[TECH] Pitboss 37 IT and Tech Issues Thread

[JR4]

Just what I was looking for. I was able to log in and all works fine. Thanks, Krill!

[Krill]

No worries, enjoy playing your turn

[CML]

I'm running the game on Wine on Macbook, what's the procedure to log in? I've got everything including the mod installed.

[GermanJoey]

Load the mod. Multiplayer -> Direct IP Connection. Server is: pitboss.watto.no:2058 and there's no password. Choose your civ.

[spacetyrantxenu]

I forget how many barriers to entry there are for new pitboss players these days. More complete connection instructions would certainly help. Have a look at these posts, they cover several of the pitfalls you may encounter:

Allowing multiple simultaneous server connections (aka setting up the Gamespy NAT Neg replacement)

(This is supposed to be a successor for this thread as we shifted from NatNeg/PB only to Lobby & NatNeg.)

Since the shutdown of GameSpy, the official Multiplayer of Civilization 4 is to use the Steam Version and Steam Multiplayer. This thread describes and discusses how to use Pitboss smoothly and restore the original lobby using alternative servers. There are two ways to convince Civ4 to use the alternative server.

Option A: hosts-file:
Run a text editor as administrator, and open the file C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.

Add the following lines:

Code:

# Redirecting the multiplayer of Civilization 4 to a community hosted server.
# Universal entries
148.251.130.188    motd.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    gmtest.master.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    peerchat.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    gpcm.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    gpsp.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    gamestats.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    master.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    natneg1.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    natneg2.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    natneg3.gamespy.com
# Vanilla specific entries
148.251.130.188    civ4.available.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4.ms18.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4.master.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4.natneg1.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4.natneg2.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4.natneg3.gamespy.com
# BTS specific entries
148.251.130.188    civ4bts.available.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4bts.ms7.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4bts.master.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4bts.natneg1.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4bts.natneg2.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4bts.natneg3.gamespy.com
# additional entries for japan
148.251.130.188    civ4btsjp.available.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4btsjp.ms5.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4btsjp.master.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4btsjp.natneg1.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4btsjp.natneg2.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188    civ4btsjp.natneg3.gamespy.com
#civ4 col
148.251.130.188 civ4colpc.available.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188 civ4colpc.ms11.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188 civ4colpc.master.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188 civ4colpc.natneg1.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188 civ4colpc.natneg2.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188 civ4colpc.natneg3.gamespy.com
#civ4 col japan version
148.251.130.188 civ4coljp.available.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188 civ4colpc.ms11.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188 civ4coljp.master.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188 civ4coljp.natneg1.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188 civ4coljp.natneg2.gamespy.com
148.251.130.188 civ4coljp.natneg3.gamespy.com
#End of file

Here is a prepared hosts-file.

In pictures:






(This last screenshot shows the wrong IP address, it has changed since the screenshots were taken




Note: After editing the file you may have to restart your computer for the changes to have effect. If the server ever changes, you will have to update the hosts file to a new IP adress. Some Antivirus solutions may interfere with the manipulation of the hosts file.

Option B: Alternative exe:
Download this alternative exe file into your Civ4 installation folder and replace the original Civ4BeyondSword.exe. You can also keep the '2015' name and update your link (vanilla version). The alternative exe file is obviously not signed and therefore a security warning may show when you try to run it.

Restoring Direct IP and lobby in the Steam version of Civ4:
Follow the instruction by 2k

Port Forwarding:
It is very important to note, that the GameSpy NAT negotiation was never perfect, neither is our replacement. There are some routers/ISPs that just don't seem to be able to connect to each other. It was and is strongly recommended to setup port forwarding for UDP 2056-2107.

Server Software:
To just play, there is no need to download or run any of the NATNEG/RPMaster exe files (except for the patched Civ4...exe files). The server software is running on my server. If my server it shut down at some point, you can use them and take over.

Contact:
For discussion, bug reports, issues please post in this thread, or send me a private message. I will also build up an overview page at http://civ.zulan.net

Known limitations:
The buddy/friends system of the lobby does not work in the alternative lobby.

