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Realm Lords 2 Discussion

KenFisherKenFisher Member UncommonPosts: 5,035
edited September 2015 in The Pub at MMORPG.COM

Realm Lords 2

=========================================

Realm Lords 2 is an online game positioned as a Graphical MUD (synonymous with very old-school MMO), currently being developed by an MMORPG.com forum member.


The target for RL2 is Retro-Style Pseudo Old-School, designed to look and run like a game that could have been made in 1999.  Modern mechanics such as instancing are not used.  All dungeons and the whole world in RL2 are PUBLIC.


Gameplay is 'Hack and Slash RPG with Friends', and consists mostly of running dungeons, character progression, and guild participation.  RL2 has class based character progression, Tank-N-Spank combat, and functional AI Heroes (henchmen).  The initial server is PVE.  There are plans for a PVP server with Morrowind style combat.


The world in RL2 is zone based, and of fairly respectable size for the budget, only slightly smaller than Morrowind.


RL2 is ultra low-budget, with a total development cost (not including hardware) of less than FIVE THOUSAND dollars.  Development started in 2007 and there is an expected release date of October 1st, 2015.


RL2 is based on Torque Game Engine Advanced (TGEA) which uses DX9c and Direct3D for rendering.  The game mechanics are based on an MMORPG framework from www.MMOWORKSHOP.com (currently offline) run by Prairie Games.  The engine and framework have been heavily modified, originally for Wizards & Champions (never released) and recently reworked for Realm Lords 2.  Artwork is licensed from multiple sources, with modifications and some custom art done by the developer.


While it might be reasonable to consider RL2 as an MMORPG, the positioning as 'Graphical MUD' is intentional as a way to convey to users that this is NOT designed like modern MMOs.  The closest comparable games would be Meridian 59 and EverQuest 1999, although gameplay is not identical to either.


DOWNLOAD CLIENT


I've run into a mess with personal problems, not game related.  I have to postpone further testing for now until I get this resolved.


 OFFLINE UNTIL I GET IT UPDATED


238 megabytes, Windows installer, Windows XP or better (tested on Windows 10, no problems)


Current Status:  Public Alpha - World framework is in place.  Game is playable, but not feature complete.  Development is done directly on the live server, so downtime for patches should be expected.  Accounts are setup from inside the game client.

Alpha Thread for tech issues
Ken Fisher - Semi retired old fart Network Administrator, now working in Network Security.  I don't Forum PVP.  If you feel I've attacked you, it was probably by accident.  When I don't understand, I ask.  Such is not intended as criticism.
Post edited by KenFisher on
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Comments

  • ArclanArclan Member UncommonPosts: 1,550
    Sounds super cool.  Thanks and wishing you much success!

    Luckily, i don't need you to like me to enjoy video games. -nariusseldon.
    In F2P I think it's more a case of the game's trying to play the player's. -laserit

  • KenFisherKenFisher Member UncommonPosts: 5,035
    Thanks Arcian.  I'm just happy to see it making its way to release.  This is the most complete and playable state that this codebase has ever seen.

    Not much to look at, but it seems to be fast and solid.  I'm looking forward to getting a couple more alpha testers in and seeing how it runs for them.  Play testing here has been fine.

    Cleanup, bolting in missing features, and fine tuning are all underway.  Lots to do, but it's getting there.
    Ken Fisher - Semi retired old fart Network Administrator, now working in Network Security.  I don't Forum PVP.  If you feel I've attacked you, it was probably by accident.  When I don't understand, I ask.  Such is not intended as criticism.
  • lalafelllalafell Member CommonPosts: 6
    I'm trying to download the client since yesterday but I can't finish the download: max download speed is 10 kb/s and if my internet get disconnected for one reason or another I have to start from scratch.

    Any alternative mirror for the download?
  • KenFisherKenFisher Member UncommonPosts: 5,035
    edited August 2015
    I'll work on that today.  Do you have a torrent client?  Those dl small slices and auto-complete.

    Done.  Torrent link added to top post.

    I can also mirror on the server connection for now

    Done.  Link added to top post.
    Post edited by KenFisher on
    Ken Fisher - Semi retired old fart Network Administrator, now working in Network Security.  I don't Forum PVP.  If you feel I've attacked you, it was probably by accident.  When I don't understand, I ask.  Such is not intended as criticism.
  • lalafelllalafell Member CommonPosts: 6
    Thanks!
  • KenFisherKenFisher Member UncommonPosts: 5,035
    edited August 2015
    lalafell said:
    Thanks!

    Glad to.

    I had the torrent server setup wrong behind my routers (a mess here).

    EDIT2: I think the torrent is fixed now.  My home LAN is private networking, and the home router didn't cooperate.  I moved it to my work LAN.
    Post edited by KenFisher on
    Ken Fisher - Semi retired old fart Network Administrator, now working in Network Security.  I don't Forum PVP.  If you feel I've attacked you, it was probably by accident.  When I don't understand, I ask.  Such is not intended as criticism.
  • SlyLoKSlyLoK Member RarePosts: 2,698
    edited August 2015
    Finally I get to check this out. I missed out on the weekend tests due to lack of time. Looking forward to it!

