Web Play - [RBP Help Contents]
You can play RBP versus human opponents live online via the Internet, as well as via your multiple home devices that share a router (even if they don't otherwise have networking enabled). To use this feature, each participant's device must either be on a network, connected to the same router, or be capable of connecting to the Web; plus all participants must have the same version of RBP. If you want to find new opponents, visit the RB Fanatics Web site at http://www.railgamefans.com for links to player lists.
Note that the default settings of software and hardware firewalls often block the connection RBP needs for Web play. If that happens, you can tell those firewalls to permit RBP through; consult their documentation to learn how. Or, you can bypass the firewalls entirely by using a virtual network via software such as LogMeIn Hamachi (see online information). Additional details follow below.
QUICK START
If you don't care about details, and just want to play via the Web, here's what to do:
1) Decide in advance who will be the GameMaster (any one person will do).
2) Connect yourself to the Internet via your normal means (browser, etc.).
3) Run RBP and choose the Game, Start Game menu.
4) Put your information (name, etc.) in slot #1. Every person uses slot #1 to get started.
5) Use the Web pull down menu, and choose GM or player. The Web window will open.
6) If you are a player, when prompted, enter the GM's Internet dot address.
7) When everyone is ready to start play, in the Web window, the GM should choose the Match, Begin/Resume pull-down menu.
That's it! Can't figure something out? Details are found below.
THREE WAYS TO PARTICIPATE
In RBP, you can participate in a Web game in any of three ways:
GameMaster (GM) - The GM's device is the "master" and controls the pace of the match. If your match includes AI players, the GM's device will operate them. Any person can be GM, and the GM always plays in the match. There is exactly one GM per match.
Player - Like the GM, a player participates in the match, but his device does little more than communicate with the GM's. Up to five Players can participate in the match at once.
Spectator - A Spectator can watch the match, but not play in it. RBP allows up to 64 Spectators to watch the match at once.
DETAILS OF WEB PLAY
Up to six human players can compete in the same RBP match. The AI players can fill any slots not occupied by a human. Before starting RBP, use external means (telephone, email, instant message, etc.) to decide who will participate and what time the match will begin. Also, choose exactly one person to act as GameMaster (GM). The GM's device will be the controlling, master device.
DETAILS FOR THE GM
1) The GM should run RBP and start a new game. On the Game Setup/Configuration, the GM should select the total number of participants (i.e. the total human participants plus any desired AI players). The GM must specify his personal information (name, color, etc.) in the area for player #1. Always set the "Type/Style" to Human (do not select Human, Remote).
2) Next, the GM should choose the Web, Make me GameMaster pull-down menu. The Web window will appear (it is an "always on top" type window). If the GM's device is already connected to the Internet, his IP dot address will appear as the caption of the window. (A dot address resembles "200.123.45.182".) If the dot address does not appear automatically, the GM will be asked if he wishes to connect.
3) Now, the GM must tell his dot address to each of the participants (via telephone, email, instant message, etc.). The participants must know this address in order to connect to the GM's device. If RBP displays both a local and external dot addresses, the one to use depends on where you opponents are located. If they are on your local network (such as connected via the same router) use the local address, otherwise use the external. RBP determines your external address by performing a Web query to a site that echoes it back; if needed, you can change the site employed by entering its URL in the IPLookup parameter stored in the RBP.INI file.
4) The GM should wait for all participants to connect. The status of the connection(s) will be shown in the lower box of the Web window. As participants connect, RBP will update the Game Setup/Configuration window with the name and chosen color. RBP will automatically assign each player a slot (starting with slot #2 because the GM's info is in slot #1). If more than one participant chooses the same color, RBP will attempt to swap or substitute colors; it is the responsibility of the GM to override any unreasonable substitutions. If necessary, the GM can send a message to the participants to help resolve the matter (use the Message menu).
5) Unfilled player slots can be occupied by AI players, as selected by the GM. After everyone connects and is ready to play, the GM should choose the Match, Begin/Resume menu item.
DETAILS FOR THE PLAYER(S)
1) The non-GM players should run RBP and start a new game. On the Game Setup/Configuration window, each non-GM must specify his personal information (name, color, etc.) in the area for player #1. Always set the "Type/Style" to Human (do not select Human, Remote). The slots for other players should be ignored. Only one human may participate per device.
2) Next, choose the Web, Make me a Player pull-down menu. The Web window will appear (it is an "always on top" type window); it must remain open for the duration of the match. You will be prompted to enter the GM's dot address. Obtain the GM's dot address (via telephone, email, instant message, etc.).
