ongoing testing

[barocca]

it seems the desync bugs have been fixed but we now have been seeing perplexing CTD's before we get to the battlemap.

A number of theories now exist as to why,
chiefly being:-
1. router to router error's.
2. FN_07 must be pagan (has not been)
3. missing files regarding mongol faction
4. missing files regarding "mongol" units
5. error in unit prod file
6. error in startpos file
7. Too many factions
8. mix 'n' match exe's and mount's

For errors 1, 4, 5 & 6, i can find nothing wrong or missing with their files.
For error 7 - i hope that is not the cause, but will test that later.


So at the moment we will focus on error candidates 2, 3 and 8 (the easy ones)

the download contains 2 sets of startpos/unit and build prod files,
(the readme tells you where they need to go - they can co-exist)

0715 = MONGOLS AS PAGAN religion (and Mongol units assigned PAGAN religion)

0716 = AMAKO have Mongol Units only (and Mongol Faction Deactivated)


Install a clean version of Medieval Total War,
>
patch that to 2.01 (CD or DVD versions)
>
USE a genuine exe file for The Correct Type
> daemontools can help if you need to BUT make sure if you have DVD version that you have the DVD mount
> do NOT mix the installation, exe's & mounts between CD/DVD versions - all must be the same
>
the GOLD DVD edition 2.01 patch is here... (http://downloads.sega-europe.com/patch/med_tw/Medieval_TW.exe)
>
the hassle free CD edition 2.01 patch is here... (http://www.atomicgamer.com/file.php?id=31075)
the PAINFULL registry linked CD edition 2.01 patch is here... (http://www.strategyinformer.com/pc/medievaltotalwarvikinginvasion/patch/410.html)
>
Install Mod Version beta 8.0 (http://www.mizus.com/Ras/SamuraiWarlords_beta8.exe)
>
and then ALL files in the mongol_religion_unit_tests.zip (http://www.totalwar.org/Downloads/Mtw_Uploads/MTWbeta/mongol_religion_unit_tests.zip)download,
> they will not interfere with each other,
> nor do they disrupt anything else.
HIGHLY recommend NO OTHER MODS or ADD-ONS (not even the sound add-on)


I will not be able to be online until thursday night 2000 UK GMT (2100 daylight saving time),
my time will be strictly limited - I expect to have to leave around 2200 GMT

ALL are welcome to try these out in Single Player,
I am hoping that you guys can organise some testing - even 3 people is enough to cause a CTD.
:bow:

[barocca]

a thought just occured,

what if the DVD and CD versions wont co-operate properly?

i have both, have been using CD version,

which versions have you been using?
Jochi?
Orda?
everyone?

(there is a way to convert between versions, but that is a topic for PM)

[Orda Khan]

CD here

...Orda

[CBR]

CD here. But since we do not have problems with Beta5 I really doubt what version we are using are a problem.


CBR

[barocca]

(i accept that it may be a dead end, i'm trying to make sure all the i's are dotted)
(maybe TMS is not getting errors because all his copies are cloned from the same source file set)

I am going to fresh install FROM CD, and not from the archived "vanilla" copy i usually use,
just in case i ported from the DVD version and converted (as mentioned above)


here is hoping some of you guys can get 0715 or 0716 going overnight and you will have some good news for me when i get back in circa 36 hours...

i want to stop bug testing prod/startpos and get back to unit animation editing...

[Jochi Khan]

CD here.

...Jochi

[TechnoMage of Shadows]

i have both
the DVD version is what i use,
i will swap to CD version for all future testing.

the exe's ARE different, one has to check a dvd and one checks a CD,
the DVD 201 exe was released in a hurry, because someone forgot to patch the DVD to 201 before release.
Thus it is UNLIKELY that the DVD version was tested extensively for multiplayer compatability against the CD version.


the easy way to tell is the CD version came with an uninstaller,
the DVD version does not.

Once again (using the DVD version) both of these patches 0715, 0716, are stable on lan in 3v3 under extensive CPU loading.
TMS

[barocca]

i take it there were no tests overnight?

should i be online at the usual time for THURSDAY???
(2000 GMT)=(2100 DST UK)

iam reinstalling from the 3 CD set this arvo - just to eliminate the mere possibility of version coflict
(MTW on 2 CD and VI on 1 CD)= then patching to 201

B.

