Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:41 am by Chips
How do I play online?
If you load up your Freelancer game, then click on Multiplayer – accepting the fact that they cannot control what you encounter online, whether to play over the internet or lan… then you will eventually come to a the server list.
Is it free to play online?
Yes, Freelancer does not cost anything to play online. If you have a connection, and the game – you can play online.
Who hosts the servers?
The servers are generally hosted by players and fans, running off their own machines and their own connections. Connections may vary, as do the size of servers. Generally they can hold up to a maximum of 128 players – but due to lag issues, the largest servers can manage only 80 players or so. Those servers have high spec equipment and exceedingly quick connections.
What does the padlock symbol mean?
The padlock symbol means that the server has been locked, and you will require a password to connect to the server.
Can I sort the servers?
Yes, you can click on any column headings to sort the servers – by number of players playing, ping, name and version.
Can I filter out servers?
Yes, you can select the filter option and chose to remove filters that are locked, unpopulated, different versions, and pings above a certain value.
Why do some servers have different version numbers?
Servers that have different version numbers will often appear greyed out. The version numbers have nothing to do with official Microsoft patches or mods, and are a result of community created mods – which may feature on the front page of TLR, and are often hosted in our downloads section.
What is my multiplayer account id? (MP Acct id)
Your multiplayer account id is a specific identifier that is created when you first connect to the internet. This account id will remain until you a full uninstall of the game. The ID is used to identify which characters on a server are yours, allowing only yourself to play them. Uninstalling the game and reinstalling will generate a new MP Account ID. If you wish to retain your account id, before uninstalling navigate to your Freelancer folder, and then into the Exe folder. You will find a file called “myflaccountid”, which if you double click will display your number. I suggest you save the file elsewhere on your computer, or write the number down.
How do I get my old accounts back after re-installing
Firstly you should have saved a copy of your account ID as above, and then written it down. When you reinstall, if you then connect to the internet, your account ID is generate. You may overtype the new ID with your existing one, and then proceed.
What is ping? What does it mean?
Ping refers to how long (in milliseconds) it takes your computer to get a response from another computer – so pinging a server will return a time of how long it takes (or in effect, how long for information to flow between the two computers). High ping means that it takes a long time for information to be transmitted, and you will experience some “lag” in the game. The lower the ping, the quicker information will transfer between the computers – allowing for a lag free game. It is important to choose a low ping server, because you will maximize your enjoyment of the game without lag issues.
My game freezes saying “loading” when I click on the multiplayer option
This is a common issue, and is usually related to your Firewall software. Ensure you permission your Freelancer.exe file in your firewall to have access to the internet. There is a thread in the troubleshooting forum regarding firewalls.
I get to the server listing screen, but it just says “connecting to global server
This happens when a firewall interferes with Freelancer being able to make a successful connection to the internet. You will need to permission the Freelancer.exe file to have access to the internet.
Global server not found?
Sometimes the global server may go “down” – which happens once every now and then (every few months). At this time, you cannot access the server screen, but you can still connect directly with servers as long as you know their ISP by using the directconnect method. If you navigate to your Freelancer folder, then into the Exe folder, you can find the fldirectip file. Double click on this, and enter the server’s IP address. Click add server/launch freelancer, to find it in your list.