3) Enter the dot address the GM provided. RBP will then attempt to establish a connection with the GM. The status of this connection will be displayed in the lower box of the Web Play window. If you have trouble connecting, see the Connection Difficulties topic below.
4) Non-GMs should wait while all opponents connect. The GM will start the game when everyone is ready. While waiting, you can send messages via the Message menu. An easy way to reply to a particular individual is to double click on his message in the message box.
5) The match will begin automatically when the GM designates.
The match should play very much like a normal game, however note that to keep the match moving along, most information boxes do not wait for you to click OK to close them. When it is your turn, you will be informed of your dice roll as normal.
If you as a non-GM should become disconnected from the GM during the game, attempt to reconnect via the Connect, Connect me to GM menu. RBP should automatically reload a copy of the game from the GM. If it does not, after the connection has been re-established, choose the Match, Reload pull-down menu.
DETAILS FOR SPECTATORS
You can observe a match played without actually participating in it. To do so, you need to know the GM's IP dot address. Choose the Web, Make me a Spectator menu option. RBP supports up to 64 simultaneous spectators, or the limits of Windows (whichever comes first).
CONNECTION DIFFICULTIES
Due to the complexities of the Internet, we cannot guarantee that you will always be able to establish and maintain a suitable connection for the purposes of playing RBP. However, if you are experiencing trouble connecting (such as "Connection Refused" or "error 10060" messages), try any or all of the following.
1) Try establishing your connection to the Internet before you run RBP. That is, connect normally, such as via your browser, then start RBP.
2) Sometimes firewalls or other security measures prevent either inbound or outbound player-to-player connections, but not both. Therefore, try swapping roles: choose a different person to act as GM, then try connecting again.
3) Your router may need to have certain ports opened or redirected; this is sometimes called port range forwarding. By default, RBP employs port numbers 3011 and 3012 for communication. For example, on many Linksys brand routers, go to the router's admin page, select Applications and Gaming tab, then in the Application field enter rbp.exe, in Start enter 3011, in End enter 3012, set Protocol to Both, and IP Address to 192.168.1.101. See the software FAQ at the RBP Web site for more info.
4) By default, RBP employs port numbers 3011 and 3012 for communication. For special purposes (such as an attempt to rectify connection difficulties), this can be changed by editing the Port entry in the RBP.INI file. All players in the match must employ the same port number. Contact your ISP or Webmaster to learn which ports are available for a "standard peer-to-peer IP socket connection".
5) If you get no response upon choosing a Web play option, or get run-time error 372 or 339, your version of the Windows internet drivers is likely outdated or missing. Refer to the driver information in the Hardware topic.
Gamers who have been unable to connect due to routers or firewalls report success by instead running their RBP Web match on a virtual network. Software such as LogMeIn Hamachi can help you set up a virtual network.
SUSPENDING AND RESUMING A GAME
If you need to temporarily stop playing a Web match and resume later, here are the steps:
1) Play until a human player is either just starting his turn, or has just completed it. No auctions or purchase decisions should be in progress.
2) The GM should save the game to disk (via the File, Save Game menu).
3) The players should disconnect.
4) To resume later, the GM should reload the saved game (via the File, Open Game menu). Next, the GM should open the Edit Configuration window and choose the Web, Make me GameMaster pull-down menu.
5) The remote players should connect to the GM in the usual fashion (Game, Start Game; enter name in slot 1; click Web, Make me a Player; etc.). After the connection has been established, RBP will automatically obtain a copy of the match from the GM. If there are multiple remote human players in the match, RBP will ask which player slot you wish to occupy. Wait for the GM to resume the match.
6) When everyone has connected, the GM should choose the Match, Begin/Resume menu item.
ASSORTED NOTES
Strive to have the same version of the RBP.EXE program as the GM. The Help, About menu item shows the creation date of your copy of the RBP.EXE. If you encounter inexplicable communications problems, compare your RBP.EXE version date and time with that of the GM. You can download the latest version from our Web site.
At the GM's device only, additional human players can participate in hotseat fashion. They should be added to the bottom of the player list after all remote human players have connected.
If a player becomes disconnected, and appears to be unable to reconnect, the GM can continue the match by substituting an AI player. To do so: 1) use the Game, Edit Configuration pull-down menu, and 2) change the player's Type/Style setting from "Human, Remote" to one of the AI players. Upon returning to the map window, the GM may need to click the "OK (done)" button to prod the AI to proceed.
If a human player attempts to join a match already in progress, RBP will alert the GM. The GM can then decide if the person should be allowed to join (and take the place of one of the AI players).