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BattleTech! MechWarrior!

Terra_Inc

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Okay, here's how the Mercs Multiplayer works. I asked the people at the mektek forums and this is the response I got:

From the main menu, click on Multiplayer. On the next screen you'll need to set up your connection. Click on the New button. Answer the easy prompts. When you get to Select your Connect type and Speed answer the Selection Type correctly from the drop down menu, but on Connection Speed select 56k despite what it actually is to reduce load on whatever server you are playing in. Then click on Next. On the next screen make sure that the MekMatch box is selected for How Would you like to Browse for Games? Then click Next. On the last screen just accept the default name for Connection Name (My Connection) - you can change it later. You are now ready to start looking for a server.

You now have 2 buttons to choose from: MekMatch Servers or Connect. The MekMatch Servers button will take you to a list of the 5 main categories of servers. You will see under the Info column what each category is used for. You can choose any of them (they are just listed that way as a guideline, but players can host a server on any of them). The greatest concentration of servers is in Kurita (North America). The most number of online players are there too. It sounds like you and your friends are beginners to online so you might also choose Davion for New Players. There aren't too many servers and players there but you can at least know you will be playing against others new to the game or at least those that are willing to help out newer players with questions. Double-click the category or click on a category and then the Join button.

You will now see a list of all the servers under that category.

If you have patched up to the latest version they will all be a white color - if not, green. You can sort the servers by any of the columns; i suggest Players. It is more fun to play in a server with lots of people, but it can also be a little intimidating, so you might choose a server that doesn't have many (some have bots too - you can click on the Detail button to list the players and bots in a server). On this same screen to the right at the top are 3 columns you'll want to become familiar with: UA, NH, NR. UA = Unlimited Ammo, NH = No Heat, NR = No Respawn. If any of the servers have these special conditions they will have a checkmark for them in the column. Lastly, most servers are running default maps included with the Free Release 3.1, but obviously there are lots of User made maps so you may get a message once you join a server that you do not have a map, just follow the link in the pop up.

Now, choose a server and double-click it or select it and click on Join.
There may be a pause where it looks like nothing is happening, but just wait. Then a message will appear that says Connection is being established. Then you will arrive in the Game Lobby. If you get an error message saying the Server may have quit or networking issues browse or post in the tech support forums here. You can chat with others in the chat box at the bottom, select a mech and variant, choose a team, choose to be an observer and just watch the game unfold but not play in it...you can also enter the Mechlab and make some changes before you enter the game. At the top right are 3 tabs: Mission, Map and Server. Mission provides the game details, Map provides information about the map and the game type, and Server provides specifics about how this particular server is set up as well as IP information. When you are ready to join the game, or if the game is counting down waiting to launch (can see time left of the game or how much time until launch at upper right) and you have your mech picked out, click on Ready. It may take a couple of seconds to actually enter the map so be patient.

Once you have entered the map, it's pretty much like the campaign or instant action, but now you are playing against much better pilots in real people. One of the differences is the chat box in the upper left. You can expand it by pushing the ` key or turn it off, turn it back on etc. You'll want to hit the Show Multiplayer Score (default is Tab) to see the scores and what drop zone players are in. Find the enemy and start shooting! :)

The Windows Firewall should handle the whole 'open ports' thingy, but just in case it doesn't, you can find the needed ports in the sysopreadme in your Mercs folder.

So, someone willing to host a game or two this weekend?
 
T

thunderfoot

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The Flea is a scout 'Mech originally created by Wolf's Dragoons. One of the very few problems I have with MW4 is the slant towards Assault class 'Mechs. To survive in a light 'Mech is the mark of a superior pilot. To play well enough to score kills on Heavys and Assaults with one is the mark of a true Mechwarrior. It is doable and fun. I think I'll post some pics of some fun weapon loadouts here later on this week. Fleas with flamers can be tons of fun against a Daishi or an Atlas. These cannot kill you when they are shutdown by heat and you can pretty much place the muzzle of a machine gun against the cockpit and rack up some serious points in Multi.
 

CABAL

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Light mechs will shred assaults in urban combat. I almost lost my first Atlas that way.
 

dinosaurJR

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Agreed - taking inferior firepower into a combat zone and coming out the victor is definitely the mark of superior skill.

But - I can kill most med - heavy mechs Ive come up against with 3-6 salvos from my ER PPC / Assault Laser / Med Chem Laser combo Black Knight...

Ive never come up against a flea in combat - but Im almost certain the first hit would disable it - or at least cripple it enough for it to no longer be a threat... (or make the Pilot run away:lol:) The Assault Lasers a killer, yo...

Anyways, I will most likely be online Saturday (probably most of the day / evening - I can feel an epic gaming session coming on...) and possibly Sunday afternoon, maybe... (thats CET peeps...)

So if anyone wants to join, they are more than welcome (I will be the guy running around all guns blazing, like the n00b that I am...):thumbsup:
 

Terra_Inc

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You know, maybe I'll try and host a game for us MSFC guys to meet and kill each other this weekend. Once I've figured out how it works. :)
 

dinosaurJR

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Yeah - do that!! I will so be there!!

