Shadows and Crashes

[Phlebas 0]

Hi all,

First time post, here. I was hoping that I could get some help with tracking down a problem with a dedicated server issue:

Sometimes when we're playing we see "shadows" of figures instead of enemies. They look like completely black 2D carboard cutouts, and they don't move and can't be killed. Whenever we see one of these it's ALWAYS followed by the ded. server crash. Anyone else experience this? If so, any suggestions?

I'm using a laptop running XP as the ded. server, and it's fine most of the time. Lately we tried the Band of Brothers mod and we are seeing these shadows all the time. Hopefully this is not a problem with the mod... but any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

Watch your six...

[Crimson 0]

All I can suggest is try running the dedicated server with out the mod, or, try running the server on a PC. Good luck.

[ZJJ 74]

IIRC the black shadows are the enemy that haven't spawned yet. When they are shot at it will crash the server. Why, I don't know, someone else will be able to answer that. My suggestion would be not to shoot them.

[Pave Low 16]

See this post > Previous Topic

You will see more of em on a dedi server, Try getting one of the higher spec PC's to "Host" the game.

[Keltic 0]

IIRC the black shadows are the enemy that haven't spawned yet. When they are shot at it will crash the server. Why, I don't know, someone else will be able to answer that. My suggestion would be not to shoot them.

Pave Low,

JJ is correct, these shadow cut outs are soliders that have not spawned yet. This has NOTHING to do with your computer. There are several mods out there that have some 'script' problems.

I have run some mods on my P4 2.8gig w/ 1gig ram and had the same problems. So, its the mod, not your computer.

You have several option:

1) Dont shoot the shadows and hope that no one playing w/ you shoots them

2) Re-write the script for the game (which is rathre labor intensive)

3) Don't play this mod.

I know that probably doesn't help resolve the problem, but I hope it allows you to identify the problem.

Regards,

Kyle

[Pave Low 16]

Pave Low,

JJ is correct, these shadow cut outs are soliders that have not spawned yet.  This has NOTHING to do with your computer.  There are several mods out there that have some 'script' problems. 

I have run some mods on my P4 2.8gig w/ 1gig ram and had the same problems.  So, its the mod, not your computer.

I never said it wasn't. If you read my post again you will see that I was actually talking about HOW the game is hosted!

You will see more "shadows" when you run the computer as a "Dedi" than if it just "Hosts" the game".

I suggested that they use the highest spec computer to do this (as it will be hosting and also some one will be using it to play on).

[Phlebas 0]

"these shadow cut outs are soliders that have not spawned yet"

I suspected something like this... it's a shame there's nothing we can do about it because there are some good coop missions that exibit this behaviour!

"...Don't shoot the shadows..."

Actually, on my server when they are spotted by any player in the game the result is an unrecoverable error. I'll try to explain: It's weird because we can still move around, but we can't locate each other on the map and when we shoot someone nothing happens -- but the server doesn't crash. We have to exit the server seperately and restart. When one of us actually _shoots_ a shadow, the game freezes for everyone and a server crash soon follows.

Thanks for replying, everyone. I was wondering whether it was something I could fix, but I guess not! Ok... in that case I need recommendations for cool coop missions that don't have shadows! Any suggestions?

[Pave Low 16]

The Harntrox series are very good(HX4 + Hell'o pack), they still have shadows but he's "bullet proofed" em (made actors invincible initially) so the server doesn't crash if they are shot.

Most of the recently released mods/missions (or updates) are ok too (either by introducing changes to the scripting or "bullet proofing the actors")

Try Jack 57's Band of Brothers and the just released Brothers in Arms for some great fun

[Phlebas 0]

Actually, "Band of Brothers" is one of the campaigns we are having trouble with! It's a great campaign and I love the guy's work, but the missions are basically unplayable with this problem. We got through the first mission without seeing any shadows, but the second mission had several shadows near the insertion point. It seems all we have to do is SEE one and the problems start all over again.

[Pave Low 16]

Oops, yeah you did say you were having problems with that one

Try it with one of the machines hosting instead of running as a "Dedi", that should decrease the number and frequency.

[Jack57 0]

the second mission had several shadows near the insertion point.   

Well I don't know how that's possible since there are no actors hidden or otherwise near insertion. Maybe you were thinking of a different mission. A couple of points - it does actually say in the readme that Band of Brothers hasn't been tested for MP so, "caveat emptor". I have just played the campaign through in co-op mode without any problems at all, but that was with a simple host - client setup. I did see many areas for improvement and it is my intention to release an updated version with greatly improved MP, so it may be better to wait for that. As Pave Low suggests, it may be worse on on a dedicated server.

As I understand it RSE introduced this bug with the 1.3 patch and, it would seem, have no intention of fixing it. So we modders cop the criticism for it

MP is a fairly new area for me so my missions won't be as robust as those from the likes of Harntrox et al in this regard. I am learning though so expect some improvements.

Jack