Empire XP 5

Empire XP 5.7

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Setting up a Multiplayer Game (Hotseat/LAN/Internet)

One-pc-multiplayer Game (hotseat)

LAN Game

Internet (Online) Game

Testing your Game Server

Your IP address

To add a service definition (Windows XP firewall)

Saving Lan / Internet games

One-pc-multiplayer Game (hotseat)

This is most suitable if

	you all are in the same room,
	only 1 pc available
	you don't like the hassle of configuring firewalls, routers, finding IP's ...

The minimum number of players required for an all-human game is 3.

LAN Game

Empire XP supports up to 5 human players per game using the TCP/IP protocol.

This program uses port 5466.

Configure your firewall (if any) to allow Empire XP through (without alerts).

Hosting a Game

To start a new game over a network, click "LAN game, create and host a game" and then wait for other players to join the game.

The host determines the map (World/Europe/...), the number of players and other variables for each network game.

The following message appears on the status bar: Waiting for others to join... Hostname:

Connected players are listed with their names on the place where normally the computer player names should appear (World : South Atlantic, WorldII : Indian ocean)

The following message appears on the status bar: Waiting for others to join... Press F2 to begin with current players.

After everyone has joined, the host presses F2 to begin.

Joining a Game

To connect to a game that is waiting to begin over a network, click "LAN game, join a game" .

In order to join, all you need to know is the host's Hostname or IP address or
press Enter at the IP address input dialogue for an automated search.

If the host has a game set up and waiting, you'll be able to select it and join the game.

Once connected, you are placed in a wait state until the host of the game chooses to start the game.

The following message appears on the status bar: Waiting for host to start game...

or, if something went wrong:

ERROR - Can't find the host's game. Be sure to start the server first.

To retry, press New game.

You will be able to see the game options that the host selects.

Connected players (including the host) are listed with their names on the place where normally the computer player names should appear (World : South Atlantic, WorldII : Indian ocean).

The automated search can be slow and is limited to 10 computers.

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Internet (Online) Game

Much of the above applies here too.

The host can choose to either make the game visible or invisible.
If the game is visible, other players from all over the world can select your game from the game list by connecting to your public IP

If you are behind a router, you may want to configure your router to forward port
5466 requests to your computer (check your router's manual and website).

Windows XP firewall (if enabled), see Add a service definition below.

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Testing your Game Server

If your IP is listed on the list: it doesn't automatically mean that you can connect to it.
Most often this has to do with routers, port forwarding or firewalls,

The game provides an easy way of testing your game server before running everything via the internet:

Start Empire XP, choose Multiplayer Game, Internet (Online) Game, Create and host a Game, World, name, Your friends know your IP address, Go to listen mode.

Start a second copy of Empire XP on the same pc, choose Multiplayer Game, Internet (Online) Game, Join a Game, name, Type in the host's IP address (enter your public/external IP).

If it responds with "Press F2 to begin with current players" and "Waiting for host to start game" you are doing well.
If it responds with an "Can't find the host's game" error then you'll have to dig deeper, go to the Settings -> Hosting Internet Games.. dialog again and try other settings.

Some other hints:
Try this again with the firewall(s) disabled (Windows Firewall and other firewall running)
After you've configured portforwarding, you need to restart windows because it still uses the blocked connection

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Your IP address

There are several ways to determine your IP address. On Windows 2000//XP/Vista, you will need to open a command prompt and type "ipconfig".

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To add a service definition (Windows XP firewall)

Open Network Connections .

Click the Internet connection that is protected by Internet Connection Firewall, and then, under Tasks, click Change settings of this connection / Change Windows Firewall settings (SP2)

On the Advanced tab, click Settings.

On the Services tab, click Add and enter all of the following information:

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Saving Lan / Internet games

Only the host can save a game, prefix INT_ for internet games, LAN_ for lan games

Start a saved multiplayer game:

	The host loads the saved game, the joining players go to new game, multiplayer (lan or internet, depending on what it was) , join, and enter the IP / Hostname.
	The human player names should be the same as those used in the original game, this is necessary for the program to find your armies and territories again.
	Human players can take over from computer players.
	If one of the players is not available to continue the game, this player will be replaced by a computer player (after the host presses F2 to start the game). If this is not what you want, then see the localhost player option below. (In this way, of course, the host has 2 players at his disposal.)
	Host player, during connect phase: the human player names will be displayed as xx.. (the first 2 letters of the original human player name followed by ..). In this way, it is visible that the human player connects to the game. This xx.. can be overwritten by other human player names / the order is not the same as in the original game; F2 (start game) rearranges the names.
	After everyone has joined, the host presses F2 to begin.
	Player's colors are not necessarily the same.

Localhost player:

The host player launches a second copy of Empire XP (new game, multiplayer, join) and enters the missing player's name, type localhost as the hostname/IP.

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