=VG= SemlerPDX

So, it seems there has been another communication error in this thread, and it has caused yet another delay in getting this Randomizer sorted as we had desired. I apologize for not scrutinizing the proposals more closely, I fully understand that English is not a first language for all of us. That being said, I would appreciate it if we could all get on the same page here with terms and concepts regarding this system. I have been careful in my posts to explain things directly and plainly, and I feel that if more care is taken when reading or translating these concepts, fewer communication errors will occur. If something doesn't make sense to you, say so and ask for clarification. I had clarified three terms for use, and in the post directly following that, a term was misused, and though we could tell by context what was meant, it is an example of where we can improve. If something is worth doing, it's worth doing right. *Referring to interpreting and understanding a concept in a language not your own. _____ Okay, so this has been live for some time now. I had mentioned a few times how odd and long that list looked, as it exceeded the length of the actual start maps file. I am in Wisconsin trying to keep my parents' spirits up while mom is dealing with cancer and chemo shit; times like this when they are not home, I distract myself by getting online and trying to remember where I left off in my projects, and it's hard to work on this laptop with it's tiny screen when you're used to a triple monitor setup. Because of all that, I outsourced the work last time, and would like to do that again here as I am waiting for the PR Update (coming asap). I didn't review the list at all, I just took it as read to be needed. @Xenalite if you would like to create (or recreate) a starter map file with some serious thought put into it, with maps meeting the criteria we discussed, and upload a link to this thread, I will get it in place and live.

When more than one computer connects through a router to the internet, those computers still have their own IP addresses. The final number in an IP address dictates the actual machine, even if the first three parts are identical (the subnet). These are the numbers broadcast to websites, and/or games, and so two users in the same house would might look like this: 194.32.124.156 194.32.124.159 Therefore, more than one computer can connect to a website, etc. from the same network (the router/modem). I personally don't see why 2 computers in the same house could not connect to our BMS Server at the same time, so long as they had different IP addresses, which they will. It would be a rare thing for 2 computers in the same house to utilize the same IP address, but it's not impossible. Modems and routers usually work their magic in the background to split the devices into subnets, and assigning a final designation unique to each device.

@bammajdg Certainly let us know if the above tips do not work. We will keep trying to help you guys get flying together, and what we learn will likely get taught to others in the future if/when the issue comes up again.

You are exactly right - the models. That one check box would apply to the host of a game, definitely important to have it set as desired if the machine will host a session either by LAN or online server, but if we connect as mere clients to another server, it won't do anything. Same with the SameTileSet thing - will come into play when we want to host a session. I could see it being useful for a PvP environment so people aren't flying out with "48" AIM-120C's in a Harrier - haha!! Thank you, Kav!

You simply need to copy the entire ACData Folder from the "working" computer to the one that does not. Because of Janhas models you may have installed in the past, that one folder is sortof "out of sorts" as our BMS Server sees it. We have to force "no modified files" for stability purposes, as most online servers do, as I understand it. This is your problem. The path to the ACData folder is this: Falcon BMS 4.33 U1\Data\Sim\Acdata Here's a link to a fresh copy I just grabbed from a 4.33.5 (U5) updated BMS installation (or just copy from your other computer as I said above): https://www.dropbox.com/s/uhv0x104fn3gp0n/Acdata.zip?dl=0 that's all, but if you want to know the why's for future reference, here they are: The Steam thing mentioned above is up to Steam, it's a non-issue in this case. Steam gets you Falcon 4.0 (which must be installed for BMS), but Falcon 4.0 is never run, so Steam won't even know -- it is a legal reason that BMS checks for a full installation of the game it mods, but BMS comes with it's own executable. Using one Falcon 4.0 to install the BMS mod on two machines is only a legal grey area like the "sharewares/freewares" of the 80's, but will not cause this type of issue. You should really buy Falcon 4.0 for each BMS mod you install, though, it's not expensive. lol

That's the whole point, tho. No one should have do that, it's insane and highly un-intuitive. Sure, us young folks might get by, but what about our parents, and other older friends? An OS should not be a hassle. Period. Win10 = FAIL ... use at your own discretion, not recommended for everyone (especially the old or non-technical folks) haha!

