FWIW Here's answers to a couple of basic MP questions I had:

1. Do I need the Freelancer CD in the CDROM drive of the server?

a. No.

2. I've loaded a FL server on another PC on the LAN but I can't see it.

a. Check that you're in the same IP address range and that you have disabled any firewall software which could interfere with directplay ports 2300-2400 (or set the firewall to allow the ports). For internet connection sharing, you need to be in the address range 192.168.0.x where x is between 1 and 255. The machine with the modem must be 192.168.0.1. The other address range you could use for a LAN is 10.0.0.x. Check that you can ping the other machine's IP address.

3. How do I use a mod in MP?

a. Use the mod manager FLMM. The files for each mod must be in a subdirectory off the mods directory where FLMM is installed. Use the interface to install each mod you want to use. Make sure you disable the feature to make files read only or many mods will fail to install (see the FAQ for FLMM).

4. Do I need the mod on the server and the client?

a. Yes. Load it on the server and all client machines. If it is not loaded on the client PC, the client will crash as soon as the player tries to leave Manhattan. If you use a combination of mods, you will need exactly the same combination on the server and all clients.

5. Can I run the server on the same PC I am playing the game on?

a. Yes.

6. Can I transfer characters from one server to another?

a. Yes, but only in a LAN. The "\My Documents\My Games\Freelancer\Accts\Multiplayer" folder contains a number of subfolders and a file called accounts.cfg. Copy these to the same directory on the other server. This doesn't change which machine "owns" the character. The "ownership" of the character is determined by the ID of the computer which created it.

7. Can I rename my character?

a. There doesn't appear to be a way to do it in the standard interface. It may be possible to do it by editing the file directly, but you could also do it with two computers. Run both in MP, create an intermediate character on the other machine. Get the two characters to meet in space outside Manhattan, and trade all the credits and gear across. Create a character with the desired name and trade the gear to them. The disadvantage is that you'll have to sell and buy ships, and you will lose a LOT of credits in the process. But it works! This method could also be used to "move" cash from a character on one PC to another - eg. you've just bought a new PC. You could also transfer cash and gear this way using a friend's help if it's an internet server. Just pray they don't decide to keep it!

8. Any other hints?

a. Check the readme.rtf that comes with FL and the FAQ that comes with FLMM.

Hopefully this may be some help to other MP newbies. Corrections welcome.

Rob


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http://wordweb.com

Can anyone confirm for me that a FL server *never* needs to have the FL CDROM in the drive once it has been installed? I just had a server crash while running FL in MP mode with Rebalance 14b, and it sounded like the CDROM tried to spin up at the time.

Does anyone have any recommended settings for the PC running the server? I just checked to make sure that the APM was set for "always on" and the hard drives never spin down. I *think* what may have caused the crash was actually the hard drive being put to sleep and then the server tried to write something to virtual memory or the game files. Either that or it tried to access something on the FL CD which wasn't in the CDROM drive at the time.

On the other hand, the server may have had a hernia when Rebalance created a huge battle between the Kusari and the Outcasts in the system I had just entered...

Rob

No the only reason for the cd is instalation and piracy issues, it checks for the cd on startup of the game only, no checks are contained in the flsercver.exe to check for the cd, i know because i altered the Freelancer.exe never to ask for it, my reason for that is simple, faster start up and load times. And NO i wont release the .exe, i had to buy the game and i see no reason to help piracy, which is what it would eventualy be used for.
In the course of doing so i also checked out the server.exe it contains no such checks for the cd, or demands any resources from it. So it was probably your last idea that caused your problem.

Edited by - CrazedMoon on 19-06-2003 14:36:06

Thanks! Every little bit helps!

Rob