suppose Sheap will follow as soon as he finds time.

Besides, if Esben waits with updating because of a dozen games running, that is somewhat understandable. But if nobody wants to update their clients (although you know it is possible to have multiple Versions at the same time), then HOW exactly are we supposed to find the "new gamestopping bug"?.

[archaeolept]

can't select nations? there's the problem on sheap's server, but that's unrelated to the patch (sheap is still on 2.12), and has to do w/ him having run out of disk space i think - dunno if there's some easy fix or not. The weird routing is an inherent problem w/ the game I think - no one (at least not me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif ) seems to really understand all the rout rules - but storm's weird routing examples were on 2.12.

The only game i've played on 2.14, cohen's Tapyrez blitz on |reverend|'s server, has gone flawlessly.

Now, as a general rule, yes - bugs do show up after a bit. However, 2.14 didn't seem to introduce as many changes, beyond fixing the errors in 2.13, and so I would expect has less chance to introduce new ones.

[Stormbinder]

Our Karangame in Sheap server is still down atm, as far as I can tell. Is the whole server down or just one game?

[Mardagg]

Hi Sheap,

Could you please set the timer for Return of the Rejects to 48 hour no quickhost?
The majority of the remaining players has voted for this.
Thanks in advance.

[Cainehill]

Stormbinder said:
Our Karangame in Sheap server is still down atm, as far as I can tell. Is the whole server down or just one game?



Just certain games. Two of three I'm in that are hosted there are working, but a Cradle of Zen game has been down for a week or more.

[Mardagg]

Return of the Rejects:

Server seems to be down since 24 hours now.

[Cainehill]

All three I'm in on the server are down now.

[Stormbinder]

Same here. Our Karan game has been in limbo for almost two weeks now. Has anybody seen Sheap recently?

[Mardagg]

Does anyone know where Sheap is?
He doesnt answer my PM`s and I desperately need 48 hours quickhost in Return of the Rejects now.

[Cainehill]

Oddly enough, I'm now quite comfortable with 24QH on that game. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Stormbinder]

Hmm, it looks like Sheap is MIA atm unfortunately. ;(


So has anybody been able to contact him though any means for the Last several weeks? His nick is stil Online on IRC but he is not really there. If he can't continue to run his server for some reason perhaps he could send out game files, so we could get another host and continue our games?

[Ironhawk]

Patience, my friends.

I have heard the distributed groaning and taken the matter up with sheap. I now have access to all the games he is running on benatar and a limited degree of control. So your games are not doomed.

Unfortunately, I am currently COMPLETELY SWAMPED at work and likely to remain so through till monday. After that I should be able to help out with the server administration.

[Ironhawk]

Ok. I have a bit of free time now so I can manage your game if you are having trouble on sheap's server.

I am not particuarly experienced with dom2 server commandlines and whatnot so if someone was willing to give me a primer that would be excellent. Otherwise PM me or post your gripes in this thread and I will attempt to address them

[Stormbinder]

Thank you for taking the matter in your hands Ironhawk.

When you'll have a chance, please take a look at "Karan_game". I think it is frozen atm. Please give it a frienfly kick in the butt. It should be set to 48h host. No quikchost for now, since the game have been down for 2-3 weeks now and it'll take timne to get players up to speed, based upon my previous experience with it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Thanks again for your efforts, most appreciated.

Regards,
Stormbinder

[Ironhawk]

I believe I have now restarted KaranGame, 48hr host, no quickhost. Check and see.

[Mardagg]

Hi Ironhawk,

please set Return of the Rejects(Port 2000) to 48 hours quickhost.
Thanks in advance.

[Maltrease]

Ironhawk,

Thanks for starting the game up again. I was wondering if you could disable the automatic hosting for the moment. It may take a little time to let everyone know that the game is going again.

Quickhost could be turned on, but without a timer. This way we will have more time to get a hold of all the players. Once everything is accounted for we could switch it back to a 48 hour QH.

Thanks again for taking this task over! It is greatly appreciated.

[Ironhawk]

Ah so, ah so.

Due to my inexperience with running the server I thought the 48hr option and the quickhost option were different. but the 48 is just the time on which the quickhost operates? I bounced Karan_game and restarted with the following command line - is it correct?

dom2 -S --port 2001 -T KaranGame

I am pretty sure that means it will not quickhost at all but will just wait indefinitely.

[Ironhawk]

Mardagg said:
Hi Ironhawk,

please set Return of the Rejects(Port 2000) to 48 hours quickhost.
Thanks in advance.



Mardagg, Return of the Rejects has been bounced with the following commandline:

dom2 -S --port 2000 -T --hours 48 ReturnOfTheRejects

I just bumped the 24 hours parameter to 48 so I think that should work for ya. Let me know if its good.

[Stormbinder]

Maltrease said:
Ironhawk,

Thanks for starting the game up again. I was wondering if you could disable the automatic hosting for the moment. It may take a little time to let everyone know that the game is going again.

Quickhost could be turned on, but without a timer. This way we will have more time to get a hold of all the players. Once everything is accounted for we could switch it back to a 48 hour QH.

Thanks again for taking this task over! It is greatly appreciated.



Yeap, Maltrease is right. I think this is the best thing to do atm for our game.

[CUnknown]

Ironhawk, could you set our game (Return of the Rejects) to quickhost? 48-hour host is too long, right now we have 30 hours left and everyone has taken their turn.

Thanks.

[Mardagg]

Ironhawk said:

Mardagg said:
Hi Ironhawk,

please set Return of the Rejects(Port 2000) to 48 hours quickhost.
Thanks in advance.



Mardagg, Return of the Rejects has been bounced with the following commandline:

dom2 -S --port 2000 -T --hours 48 ReturnOfTheRejects

I just bumped the 24 hours parameter to 48 so I think that should work for ya. Let me know if its good.



Thanks Ironhawk.
Now only quickhost is still missing,as CUnknown already pointed out.
48 hour schedule with quickhost on would be perfect.
I dont know the command for this, though.

[Ironhawk]

Ok, I added the quickhost option to your game and it appears to be generating the new turn now. Take a look and see if its all good.

Also, I've been wondering if we should move this thread over to the MP forum? How do we go about that?

[Truper]

To get the thread moved, ask Zen, Johan, or Kristoffer.

[Graeme Dice]

Could we get the Modded game restarted? It appears to have been hung up for quite some time now.

[Ironhawk]

It didnt appear to be hung when I looked at it, but I bounced it again, just in case. Let me know if it works for you now.

[Cainehill]

It's up now, but wasn't yesterday (or the week or so before). Thanks!