Problem Solved?

Two weeks ago (July 14), I posted this article Server Crashing / Not Auto-Restarting about the server and the troubles I was having finding the cause of the problem.

The last hing I changed in my blind test, was the removal of the user-made NWNX plug-in that blanks out the Player List Window at log-on. That was about a week ago and the server seems be stable now and able to recover from a crash again.

I have had a few mishaps that are non-related but could seem as if they are the same thing to the players. That is to say that I have had ISP problems causing the server to go offline for hours at a time. In the cases of ISP issues, I and the tech from Verizon were here working on it the whole time. We seem to have resolved those issues as well.

Other than the ISP thing, the server seems to be stable and able to recover from a crash on it's own again. Hopefully, I can end this story with, "And they all lived happily ever after. The End."

Internet Bandwidth (speed)

As some of you may have noticed, the server has been down for hours at a time during this last week. I have been getting my Internet from Verizon FiOS for about nine months now. Last week I had them turn on the TV service which included better Internet service. This has been nothing short of problems. In my warped little mind, it should have been as simple as "hook up a box and go home". But, after three different service technicians, countless hours of their time at my house, countless hours of my time on the phone with tech support, and them changing every piece of equipment three times, it seems to be done.

I am paying for 25 Mb/s download and 25 Mb/s upload. (25 Mega bits per second). When I had cable from Time-Warner I was paying for 5 Mb/s down and 500 Kb/s up.

That's 25/25 compared to 5/0.5. Both charge the same price per month. Time-Warner is "cable" while Verizon FiOS is "fiber optic".

My complaint to Verizon was that I thought I was not getting what I was paying for. For nine months I was paying for 15/15 and getting 15/15. With the "upgrade" to 25/25 and using the same testing tools, my results were less than the 15/15 I had been getting. Verizon has their own "tool" and it won't work with Windows Vista and Internet Explorer 8. My server uses Windows 2000 and gives me a terrible report (it showed 15/15 when I was paying for 15/15).

Basically, Fiber Optic to the consumer is so new that everybody is still learning the new stuff. I feel like a Beta Tester. Beta Testers usually get free stuff. Where is my free stuff?

There are only two tools that show my bandwidth near what I pay for.
http://www.speedtest.net/index.php
http://myspeed.visualware.com/

Now that I'm done bitching, I thought it might be interesting to see what bandwidth others are getting. Use whatever means you want and post a blurb here with your best results. Are you getting what you're paying for? Most ISP's don't want to tell you what you're paying for, so you may have a rough time finding the truth.

To explain bandwidth some:
Dial-up: is rated at 56k. In the USA, the FCC has capped it at 52k. This "56k" is shared between both download and upload. That means that if you're downloading at 40k, you have 16k available for upload.

DSL and Cable (broadband): No upper cap, goes as fast as the hardware can go. Direction is not shared. The ISP uses a throttle to limit your speed. In the fine-print of your contract is the "speed" they are selling you. A typical DSL number will be 1.5 Mb/s down and 256 Kb/s up.

T1 and T3 type connections: These are normally reserved for commercial accounts and are hundreds of dollars per month. Bandwidth is shared, down and up. If you pay for 10 Mb and are uploading 8 Mb to clients, you have 2 Mb left for download.

Verizon FiOS: This is FIBER OPTIC to the consumer. It is treated like DSL or Cable with guaranteed down/up speeds. Like Cable, maxing your download speed does not compromise your upload speed. The ISP can and will throttle back your connection unless you pay more money. Toss enough money their way and they will let you run wide-open.

Contrary to popular belief (spread by the ISP's), UPLOAD SPEED MATTERS. If you're on the WEB, it is constantly a two-way communication with one server or another. You click a link asking for a download or a new page, your request can't go "UP" any faster than your upload speed. While downloading a big file, you probably get bored and start "surfing" to find that things are slow, sluggish, LAGGY. You might blame your own computer for being old and slow. Most likely it is your upload speed that has been compromised.

While that big file is coming in, it comes in what is called "packets". Your computer is talking to the server, "I am ready for the next packet", "The last packet was damaged, please resend".

And you are asking for a new web page. This sets up a new set of packets and communication. Granted, you are using more download traffic than up, but, it is the "up" that is congested.
TRAFFIC JAM - RUSH HOUR
Most any old computer can keep up with the Internet.

The other thing that I have found is that not all hardware is the same. They all make the same claims, but they don't all perform as claimed. I own as much of my own hardware as I can. When I had cable from Time-Warner, I could double what they claimed they were selling.