Thunderfoot - time difference allowing, do you think you can join too??

In fact - any MSFC MechWarriors - BRING IT ON!!
 

Terra_Inc

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Yeah - do that!! I will so be there!!

Thunderfoot - time difference allowing, do you think you can join too??

In fact - any MSFC MechWarriors - BRING IT ON!!

I'll post the exact date and time ASAP. :excited:
 
T

thunderfoot

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I am at GMT -6 time wise. It may be difficult but it should not be impossible. I'll need to reload everything. My Mercs app went Tango Uniform last night for some unexplained reason. But I can try.
 

dinosaurJR

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Im sorry to hear that TF - Tango Uniform, huh... now that is FUBAR... or SNAFU... I forget which is the most appropriate...

Anyways - I look forward to meeting you on the field of battle, sir!

Terra - yeah, post the time and I will be there - PPCs blazing!
 
T

thunderfoot

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DJ, here's a little help.

SNAFU means I can fix it.

FUBAR means I cannot.

Going to try real hard to make it, but may not be successful in time. Also have to get back to working on the MC2 missions I've planned. Been kinda hard to be motivated about those lately. Real Life has been busy and tiring.
 

Terra_Inc

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What about Sat, 3rd of July, 1800 CEST? Would that be OK for you, people?
 

dinosaurJR

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Ok TF - gotcha!!

I know we cant go into the actual meaning of these (there are kids here, after all...) but I'll keep that in mind - SNAFU, fixable, FUBAR, borked...

But hey - it would be cool to see the mighty Thunderfoot in action this weekend - but if not, then next time, yeah? Im not going anywhere!!:thumbsup:
 

dinosaurJR

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What about Sat, 3rd of July, 1800 CEST? Would that be OK for you, people?

Em - Terra, the 8th of July is a Thursday bro - tomorrow is the 3rd...

But if you mean tomorrow at 6PM CET, Im ready!!

If you meant the 8th of July, then Im gonna be on holiday in Italy...

EDIT - you totally ninja'd me there matey... I look forward to seeing if you are as quick in a Mech...:thumbsup:
 

Terra_Inc

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Em - Terra, the 8th of July is a Thursday bro - tomorrow is the 3rd...

But if you mean tomorrow at 6PM CET, Im ready!!

If you meant the 8th of July, then Im gonna be on holiday in Italy...

Sorry, my watch tells me 10-7-2 which I interpreted as the 7th. It always confuses me... :sweat:

More information on the server and additional info when I have done a test setup.
 

Terra_Inc

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Sorry, people... I don't know why, but Mercs Multiplayer doesn't work for me. Seems that it's a network issue. It could take a while until I found out what the problem is. I have no network experience, so... yeah. I don't know how long it will take. :cry:
I am currently trying to fix the problem using some tips provided by mektek. Again, I don't know how long this will take or if it works at all, but it's my best chance. As soon as there is any news on this, I will post here.
 

Terra_Inc

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Whew. Multiplayer works now, at least for me. Just a few modifications and I'll be able to host that server!
 

Terra_Inc

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Okay, the server will be online around 6 pm Central European Summer Time. The name is MSFC DropZone, server password is "alphastrike". See you!
 
T

thunderfoot

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My Mercs install went all wonky on me. So I reinstalled the stock game and the Offical patches. I then went to MekTek and D/L'd the upgrade. When I tried to install it, I got a file match error and then the whole thing closed. I may be hors de combat for awhile until I figure this out. I can still play. I can even play online. Just with people whom have the Stock game though. Ah well. My MC2 install seems to be working out well though. I've not been motivated enough to work on the new missions lately. The thought of 100+ lines of code to get supply trucks to move down a road is a little more than I care to do at the mo'. At some point, my motivation will return and I'll finish the next mission. I need to do all of this correctly, I'd rather not have the mission turn into a shooting gallery where the AI does not move or shoot until the player is within range. I need to get this right because the rest of the missions will be much more challenging when the AI is busily trying to accomplish its own tasks which the player must stop or delay to win.
 

Terra_Inc

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My Mercs install went all wonky on me. So I reinstalled the stock game and the Offical patches. I then went to MekTek and D/L'd the upgrade. When I tried to install it, I got a file match error and then the whole thing closed. I may be hors de combat for awhile until I figure this out. I can still play. I can even play online. Just with people whom have the Stock game though.

Maybe you should try installing Mercs4free instead of trying to patch the stock game. The latest stock game patch is MP3.02b, but Mercs4free is MP3.1. AFAIK MP3.1 addresses many stability problems, so you might want to try it. Besides, most people use 3.1 online. 3.02b is rare.

I'll post an Installation Guide for Mercs4free here ASAP, it's not easy to puzzle out.
 
T

thunderfoot

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Sequence of installation is update NET, then Install MTX, then within MTX click on Mercs4free, correct?
 

Terra_Inc

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Sequence of installation is update NET, then Install MTX, then within MTX click on Mercs4free, correct?