[Jochi Khan]

I will be available to test Friday evening from 22.00 hours BST (GMT+1)

[barocca]

very well i will NOT be online tongiht (1900 DST UK = 2000 GMT)

i will be online Friday (UK DST 1900)=(2000 GMT)=(4am BNE local) for as long as i can - i can make NO other promise.
i may be online for 90 minutes to 4 hours, but 2400 GMT is the absolute limit

i will be online Saturday (UK DST 1800)=(1900 GMT)=(3am BNE local) for as long as i can - i can make NO other promise

[Puzz3D]

I have the original CD version. I'll be online Friday at 22:00 GMT. I'm unavailable on Saturday and Sunday.

[Orda Khan]

Just added 0715 and 0716 changes, see you later

.......Orda

[barocca]

well, i've been 3 hours in the foyer with no sam players,
so i am going back to bed.

unless people confirm they are coming tonight (being saturday night UK / sunday morning aus/nz) then i will not drag mysef from my warm bed at 3am.

i can and have tested this on the work lan, TMS has tested on his home lan,
and in both ALL the patches work for DVD and CD versions.

PLEASE make sure you have patched to 201,
installed beta8,
and then 0715 and 0716,
and nothing else at all (no sounds, xtra maps or anything)
:bow:

[Orda Khan]

Tested all versions tonight, 0715 0716 8.0 TMS 8.1 TMS in various 1v1, 2v1, 2v2 and none of them crashed.
I can't be online before 10pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, any other night is fine

.......Orda

[barocca]

tonight?

and that result sounds good,
the last major tests when any player took mongol in anything more than 1v1 was an automatic CTD.

(the CTD cause could be all palyers need to use the same "type" CD or DVD"
Or even be something as simple as any add-on needs be on all systems (even sounds where the text file changes)

[Orda Khan]

Tonight, as in tomorrow for you :) yes I'll be there

......Orda

[Jochi Khan]

I logged on at the time I said I would be available 22.00hrs BST Fri 10.00pm (GMT+1)

To confirm what Orda posted....

Yes, we used all the different Versions 8.0... 8.1...TMS...0715-0716 and all refused to CDT. :o)

These were tested using various mixes of Mongol v Mongol....Mongol V Jap....Mongol and Jap V Mongol and Jap....all same unit type....all unit types used.

So you can see we made a real attempt to cause a CDT.

After 2.1/2 hours we called it a night. (went to bed)

I shall be available from 19.00 hrs BST (GMT+1) tonight Saturday 7.00pm

[barocca]

i will be online at 4am local QLD, which is 1800 GMT (1900 DST).

i appreciate and understand what time you were coming Jochi,
i simply hoped a couple of others would come by around the usual 1800 time,

i also hoped my 3 sons would sleep in (saturday morning here and all that), sadly today was the family birthday get-together (5 of the 7 men/boys in our family have their birthdays in july, the other 2 are christmas babe's, so we have their birthdays in july as well) - in short all chillin's were hyper excited and awake at dawn raring to P.A.R.T.Y....
(which we did!!!!)reaches for another aspirin...
:bow:

[CBR]

Ill be there at 1800 GMT and can stay online for around 1 1/2 hours.


CBR

[Orda Khan]

Well I'd rather forget yesterday. I found one of my Koi dead with no apparent reason and then went through a series of water tests, water change, filter cleaning, in amongst all the other things I had to do, which meant I didn't stop until 9pm by which time I'd missed you. So apologies to those who messaged me wondering where I was.
Things seem to be ok out there this morning so hopefully I can get on with the stuff I'd planned to do yesterday. I'll call in this evening, I don't know if there are plans to test?

