Repaired/new missions for this weekend's server update

[Sensenmann]

Title says it all! (mostly)

Found the same vanishing Fokker error in several missions. Repaired and submitted. Plus my new mission posted here for convenience.

It appears that the mission creator (MadTommy I think) is using a saved group for putting in the planes in the missions, as the problem was in three missions. May want to fix it for future use.

It is the check zone for Fokker #5. It targets the deactivation string of Fokker #4. Just need to replace the target from the check zone to the correct deactivation string.

[Masaq]

Thanks Sensenmann; have uploaded all four missions onto the server and it can be tested today.


Have popped your Wild Goose Chase at the top of the maplist for testing. It's loaded.... (loading now)....

*tense moment!*


...fine :)



I've had a look at the other missions people have suggested and tbh, they're probably not really suitable - 10 minutes, AI included and well, meh.

Looks like I maybe need to spend some time this afternoon cobbling up some brief 20-minute fights to keep punters happy, will see how this goes. If you're able to help with this at all (and thank you for what you've already done!) then that would be appreciated.


Putting in some shorter, simple standard 'dogfight'-style maps - with either a timelimit or an objective to kill say, 75% of enemy planes - between each of the longer co-op missions might help keep players interested and add some variety.

[Sensenmann]

I will try to knock out a few short simple missions to throw in the mix. Should have them up later today.

[Hellbender]

Thanks!

Do we still need to install the missions beforehand?

[Cecil A Lewis]

Hi guys,
Is the server running now? 21.32 PM UK time.

Doesn't show up at the moment in the list, even if I leave it a while.

Cheers

Cec

[Masaq]

It's back up, thanks for the report!

[Masaq]

Thanks!

Do we still need to install the missions beforehand?

Nope, that bug appears to be fixed :)

[Sensenmann]

As promised, here are two new missions.

The Ground Attack mission is a bombing run for the Entente with artillery as the target. The Central Powers pilots are to defend the area.

The Furball mission is designed to be a quick 20 minute (time limited) dog fight mission. Set near St. Mihiel, I had to fabricate two aerodromes to allow for close to the front action. Have some nice topography in the region but it has the result of creating what may be deemed difficult take off and landings.

I tried to find relatively level terrain, tested it myself and got off the ground with no issues, but it may be something others will not like so it may require a change.

[Cecil A Lewis]

Great thanks Masaq, and thanks Sensenmann for the new missions will go try em!

Oh - seems the mission where you defend the 2 seaters and protect your own too, crashes out. Drops you out of the game. I started in a DVII No.1 and was inside another aircraft at the start ..

[Cecil A Lewis]

The 14v14 Factory Attack V3 crashes all out too. Not sure why seems to be right at the first loading.

[Cecil A Lewis]

The first one I mentioned above is
15v15 Wild Goose Chase (I selected Fokker DVII No.1 not sure if that's the issue, but it starts then suddenly you are inside another aircraft then crashes out).

[Sensenmann]

I am not sure why you are experiencing that Cecil, but I cannot reproduce it on my end, running the file on my test server.

I haven't had any time to get on the T&T server today, it might be an issue there as it seems there are a lot of crashes today. Hopefully just a mishap in some server settings or somesuch and not an issue with these missions (would hate to think my fixes and missions were responsible for bringing down the server :().

Hopefully we can get this sorted out soon.

[Masaq]

Second two new missions added- Furball a few times, hope it works okay lol.


Cecil - are you trying to load in right as the game starts? As in, if you try to load the mission whilst it's changing maps, the server will kick you back to the multiplayer screen. Sometimes just waiting a few minutes then trying again will work.

I've never experienced the "spawning in another aircraft and then kicked out" thing...

[Sensenmann]

Well, just saw the Wild Goose Chase mission on the server and can say I am not pleased. For some reason it is quite laggy.

With the lagginess and the reports of crashes and such I am looking into the mission as being at fault. Suspect the AI is causing it as they seem to be jumping about quite a bit and once there are a number of players in the area they start getting laggy too.

The Dawn Train Raid mission ran just before that and seemed to be fine. Is it the repaired version 3 or the older version 2 at this point?

Also wondering what files were uploaded to the server: I read somewhere that the MISSION file should not go to the server, instead it should be the MSNBIN file the localization files (ENG, RUS and whatever the new ones are) and the LIST file. Knowing that that is not the issue would help me in isolating this problem.

(Although I could be mistaken and it is the MISSION file that is needed and leave out the MSNBIN file. Looking into that now...)

Really hoping to get this figured out soon. Don't like the disappointment people are having on your server at the moment.

[Masaq]

Some clarity on exactly whether it's the Binary or the Mission file that needs to be there would be good - I can remove either/or very quickly.

I've also received permission to run the server over two cores, which helped with the lag last night.

[Sensenmann]

It is the MISSION file that is needed. The MSNBIN is apparently generated on the fly and may be causing the issue.

Another intersting bit of info gleaned in this search may help with the missing mission descriptions: the LIST file contains the location of the localization files. In other words it is what directs the program to the proper folder to find the files and if it has not been updated to where the server stores them they will be missing.

[Masaq]

The localization files are all in the "multiplayer\co-operative\" folder along with the mission files themselves.

Binaries have been deleted, server on two cores - lag may be reduced, we'll see.

[Sensenmann]

The LIST files need to have that location. I know my localization files will point to them in my WIP folder. Most likely need to edit them accordingly (edits like a TXT file so notepad or wordpad should do the trick).