Software Development:
All software develpoment is done in an open source fashion on github.
https://github.com/Zulan/PRMasterServer - server software used by Zulan on the server
https://github.com/Zulan/miniircd - chat server used for the lobby
https://github.com/dingus221/PRMasterServer - development version of the server software by dingus
https://github.com/novice-rb/PRMasterServer - intial version of Civ4 NatNeg server

Credits:
AncientMan2002. Initial GameSpy replacement server for project reality.
Caledorn. hosting the original NatNeg Server.
dingus a.k.a. evillurksinternet. Development of lobby.
Luigi Auriemma. Reverse engineering and documenting the GameSpy protocol and encryption.
novice-rb. Port of NatNeg to Civ4.
Ramkhamhaeng. Alternative exe file.
SexIsBad2TheBone. Testing and evangelism
VoW - Voices of War, German Multigaming Clan. Funding of the server.
Zulan. Hosting the current NatNeg and lobby, development of lobby.

History:
April 2014: 2k announces that the current multiplayer modes of Civ4 are replaced by the Steam multiplayer.
May 2014: GameSpy shuts down their Servers. The Internet/Lobby non-steam version of Civ4 stops working. Direct IP / Pitboss stops working smoothly due to the lack of Nat Negotiation (NatNeg).
August 2014: novice implemented the alternative NatNeg to avoid bouncing in Pitboss. The server was originally hosted by Caledorn. Zulan hosted an alternative NatNeg as redundancy. See the old thread.
September 2014: To simplify his hosting environment, Caledorn shut down the NatNeg server.
October 2014: dingus started implementing an alternative lobby. Zulan hosted it in addition to the NatNeg. The lobby was originally based on the C# code by AncientMan2002, but due to stability issues, different components were ported to python.
December 2014: 2k provides a way to restore Direct IP / Pitboss for the steam version of Civ4
April 2015: All components except the NatNeg were ported to python, hopefully resolving the stability issues. Improving of the server code is still ongoing.
May 2015: This thread goes online.
May 2015: Updated exe (2015 instead of 2014), now works correctly for the lobby.
July 2016: Updated hosts, IRC and Server browser for Civ4Colonization.

Connecting, claiming your civ, and exiting the game correctly:

1) Open Civ IV
2) Load up the right mod (you can set up a shortcut to do both of these at the same time)
3) Select Multiplayer - Pitboss
4) Enter server location (in red, above) and change login name (if appropriate), press Next (or whatever it is in the bottom right)

It should then connect to the game portal and give you the list of civs.

5) Select your civ (*Note, be careful here not to get the wrong one!) and then Next again
6) Then it should ask you to set a password for that civ (*Note, write it down somewhere now!)

Then it should download the save and link you to the game.

You will also want to read this and implement so that you can play nice with others who want to log in at the same time (although this does not always work)

Access the game via DirectIP connection to pitboss.watto.no:2059. Make sure you have the right mod loaded. (Make sure your mod folder is not in MyGames). No password is needed (nor will one permit a successful connection) when connecting to the game. Make 100% sure there are no spaces in the field or you'll get an error. Spaces love to crop up unexpectedly, so please double-check this before posting that you can't connect.

The first time a player logs into the game they will be asked to set and confirm a password. This is non-trivial to change, so please make sure you know what it is, can remember it, etc.

In-game you can play as normal. This game is played via simultaneous turns, so you can queue unit actions and builds like normal, even after you end turn. When you're done playing please log out via Exit to Main Menu, not Exit to Desktop (which can create connectivity/lag issues).

If you're missing the direct IP multiplayer option (Steam version issue) you'll need to revert to using the original Steam binaries under the betas tab for the game in Steam. There's probably a post with details about how to do that somewhere around here if that is a problem anyone is encountering.

That should cover a lot of the general info we take for granted playing in games. If you have more questions feel free to post here or read a bit more from the linked threads.

[spacetyrantxenu]

Someone should probably pause the game as there is only 13 hours left on the first turn with five people remaining to play.

[Coeurva]

JR4, I seem unable to connect to the game while you're online (firewall issue?).

For that matter, do you (or does anyone) run into the same problem while I am online?

[JR4]

JR4, I seem unable to connect to the game while you're online (firewall issue?).

For that matter, do you (or does anyone) run into the same problem while I am online?

In game I had a pop-up saying that another player could not connect to the game because of my firewall. I was able to continue playing. Maybe I should try the recommended solution by spacetyrantxenu: Allowing multiple simultaneous server connections (aka setting up the Gamespy NAT Neg replacement)

As I have about zero knowledge on these matters: Is it a safe option?

[spacetyrantxenu]

It is a requirement for playing Civ4 pitboss, not optional. Everyone needs to use the same NatNeg server for online peering to work. Anyone who connects without using these NatNeg settings will prevent other players from joining at the same time.

[JR4]

I tried the first solution. "You do not have permission to save in this location. Contact an administrator to get permission". Now I am confused.

I cannot connect to the game while Couerva is online atm.