Lan multiplayer not working

[fulano]

I've never gotten the lan multiplayer to work. I get a string of errors just clicking on it. Sometimes I can create a game but my friends get the same errors when trying to connect to the game.

I've had to resort to direct IP games and they work fine for two players, but when trying to do 3 players the third player never connects. I've tried to play over a lan using a simple hub and over a wireless router.

All three computers are running windows XP and Beyond the Sword 3.19. We've also tried it with the Thomas' War mod but it does the same thing.

They don't have an internet connection.

Every other lan game I've played works fine.

Here is what the game says:
could not reach the game host
the network socket could not be created
the network socket encountered an error and was closed disconnected
unable to join the game

Anybody have any idea on what would cause the problem?

 

[fulano]

Okay, after more searching on the problem I found other threads:
http://forums.civfanatics.com/archive/index.php/t-133213.html
http://forums.civfanatics.com/archive/index.php/t-136646.html

Sounds like mine since I'm trying to use a hub as well. The only solution they came up with is to set a certain fixed IP address. I've already got my IP addresses fixed to something I don't want to change though, is this the only solution you guys know of?

I just want to be able to play Civ 4 with 3 people.

EDIT:
So after more testing we decided to get some wireless cards to connect to a distant wireless router. It's a very low signal for all three computers and they are still connected by cables and it seems the game takes comfort from the router connection and then uses the cables and hub anyway. At least it seems so because the data transfer in the game seemed much faster than the weak wireless signal we have.

It's just crazy they made such a great game but completely botched it on the network programming!

 

[plasmacannon]

The only delay I had in my LAN setup was to make sure the Firewalls didn't block the game.
Otherwise, no problems.

I use a wireless router for internet, but, the 2 machines are connected to it via Cat6 cables.
one machine on WinVista, the other was on WinXP Pro, but, upgraded to Win7 and still works fine.

I haven't tried it with just a hub though.
It should have similar results, unless, it needs files to be upgraded.

 

[fulano]

I finally broke down and changed all my computers' IP addresses to the suggested ones and the game worked fine over a hub. It actually wasn't using the cables when I had the computer's connected through wireless and when the game progressed more towards the end it started to run extremely slow. So the summary of my findings:

To play Civ4 over a hub:
Assign 192.168.1.206 for computer 1, 192.168.1.204 for computer 2, etc.
OR
Use a router, not a hub

 

[tchristensen]

try going Direct IP -- works flawlessly over private networks or over the internet.

 

[fulano]

Except not for three players. Many people complained in those other threads too that couldn't get direct ip to work with more than two.

But it's all good, it works now, unless someone actually knows how to actually fix the program I'm content with this solution.

 

[tchristensen]

I have had no problem with direct IP with three people. The key with that is to make sure your firewall allows the traffic through. I actually went directly into the Exceptions for Civilization IV and added the individual IP addresses which seemed to work great. I never tried more than three, but the process worked for for myself and two friends.

 

[fulano]

Interesting, I'll have to look into more detail on the firewall thing. Thanks!