[Masaq]

Furball simply doesn't seem to let people in...

[Cecil A Lewis]

When people were kicked it happened to all not just me. Plus I was already on the server, so it's not just as I was joining whatever.
Everytime those missions came up all were booted out. One at the start as soon as it started to load the mission, and the other once we were sat in planes on the field as described above. In that one maybe it's specific to Fokker DVII No.1 as I chose it first on both times. But I sat in the craft, started my engine and THEN an aircraft suddenly appears around you like you are on the inside.

Hope that helps.

BTW where do we put those files as players? in data\missions\co-operative.. or somewhere else?

[Sensenmann]

The files go in the multiplayer/cooperative folder. If you have the complete download from this page, you can leave out the msnbin files.

The server seems to be in better straights today. Masaq has it running on two cores now and there is definitely less lag on the Goose Chase mission. Some were complaining a bit of the lag but they may still have the msnbin files as they were flying it earlier, before Masaq removed them from the server.

I will still be looking into a fix for the lag and other errors that seem to pop up. Will keep you all posted on my findings, if anything significant comes up.

[Masaq]

What we could *really* do with is knowing why Goose Chase worked fine on the server, that players were simply able to log in and play the new mission without having to manually download it - when the other two new missions Ground Attack and Furball are giving "File Download Errors" when they're on the maplist.

So they maybe need to be in the "\RoF\Missions" folder as well, or something?

[Sensenmann]

I have started a thread over at the ROF forums to see if we cant get a more definite answer on the files needed on the server to prevent the file download error.

http://riseofflight.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?f=73&t=3468

[Winkle]

Just a heads up. And it is probably on my end.

I get errors evertime on Wild Goose Chanse.

They don't pop up like they did on Train Bomb mission.

But I don't get them on that one anymore.

[Cecil A Lewis]

OK thanks Sensenmann. I had them in data\missions too but removed them all from there now. Also deleted all the MSNBIN files from there.

Well let you know how it goes.

Cheers

Cec

[Cecil A Lewis]

Is the server down currently guys? Doesn't show for me in UK 00:01 hours 29th

[epoch]

I've asked Masaq to move the RoF server to another box. I imagine he's going that now.

[Cecil A Lewis]

Rgr thanks, back up now :)

[Masaq]

Yeah, was just getting things underway. Normal service has been resumed, as you've seen :)

[Sensenmann]

As yet I have not heard anything back on the files needed on the server to prevent the file download error. I have the above mentioned post and a duplicate of that translated in to Russian in hopes of getting an answer soon.

I am thinking that the info I found about what other mission creators are packaging is in error. The reason for this change of heart is due in part to my finding MSNBIN and LIST files (only) for a few missions in my cooperative folder. That, coupled with the fact of the Wild Goose Chase mission not having any issues with the error prior to the removal of the MSNBIN files from the server, indicates that the MSNBIN file is the needed for proper client access.

To my understanding the MISSION file is used primarily by the Editor and the MSNBIN is generated by the editor to speed up up/downloads and loading times (it is a much smaller file by comparison).

The only issue with an MSNBIN file is, once there is a patch and the Editor is updated, it will no longer be able to open an MSNBIN file. This I think is why the other mission editors were packaging their missions sans MSNBIN file.

I do not know if there is a need to update the MSNBIN files with every update. I suspect there would be no need for this , so long as there is no major revision to the way the Editor creates or the game reads an MSNBIN file. Updating of them is fairly easy, however, as long as the person updating them has the original MISSION files. (One can even do a batch conversion of multiple MISSION files within the Editor)

So, at this point, I still do not know anything for certain, so it is perhaps advisable to wait until confirmation, but I would suggest placing the MSNBIN files on the server whilst removing the MISSION files (but hold on to these).

***

Also, I have a revised version of the Wild Goose Chase mission, tweaked to hopefully improve performance.

I have removed all the mg AA positions around the flak vehicles (no one seemed to be attacking the flak positions so no need to have the mg protecting them).

I also have put the activators/deactivators on the flak positions so that they are only active when they need be.

Furthermore, I have made it so that the unused aircraft will be disabled. The check zones will, likewise, be disabled in order to remove unnecessary processes. This now occurs three minutes into the mission instead of the five minute time limit I was using before, which should remove them well before any hostilities begin.

There were also a few other edits made for purely aesthetic reasons:
- added a camera so the pre-mission hanger view is different

- reduced the size of the in mission instructions and duration of display

- changed the naming convention of the playable aircraft so the plane selection screen is less cluttered

- and a few other things that escape me at the moment


Like wise I have done some reworking of the Furball and Ground Attack missions:
- reduced timeout from five minutes to three minutes

- added camera for unique pre-mission views

-edited wind direction in Furball mission to favor the Central Powers take off run as they have the more difficult aerodrome placement

- added mg AA placements at both aerodromes due to their close proximity to the combat zone (take that you vulchers!)

- and other minor edits that aren't really worth mentioning/remembering

[Masaq]

Thanks, I'll deal with this on Thursday along with the other server-management stuff I need to go over - updating LIST files etc.

Thanks again!

[Sensenmann]

Excellent. If I hear anything from the officials I be sure to post it here.

[Cecil A Lewis]

Seemed to be fine the previous missions after I cleaned out the bin files etc.

Thanks for your new tweak work on the missions Sensenmann will give them a try.

[Cecil A Lewis]

So far really cool server and missions are running well. Thanks again guys.