Civ4 PitBoss Available

[Jarnhestur]

If you want to convert a PBEM to a simultaneous turn Pitboss game, then you'll need to use the saveconvert utility here: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=167669. It's a great tool and I've used it myself. It will also remove the admin password if you've forgotten it.

You can just load a PBEM into Pitboss, but it will still force the everyone to play their turns in order without a time limit, depending on how you configured your PBEM game.

 

[GFletch]

Is it possible to run more than 1 Pitboss game on the same server at the same time?

 

[ForesterSOF]

I would think so since I can run a PB game and CIV using different GameSpy names.

 

[the oob]

Is it possible to run more than 1 Pitboss game on the same server at the same time?

Yep, I'm doing it right now. See this post on how to do it.

 

[OverloadUT]

ACK!!

I tried using the aforementioned method to run a second Pitboss game on the same machine.

However, when I ran the shortcut that listed an alternate root location, my default one (My Documents\My Games\blahblah) got completely DELETED! It looks like some of the files were moved over to the new ALTROOT location, but I definitely lost all the autosaves I had for my Pitboss game. Has anyone else experienced this?

After running the original shortcut again (the one without an ALTROOT) the default files were placed back in the default location, but I still don't have any of those saves. I ran the ALTROOT shortcut again, and those default files were removed again!

Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[ForesterSOF]

I did none of that and put my PB.exe in with my CIV.exe and run my pb on one GS account and my CIV on another.

Although I do not have the problem if both do not worktogether for you put the PB to a dif port then the CIV.

 

[OverloadUT]

I did none of that and put my PB.exe in with my CIV.exe and run my pb on one GS account and my CIV on another.

Although I do not have the problem if both do not worktogether for you put the PB to a dif port then the CIV.

So... you didn't do what I did, and therefore you don't have the symptoms I do? Amazing!

I run my Pitboss games via Direct IP, and I need to be able to run two, without all my files being deleted!

 

[ForesterSOF]

And I have been able to make games in all areas.

 

[Jarnhestur]

I don't think you're files are actually moved, but more likely your shortcuts have changed. The saves folder in your Civ4 home directory is actually a shortcut to your working root directory. The files are still in "My Documents\My Games" but the shortcut in your Civ4 folder is pointing to your new altroot.

 

[OverloadUT]

Heh, if only. I've been working with computers long enough not to make that mistake.

My normal user directory is:
C:\Documents And Settings\Administrator\My Documents\My Games\Sid Meirer's Civilization 4\

Pitboss has been running out of that directory for 6 months. It has placed lots of autosaves inside the pitboss autosave directory, and the .ini file reflects the last options I chose when I started the game. Two days ago I decided to start a second pitboss game. Following the advice from this thread, I created a shortcut with the following command:
"D:\Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\PitBoss.exe" /ALTROOT=d:\pitboss\pitboss2

After running that shortcut, the directory D:\pitboss\pitboss2 was created, with the whole directory structure that is expected. The odd thing was that in the saves/ directory there were a couple files (some utilities that I downloaded) that I had manually placed in the saves subdirectory of my original user directory. That's when I went back to the original user directory to find that most of the folders and files were completely gone, including the Civilization4.ini file. At first I thought this wasn't a big deal, because if those utilities got moved to the new user directory, then all of the files must have moved. But I checked in the new location, and it appears that ONLY the files I created manually (manual saves and any miscelaneus files) were moved over and the other ones, like the autosaves, were just gone.

I closed down the second Pitboss instance and ran the shortcut for the original Pitboss instance again, hoping that it might reverse the damage done. It recreated the directory structure in the original user directory, but the autosaves were still gone. I should also note that the "new" user directory was still in tact. I thought that maybe it was a bug with specifying a user directory that's on a different hard drive from the default. I tried changing the second Pitboss instance to use a directory on the C:\ drive and the same thing happened as before - the original user directory lost almost all of its files. Ran the original Pitboss shortcut again, and again the original user directory was repopulated with the default files.

That's when I decided to come here and ask if anyone else has experienced the same problem. I can't believe this hasn't happened to anyone else!

There are two things that might make my situation different and could possibly be the cause of the problems:
I am running Windows Server 2003.
I have Civ4 installed on a partition other than C:\

 

[Jarnhestur]

Well, that's really strange then. I haven't seen that happen at all. Sorry!

 

[GFletch]

First, a big thanks to everyone for their answers to my stupid newbie questions. I very much appreciate it. Unfortunately, I have another.

Disclaimer: I know next to nothing about networks and routers.

About a month of so ago, I started a Pitboss game on my Dell computer, which was connected via a Wireless connection and a NetGear router(which was set up by a former roommate 2 years ago). It had 12 players, one of which was myself, and I connected to the in the exact same way as everyone else, using the same computer the Pitboss software is set up in -- I connected using my own Internet IP, and it connected without a hitch.

A few nights ago, after multiple losses of connections, my Netgear router died. So, I went out and purchased a Linksys router, set it up and it worked fine. I then went and found what the new IP was for my computer, and re-set up the Pitboss.

And no one, including myself, could connect. So I searched this thread and tried to find out why. Come to discover I had to do something called "Port Forwarding" and I had to open up a port on my new router. (Mind you the last router was set up 2 years ago by a former roommate who now lives across the country). I also read that I should log in using "localhost" as my IP when using the same computer that Pitboss is on. So I did so, and I was able to connect.

But no one else could. They would get stuck on "Establishing Connection with WVUFan" (WVUFan being my nick in the game). So I searched the thread and again, and I'm completely lost as to what to do.

My system has a static IP (I read on this thread to check that as well). Anyone have any idea what's going on, or could give me, a stupid newbie, some hints as to how to make this work again?

 

[OverloadUT]

Well, the problem is indeed that you need to forward port 2056 to your computer. Have you done that part yet?

And the fact that you were able to connect to your game with your own external IP simply means that your router was able to handle that. Some routers let you use the external IP from inside your NAT, while others don't. It's safest to use "localhost", or your computer's name, or your computer's internal IP address when connecting from inside your network that way you don't have to worry about whether or not your router lets you use the external IP.

 

[GFletch]

Well, the problem is indeed that you need to forward port 2056 to your computer. Have you done that part yet?

Yes, I opened ports 2050-2070 on my router. Before I did this, people would never even connect (they would time out). Now they get "Establishing connection with WVUFan ...) for several minutes, then time out.

 

[ForesterSOF]

Do you have a fire wall or windoz firewall running.

 

[GFletch]

No, no firewalls running currently.

 

[Jarnhestur]

Are you connected at the same time they are trying to connect?

If so, what's happening is that the router is getting the packets for the server and those for your computer confused. In your civ4.ini, set your port to a different port, like 2057. That way, your packets will have their own port and your router won't route them incorrectly.

 

[ForesterSOF]

dito. since it is not a FW then that is the most likely.

 

[ForesterSOF]

YOu are looking for:

; NetComm Port
Port = 2056

and you can make the game to 2057 or do the same to the PitBoss and tell everyone else.

 

[GFletch]

No, when the other player try to log on I am not in the game at all. The connection for them gets stuck at "Waiting on connection".

The steps I've taken so far (listed because I probably missed something)

I set my system up as a static IP.
I set (at least I think I did) port forwarding for 2056

Last night someone was able to get on(and took his turn and logged out). About an hour later, though, the router lost connection and wouldn't reconnect. I called Linksys, and they had me set something with "MAC Cloning", which gave me a different Internet IP. I communicated this new IP to the players, and no one has been able to get on since.

If I disable this Mac Cloning ... thing, we lose internet connection.