Correct, provided that MTX works for you. It should download the newest full version and patch it automatically. But it's a beta, so if it doesn't work, you'll have to use another way.

Here are installation instructions for manual installing. If MTX doesn't work, try this.

There are two important tools you will need for this:

- A torrent client (I use µtorrent, it's light and easy to use.)

- The MTX Extractor (sometimes called "MTX extract and patch utility".)

The game and the patches are available as .mtx packets at the mektek site. Download them via torrent client and put all of them into a folder with nothing else in it. You have the game now, but you need to get it out of the package. Get the MTX extractor from the mektek site and install the game and patches into a directory of your choice. This tool opens the packets and builds your install. Important: Install the game and patches in the right order, or you'll get an install that is completely useless. ATM it would be like this:

-> Full Install .0021
-> Patch .0022
-> Patch .0023

When you're done and patched, fire up the game and start shooting! :thumbsup:

Don't forget, the newest version is .0023, so most people online will be using it. :)
 
T

thunderfoot

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Thanks, Terra. Much appreciated. Something to do this week after I get home from work. Hopefully, I can get everything ready in time for the next match.

In the mean time I have been working diligently on improving the quality of the stock MC2 Carver V SP Campaign. I'll admit I do have a serious weakness for Single Player games. probably because when I first started PC gaming, this was all that was available. Back then, the clouds of smoke and steam coming from the boiler occasionally made it rather difficult to see the monitor, but hey. Less complex games always seem to have a killer AI which will challenge anyone at any skill level.

I have refined a few changes I added in to the first version. These are listed below.

- All Tech and BattleMechs are now available from Mission 02 onward. It is a mercenary unit. Money talks. If a player wants Clan tech and 'Mechs, then they should be available for purchase. Expensive, but in the long run this may be tho only way to survive now.

- All mission drop weights have been adjusted upwards by 30%. Wanted to do this because the player is running a BattleMech company, not a section or platoon. Some of the missions allow too small a tonnage and too few choices as to 'Mechs. Doubling the drop weight allowance gave the player too much and precluded salvaging 'Mechs during the mission.

- All AI pilots have been upgraded. In the Stock game, they now act more intelligently and will make choices which can surprise anyone. With Wolfman's version 35 Expansion installed, they will cook and eat you the very second you do something the tiniest bit stupid. And this is on the "Green" difficulty setting. I ran the Baxter's Gambit mission on "Elite" and got my head handed to me about five minutes into the game. The missions are winnable, but it will take every bit of skill and cunning a player has. Be prepared to lose pilots and 'Mechs. Using Magic's expansion falls a little more than halfway between these two ends towards Wolfman's game.

Please note this means your AI controlled allies will now act more intelligently as well. A player can no longer count on Rebel missile tracks soaking up all the fire from an enemy Partisan while one of the player controlled 'Mechs closes to short range.

- Adjusted the player controlled pilots to more accurately reflect personnel available for hire by a mercenary unit. Most of them will now start as regulars with one or two skills already in place. These skills may not be the most desirable ones either. There are still some rookies around, but they tend to not last very long without constant supervision. Pilots being wounded or killed is now much more common. It is possible to run out of pilots now. Some of the 'whinier' pilots(Creep, Meat) have been removed from play. Why? Because they got on my nerves with their constant moaning and complaining. lol

These are all coding changes. They reflect the retail version of the game, not one with either Magic's or Wolfman's expansions in place. It should be a simple matter to adjust the purchase and pilot files to reflect the larger number of 'Mechs, more equipment choices and other things found in both of these addons.

Oh, yeah. Before I forget. Colonel David Renard is now as lethal as the game allows. He took down four Blood Asps in less than five minutes during the last time I play tested the last mission. All headshots. Three of the four pilots did not eject. Mua. ha. ha. ha. ha.
 

Terra_Inc

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Thanks, Terra. Much appreciated. Something to do this week after I get home from work. Hopefully, I can get everything ready in time for the next match.

The next match would probably be Thursday or the next weekend. dino is going to Italy this week, so if you get your Mercs install set up, it will be me vs. teh TF!

Speaking about MC2, I've tried my luck with the editor. Some questions remain. Prepare for a PM full of questions! :)
 

Starfox1701

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Either of you tried out the first batch of mechs I sent you? I'm just about ready to drop the second set. In consert with the tooled up AI you'er working on Thunderfoot they should make life interesting.
 
T

thunderfoot

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Starfox, they work fine. Not bad at all for a first run.
 

CABAL

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The next match would probably be Thursday or the next weekend.
Could it be on Wednesday instead? Thursday through Sunday I don't have computer access. I also know somebody else who might want to play.
 

Terra_Inc

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Could it be on Wednesday instead? Thursday through Sunday I don't have computer access. I also know somebody else who might want to play.

Would be possible, but it would have to be in the evening because I come home very late. :)
 

Terra_Inc

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Let me think... I can get the MW server up around 1930 CEST, which would be 1730 GMT, IIRC. Would that work for you?
 
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