New to Multiplayer!

[Saria]

I've never done Multiplayer. I'm seriously a NOOB at multiplayer.

What would I need to do to get my friends and I running a multiplayer game? And, how would the multiplayer game... play?

o_o
help? <3

[bdanv]

hi saria,

i can help you, but SMAC multiplayer can be played in so many different ways...
first you have to give us some details:
-you and your friends are part of the same LAN or are you planning to play over the internet?
-are you going to play a 'real-time' or a 'turn based' game?

[Saria]

Well, we're probably going to be playing over the internet.

What is the differencec between real time multiplayer or turned based? I'm... I'm such a newbie at this. XD;;

[bdanv]

over internet you have 2 options:
1) PBEM (play-by-email): every player receives his turn by email, makes his moves and then has to send the game to the next player (turn based game). this one can be a long game. you can expect to play a max of 1-2 turns per day (in a game of 4-5 players, that's if everyone checks his mail at least twice per day), meaning that a game can take more than one year taking hollydays into account.
2) TCP/IP option: that's a lot faster than PBEM. you have to meet online with your friends and simulate a local area network (LAN) over the internet. you can do that using Hamachi software. you have the links for Hamachi here. we are actually playing every friday using Hamachi and you can find lots of usefull info in that thread.
TCP/IP can be played 'turn based' (only one player moves at a time and the others are 'waiting') or 'real time' (everybody can move units at the same time) but i don't recommend this last option.

so, what's your choice?

[Saria]

Ooooh, I see!

For the Hamachi thing, I have a wireless internet router in my home, could I set up the Hamachi thing from my laptop?

[bdanv]

yes, you can use Hamachi behind the router, but in this case, you won't be able to host the game. the host is the only player that cannot hide behind firewalls and routers. also the host must be the one with the best internet connection.

EDIT

if you want to host behind the router you will have to open some ports specially for the game and that's something that we tried, but didn't succed ... well, at least till now.

[Saria]

So... one of my friends would have to have a direct internet connection?

[Mart]

I recently tried TCP/IP with hamachi with my brother. I have DSL router. we both could host.

[Saria]

Alright, thanks!

[bdanv]

Originally posted by Mart
I recently tried TCP/IP with hamachi with my brother. I have DSL router. we both could host.

either both of you have static IP, or you are very lucky