Hey, Ramdrive is still a very cool concept, if one does not have m.2 -- and nowadays, we can get enough ram to actually hold very large titles (Arma was always a bitch with streaming data from HDD, so that would really help) and if someone is trying to eliminate or identify a bottleneck, it is a great way to rule out the storage devices. Like you said, can always buy more ram down the road if you find a use for it. That is shaping up to be one slick maching, mang! You gonna feed it Windows 7 or come over to the darkside for DX12 in Win10 (ug - threw up in my mouth a little while writing that, Win10 is just that bad) haha

Running a hardcore event would be a fine alternative, and making it regular on Sundays would be appreciated by the players, I'm sure. So long as you don't change too much, it may even be able to run without a password, We'll flesh out the details as we move forward. Increasing the bots on the standard COOP would sound like a better option than reducing the number of player slots, so long as it doesn't mess with the design as it sits and ruin the flow. Probably the best idea I've heard so far. I will say, though, that the design of PR is so good, even in COOP, that we have been able to run a highly successful COOP server with very few changes for eight years, and have maintained a high population throughout. New ideas certainly keep it fresh, but remember the wise words of the wily magician: Don't run when no one is chasing you!

Well done! Thank you! I only found one mistake: mapList.append burning_sands gpm_coop 16 ^was still present in the new file, but was noted in the RemoveThese file. No biggie, I deleted it and it looks good to go. Here's the new (shortened) VG Seeder/Starter map list file for review/discussion - if everything looks good, I'll make it live tomorrow: mapList.append albasrah_2 gpm_coop 64 mapList.append assault_on_grozny gpm_coop 64 mapList.append bamyan gpm_coop 32 mapList.append bamyan gpm_coop 64 mapList.append black_gold gpm_coop 64 mapList.append burning_sands gpm_coop 64 mapList.append fallujah_west gpm_coop 64 mapList.append gaza_2 gpm_coop 16 mapList.append jabal gpm_coop 32 mapList.append jabal gpm_coop 64 mapList.append karbala gpm_coop 32 mapList.append karbala gpm_coop 64 mapList.append kashan_desert gpm_coop 32 mapList.append kashan_desert gpm_coop 64 mapList.append kashan_desert gpm_coop 128 mapList.append khamisiyah gpm_coop 32 mapList.append khamisiyah gpm_coop 64 mapList.append khamisiyah gpm_coop 128 mapList.append lashkar_valley gpm_coop 16 mapList.append muttrah_city_2 gpm_coop 16 mapList.append muttrah_city_2 gpm_coop 32 mapList.append muttrah_city_2 gpm_coop 64 mapList.append muttrah_city_2 gpm_coop 128 mapList.append operation_archer gpm_coop 64 mapList.append operation_marlin gpm_coop 16 mapList.append operation_marlin gpm_coop 32 mapList.append operation_marlin gpm_coop 64 mapList.append pavlovsk_bay gpm_coop 32 mapList.append pavlovsk_bay gpm_coop 64 mapList.append qwai1 gpm_coop 64 mapList.append ramiel gpm_coop 32 mapList.append sbeneh_outskirts gpm_coop 32 mapList.append silent_eagle gpm_coop 64 mapList.append vadso_city gpm_coop 128 u rock, Cap'n Hawk!

Cool man! Thanks!

It's a server license thing holding us back from doing crazy stuff on the normal day-to-day public server. If game modes such as that get hard-coded into the maps that release with an Update, we are free to run them ... but as for the custom stuff, we gotta stick with the meat and potatoes vanilla standard when we roll without a password. Second thing to note is that people aren't so responsive to "schoolyard rules" style where gameplay concepts are called out and not hard coded; you'll get your regulars and those paying attention to fall in line, but the rest (and those joining mid-mission) will be like herding cats, don't you think?

I hate to be the one to pour water on your well thought out idea, but... It has come up in one form or another in the past, and for the same good reasons, we choose to keep it at one VG PR Public server (the one that is going on now). And, no, it's not an issue of cost - you are correct in assuming that. Points that have come up in the past include leaving the "normal server" without good players to hold up the bad; also the better players are there to teach and set examples by actions, and to monitor good gameplay and encourage acceptable in-game behavior. Splitting the player base in any way can be treacherous waters. They NEED players like you there, and the others, too. Imagine the chaos and disorder if 16 of the most well traveled players were elsewhere? Sad, but true. We gotta keep it fresh enough to stay interesting, and I know Double is working on different ideas for COOP, but IMO as it sits, it still feels like a bad idea to split it at this time.

