Play more than one nation in MP

Calahan · #1 July 9th, 2008, 09:00 AM

My guess would be that all you'd need to do is change the CD-Key between submitting turns for your two nations.

1. Play and submit/upload your turn for nation1 using the CD-Key that came with your first copy of Dom3.
2. Exit Dom3.
3. Locate and delete the "key.file" in the Dom3 directory.
4. Start Dom3 and enter the CD-Key that came with your second copy of Dom3.
5. Play and submit/upload your turn for nation2.

My understanding is (although may well be wrong) that it is only the issue of identical CD-Key's that prevents the same person (or more accurately, the same copy of Dom3) from submitting turns for more than one nation.

thejeff · #2 July 9th, 2008, 09:19 AM

As far as I know, as long as you're playing on the same machine (IP Address? MAC Address?) you can use the same install (CD-Key).
I've seen claims otherwise, but I don't recall anyone posting that they tried it and it didn't work.

I haven't tried this. It obviously would work in hotseat games. And I'm not sure how to experiment on my own. I've only got 1 key, and I'm not sure that running the experiment while playing from the server machine would be a good test. I could set up a test 2 nation game if you wanted to try it out...

I'd really hope it's that way. It's certainly legit for copy protection to prevent using multiple installs of the same license, but to prevent using the same install to play 2 nations is not. No copying, no copyright infringement.

WraithLord · #3 July 9th, 2008, 09:33 AM

Thejeff, I too hope your assessment is true. I'd be happy to take part in your experiment and simply test it.

I agree it does make sense to prevent two different turns from two different machines with same key from working, but using one machine to play two (or more) nations should be allowed. Its hard for me to see how it can be exploited, one machine means no copy so no issue here. Well rehashed your statement, goes to show how strongly I agree

thejeff · #4 July 9th, 2008, 11:05 AM

I've thrown up a testgame at silverfool.com Port 8098

Try it out when you can.

Let me know if you can't connect or something. I don't have the game installed here, so I can't check the server.

WraithLord · #5 July 9th, 2008, 11:27 AM

Quote:

thejeff said:
I've thrown up a testgame at silverfool.com Port 8098

Try it out when you can.

Let me know if you can't connect or something. I don't have the game installed here, so I can't check the server.

Whoa, you're quick. Thanks!

Can't play your test game due missing mode CapitalSites.dm. Maybe you can setup w/o mods.

Tifone · #6 July 9th, 2008, 11:05 AM

Quote:

WraithLord said:
I agree it does make sense to prevent two different turns from two different machines with same key from working, but using one machine to play two (or more) nations should be allowed.

I agree ^^ If I wanted to play a 2nations vs 2 with one friend, or my (ipotetical) brother wants to take part to a game with my copy, it doesn't seem unlegit, having I a valid and checked copy of the game

Gandalf Parker · #7 July 9th, 2008, 11:18 AM

Im not sure if you need to switch keys. Im fairly sure in many of the test games Ive run on my server that I have logged in as multiple nations. It has always been with one opening of Dom3 grabbing both turn files.

However, if you do decide you need to switch keys then you can create a seperate game-icon on your desktop. The key file is a file named "key". Just have the game icon for nation one copy key1 to key, then open dom3 (btw you can also tell it which ip, port, game name, etc so that you skip all that). Then have another icon on your desk for nation two which copies key2 to key, then opens dom3.

I can get more specific if I knew whether you were Windows XP, Vista, Mac, Linux.

Added Note: for those who are reading and get concerned about the possibility of cheating. Most hosts can "see" the connections and log them. On my server I can see when the same people play mutliple nations, or use a full version in a demo game.

WraithLord · #8 July 9th, 2008, 11:32 AM

Thanks for the procedure.

Quote:

Gandalf Parker said:
Im not sure if you need to switch keys. Im fairly sure in many of the test games Ive run on my server that I have logged in as multiple nations. It has always been with one opening of Dom3 grabbing both turn files.
...

Maybe I'm misunderstanding something but does your exprience sit well with Velusion's warning?

Gandalf Parker · #9 July 9th, 2008, 11:46 AM

Im not sure. Im fairly sure that I have used the master password successfully but maybe it needs more testing. Since that is my "territory" thanks for pointing that out.

thejeff · #10 July 9th, 2008, 11:55 AM

I don't think I can. I've only got text access to the machine from here and though there's a switch to turn on a mod, there doesn't seem to be one to turn off a mod that's active.

I can set it up without the mod tonight or you can grab the mod

As for Velusion's warning, it's unclear that he played both turns from the same machine. I think playing from one machine then using the server to set someone else AI would cause a problem.