meanbean,
Definitely go on the Shogun Multiplayer thread (STW MP on the first page of the forum) and find your answers.
I had that desperate need for guidance a few days ago and since (solved it, see) I'm waiting someone to play online.
How you solve it:
1 You have to have a STW version with multiplayer option on the main menu (Gold and Eras(?) versions seem not to have it).
2 The EA server is long pulled out of action but R'as al Ghul runs a fake server that is functioning right now. Thanks for this R'as and for the help with the things I write here.
3 In order to connect to the actual fake server you have to change the "internet" file in the Shogun Total War directory. You can do that with any text editor. Delete all that is written there and paste&save the next lines:
ChatserverIPAddress = shogun-fakeserver.dnsdojo.org
ChatserverPort = 8793
NewsserverIPAddress = daphne.eagames.co.uk
NewsserverPort = 8797
ShogunTotalWarWebsite = www.totalwar.com
4 Open the game and go to Multiplayer. Choose EA Play since it will direct you to the fake server because of doing 3.
5 When you click the final "continue" you'll not be logged on from the first try.
R'as has a explanation on it somewhere - the server doesn't "hear" you clear enough for the first time (Come again, it says! ). So you can abort the first try and help yourself a few saved minutes. Also this can be a good approach: don't stand there anxious waiting in front of a non-responsive screen. Abort and try it after let's say 15 seconds of waiting if the "connecting" or "logging on" display persevere. Veterans of multiplayer did that for hundreds of times in the past. I usually succeeded after 3-5 tries.
They also discovered that hitting the backspace key before and when you click the final "continue" helps. I must say it sometimes does.
It's not over yet.
6 If everything had gone well you must find yourself in the 'foyer' now. If you don't see anyone waiting for you, is because there are about 10 active players (in the world) of STW MP which are making personal calls to play. Check "I'm in the foyer thread" in STW MP on the main page of the forum. Also because...
5 There's a compatibility problem between versions. After logging in you can see only the players that use the same version as you.
About versions. There are 4 official: STW Sengoku Jidai, STW Warlord Edition (including the additional Mongol Invasion campaign), STW Eras and STW Gold.
The patches used may also interfere. It seems there are 2 patches for the first 2 versions.
6 After that there may be other problems that I don't know about. I myself have reached the "standing alone in the foyer", level. I'm willing to do that for a long time. I think it worths because STW is the greatest game I ever played and I'm passionately expecting to meet on the battlefields of historic Japan those who think the same. And of course because of the stunt passion for the martial history of Japan and all it's culture.
7 There may be lagg and crush and other problems afterwards but they are in the distant future for you and me.
So this is it, I hope you can find some solutions above. Your own research is needed, I think. After a few days you'll find your way in the forum.
I expect you answer anyway!
See you in the foyer!
By the way I use STW Warlord Edition 1.00 (unpatched).
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