More Newbie Questions

[Lorien]

After running an EQ Fan Site for about 2 years and based on comments from my own site members, I am considering running an EQemu server. So I decided to visit and do some reading. I still have several questions unanswered that I would like to ask. Bare with me if I missed the answers to these questions some where on the site or forums.

#1 After reading the hardware specs and software I will need, I wanted to ask how is it possible to run an entire world on one machine? SoE has clusters in the general range of 1 server to 5 zones. Can someone explain?

#2 With it being only one server for the entire world, what

[Melwin]

#1 After reading the hardware specs and software I will need, I wanted to ask how is it possible to run an entire world on one machine? SoE has clusters in the general range of 1 server to 5 zones. Can someone explain?
That's entirely possible, and few people run it on more than one box.

[b]#2 With it being only one server for the entire world, what

[KhaN]

Someone here, want to make a pay-server :p

#3 What is the game play quality compared to SoE's Servers? OR What are the differences, if any, to a SoE server? (This is not a question about server classifications like legit and non-legit servers but about the actual playability of the game, the feel, the lag, the spawns, etc)

Server/Game quality of EQEmu servers arent limited at all, the general quality of the server is limited by their owners. EQEmu give you the possibility to create your custom world, and like Melwi said, EQLive clones are boring as hell.
But keep in mind that making a quality server take a while, WR is a good example of this.

[zelgar]

This is from my experience:

#1 After reading the hardware specs and software I will need, I wanted to ask how is it possible to run an entire world on one machine? SoE has clusters in the general range of 1 server to 5 zones. Can someone explain?

It is true that SoE runs very few zone servers from a single server machine, however, they have redundant systems as well. They carry MUCH great of a player base than any Emu server that I've seen. I am able to run Emu, locked so I am the only one on, from my own computer (logged in from a different computer). I am running AMD 2200+, 512M RAM. It bogs down after about 10 zone servers come up.

#3 What is the game play quality compared to SoE's Servers? OR What are the differences, if any, to a SoE server? (This is not a question about server classifications like legit and non-legit servers but about the actual playability of the game, the feel, the lag, the spawns, etc)

This all depends on how much time and effort you want to put into your own server. If your machine is a high end server, then you will notice that there will be a significantly less amount of latency. If you design your Emu server correctly, it will have the exact same spawns, loot, etc as Live, in addition to any additional things you would like to create.

#5 If I run a server, I want to be able to control access to it. No one would be allowed to log in unless I approve their account on my server. Is this possible?

There are actually several ways of doing this. If you have the time, and inclination, you could set up a firewall machine before your server in your network, then have people e-mail you with their desire to play, etc. Disallow all others access from the firewall machine, and allow those whom you deem are able to play. There are also other ways, such as what WR does.


My 2cp worth.

[Lorien]

[quote]Lorien asked,"#3 What is the game play quality compared to SoE's Servers? OR What are the differences, if any, to a SoE server? (This is not a question about server classifications like legit and non-legit servers but about the actual playability of the game, the feel, the lag, the spawns, etc)"

Melwin answered,

[sotonin]

Which is why I asked about a pay server. I much rather devote my time to running a quality server than trying to balance a full time job too.

No you can't quit your job and live off a eqemu server. For a number of reasons.

1) As soon as you begin profiting from an EQEMU server, you are breaking the law. Sure there are technicalities you could work around, but for how long before sony sues your ass?
2) The bugs in EQEMU are numerous, the game is playable but also very broken, nobody would pay to play, they would sooner go to EQlive.
-Fear doesn't work
-Bards instrument modifiers dont work
-Many bard songs dont work
-Bind wound is broken, it's bordering on working properly
-HT and LH broken
-Combat is not like live, player damage is way off. lvl 2 monk has 102 attack, etc
-Weight Reducing bags dont work
-Many haste items and mana regen items dont work

The list goes on and on.