......Orda

[barocca]

Koi are very fragile, all they need do is bump a scale and they can get a fatal infection (my wife once had some).

both 0715 and 0716 had problems last night,

Tosa and I are both ADSL, anyone else?
(we simply dont get lan CTD's, we got desync's on lan when the unit prod was bugged, but not CTD's)

other theories involve fn_07 being subject to the old "same FN vs same FN" bug (unlikely viking vs viking works)

even putting the fake mongols under a japanese faction control CTD'd,
PERHAPS 30 factions is the instability? (30 factions was introduced by TMS)

next phase is go back to 24 japanese clans, giving 1 clan command of mongol units,
(one of R'as patches has 24 japanese clans only)
IF that becomes stable then we lose a japanese clan and try adding the Mongol clan


tonight i will TRY, but i have had little sleep over the last three nights, #2 son has a bit of a cold and #3 son is a little hyper at the momen (wants me to chatter till he falls asleep)
So if i can i will be there at 1800 GMT, if i miss that perhaps try again at 1900 but must leave around 2030 GMT.

will not have a new set of files to test,
BUT would like to stomp around with 8.1 for a bit.
:bow:

[Jochi Khan]

Thanks for posting your observations on last nights testing.
We talked about so much that I couldn't remember what you said you thought the problems were.
I believe you are able to correct some? We can wait for new files. heh

I am fairly certain that my BT connection is ADSL.

18.00 GMT, that is 19.00 BST (GMT+1). I will loggon as near to that time as I am able to.
A little before or after. :juggle2:

So we will test beta_8.1 tonight? The R'as install?

[Tomisama]

So then:

Sun 7/20/2008 6:00 PM GMT (18:00)
Sun 7/20/2008 7:00 PM BST
Sun 7/20/2008 2:00 PM EDT
Sun 7/20/2008 1:00 PM CDT
Ect.

To test: Medieval - Total War - SW Beta 8.1

:2thumbsup:

[CBR]

I will be there at 1800 GMT for 1+ hour. We have to be sure the basic 8.1 works so we need to run as many battles as possible. So just get 16 units and quick deploy and charge to be certain there is no desync either.


CBR

[barocca]

we tested 8.1 with TMS era/add-on, many games, 2v3, 2v2, 3v2 all japanese, all mongol, mix 'n' match
with no CTD's until 6am local.
The last few days when we have had CTD's they have all occured AT & AFTER 6am my local time.
(mrs. barocca has even commented that she can set her clock by my frustarated exclamations at 6am sharp)

I am told that ISP's can restrict various protocols,
is it reasonable to suspect my local isp be traffic shaping / protocol "cutting" to allow for the breakfast email rush?
I am on ADSL, is there anything special about that? (ADSL was not around when Medieval:TW was built?)


based on no obvious desync i am going to continue with a mongol/korean lineup (with a few chinese units thrown in),
i can add them to any unit prod, but 0715 would be my pick, so if we could test that one it would be good.

i would invite people to continue testing 8.1 with tms/0715/0716,
if you let us know in advance i will do my best to be online circa 1800GMT (4am local).

:bow:

[Tomisama]

We had one more battle after the 6am ISP crash, with no problems :beam:

Can't wait untill all units are completed and tuned.

One thing that may or not be in your intentions. I think the Mongols need more than one faction (eight maybe) to help in managing different armys, and especialy their generals (maybe less Japaneese). Just a thought.

In any case, it was great fun.

Thanks Barocca :2thumbsup:

[barocca]

One thing that may or not be in your intentions. I think the Mongols need more than one faction (eight maybe) to help in managing different armys,
i am trying to find inventive ways to display faction colours on mongol units,
tyberius' coloured lances are an inspiration, and i do love his detailed weapons,
expect to see similar in use (or i may borrow them)!!
I am also making coloured shields for most mongol units


and especialy their generals (maybe less Japaneese). eh??
:bow:

[Jochi Khan]

I will loggon each evening at 19.00 BST (GMT+1)
If enough are available to test please give a definate day.
Unlike barocca I do not have to get up at 4am in the morning. (I take my hat off to you)

[Orda Khan]

Perhaps Tomisama means less Japanese factions in order to accomodate extra Mongol factions. I'm not sure whether all these Mongol factions are necessary when more than one player can pick them but I think I see Tomi's point about Generals, all the banners would be the same, hence his call for eight Mongols (4v4 max in mp = different banner per player in all Mongol game)

A thought just occured about Generals..Noyans :idea2:

Japanese have the Hatamoto unit, I think a similar unit, the Keshig should be added to the Mongol roster. An eleven man unit using the Steppe Heavy Cavalry animation would be ideal.

