MMORPG

In an effort to give the most choice – I have now got up and running Lineage 2 (Java) Server which features at the moment 50x Exp and the like. The goal here is to allow people to play fast to see if they like the game, maybe a wipe and start again later will be on the cards if there is enough interest. The other is Mangos which is a WoW Server, currently at 2.4.2. I have set this to be 3/4x Experience for now but is under review. The goals is very simple – I will update when I get the chance, at the most once per week anyhow or sooner if there is any major bugs that need fixing and are fixed. As the Laptop is Silent – this is left on 24/7 and on-line.

We shall see how this all Pan’s out, I am still playing Rappelz remember and other games – only so many hours in the day. Will I put it live for all to join? If enough INterest is shown – this may happen.

To get the files – this is what you need:

World of Warcraft US

Burning Crusade

Patch Client to 2.4.2 Only – n Higher as of yet.

I updated the server on a Ad-hoc basis and played most nights but it was so easy that it was a case of standing there and killing the same few mobs that Spawned then run about. I found that some mobs were very easy to kill while the same level or even a lot lower were sometimes so hard to kill I had used up all my MP and almost died. One of the things I was trying to pull off was take a Pet and raise it, evolve it and hopefully be a good help – in reality all they did was steal Exp, die a lot and do not much at all.

After some thought though – I felt once again this was going no-where. As the Exp was high to start with (50x) – I have not wasted too much time on this game, which as the goal. I feel like moving back to WOW Server again – may well get bored with this as well. Time will tell – maybe I should just leave all this well alone, case of been there, done that (too many times).

My Nephew made the comment that as per Retail Lineage 2 – there was no D Grade onwards SoulShots (or Spirit Shots) in any of the shops and this would make it very hard to Level. At this stage we had a few choices:

1. We could make a Dwarf Characters each and Level him up so they can make the required Shots for the other Characters
2. Go around and put the required Items in the Shops across all the towns.
3. Put a GM Shop type thing in the Main Town of Giran as a “catch all” shop.

What we did in fact was even more bizarre – I choose that we should run what is termed a “fun server”. The settings were changed as follows:

50 x Exp – This allows for fast Levelling.
75 x SP – This allows for getting the required Skills faster.
100x Adena (gold) – allows you to have enough money to buy items.

No Spell Books required – none of that silly books to worry about.
Kat for Class change – saves you doing Quests at Level 20,40 etc.

I started a Dark Elf Warrior – the goal was to take it all the way to full blown Archer and he done the same but went for Warrior class. When he reached 43, he never liked his choice so started a Human Warrior instead. While it may take away to element of achieving anything and kill the server in a very short space of time, maybe this is a good thing. I have not planned for a Long term Server of any type.

I have Chosen once again to turn my Hand to running and playing Lineage 2 – there is a few reasons for this. Although I am still trying to Play Rappelz, it can get very boring and I wondered what had changed on Lineage 2 Since I have been away. The First task was to try and work out how I build the thing and this entailed on a search for guides and programs. Basically the main ingredients are MySQL (I already have this installed), Java JDK, Eclipse and a list of Links for the SVN. I followed the Wiki / Forums until i had a complete set of files and set about configuring the server to be ready for game play.

I had to search out for what to put in the HOSTS files and update the client I had and was almost ready to play. I choose the Kamael race as this was new and created a GM on a different account in case I ran in to any problems – the goal though is not to use the GM to aid whatsoever. I set the Server to 5x Exp/Sp/Gold and busy playing – will report back on how I get on later.

I am still battling away on Rappelz – I have now reached the Giddy Heights on Level 42 and Job Level 34. I take on the Quest which you can do over and over, kill everything in that Area and finally after many hours worth of killing, I complete the quest which takes me up 20% for the completion of the Quest (Variable) and maybe 20-30% for the mobs around that Area. After two days work (as I am in no rush) I get to the next Level and ever Closer to Level 50.

Now I made it before to Level 50 on my Holy Warrior – So the question is – what will be different this time around? I guess I am playing as and when and do not really care what level I am or how long it take me to get to the next one. Let it be made Clear that Rappelz is 100% Grinding Game – you go out, kill as many Monsters until your Arrows or Force Chips run out (in my case) and head back to town to top up – along the way you level up.

I used to play this game before – I got to Level 50 on a Holy Warrior and got so bored, I gave my char away and this is still getting Levelled to this day (now 80+). I had created another account way back then to Help my Nephew as my Main was too high – this was a Strider (archer). The reason for Choosing at the time a Strider was as my Nephew created a Wizard, a Healer was not use to help him and a fighter type also of no use (as he kept pulling the mobs to him). I resurrected this person (by the name of LiquidSilver) – and he was only Level 21 at the time.

I have since been playing on and off for a while now – its been a slow start and not all that bothered what Level this person is. I have now reached the Level of 37 with about 20% on the clock (I think). I keep slogging on till I once again hit Level 50 (R3) and this allows me to change kit and profession. Now an outsider maybe having played a few MMORPG’s before may well as the Question “is Rappelz any Good”. To answer this imagine the graphics and controls of Lineage 2 with the mobs having one type of Attack – no Magic spells at all in that respect. In regards items you wear, you get one lot of gear for 0-19, 20-49, 50-79, 80-99, 100 onwards etc. This is different from most RPG’s as they have various Equipment all along the way which means that no 2 Chars are alike. It can get very boring Grinding and the Spells are limited – most are crap for your class until much later on. The Wizard is the worst class to pick – it just does not get better.

Mangos – Open Source WoW Server

The following guide will explain how to grab and build your Own server for World of Warcraft, it does not go into how to Set this up, if enough people require this – I can make another Guide..

Getting the Mangos Source Code

1. You need to download tortoisesvn from this site: http://tortoisesvn.tigris.org/
2. Install the program and it may ask you to reboot – do so.
3. Create a directory where you wish to hold the source code, I named my Sources
4. Create another Directory inside here called Mangos.
5. Right Click Mangos Dir and now click SVN Checkout
6. Put in there: https://mangos.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/mangos/trunk
7. This will now Check out the latest Code from the Sources – it will tell you at the end what Version it is up to.

Getting the ScriptDev2 Sources

1. Open up \Mangos\src\bindings
2. There should be a directory already there called “Universal” & Makefile.am
3. Create a Directory Called ScriptDev2
4. Right Click ScriptDev2 and Choose SVN Checkout
5. Put in the Address: https://scriptdev2.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/scriptdev2/
6. It will now grab the latest Files for ScriptDev2.

Getting and Applying the Auction house Bot patch

1. Download the Patch files first: http://filebeam.com/aef8c6409bd6cb3be3a200cd7ec3f97e
2. Extract these somewhere.
3. Right Click Mangos Dir and tortoisesvn –> Apply Patch
4. point it to the first file AuctionHouseBot_v5.6.1.patch
5. Two Screens pop up – right click inthe files one – Apply all.
6. When all done (they all go grey) – close the window.
7. Repeat with optional_ahcommands_v5.6.1.patch

What have we achieved so far?

You should now have a directory Called Mangos which contains all the latest sources from both Mangos and ScriptDev2 also patched up with the AuctionHouse Bot 5.6.1. At this stage – its juts pure source code – we need something to Compile it with….

Visual Studio 2005 + SP1

I am using Visual Studio 2005 updated with SP1 via windows updates – if you are using a newer version, it may differ.

1. Open up mangos Dir then WIN.
2. mangosdVC71.sln is for Older (than 2005) version of Visual Studio.
3. mangosdVC80.sln is for Visual Studio 2005.
4. mangosdVC90.sln is the Latest Visual Studio.
5. We shall double click mangosdVC80.sln and up pops Visual Studio.
6. One time Only – Click on BUILD / Configuration Manager.
7. Active Solution Configuration – Change to Release.
8. Click Close.
9. BUILD / Build Solution (or press F7)
10. This part takes some time – you need it to finish with
========== Build: 10 succeeded, 0 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========
11. When you close, it asks to Save (as you have changed it) – say yes.

ScriptDev2

1. Go Inside \Mangos\src\bindings\ScriptDev2
2. Same as above ref SLN file – we shall open scriptVC80.sln
3. One time Only – Click on BUILD / Configuration Manager.
4. Active Solution Configuration – Change to Release
5. Click Close
6. BUILD / Build Solution (or press F7)
7. This part takes some time – you need it to finish with
========== Build: 1 succeeded, 0 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========
8. When you close, it asks to Save (as you have changed it) – say yes.

The Finished Files

1. \Mangos\bin\release hold all the files that go into the Root of your Server.
2. \Mangos\src\mangosd\mangosd.conf.in is the Mangos.Conf file – check this now and then for Changes.
3. \Mangos\src\realmd\realmd.conf.in is the realm.conf file.
4. \Mangos\sql\updates is the SQL updates fro Mangos.
5. \Mangos\src\bindings\ScriptDev2\sql\Updates is the SQL Updates for ScriptDev2.

Updating from this point forth.

1. Right Click Mangos Dir – select UPDATE
2. Shows you what files are updated, take note if Mangos.conf has changed and Version Number.
3. I have my Mangos Dir named to the version so I can remember what version it is from and to, thus easier to select any SQL updates.
4. Repeat for \Mangos\src\bindings\ScriptDev2
5. Open up the SLN files as above.
6. Select BUILD / Clean Solution (very important)
7. Now Select Build Solution (or F7) and wait.
8. Do mangos First, then ScriptDev2 – very important they are in this order.

Database files

1. You can also grab the Database files via SVN the same method.
2. Create a Directoy called Univied
3. Right click – SVN Checkout
4. https://unifieddb.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/unifieddb

Problem that can go wrong

The Auction House Bot can cause the build to fail – if this is the case, then you have to get a fresh set minus the Auction House Bot or check to see if there are any updated files – changes they make to to the source quite often breaks this addon.

They mistype the source and this filas the build – simply a case of Waiting until they have fixed it.
Same problems with ScriptDev2 – make sure it says ========== Build: 10 succeeded, 0 failed, 0 up-to-date, 0 skipped ==========
If it says x failed – then it wont have the complete files to run a server.

Once you have the Process Set up – its a simple enough task to update, Build first to make sure it works and then apply SQL Patches – copy files across and you good to go. make sure both are set to release, once saved, no reason for them to revert to Debug unless you get the files from Scratch again.