The only thing keeping EQEMU within legal eyes right now is the fact that it's free, and they only distribute code they have written. (You must obtain the eqclient by legal means of purchasing everquest)

[cofruben]

yes you can set some zones to be pvp,but that would require some code of course.
And for connections,think you need about 2 or 3 kb/s(real) of upload per client

[animepimp]

The OS is unimportant, XP or 98 or what ever is perfectly fine. You don't need a server type OS to run a server, that just lets you run more server functions that have nothing to do with the Emu. And Visual Basic .net is not what you want since the server is not written in in Visual Basic. You need Visual Studio which includes a C++ compiler, but there is a free version and tutorials on how to get it and use it. So really the only server cost is the Hardware and a basic OS, the DB uses My SQL which is free. Then you need a good internet conenction which can be as much as you want to spend. That should be the only monthly fee after the initial setup.

When he says you would ahve a lot of work to do to make an EQ clone he means that the DBs are not completely the same as EQ, but they will probably be there soon. The real work comes in quests, very few EQ clone quests are implemented because most people hate them and want to make new ones and the data is not available to copy them accurately. Also a lot of the features of EQ are not implemented yet, most are in but quite a few haven't been written. So if you want a complete clone it'll take a ton of work btu if you want a reasonable clone it won't be that hard.

A pay server is completely illegal and absolutely not allowed to use these forums or login servers. The instant you require people to pay you are taking revenue from Sony and will be sued big time. Donations are perfectly fine and good servers generally get enough to pay for their costs quite easily from donations. But they have to be around for a while and show how good they are first. You could also do things like magic item auctions and stuff for cash, I don't think thats illegal but I would have to check to make sure.

[Charmy]

* p4 2.4ghz / 1gb ram / 120gb hard drive
* Windows 2003 Enterprise Server - Spankin' new installation, no service packs
* Visual Studio.NET 2003 - Spankin' new installation, no service packs
* Broadband Cable Internet (Comcast)
* Linksys Router

* p4 2.4ghz / 1gb ram / 120gb hard drive
(only costly thing is this, lets estimate at 1.2k if even that, i haven't priced a computer in a long time, hehehe)
* Windows 2003 Enterprise Server - Spankin' new installation, no service packs
Run linux, its free, its stable, and you don't have to worry as much about using up resources, especially if you don't run xserv, then you will have tons of open resources for the zones, remember the emu doesn't require any 3d rendering, thats all done on the client side.
* Visual Studio.NET 2003 - Spankin' new installation, no service packs
again, use linux - Gcc comes with it, the devs create the makefiles in a very generic way, only minor editing is needed, and somtimes minor code changes to make it work. but other than that, its all you need.
* Broadband Cable Internet (Comcast)
100mbs/s is $120 where i live. so this is like half of the 330. I am not sure if WR has a faster connection or not, it seems like they do but i am not sure.
* Linksys Router
4port non wireless 100mbs router costs 39.99.

so with all this, if you wanted to pay off the server, router, in a year, plus pay for the internet each month, you are looking at around $230 a month to run a server, based on that i am guessing WR has a faster internet connection, or they run more than a single server, both of which i have no idea.


Now, you will find that alot of people left eqlive becuase of the fact it wasn't free, it was costing them money. but others left becuase they hated the GM/Guides, or maybe they got banned fromt he server, either way those are usually willing to "Donate" to your cause, you just have to give them a reason too. an Eqlive clone is going to have a hard time competeing with the actual eqlive, this is why custom-legit servers are more popular becuase you can do more on them than on eqlive.

So, requiring a payment is not only breaking the law, but most people aren't going to want to pay for it, unless they see some reason that paying is going to make it better than eqlive, which in this case, a clone would not be better, it would be the same. there are ofcourse always things you can do like recreate the pre-revamp zones, which people will be more than happy to probably "donate" for , i know that if i saw the old PoM come back to eqlive, i would gladly pay for a few months just to go do the old libarary card quests, nothing in GoD or the outer planes is as much fun as hunting for libarary cards.

If you build it they will come =P you just need to build it like they want it.