    Edit : When launching the game I get an error that a file couldnt be find in the bin library. Just going by memory but part of it was SwapChain.
    Post edited by SlyLoK on
  • KenFisherKenFisher Member UncommonPosts: 5,035
    edited August 2015
    SlyLoK said:
    Finally I get to check this out. I missed out on the weekend tests due to lack of time. Looking forward to it!

    Edit : When launching the game I get an error that a file couldnt be find in the bin library. Just going by memory but part of it was SwapChain.
    What OS?  I'm seeing what I can track down.  I'm guessing a missing dependency.

    The client is a Python application which unpacks at runtime.  The library.zip contains the Python runtime files, but not the C++ side.

    Swapchain is listed as part of DX / D3D.

    The DX runtime I use that matches the C++ side is:  DX9c February 2010.

    http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=9033


    The client installation is built on the server machine, and that machine was just wiped with a fresh install of Win 7.  It's possible the server machine is missing files that should have been packed for the client.  In theory the installation packager should have spotted a missing dependency and halted with an error, but that isn't always reliable (it gets confused over dependencies that are part of the OS, which it is not supposed to package to avoid cross-version mismatches on user systems).

    If your machine is modern, or the OS is recently installed, it might not have the 2010 DX9c installed.  I cannot verify that the 2010 DX9c is safe for installation on newer OSs.  I think it should be, but I don't use anything newer than Windows 7.  Maybe an OS guru can confirm that it's okay to try it?

    --------------------------------------------------
    EDIT

    I think I can confirm it's a missing DX dll.

    EA support reports the swapchain error: http://answers.ea.com/t5/Battlefield-3/how-to-fix-directx-error/td-p/177572

    MS KB resolution:  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/179113

    It suggests the web installer:  http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=159853

    ... but again I can't verify this is safe on a given OS.

    Post edited by KenFisher on
    Ken Fisher - Semi retired old fart Network Administrator, now working in Network Security.  I don't Forum PVP.  If you feel I've attacked you, it was probably by accident.  When I don't understand, I ask.  Such is not intended as criticism.
  • SlyLoKSlyLoK Member RarePosts: 2,698
    I am using Windows 10. I will look into the links you posted and get post here as soon as I can which will probably be late tonight.
  • KenFisherKenFisher Member UncommonPosts: 5,035
    SlyLoK said:
    I am using Windows 10. I will look into the links you posted and get post here as soon as I can which will probably be late tonight.

    Works for me.  Shout if I can be of any help.  Sorry that I didn't anticipate dependencies.


    I level capped a Spellsword in 2 days.  Other than leveling fast, balance seems pretty close to correct.  I'm thinking I'll keep the leveling this way for now so testers don't have to grind to see progression.

    Enchanting needs finished.  Crafting isn't even started.   =)  A couple zones need population work.  But so far, everything that's installed seems to be working.

    Ken Fisher - Semi retired old fart Network Administrator, now working in Network Security.  I don't Forum PVP.  If you feel I've attacked you, it was probably by accident.  When I don't understand, I ask.  Such is not intended as criticism.
  • SlyLoKSlyLoK Member RarePosts: 2,698
    Here is the error. My plans fell through so I was able to go ahead and try it out. No change.


  • ZombieCatZombieCat Member UncommonPosts: 55
    I also was getting the same error as SlyLoK under Windows 8.1. I did a quick search on my hard drive and found dwmapi.dll in C:\Windows\SysWoW64. Copied it into the folder where Realm Lords installed and was able to get past the problem.

    Here is the info from the dll I used:

    File Version 6.3.9600.17415
    Product Version same as file version
    Date Modified 10/28/2014 8:12 PM


  • SlyLoKSlyLoK Member RarePosts: 2,698
    ZombieCat said:
    I also was getting the same error as SlyLoK under Windows 8.1. I did a quick search on my hard drive and found dwmapi.dll in C:\Windows\SysWoW64. Copied it into the folder where Realm Lords installed and was able to get past the problem.

    Here is the info from the dll I used:

    File Version 6.3.9600.17415
    Product Version same as file version
    Date Modified 10/28/2014 8:12 PM


    This worked for me also! Thanks! There was one already in my game folder so I wonder if it is corrupt. 
  • KenFisherKenFisher Member UncommonPosts: 5,035
    Not one I've heard of.  Good job on the resolution!
    Ken Fisher - Semi retired old fart Network Administrator, now working in Network Security.  I don't Forum PVP.  If you feel I've attacked you, it was probably by accident.  When I don't understand, I ask.  Such is not intended as criticism.
  • ZombieCatZombieCat Member UncommonPosts: 55
    Well I have a new problem.

    Once I got past the dwmapi.dll problem, created an account and logged in the game downloaded a patch. After downloading, get prompted to restart which I do and get the SwapChain error again. Replace the file like I did before, start the game, do the patch, restart the game, error, replace the file.... insert endless loop.

