Birth of the Federation

First it is Important that all players have identical files installed. So communication is very important.

The "All in One" installer now has many option, so when you install keep track of the options selected so other players can install the exact same way.

More info on "All in One" installer

Note on installing:
be careful of the location you install the game to spaces-in-path-name will not allow mp connection

Example:
this will work C:\BOTF
this will not work C:\Program Files\Games\BOTF

Download and install "GameRanger"
link to download Gameranger
during installation you will need to create an account or login with existing account.

setting up your network connections;

setting up static ip.

Depending on your router your IP may change when you reboot your system. if you set a static IP your IP will never change.
When you open ports in next step, some routers only open ports for a single IP, so you don't want your IP to change so port will remain open.

How to setup static ip windows 10

How to setup static ip windows 8

How to setup static ip windows 7

How to setup static ip windows Vista

How to setup static ip windows XP

Opening ports used by Birth of the Federation;

Opening ports is also suggested and may decrease sync errors.

botf uses the following ports.

47624 TCP and UDP
2300 - 2400 TCP and UDP

If your router has a predefined in game application named "MSN Gaming Zone DX"

This sets up all ports needed for BOTF.

Opening ports used by Gameranger
Note; if router is Port-Restricted Cone NAT Router this is required
http://www.gameranger.com/support/netwo ... &rt=3&pp=1

16000 UDP

Starting a game on Gameranger

Hosting and Joining a Game on Gameranger

In main gameranger window select "File" tab and select "Host Game..."
in new window select "Birth of the Fereration" from game dropdown menu On first run your firewall will ask to allow Gameranger you must allow this
you may also get warning "Port-Restricted Cone NAT Router" if so you must set up gameranger port above.

Once you have a Game room open you can play the original version of Birth of the Federation.
If you want to play a mod you need to change the location of the trek.exe to be executed. (host and all joining player must set to same trek.exe)
In game room select "Room" tab and select "Options..."
in new window select "browse" button on lower right and select trek.exe from the mod you want to play. After a player has joined your room you may start a game.
at this point all player need to open the DxWnd window. (do not start game from DxWnd, Gameranger will hook game automaticlly) also do not close the DxWnd window during game play.
on the first game you start as a host your firewall will ask to allow "Microsoft Directplay Helper" you must allow to play
also host and joining player the first time you start vanilla and each mod your firewall will ask to allow the "trek.exe" you must allow to play
these firewall messages will popup after you select "start new Multi-player game" so if you are playing in fullscreen you need to press the start key of your keyboard to minimize game to see messages.

Good luck and have fun playing

thunderchero

Notes about GUI used

800 x 600 vs 1024 x 768 will work, but not suggested
1366 x 768 will only work vs 1366 x 768
1920 x 1080 will only work vs 1920 x 1080

Notes on Firewalls

windows firewall will popup and stay up until you allow.
other firewalls may popup for only a few seconds, if this happens you may need to configure and allow manually.

required applications your firewall needs to allow

gameranger
Microsoft Directplay Helper
trek.exe (note; you may have multiple trek.exe's allowed 1 for each version/mod you play on gameranger)

That's very helpful and thank you

Is DxWnd implemented now in Gameranger ?

roarke wrote: ↑Sat Apr 15, 2017 4:52 am Is DxWnd implemented now in Gameranger ?

no, DxWnd can be installed when executing All in One installer. this just explains how to use DxWnd when playing on Gameranger.

Me and a friend both installed from the all-in-one file, went to connect with the right IP address, and the game he set up was not listed. No games were listed but that isn't shocking. We ever tried your own multi-player mod thinking that would be our best best after udm turned out the same way.

you posted in the correct topic, but did you read the first post?

thunderchero wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2017 10:26 am Once you have a Game room open you can play the original version of Birth of the Federation.
If you want to play a mod you need to change the location of the trek.exe to be executed. (host and all joining player must set to same trek.exe)
In game room select "Room" tab and select "Options..."
in new window select "browse" button on lower right and select trek.exe from the mod you want to play.

GR2.jpg (137.9 KiB) Viewed 24666 times

thunderchero

thunderchero, thanks.

thunderchero wrote: ↑Wed Mar 22, 2017 10:26 am
in new window select "browse" button on lower right and select trek.exe from the mod you want to play.
GR2.jpg

After a player has joined your room you may start a game.
at this point all player need to open the DxWnd window. (do not start game from DxWnd, Gameranger will hook game automaticlly) also do not close the DxWnd window during game play.
on the first game you start as a host your firewall will ask to allow "Microsoft Directplay Helper" you must allow to play
also host and joining player the first time you start vanilla and each mod your firewall will ask to allow the "trek.exe" you must allow to play
these firewall messages will popup after you select "start new Multi-player game" so if you are playing in fullscreen you need to press the start key of your keyboard to minimize game to see messages.