The Mongol units generally adopt faction colours about their person but shields, where present give the opportunity to emphasise faction colour like the sashi mono does.

Some possible Mongol banner variants..

1. The MI Dragon
2. Eagle
3. Tiger
4. Moon (white circle black background)
5. Bow (similar to BI Hun)
6. Horse (similar to BI Vandal)
7. Comet
8. Black cross on white background

......Orda

[Jochi Khan]

Nobody in the SamWars foyer tonight.
I will log on tomorrow evening at the same pre-arranged time.

[barocca]

:-/ this samurai's personal war just restarted, not happy,
i will try to drop by but for the next couple of days do not expect me.

[Jochi Khan]

I understand.....I wish you good luck.

[barocca]

hearing good reports lately,

no crashes?? (other than my isp's 6am "lockdown")?

[TechnoMage of Shadows]

a messenger rides...
1800 GMT August 01 2008
8.0 8.1 TMS 0715 0716
:bow:

[barocca]

am msn atm (none in foyer)

[barocca]

i would like to thank all those who have attended the last two evenings (fri night/sat morn & sat night/sun morn),
we have had some excellent games and some epic encounters,
desync is definately resolved,
the VERY rare and random CTD has been tracked to external ISP/Internet protocol causes
(beyond my control until i finalise my plans to subjugate this planet)

We look forward to seeing you online again sun eve/mon morn from 1800 GMT.
[Current Testing = Multiplayer 8.0 (http://www.mizus.com/Ras/SamuraiWarlords_beta8.exe) + patch 8.1 (http://www.mizus.com/Ras/Samurai%20Warlords%20patch%208.1.exe) + mongol activation & religion patch 0715 (http://www.totalwar.org/Downloads/Mtw_Uploads/MTWbeta/mongol_religion_unit_tests.zip)
:bow:

[barocca]

many thanks to all who showed up for sunday games.

Thanks to your efforts we found what i believe is the last "internal" bug.

the Satomi faction is unstable, i asked TMS to do some lan testing around that faction and it is confirmed,
Either there is a problem with faction slot 23, a missng entry, or a corrupt graphic for the Satomi faction - i'll try to get to the bottom of the cause, but if i dont i will simply disable fn_23 when i release the mongol unit add-on.

The important thing is to get the Mongol stats into the game so we can test them, fixing one of 29 active playable factions is a low priority.

:bow:
:bow:

[Orda Khan]

The battles are playing without a problem, looking forward to testing the new Mongol units

......Orda

[R'as al Ghul]

I'll try to be around for the Saturday session at 19:00 GMT.
Cheers,

R'as

[Jochi Khan]

19.00 GMT..that's 20.00 BST (GMT+1) UK time.

I will log on as early as possible around this time or before if possible.

[Tomisama]

Miss you R'as, wish I could be there :candle:

[Tomisama]

This is not your mothers origional WE/MI add-on, but a whole new world Ancient Asian Warfare.

Development is near complete, but need your help to insure all is correct in the final version.

http://nomadalliance.darkbb.com/forum.htm

[Jochi Khan]

The silence is shattering!!

Where have all the posters gone who thought so much about Sam Wars?

Only a few weeks ago it was deemed the only TW game worth playing and posting about.

[barocca]

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/037c4fe934.jpg
:bow:

[R'as al Ghul]

Miss you R'as, wish I could be there :candle:

Hi Tomi,
haven't seen you in a long time. Hope to meet you again.....

:bow:

[barocca]

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/3ae278a3e8.jpg

[Martok]

Damn, that is simply amazing! Must....have.... :sweatdrop:

[Jochi Khan]

http://i53.servimg.com/u/f53/12/43/63/96/mongol11.jpg

[Tomisama]

New Mongol movie :charge:

https://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k57/tomisama/11117235_gal.jpg

https://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k57/tomisama/mongolmovie.jpg

With sound on, check this out!

http://www.mongolmovie.com

Continued testing this Sunday… Come join us!

http://nomadalliance.darkbb.com/index.htm

[Orda Khan]

Playing nicely :yes:

[barocca]

even the dead have changed

the only good teppo is a ...
http://i55.servimg.com/u/f55/12/75/44/96/teppo312.jpg
The Fields of Nagashino
:bow: