Re: Call to shenanigans: Private server MMO's!

by **Tim Hortans** Sun Jul 01, 2012 1:52 am

Wow, SWG has trading AND quests?! I'm changing my vote this instant!

by **Rage** Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:04 am

I've wanted to play FFXI with people for a while. Paid for a sub too at one point, but I couldn't justify continuing by myself.

FFXI has my vote if that would be a thing.

by **DigDog** Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:20 am

Do I actually need to buy FFXI to play on this private server?

by Leb Sun Jul 01, 2012 1:57 pm

Of course not. Private servers, mang. They're already pretty illegal, so while we're at it, might as well be YAR HAR FIDDLE LE DEE, BEING A PIRATE IS ALL RIGHT and so on.

I'm currently about halfway done DL'ing a torrent with all the stuff needed to get on the FFXI server. I'll try to get it to working, and God willing, post a guide here(along some torrent link) what you need to do, since it looks like FFXI is having a landslide victory over here. I should be done with the DL by tomorrow. No idea how long the update will take, apparently there are SPECIFIC STEPS I need to do so I'm not looking forward to it too much, or maybe it's just the Internet trying to haze me.

Sorry Cial, but people want to play as little magical girls.

by **Tim Hortans** Sun Jul 01, 2012 9:46 pm

Its okay, Cial loves doing illegal stuff BECAUSE HE'S A CRIMINAL so he should be fine with a private server.

by Mrsebi Mon Jul 02, 2012 6:23 am

Don't forget the viruses.

by **DigDog** Mon Jul 02, 2012 9:36 am

I did not download this one: http://isohunt.com/torrent_details/143202937/FFXI+ultimate+collection?tab=summary

It does not contain FFXI and all the needed Addons (four in total).

And of course I'm not currently involved in the installation and update process that is described in the following thread: http://dspt.freeforums.org/installation-of-client-connecting-to-darkstar-server-t6.html

In case you don't want to create an account just to read the installation instructions, here's a quote:

Spoiler:

thrydwolf wrote:While you can connect to a DarkStar server freely with both MXI or FFXI-Boot, further down the line we may ask that you have an active POL account. We are not trying to take money away from Square Enix. Doing so would only cause us pain and anguish. We are simply trying to develop another option for their paying customers.

Please note that this does NOT work with the buddypass, or the warez versions of FFXI. We have the bought and paid for DVD's for the game and will never recommend that you use anything different. If you somehow managed to get it to work using the buddypass or warez version of FFXI then keep it to yourself. Discussion of obtaining software through illegal means is not tolerated here.

Installing FFXI

In this section we will install and update Final Fantasy XI from Retail Discs.

Install PlayOnline, Final Fantasy XI, and then all the expansions (including Wings of the Goddess).
Run PlayOnline and let it update.
Close PlayOnline viewer.
Download the following file: FFXI Patch.
Extract its contents to your PlayOnline/Squareenix/Final Fantasy XI directory.
Run PlayOnline again and choose For PlayOnline Members
At the Add Member page enter something for the Member Name.
Enter ABCD1234 for the PlayOnline ID
Select Register, Yes, OK.
Select Check Files on the left of the screen.
**At this point, you may refer to the guide below "Optional Updating for FFXI", this method is not supported by DSPT but is a faster way to update FFXI, return to this step when complete.
Click on PlayOnline Viewer then select Final Fantasy XI from the drop down, then Check Files.
After the 7 or so hours of updating, FFXI should be up to date.
Exit PlayOnline Viewer.
Copy the data folder at C:\Program Files\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\PlayOnlineViewer\data to the Final Fantasy XI directory at C:\Program Files\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI.
Afterwards you should have the directory C:\Program Files\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI\data.

