Temporary retirement, and Close Combat

Hi everyone,

I've decided that, until my connection is sorted (a matter that seems impossible to overcome according to those who claim they're trying to resolve it), I'm going to stay out of all SoW games. In fact, I'm not signing up to *any* multiplayer games at the moment, because my dropout problem is just too annoying for me, and everyone else. Apologies to all those I've let down in recent weeks, as a result of being "shot out of my saddle", or "drunk", or whatever other tomfoolery we come up with to try and lighten the blows.

I'm gutted, because these SoW KS and Ron's HG games were the highlight of my gaming week, and I would dearly love to be involved. But I figure it's more annoying to start and then drop, than it is to not start at all.

I have a target date of April when, if the matter is still not resolved, I'll be switching over to Optical broadband, with a different provider.

I'm actually currently putting together a Close Combat - Modern Tactics campaign, so this will keep me busy until my broadband is sorted, and I can travel back in time to the ACW again. I discovered that a few of you used to play a lot of Close Combat, and also that CC-Modern Tactics allows up to 10 players simultaneously, on 4km x 1km maps - bingo 10-player Modern Campaign! If anybody's interested, please drop me a line. (I've also added a poll to the end of this post, to gauge interest.)

I'll probably pop into TS now and then to chat with you splendid fellows, and probably try to rustle up interest in my idea.

Good luck with the exciting KS and HG campaigns, and keep up the splendid work everyone involved. I hope to see you on the other side of this "extended convalescence".

Best regards,

Ollie

That seems like a harsh solution. Until you switch providers, why not just take a minor roll, such as brigade command. Dropping from the game in that case has less of a consequence than if you are CinC. You might also try closing TS and any other internet programs once the game begins. Just use couriers to communicate in game.

Uncle Billy wrote:That seems like a harsh solution. Until you switch providers, why not just take a minor roll, such as brigade command. Dropping from the game in that case has less of a consequence than if you are CinC. You might also try closing TS and any other internet programs once the game begins. Just use couriers to communicate in game.

Sir, the problem must be dealt with harshly. Taking a minor role is an option, less frustrating for everyone else when I drop, but still just as frustrating for me. I've got fed up with kidding myself that "this game will be ok", and then it's not.

The problem isn't related to any traffic such as TS or anything else. My router drops connection occasionally, even when both my laptops are off. The provider logs my drops, and I get around 15 in a 48 hour period, and most of these are during hours when nobody is using it.

Have they provided you with a new modem/router? Intermittent drops are a sign of a flaky one. Also, does it feel very warm? If it has a marginal component, excess heat will cause it to go down for a short time.

Uncle Billy wrote:Have they provided you with a new modem/router? Intermittent drops are a sign of a flaky one. Also, does it feel very warm? If it has a marginal component, excess heat will cause it to go down for a short time.

They gave me 2, they both do the same thing.

Are they getting hot?

I say we form a mount and musket regiment I think they have a civil war mod for it. Then tie a KS campaign to that!

Baldwin1 wrote:I say we form a mount and musket regiment I think they have a civil war mod for it. Then tie a KS campaign to that!

I'm sorry old fellow - you've completely lost me there!

Uncle Billy wrote:Are they getting hot?

Not particularly - a little warm.

I have heard of a possible problem similar to yours (if it is a router or modem problem)
The first time some routers/modems are activated/initialized they need to be left on and online
for an extended period of time.
24 hours was the time I was told otherwise connections may reset periodically.
This would be a HUGE stab in the dark but you never know it could be the issue.
Sounds bizzare but might be worth checking into, unless of course it was a b.s. line the cable tech
was using to explain a bad connection that he couldnt troubleshoot.

I might be interested in a modern CC campaign, of course I would need to get the game first =)
I wouldnt mind a cross of iron campain either.

kg_sspoom wrote: I have heard of a possible problem similar to yours (if it is a router or modem problem)
The first time some routers/modems are activated/initialized they need to be left on and online
for an extended period of time.
24 hours was the time I was told otherwise connections may reset periodically.
This would be a HUGE stab in the dark but you never know it could be the issue.
Sounds bizzare but might be worth checking into, unless of course it was a b.s. line the cable tech
was using to explain a bad connection that he couldnt troubleshoot.

I might be interested in a modern CC campaign, of course I would need to get the game first =)
I wouldnt mind a cross of iron campain either.

Thanks Steve. Well, I'm thinking the first time I switched it on I probably left it on. I might try to reset it, but I'm pretty sure I've tried that before.

Hold fire on CC MT for now, I need to identify if there would be much interest first

It could be entirely down to the router/modem what make is it. I changed provider to Opal business package and get a 20:1 contention rather than 50:1 that the general public get thus less connection problems i pay a bit more but i get the peace of mind. Also i don't tend to rely on provider based routers and bought my own I bought a Lynksys router which is basically a Cisco systems router never looked back but i too will be going to a fibre connection later in the year so that i can provide a better host for this game as i host alot of GCM games when we play.