    Actually I went through three patching process before I decided to report my findings. It is hard to tell if it is downloading the same patch over and over or if it is a new one. The first patch was pretty large but after that they have all be small.
  • MenacerxMenacerx Member UncommonPosts: 21
    Same thing happens to me as ZombieCat.  I replace the file, it downloads a patch, and the dwmapi.dll file again.  Then restarts, says the dwmapi.dll file is missing, I replace it again, downloads the same patch/file again.

    Done it about 5 times now.  It downloads the same patch, 450ish kb, secondcallback something, then the same dwmapi.dll file.

    Menacer 
  • ZombieCatZombieCat Member UncommonPosts: 55
    edited August 2015
    I think I got it figured out what is going on but not a fix.

    The repatching process is called (or something like this the font is hard to read) localManifestResultback2. I am assuming that when the client starts it contacts the server which returns a list of files the client needs. The client checks the files and sees it has the wrong dwmapi.dll which it then downloads from the server which causes the SwapChain error to re-appear. So replacing the file just causes dwmapi.dll to be downloaded again.

    Edit: Menacerx I did not see your reply before posting my findings. It sounds like we are seeing the exact same thing.
  • SlyLoKSlyLoK Member RarePosts: 2,698
    edited August 2015
    XAPKen said:
    Not one I've heard of.  Good job on the resolution!
    Well doing that allows me to launch the game but the patcher downloads the old one again and puts me back to square one.
  • KenFisherKenFisher Member UncommonPosts: 5,035
    edited August 2015
    Drat.  Okay.  I'll see if I can remove that file from the build and re-create the patch archive.

    Server down for an hour or so.

    ...
    EDIT:

    DWM API - Desktop Window Manager, a new service added in Vista.  My packager didn't know of it (was written long before Vista) so it packed the DLL from Windows 7 (the server) and put it in the client.  That broke newer OSs.  It didn't affect my machine since I develop on XP.

    I setup the packager to ignore the DLL when it detects it.  Patcher is rebuilding as we speak.

    You can probably just delete the DWMAPI.DLL that's in the client directory structure.  Windows should find the correct one in the Windows installation.  (Let me know if this works)

    The client (installer) still has the offending file.  I'll build a new one once we know this works.

    8 16 Central time - Server is coming up now.  It takes about 15 minutes for it to load up completely.

    ...

    Everyone, thank-you kindly for finding this !!!
    Post edited by KenFisher on
    Ken Fisher - Semi retired old fart Network Administrator, now working in Network Security.  I don't Forum PVP.  If you feel I've attacked you, it was probably by accident.  When I don't understand, I ask.  Such is not intended as criticism.
  • KenFisherKenFisher Member UncommonPosts: 5,035
    Server is up.

    If I'm right about what was broken, just delete

    C:\games\RealmLords2Alpha\bin\dwmapi.dll

    and the client should run and not break itself when it patches.
    Ken Fisher - Semi retired old fart Network Administrator, now working in Network Security.  I don't Forum PVP.  If you feel I've attacked you, it was probably by accident.  When I don't understand, I ask.  Such is not intended as criticism.
  • MenacerxMenacerx Member UncommonPosts: 21
    This fixed it for me.  

    Thanks.
  • KenFisherKenFisher Member UncommonPosts: 5,035
    ZombieCat said:
    Well I have a new problem.

    [...]  .... insert endless loop.

    The people who wrote the framework have the patcher system setup as anti-cheat.  Patcher detects modifications and over writes them with stock files and won't let you in game until it's happy that the game isn't modded.

    Works great, but the patcher loops when something is bugged can be a hassle.

    Good report, thanks !!!
    Ken Fisher - Semi retired old fart Network Administrator, now working in Network Security.  I don't Forum PVP.  If you feel I've attacked you, it was probably by accident.  When I don't understand, I ask.  Such is not intended as criticism.
  • lalafelllalafell Member CommonPosts: 6
    The game is very barebone but I'm having fun nonetheless. Rolled a Spellsword.

    The first thing that needs work is the UI; I also had some trouble figuring out that scrolls weren't one use only and taught the corresponding skill instead.
  • ZombieCatZombieCat Member UncommonPosts: 55
    With the changes to the patcher I was able to get in! :D Thanks for the hard work XAPKen. I am not going to have much time to play as I am in the process of moving but I will try to get in every now and then.
  • KenFisherKenFisher Member UncommonPosts: 5,035
    I really like the Spellsword.  I team mine up with Bethi, the cleric.  Sometimes I melee and help tank, sometimes I stay back and throw magic.  She heals.  We're good.

    Yeah, the UI is rough.  It has been neglected in favor of other work.

    I'm converting land02 from grasslands to swamp, and switching it over to swamp mobs and ogres.  It's a little slower than I like with all that water.  I'm hoping it'll be okay.  If it plays on my system, it should play on anything.  I think the video card in this box is from 2007.  :-)

    I'll be patching once the server is empty.
    Ken Fisher - Semi retired old fart Network Administrator, now working in Network Security.  I don't Forum PVP.  If you feel I've attacked you, it was probably by accident.  When I don't understand, I ask.  Such is not intended as criticism.
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