Good luck and have fun playing

thunderchero

I managed to get vanilla game running via gameranger. very stable in 2 player games.

But i did not found a way to use a MOD such as UDM. Yeah i choosen the Trek.exe in GameRanger for both sides. Even copied the exe.

Trek.exe crashes however often, when i use mods... Is there a solution?

How to use DxWnd and Gameranger?
"all player need to open the DxWnd window. (do not start game from DxWnd, "
So i need to open a DxWnd but not start a specific mod? game ranger will do that?

Mr_Sloan wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 4:28 pm How to use DxWnd and Gameranger?
"all player need to open the DxWnd window. (do not start game from DxWnd, "
So i need to open a DxWnd but not start a specific mod? game ranger will do that?

never move files between mods if you have done this you should uninstall effected mods and re-install

correct but all players need to select the same location trek.exe

the install path of the example image above was for vanilla

if using a mod like Ultimate dominion mod location in that window would read C:\botf\UDM\trek.exe

Edit; most mods are not as stable in multi player as vanilla. but still playable, you either get used to it or you don't

thunderchero wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 4:41 pm

Mr_Sloan wrote: ↑Sun Mar 29, 2020 4:28 pm How to use DxWnd and Gameranger?
"all player need to open the DxWnd window. (do not start game from DxWnd, "
So i need to open a DxWnd but not start a specific mod? game ranger will do that?

never move files between mods if you have done this you should uninstall effected mods and re-install


Edit; most mods are not as stable in multi player as vanilla. but still playable, you either get used to it or you don't

okay okay, reinstalled again.

So vanilla is more stable then Balance of Power or even the Error Correction Mod? Thought the Error Correction Mod would be stable the most.

When i use / add some canon ships from UDM to vanilla and i do everything correctly would it remain that stable?

Do I only need to use UE? Or is this also nessecary?
https://www.armadafleetcommand.com/get- ... =42&ssid=4
"Botf Standard For Modders"

Mr_Sloan wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2020 9:33 am So vanilla is more stable then Balance of Power or even the Error Correction Mod? Thought the Error Correction Mod would be stable the most.

1. for multiplayer games the smaller the map the better

2. Balance of Power has error on widescreen versions of all in one v1.0.1 (this has been fixed in 2.0.0 beta "i hope")

3. Error Correction Mod is very stable in single player but has code that causes error in multi player. "message from ECM topic"
viewtopic.php?f=30&t=3452#p46152
Multi-player note
WARNING - This Modification seems to cause multiplayer issues
Disabling the chasing ships away / morale-boosting exploit
and should be removed by all player before starting any multi-player game.
You can use special QD patcher at bottom of this post to remove this patch

4. when doing any editing all player must have exact same change. So only one person should make changes and then share trek.exe and stbof.res to other player to replace existing files.

5. "Botf Standard For Modders" has already been add to all mods and vanilla in all in one installer so is no longer needed.

6. when adding ships to increased resolutions you need to create new ship images. see this topic
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3557#p47791

7. UDM is played the most in multi player games. but is prone to random crashes in multi player games. Most of these crashes players are able to recover by re-loading last save. this happen more later in game so as I said before small maps is suggested.

8. I suggest all player also read this post and follow the suggestions closely.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=884&p=12607#p12607

also don't get frustrated you were having fun before the crash and you can still have fun after crash or a new game.

thunderchero wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2020 10:12 am

Mr_Sloan wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2020 9:33 am So vanilla is more stable then Balance of Power or even the Error Correction Mod? Thought the Error Correction Mod would be stable the most.

7. UDM is played the most in multi player games. but is prone to random crashes in multi player games. Most of these crashes players are able to recover by re-loading last save. this happen more later in game so as I said before small maps is suggested.

Do you think the crashes come from ship models? So that when i import ship models i import the crashes?

Edit: Also i read "do not use ingame chat" is there a reliable alternate to that? using skype chat etc.?

Mr_Sloan wrote: ↑Mon Mar 30, 2020 10:32 am Do you think the crashes come from ship models? So that when i import ship models i import the crashes?

in combat crashes was mainly from retreat error (now fixed with hob patch) new models never had this issue.

turn processing crashes are mainly from double clicking the turn button or lost data packs

note: I have never had a chance to play this way but to reduce turn processing time you might try 1 vs 1 see this topic
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3543#p47725

so in vanilla people should not retreat?

Okay maybe that helps in 1vs1 regarind 0 or low pop.

how bad is it with 3 or 4 humans? worth the try?

with 3-4 player the question is how to communicate in a way that other play do not get the secret the plan to wipe out their homeworld

any good communication solutions for that (external chat)?

What is better?: With Wndx or without? ok seems to be suggested for w10