Optional Updating for FFXI - Provided by Rengar(Quicker Method)
1. Make sure you have WinRAR
2. go to http://tehkrizz.net/FFXI/downloads.php
3. download (MOV folder as of 20111214. Intended for a new installation.) (All ROM folders updated through 20111214. (Use after fresh install)) (Sound folders as of 20111214. Intended for a new installation.) (December 22, 2011 emergency maintenance.)
4. unzip the files in to your final fantasy xi location. For me its C:\Program Files (x86)\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI
5. now you will need to repeat step 4 in the installing FFXI. "Download the following file: FFXI Patch." DO NOT SKIP THIS. IF YOU DO POL WILL SAY YOUR FILES ARE GOOD BUT WILL NOT NAME THE UPDATE.
6 unzip the files in to your final fantasy xi location.
7 Run PlayOnline again and choose For PlayOnline Members
8 At the Add Member page enter something for the Member Name.
9 Enter ABCD1234 for the PlayOnline ID
10 Select Register, Yes, OK.
11 Select Check Files on the left of the screen.
12 Click on PlayOnline Viewer then select Final Fantasy XI from the drop down, then Check Files.
13 Go back to the Install Guide!

Setting up the Launcher

In this section you will configure FFXI to connect to a DarkStar Server

Download FFXI-Boot
Extract the FFXI-Boot files (ffxi-boot.exe & ffxi-boot.ini) into the C:\Program Files\PlayOnline\SquareEnix\FINAL FANTASY XI directory.
Open ffxi-boot.ini in a text editor.
Change SERVIP to the IP address of the DarkStar server. See the DarkStar Server IPs thread for this info.
Note: The IP Address to some of the DarkStar Test & Play servers are only available in the DarkStar irc (irc.rizon.net #darkstarproject).
An example ffxi-boot.ini is below.
Code:
SERVIP = 67.41.45.115 AUTOLOGIN = 1 USERNAME = username PASSWORD = password
Run ffxi-boot.exe and choose option 2; Create a new account.
The username and password should be over 6 characters long.
You can save the username and password into the ffxi-boot.ini.
Choose option 1; Login using existing account
Login with username and password.
FFXI should load and be on the splash screen. Choose Accept.
Create a Character, Select a Country, then choose Yes to Register and begin play.
Note: This is the first of three needed login attempts before the new character will load into the game.
The progress bar will get stuck at "Acquiring PlayOnline character list". Let it sit till it errors out.
After Error code: POL-0260 or something similar, Select OK then OK and the game will crash.
Run ffxi-boot again, this time choosing Select Character.
Select the newly created character then login.
This time the screen will get stuck at o0O Downloading Data O0o. Let it sit till it errors out.
After a different Error code, Select OK, press Escape to go to the previous screen, and choose Back, which will close out of FFXI.
Run ffxi-boot one more time, again selecting the new character. This time it should login all the way to the Country you selected.

Note: If you prefer the MXI FFXI Loader, this should be compatible with DarkStar servers as well. I don't recommend using the actual MXI windower features (light luggage, distance, etc.) as they can potentially cause you problems while playing. If you have issues this is the first thing to disable. Though Windower itself seams to work fine on Dark Star.

If you have any questions, feel free to post them here, or in IRC. We will do our best to answer them and then update this post as needed. Thanks!

by Leb Mon Jul 02, 2012 12:50 pm

If you get a virus from something you downloaded, please go away and never return. Also, curse your fast American Internet, DigDog!

by Mrsebi Mon Jul 02, 2012 5:07 pm

It's not always from the thing you downloaded per-se. Often viruses are placed there by third parties, especially if the download or website itself has a general level of popularity, and low protection. Private servers are an excellent example of this.

by Leb Mon Jul 02, 2012 5:49 pm

Get on my level already, Sebi.

by **DigDog** Mon Jul 02, 2012 11:24 pm

I heard they invented something recently, what was it... hmm... it's on the tip of my tongue...

Oh yes: virus scanners. I heard they're programs you install on your PC and they run in the background to protect you from viruses.

But if you ask me, that sounds like witchcraft. It's not like something like that really exists.

by **Tim Hortans** Mon Jul 02, 2012 11:34 pm

The fact that anyone has ever gotten a virus is just painful to think about.

by **DigDog** Tue Jul 03, 2012 12:43 am

So... it worked. Here I am, connected to the Darkstar server (70.226.47.159), standing around on the Bastok Markets and have no idea what to do.

by Leb Tue Jul 03, 2012 2:21 am

Tell us details. I assume the playerbase is still small. Go check out the Auction House and see if the gear there is really super good! I think I'm gonna go Dragoon when I get to level 30, because YEARGH DRAGOONS. Probably gonna start as a Warrior.