M.Jonah wrote:It could be entirely down to the router/modem what make is it. I changed provider to Opal business package and get a 20:1 contention rather than 50:1 that the general public get thus less connection problems i pay a bit more but i get the peace of mind. Also i don't tend to rely on provider based routers and bought my own I bought a Lynksys router which is basically a Cisco systems router never looked back but i too will be going to a fibre connection later in the year so that i can provide a better host for this game as i host alot of GCM games when we play.

That is very interesting. I've never even considered that it might be that the router they provide is cheap. I'll see if I can find a better one. Many thanks Jonah.

FlashmanKBE wrote:

Baldwin1 wrote:I say we form a mount and musket regiment I think they have a civil war mod for it. Then tie a KS campaign to that!

I'm sorry old fellow - you've completely lost me there!

It's a mod for the game Mount & Blade a FPS. I was just kidding. We would need at least 25+ people to have two groups firing at each other with muskets and have it look like a real skirmish.

I have command ops, anybody have that?

It's pricey, but worth it.

Flashman, it will be sad to see you take a break, but as long as you're coming back, I can get though it.

I haven't heard from Digby, but I believe the next campaign will be commanders only locked for side, with all other players essentially employed as floaters, unless they really want that personal unit.

Heck, maybe we should just create personal units, one for each side? That way, the next campaign will progress more simply and smoothly. There won't be any 2-1 side ratios in terms of people. Smaller battles will be on tap as well. I think.

Anyway, hang in there and I'm confident in your ability to sort this stuff out. I pay premium for my internet, but it is worth it, given that I spend large amounts of time online for both work and play.

-Neal

Father General wrote:I have command ops, anybody have that?

It's pricey, but worth it.

Neal, you genius - yes I do! I got Battles from the Bulge, and Highway to the Reich about a month ago, got really into it, and have been dying to play MP. I even found an opponent on the Matrix Games site, but decided to not start on account of these damnable connection issues.

Command Ops is just 1 v 1 though right? That is a damn shame because it would work very well with more players, don't you agree?

I also learnt that they are developing an East Front version next! I will put in my requisition for more MP ability in that!

But for now, I can still only dream of having a connection stable enough to enjoy any MP action.

I have COBfB and HiTTR me too. I have my multiplayer session every monday evening; just terminate a 5 days scenario, we played for the last two months. Also Conquest of the Aegean is in conversion phase to the new engine.

In a spectacularly surprising move, BT actually put some effort into fixing my problem, and apparently it should be fixed! I'd like to cautiously dip back into HG5 with a brigade-sized command that can be commandeered should I drop, if that suits.

FlashmanKBE wrote:In a spectacularly surprising move, BT actually put some effort into fixing my problem, and apparently it should be fixed! I'd like to cautiously dip back into HG5 with a brigade-sized command that can be commandeered should I drop, if that suits.

Sure Ollie. We'll have our collective fingers crossed!
Or, perhaps you might test it out ahead of time in a GCM game or some such, in which case I'm sure we could do better than a brigade command in HG5

WJPalmer wrote:
Sure Ollie. We'll have our collective fingers crossed!
Or, perhaps you might test it out ahead of time in a GCM game or some such, in which case I'm sure we could do better than a brigade command in HG5

Thanks Ron. There's not much point "testing" it in GCM, it makes no difference what I'm using the internet for when it drops. So as long as I'm continually testing it (which I am) until then, I should get a picture of whether it is fixed or not. Apparently, it was fixed on Tuesday (they didn't tell me until today), and I haven't had any drops since then.

As I say, this is most unexpected, as I've been waiting for them to fix it for months. I should have known that writing a retirement message would have had the desired effect! Less than a week on and I'm eating my words!

Fingers crossed, as you say. If I don't see any drops before Saturdays game, I'd probably happily take a division, and wouldn't mind guns-only, if we want to try that out. I've never actually commanded anything other than Army in HG, so I'd be happy to try my hand at division level.

If I do see any drops before then, I'm going to decline.

If the drops recur Ollie, you might think about the powerline adaptor route. 2 adaptors only cost me about £25 and so far are working for me.

Martin (J)

Martin wrote:If the drops recur Ollie, you might think about the powerline adaptor route. 2 adaptors only cost me about £25 and so far are working for me.

Martin (J)

Thanks Martin. I already have a UPS/Filter on the router, but that didn't resolve the problem. No, indeed it was the responsibility of BT, who have indeed now fixed it! Hurrah! Back in the saddle! And an epic HITS/GCM battle under my belt too!