(unstickied and locked to avoid confusion)

[indio]

[Edit: AcadiusLost - these instructions are outdated, see the reply post for the up-to-date details.]

To play on the beta server:

STEP 1
Download the PWC and the haks.

You can download the PWC 2 ways:
1. Use the links below (download all parts, then double click on one of them)
2. Use the Worldgate Client. This is the preferred means as any time we update our PWC, you run the client and only download files that have been added or changed, sgnificantly reducing download times your end. To run the Worldgate Client, go here:
http://www.alandfaraway.org/phpbbforum/ ... hp?t=35778

PWC RAR files
http://www.thesilvermarches.net/uploads ... part01.rar
http://www.thesilvermarches.net/uploads ... part02.rar
http://www.thesilvermarches.net/uploads ... part03.rar
http://www.thesilvermarches.net/uploads ... part04.rar
http://www.thesilvermarches.net/uploads ... part05.rar

ALFA Haks
http://www.thesilvermarches.net/uploads ... rrored.rar

- Open the RAR, extract the PWC file to the My Documents/Neverwinter Nights 2/PWC directory.
- Extract the hak files to the My Documents/Neverwinter Nights 2/Hak directory.

STEP 2
Log on to our server, listed under PW Story on Gamespy, and select ALFA 003.

Or Direct Connect to: alfa003.servegame.com

The Player Password is the current ALFA Player Password.

The file should be extracted here:
C:\Documents and Settings\[Your Name Here]\My Documents\Neverwinter Nights 2\pwc\

OBSERVE CAREFULLY - thats the Neverwinter Nights 2 folder in "your documents" not the Neverwinter Nights 2 folder in Program Files.

[Your Name here] is the name of your windows account.
Alternately you can double click on the "My Documents" icon on your desktop and then double click on "Neverwinter Nights 2" and then on "pwc" and drag and drop the file from the winrar window to there.

OBSERVE CAREFULLY - again, thats the Neverwinter Nights 2 folder in "your documents" not the Neverwinter Nights 2 folder in Program Files.
Alternately you can double click on the "My Documents" icon on your desktop and then double click on "Neverwinter Nights 2" and then on "hak" and drag and drop the file from the winrar window to there.

STEP 2
Log on to our server, listed under PW Story on Gamespy, and select ALFA 003.

Or Direct Connect to: alfa003.servegame.com

The Player Password is the current ALFA Player Password.

STEP 3
Make a new server character. There's no PvP yet, so don't be constrained by social norms. Then again, some people will want to do more than simply test, so please be aware that many people play this game for immersion, not farming. Or to immerse in farming.

Now, fog is set to distant, so be aware graphics demands are quite high.

STEP 4
To initiate Kadalion's quests (he's the little guy standing on the gazebo in town), you need to complete 5 minor quests. These can be found inside the town inn and shops. Once you've done 5 successfully, he'll let you begin.

Don't go into a cave until you're Level 2 and are with a party. Soloing will be next to impossible.

Be wary of walking into non-open areas. If you need to walk through a small opening, expect it to be occupied.

Be wary of ranged attacks.

A cautious player will make Level 2 within a few hours completing quests, and then can hopefully find a small party to do some adventuring with.

Thanks for helping out. And remember, this may go pear-shaped (the hosting and whatnot), so please be patient and forgive technical blunders.

During Beta testing, you can respawn if you die.

***

Thanks to Mayhem for putting this together.

[AcadiusLost]

As there seems to be some confusion, here is a summary of the procedure for getting on the Silver Marches Beta:

Your first step should be to start downloading ALFA's world-specific files so you can join and test our first Beta server, 003: The Silver Marches. We've configured a utility to help get players set up to join, so I'll give you the brief rundown on it.

First, download the Worldgate Client, and install it. This is a utility that allows you to connect to our fileserver and check to see if all your server files are up to date- if not, it downloads just the changed bits to keep you from having to repeatedly download large PWC and HAK files when only a tiny fraction of the data is changed. Worldgate is a utility used by many NWN1 and NWN2-based online worlds. The client is available here:

http://nwvault.ign.com/fms/Download.php?id=108865

Once you've installed the client, run it. Once the window is open, select "New". It will show a configuration screen- to make things (much) simpler, just click the "from URL" button in the lower left hand corner. In the box for a URL, pass "www.alandfaraway.org" - the client should be able to pick up all the configuration info from our website. Once Worldgate is started checking and downloading files, it will take quite a while, at least the first time. Most subsequent updates will be much smaller.

When Worldgate is finished, you should have 8 "HAK" files, which contain custom content for the game, one "TLK" file, which contains extra text, and two large "PWC" files, which include necessary walkmesh info to join the two currently hosted servers. The client will see them put into the correct places. If worldgate reports any errors while updating, just run it again after it finishes, usually it'll only take a few seconds to clean up any missed resources.

You also need the Mask of the Betrayer expansion for NWN2, and the current patch from obsidian installed, in order to join. The server is listed under PW story in gamespy.