Let's not overlook the countless unknown variables in the Internet. You don't know what the server is capable of, or how busy it is. You don't know how many connections between you and "The Server". I found a tool the could count Internet "hops" and counted 13 connections to a server that was 50 miles away. You don't know how many others are on the web in your area, or one of the "hops" your going through.

I know most computer users don't need to be as involved as I am. I kind have to cause I run a server (and I kind of like it). But don't you want to know if your getting what your paying for?

Server Crashing / Not Auto-Restarting

As some of you may have noticed recently, the server (game module to be specific) has been crashing and not restarting. Normally there is a third-party monitoring program (NWNX) that detects a crashed game and restarts it. For reasons unknown to me yet, this "auto-restart" has been failing.

The last thing I did was add a plug-in to blank out the player list window. I don't actually know if this is or is not the cause, but I have removed it anyway.

I prefer seeing the player list in this window. My reason is that with it blank, the server appears empty. I do agree that some of it's information is not needed and might even be considered private information that could fall into the "cheat" category.

But, since I don't know how to write for this DLL file to make it work different, it's an "all or nothing" deal. If the server starts to function correctly (recovering from a crash), this is ultimately more important.

If any of you know a bit about programing, I can get you the source code. I think it was written in C, but that just a guess.

Bitch Blade Jade

Okay, so I was really interested in trying Q's new invisible helm system and some other crafting things available on BadLands RPG. The above screen capture is my test character "Bitch Blade Jade" sporting the new invisible helmet and a custom head model that you can download and install from Q's website (see sidebar). All in all it seems to be working great and makes character customization fun.


Another thing you can do to customize your toon is talk to the Tattoo Girl in the Tattoo parlor, she allows you to change different heads and also the colors of your hair, skin, tattoos ect. Pretty cool stuff. One problem I noticed is lack of selection for choosing a new character portrait, or an option to "Keep original" (assuming thats even possible). I ended up getting stuck with some weird lizard thing as my portrait. LOL. Anyways, everything else is fun as hell and you should give it a try! (Minus the portrait changer)

Shifters and Druids

With some careful experimentation and the use of the new Invisible Helm Tool, I bring you this picture.


I carefully put my AC and other upgrades on my gear. Then I shifted into a "polymorph" shape. Depending on what form you shift into determines what item will or won't be used. Those properties get merged together on a "creature skin".

At the time of this picture I am level 6 and have Dozo gear. As you can see, the item properties are there, but not stacking. The four counts of AC only equals +1 AC. As does all the attributes. Each type is list more than once, but can't stack. Four of these properties are part of this Polymorph Shape, Damage Immunity: Fire; Damage Vulnerability: Cold; Immunity: Paralysis; True Seeing.

In the Stats Window, you will see three damage types listed as the main attack. Without a special tool, I can only guess what this means. On monsters that I have built with three types of monster weapons, they all show up just like that. So I am assuming this Polymorph Shape has been assigned three monster weapons, one in each of the three creature weapon slots (3 max).

The other thing I found, is that some Polymorph Shapes are strength based while others are dexterity based. This means that, You the Druid, need to take Weapon Finesse even if, You the Druid are strength based. Taking Weapon Focus in unarmed does raise the creature weapon AB. So, again, you should take unarmed focus even if, You the Druid, are using a longsword.

I have not got into the higher level Polymorph Shapes like the Vampire that gets a longsword or the Minotaur that gets a big axe. It's till unknown to me how the weapon focus will work here.

While in Druid form, rest and buff up. Your buffs will carry over into your new Polymorph Shape.

The basic monster attributes for each Polymorph Shape is being taken from a preset list, probably hard-coded. This list was designed and balanced for low-magic worlds like the stand-alone campaign with Nashar and Arebeth. It is unknown at this time if I can or even should change the Base Monster List. I can probably change the script to combine the Item Properties together so you get the full effect, not just one fifth. This part is scripted. It was actually developed by a user and later adopted by Bioware in one of the upgrades.

Oh, I almost forgot. Don't use the Invisible Helm if you're going to be Polymorph Shape Shifted. The item on your Invisible Skin don't get used. Wear your normal helm and some Polymorph Shapes will use the properties on your helm.

Note to Wizards and other classes that get a Polymorph Shape spell: You should pay attention to what this says about the Polymorph Shape Shifter. Most of this also applies to your spell as well as the Druid.