PBEM Setup instructions

[Shogun Gunner]

I have not been able to get this to work with either

smtp.gmail.com
OR
smtp.email.msn.com (which is a paid account)

I haven't check with my hardware firewall to see if port 25 is blocked.

[marcsterix]

No, I doubt it's blocked...My ISP used to have outgoing mail on port 25 up until a couple months ago...then they switched to 587 and phased out 25. All I had to do was get into Outlook and change the port number from 25 to 587.

It would have been nice if I could do the same in CivIV (hint, hint, to any dev or modders out there...)

[Rommel2D]

Re: PBEM Setup instructions

Originally posted by CanuckSoldier
Due to the fact that the manual is not very friendly in this regard here are the steps to setup a PBEM in CIV.
[...]
e. The[ier] Civ password.
[...]

This is more trouble and less secure than just having the setup player makeup a simple password and email it to each player. They can then set up their own password with Alt-d and no one else will know it...

[marcsterix]

Players don't need to email or send their "Civ" password to anyone. When they get their first turn, all they have to do is press Alt-D and type in their own "Civ" password.

From then on every time they open the file with their new turn, it will first ask to confirm that password before letting them play the turn.

Also, it's good to remind ppl that the "Civ" password has nothing to do with their SMTP password. If you want to set up to email directly from CIV-IV, you can do so yourself (again, by pressing Alt-D). Here all you need is your outgoing SMTP name, not the password. The SMTP password is requested by CIV at the end of each turn, prior to sending it out (so no, you don't need to give this out to anyone either).

M

[Rommel2D]

Originally posted by marcsterix
Players don't need to email or send their "Civ" password to anyone. When they get their first turn, all they have to do is press Alt-D and type in their own "Civ" password.

That's what I was just saying, except that the setup person can make up temporary passwords for the first turn so that none of the other players can look at the starts of the players after them. Its not that I expect anyone to cheat, but the less loopholes lying around, the more players can focus on enjoying the game IMO.

Also, it's good to remind ppl that the "Civ" password has nothing to do with their SMTP password[...]

Also, SMTP passwords for outgoing mail are rare, so don't worry about it unless the program prompts you for it...

[CanuckSoldier]

Originally posted by Rommel2D

That's what I was just saying, except that the setup person can make up temporary passwords for the first turn so that none of the other players can look at the starts of the players after them. Its not that I expect anyone to cheat, but the less loopholes lying around, the more players can focus on enjoying the game IMO.


Also, SMTP passwords for outgoing mail are rare, so don't worry about it unless the program prompts you for it...

I haven't tested it, but I don't believe a player can change the pw that a host has set, if he has. So it's really a issue on trusting the players before you on the first turn or trusting the host with your pw. But at anyrate the host can and should set an admin pw, and with that he/she can look at any save anyway, but really if you can't trust the host don't volunteer for that PBEM in the first place.

CS

[Rommel2D]

Changing a player's password with Alt-d works in test games I've mailed to myself, and I don't see why it shouldn't. You're right that it doesn't really add any security if the host uses an admin password, but at least it avoids the extra-week-to-set-up-game-while-waiting-for-that-last-slacker-to-send-in-a-password lag...

I guess I spoke too quick on the SMTP though- I haven't been able to make it work successfully yet. My server apparently does use secure outgoing SMTP, but CIV doesn't explicitly prompt for it. I'm getting messages from the program that don't seem to correspond to my attempts to enter the correct information either...

[marcsterix]

It should prompt for your SMTP password at the end of your turn (in a PBEM) game. However, it will only do so if you have given it a SMTP server name (either at the initial setup or by pressing Alt-D and putting it in yourself). If it doesnt have the server name, it would prompt and just save the turn in your save game folder.

Plus, I think alot of email providers are requesting passwords for outgoing mail to avoid spammers using their servers.

[CanuckSoldier]

CIV can handle outgoing pw if you know it's required, but I'm pretty sure it has no mechanism to handle secure smtp connections, so that is likely your problem, either that or your ISP doesn't use port 25 for email.

CS

[Rommel2D]

Yeah, it gives you a popup with empty fields for the password, but it doesn't say whether the server requires it or not. The small print at the left of the screen says 'failed to send' and 'all recipient addresses refused' which I guess is enough to infer it.

But fastmail.fm's website says it does use port 25 for SMTP, and that it requires authentication. The pop-up window that askes for address and server name also has two other fields with rollover tags that say 'username for SMTP secure password authentication (if required) ' and 'password for SMTP secure password authentication (if required)'. I put in both as instructed at fastmail, but then the small print on the left says that the mail was not sent because the username/password did not match. It could be the syntax at fastmail's website- I'll ask them about it next time I get a chance...

[CanuckSoldier]

In outlook or what ever email client you use, do you need "secure smtp authenication" checked? if so CIV likely doesn't have that ability yet.

CS

[Rommel2D]

I didn't know I even had SMTP ability with this account until now, I've been handling my mail through web pages...

Are you saying you think the fields in the popup window are just stubs? The quotes I just gave are word for word from the rollover tags.

[Harovan]

I do have a SMTP password.

And the game demands me to reveal server and password of my account to somebody unknown on an internet forum??

Guess I won't play much cIV PBEM

[Paddy]

hmmm, I thought the password request was just for the save password you would like.

Your ISP name will be as per your email address IMO

SR, had waited a long time for some good gaming against you again, hope this does not finish you mate.

[Shogun Gunner]

He's talking about the ingame SMTP mailing of the save. If your ISP requires the security of "secure SMTP" then your ISP account and password need to be provided to send the save from cIV.

You raise a good point Sir Ralph. I hope much more information is communicated about the multiplayer features -- incluing Pitboss - soon.

You can always save the game manually, then go to your email client and send the save "the old way", Sir Ralph.