Also, was the patch thing timeconsuming? I still have 6% left of my DL.

by **DigDog** Tue Jul 03, 2012 6:27 am

You can see how many people are on the server by going here: http://70.226.47.159/roster.php

From what I've seen so far it's usually around 20-50 players, depending on the time of the day. At the time of this post there were 46 players, when I connected the first time today around noon (so around 8 hours ago) it had 25 players.

Haven't done much yet, other than creating a Warrior Hume and running around in circles on the Bastok Markets.

I might play some later when I feel like it. I'll remember to check the auction house.

The patch thing was very time consuming, yes. It took me around 10 hours I think, I just let it run overnight and it was done in the morning. But it took so long because I didn't do this optional file downloading thing that's described in the guide, I let the PlayOnline application handle the updating process. If you use that optional path in the guide then the patch process is probably not as long, maybe an hour or two. I mean you still have to download a few gigs worth of patch files.

by **Cial** Tue Jul 03, 2012 6:31 am

If we're really looking for a "private" MMO then FFXI is probably the better way to go. SWGEMU, while fun as hell and extremely expansive, has about 2k players on both servers at any given time.

That said, I'll play both when my laptop gets fixed, because the video card on my uncle's old desktop died this week. Once JTL is implemented I can get us a Millenium Falcon and we can go spess splorin.

by **DigDog** Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:49 am

An extra note, so you don't have to go through the same struggle I did, to change the resolution of the game run the FFXI Config (Programs/PlayOnline/FFXI) from the start menu as an administrator. Also run the ffxi-boot as an administrator, otherwise your settings won't take effect.

Also, here's the game manual: http://dl.square-enix.co.jp/ff11us/uc2010/FFXI_UC_DDL_MANUAL.pdf

Also also, here's a keyboard guide: http://ffvault.ign.com/View.php?view=Guides.Detail&id=63

by Leb Tue Jul 03, 2012 7:15 pm

With my AMAZING connection, it'll take about a day to download the first of the recommended DL's to patch this thing. No wonder they said this game was a hassle to setup. At least all the pics of the game that flash by during setup make me think more and more that WE WILL HAVE AN ADVENTURE.

ADVENTUREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
/Flapjack

by **DigDog** Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:36 pm

The good thing about using the PlayOnline program to update is that you can do it in chunks. It takes longer but you can abort and continue later and it will not patch the already patched files again.

I know because I had a power outage while I was patching during the night which sent my laptop into hibernate and when ran the patch process again in the morning there was only one hour left on the clock.

by **Cial** Tue Jul 03, 2012 10:58 pm

So if anyone wants to join me and play part time as crewmembers on a ship, we can try this too.

by Leb Thu Jul 05, 2012 6:18 pm

I'm finally done downloading all the god damn patch files and so on. Might even have the time to login tonight! So has anyone else who's been interested in this thing started to DL all the files? They take a while.

by **Tom Gaskarth** Thu Jul 05, 2012 9:18 pm

Leb I forget, is your internet better or worse than mine? Call to shenanigans: Private server MMO's! - Page 2 2046802109

Actual results. It hurts.

by Leb Thu Jul 05, 2012 10:18 pm

I doubt these results can be used to compare, because I'm currently updating the PlayOnline Viewer. As result, my ping is 377, DL 0.09 Mbps and UL at 0.11.

At least I THINK the update is the reason why it's saying the connection is that bad. I'll get another test done after the update is finished. In about 10 hours.

by **DigDog** Thu Jul 05, 2012 11:26 pm

Call to shenanigans: Private server MMO's! - Page 2 2047021193

And it still took 10 hours with this.

Trust me, your own internet speed is not so much of a factor. It's the PlayOnline server that is the bottleneck here.

by **Tim Hortans** Thu Jul 05, 2012 11:31 pm

jesus how is this going to work when i rarely get above 90 kb/s

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