Okay, I've just reviewed your list of proposed removals with the actual Starter Map List -- your list is longer than the actual maps on that list... So, I'm outsourcing this task -- attached is an .RAR file with the current starter_maps.txt file and the proposed removals in a file called RemoveTheseFromStarterMapsFile.py (don't ask why the .py, this touchscreen laptop is giving me hell) Whoever would like to take the initiative, you may recreate the starter_maps.txt file for VG ensuring no maps from the "Remove..." file are present. Upload it here and I will put it into place on the server. Select New Start Maps.rar

We need to get on the same page with terminology / nomenclature ... Seed/Starting Map List: Maps that seed well for starter maps (see notes above, should bleed last flag, etc.) Standard Rotation Map List: Maps not suited for Seeding/Starting and will appear in-game rotation Blacklist: Maps we have disabled and will not appear in-game as a rotation option ever. If I assume what you mean, I would put all those maps you listed on the "Standard Rotation Map List" and NOT the Blacklist, as the blacklist is disabled maps we will not be playing. Am I correct?

So...... No answer??

Awesome, man! Why the thousand watt PSU? Gonna add a few more of those Pascal's or something?

That is quite a lot of maps..... All those need to be removed from the map list randomizer and placed on the blacklist? Or do you mean simply remove them from the seeder/starter rotation and place them in standard rotation?

Done and done (but no one replied about the question: did we put Muttrah 128 on disabled after report that shit wouldn't work? for that reason, it remains on the disabled list until I get answer). Gotta go. Have a wonderful weekend! Will check back in case needed.

That will do - each member group can be part of the filter in Advanced Search under Members.... But that would be if you're trying to see all that info about all the different groups and members at VG.... If you just wanted to check a list of only officially tagged VG Members, Moderators, and PR Admins, just click on the Staff link instead of Members... Here's a lazy link: http://veterans-gaming.com/index.php?/staff/

These are the entries we have for the maps you noted -- are the INF layers the 16's? Wanted to verify before removing maps from the list willy-nilly: mapList.append khamisiyah gpm_coop 16 mapList.append khamisiyah gpm_coop 32 mapList.append khamisiyah gpm_coop 64 mapList.append khamisiyah gpm_coop 128 mapList.append pavlovsk_bay gpm_coop 16 mapList.append pavlovsk_bay gpm_coop 32 mapList.append pavlovsk_bay gpm_coop 64 TO CLARIFY: Should we remove Sbeneh maps? If so, which ones (be specific please)? *By remove, I mean put in standard rotation, and not starting/seeding rotations Also I thought we purposefully added Muttrah 128 to the disabled list after a report of issues with it two weeks ago? Busy packing for my trip, just taking a quick break otherwise I'd look into it further.

If you're talking in-game in PR, that has been a feature since the beginning - so people didn't have to make a new name when joining a clan, they put in a field specifically for tags separate from the username space. Surprised you didn't notice until now, you've played PR for a few minutes now... As far as people putting on false VG tags, sometimes it's someone messing around and deserving a warn and/or kick, but other times it is legitimately a brand new player (or even brand new to PC gaming in general) and is misunderstanding the concept. That was the case with Wooz, who went on to actually become a real member over time - so be sure you're understanding and giving the benefit of the doubt. Some are new, some are dumb, some are smart but just don't "get it" yet. Kindly explain it to them and welcome everyone you see who isn't a giant asshole. *edit: If you are talking about the website, that's just our extended username field which unlike most websites, allows special characters AND spaces.

Yea, that's how that happens. Impatience is paid back in data loss. Today you learned that an OS installation is specific to a motherboard, and any vast changes while the OS drive is removed from that motherboard will null and void the OS install. Good tip, if one can afford it, when upgrading PC's, keep the old hard drive separate and buy a new one for the new PC -- then install the old HDD into the new system as a secondary drive. Over time, once you pull all your data off the old drive, you can then re-format it for more space (deleting the WinOS files) with no data loss. Wish I could have told you that last week... I feel for ya, bro! It happened to me once way back when I deleted the MBR from my data drive by accidentally adding it to the RAID array - when I took it back out realizing what I did, none of the data was accessible due to the master boot record being wiped. All the data was still there, that was the most frustrating part. *On that note, there are tools to recover data from a formatted drive, but they can get expensive (or free but very risky or shady)