[Lorien]

sotonin said, "1) As soon as you begin profiting from an EQEMU server, you are breaking the law. Sure there are technicalities you could work around, but for how long before sony sues your ass?
2) The bugs in EQEMU are numerous, the game is playable but also very broken, nobody would pay to play, they would sooner go to EQlive.
-Fear doesn't work
-Bards instrument modifiers dont work
-Many bard songs dont work
-Bind wound is broken, it's bordering on working properly
-HT and LH broken
-Combat is not like live, player damage is way off. lvl 2 monk has 102 attack, etc
-Weight Reducing bags dont work
-Many haste items and mana regen items dont work"

Now this is the stuff I wanted hear when I asked what the differences are.

And since several people have told me charging is illegal, I don't need to hear it further, once was enough really. My husband is a senior designer on a MMORPG (not anything by SoE) so I already figured it was a sensative thing to ask about, but seeing as this entire site is probably frowned on by SoE, I didn't think it would hurt to bring it up. I can handle donations just fine. I just want a server my membership can be happy with. SoE isn't going to do it and they give me more "we can't" or "we wont" type answers than solutions and alternatives even after the Summit. I am just not sure how I will be able to pull it off, which is why I am hear asking questions.

[Cisyouc]

You went to the Summit and now you're interested in EMu? Yeesh, thats when you know Sony has done it in. By "some work to do" he means alot of packet collecting, source editing, etc. The databases out there are pretty good but not near complete. And if you're good at C++, you can begin to work on the bugs in EMu. Remember that EQEMu is rarely up to the latest patch, so if you have a large fanbase newcomers may not easily be able to log in.


Also, remember that EQEMu doesnt come with any quests, you have to make them or have your staff make them >.<

-edit- Personally, I think I would donate to see a near-perfect EQLive emulation. But I dont think anyone has the motivation to do something as big as that when they can make something they made up on their own.

[Lorien]

I can neither confirm nor deny my attendance at the summit. =P It's enough to say, I've absolutely had it! But damn it I feel responsible to my membership. I started something 2 years ago when I bought my domain and I have to finish it.

And someone needs to put a leash on Absor..... nuff said.

[KhaN]

I much rather devote my time to running a quality server than trying to balance a full time job too.

Living from running an eqemu server is an utopic idea, even with a VERY good quality server, for all the reasons that where argued top.

I started EQA project for some of the same reasons as you Lorien; because there are a lot of peoples that dont like EQ Gameplay but like EQ, and they are seeking something different. Thinking you will build your server, and that the players will come, is one more time utopic, because first, build your server will be a real challenge, dont reads, days, week, but read monthS, and maybe yearS.
My project is somewhat, more ambitious than yours, mainly because we are totally rebuilding EQ, but dont think building a clone server is easy, i think its harder than totally customize a servern because while players play, they will have to feel they are playing EQ, and this wont be really easy, mainly because is on some parts, like showed melwin, very broken, and as your server will have to be eqlive clone, you will not a have a way to bypass them (Only one would be to have a strong C++ knowledge *shrug*).

Also, keep in my mind concurrency exist, even on EQEmu, there is also a project of EQLive clone server called PEQ, and they have a lot of advance on you (DB almost complete, and they have a staff working on quest).
Im not saying its impossible, something is impossible only when you decided it would be impossible, but dont think it will be easy, lots of peoples tryed to create the server you want to build, and all failed actually.

Good Luck

[sotonin]

Also, keep in my mind concurrency exist, even on EQEmu, there is also a project of EQLive clone server called PEQ, and they have a lot of advance on you (DB almost complete, and they have a staff working on quest).

Actually, we at Project EQ only create databases. We use stock (pretty much) eqemu code. So all the bugs in eqemu are on our server.

But yes, we've come quite close to a complete database. although it still needs a lot of work )

http://www.peqserver.com

[Melwin]

It'd almost be faster to hand-craft your own world than it would be to get all of Live's content packetcollected.

Also, you need someone with serious C++ abilities, or your server will flunk. Stock EQEmu code is bug-ridden and not to be used for any kind of serious server without heavy modifications.

As for your hardware questions, we just rent a box from ev1servers.net