Can anyone get a multiplayer game to start since Version 4.0?

from Stardock Forums

This is getting really frustrating. I live in a household with 2 high spec PCs on the same network (Core i7, 32GB memory, 1080 Ti and 1070Ti graphic cards) and a 50MB+ fibre connection (as Gal Civ doesn't offer a L:AN connection). Since 4.0 we just can't get the game to start a multiplayer campaign. Doesn't matter which computer tries to host the game, same result, set up the game, sync the player files and setup up the game. Hit start, watch the files transfer and then suddenly poof- doesn't work and get the message host computer disconnected.

Really frustrating as we just bought 2xRetribution DLcs for the game (as we are in Lockdown).

In terms of the 2 accounts. One person has GalCiv III and all the DLCs, the other is missing the 2 StarControl DLcs and that is it.

 

Seems to be a purely Gal Civ III problem. We have recently played multiplayer Warhammer II, Civ IV, Civ VI and Hearts of Iron IV without any problems.

46,098 views 16 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock.net Forums Top

Sounds like it could be something related to your IPs. Were you able to play MP in the same setup prior to 4.0?

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Yes - was working about 6 months ago which was the last time we tried.  

Slightly random question - the only difference in DLCs is that one account doesnt have the Ship designers toolbox or ship parts launchpack - how do you get those now?

 

Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Two things imortis, and I, also cant play galactic civilizations multiplayer.

Second you know the person with the extra dlcs has to uninstall them in steam. 

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Ship designer toolbox, ship parts launch pack, heroes of star control, villains of star control.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Admiral WillyWilber,

Thanks, Tried that but can't uninstall the Ship Parts or Ship Designers which is now the only difference between the players.

Reply #7 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

It isn't working for me either. 

Reply #8 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Any progress with Multiplayer? Still crashes after Setting up players and before 1st turn. 

Star dock pse respond.

Reply #9 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

You can disable dlc via the command line for multiplayer with the command line parameter -disableDLC "ShipPartsBonus;MechKit"  where the DLC names are separated in quotes.  The DLC names are:

 

ShipPartsBonus
MapPack
RegistrationBonus
MegaEvents
Snathi
PrecursorWorlds
Mercenaries
BuildersKit
RiseoftheTerrans
LostTreasures
AltarianProphecy
Crusade
MechKit
Intrigue
SCHeroes
Retribution
SCVillains
WorldsInCrisis

I don't know for certain what is causing the disconnects, but I suspect that it may have to do with needing to pass around factions and/or ship designs that the players don't have in common.  Using the disableDLC command may alleviate the issue, and not using custom ship style sets may also help.  

 

Reply #10 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Hi CariElf,

My recent experience with GC3 multiplayer suggests that if you enable certain combinations of mods,  loading a multiplayer session won't work (see https://forums.galciv3.com/488497 ).

1. enable Crusade and Intrigue.   Success.

2. enable Crusade, Intrigue, and several other mods (but not Retribution).   Failure.

3. remove everything.   Success.

4. enable Crusade, Intrigue, and Retribution only.  Failure.

5. enable Retribution and Intrigue only.  Success.

Before each test,  we cleaned My Games\gc3crusade or My Games\Galciv3,  whichever was applicable.   We used a brand new game for each test.

My friend has Galciv3 installed under c:\program files (mine is under c:\gog\galaxy\...).   He's happy to try again under a different directory if you think that'll help.   We're otherwise at the end of our ropes and patience.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

Silas

Reply #11 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

This is good info Silas!  If I can reproduce one of the failure points, it gives me a place to start littering debug messages.

Reply #12 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Are you using GOG's interface to disable DLC or the command line parameter? 

Reply #13 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting CariElf, reply 12

Are you using GOG's interface to disable DLC or the command line parameter? 

We're using GOG's interface to enable/disable expansions and DLC.   Usually after doing that there's some churn and downloading/updating (to be expected),  then we zap My Games\galciv3 or gc3crusade (whichever exists,  depends on which expansions we have enabled I guess),  start a new multiplayer game (always works!),  play a few turns,  save,  quit to desktop,  then come back in and try to restore the MP session.   Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't -- see above post.

We'll be doing some more experimenting after my friend reinstalls GC3 in a place *other* than c:\program files.   As a side note,  whoever decided it was OK to have writable files under the program install directory should be taunted severely and made to code in Lisp for two weeks as penance.   ;)

Thanks so much for taking a look at this!

Silas

Reply #14 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Some more info:

1.  Crusade and Retribution (only),  fresh gc3crusade directory : Failed

2.  from there,  uninstall both,  fresh galciv3 directory : Success

So... miscellaneous thoughts: 

* I don't think it's anything getting corrupted,  since we're able to easily reproduce working/non-working states just by changing which DLC is loaded

* wondering maybe if this has to do with the amount of content?   Since Retribution + Intrigue works,  Intrigue + Crusade works,  but Retribution + Crusade does not -- note that the latter contains a lot more "stuff" (factions etc).   Might we be running into a bandwidth limitation (not on our side;  I have GBit internet and my friend has 100 MBit) combined with a larger amount of (stuff) being transferred during game load?

We're both quite computer-savvy,  and if there's any way we can help out by, say,  dropping in an .exe (GOG version 4.01.1) with more debug info we'd be quite happy to.

Thanks again,

Silas

Reply #15 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Hey CariElf,  any news on this bug? 

Reply #16 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

My friend and I tried an MP game this evening,  with Crusade + Retribution + Intrigue + several more DLCs all enabled.  Version 4.1 build 23147 according to GOG.

Noticed some slightly different behavior on lobby join during multiplayer session restore,  but the upshot is that,  whatever you did,  IT WORKED!!!

I haven't been able to play MP in almost three years,  and now it's working!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CariElf,  to yourself and whomever worked with you on this, please consider this a big hug and super-inappropriate sloppy kiss of joy.

:) :) :)