Update

[ayergo]

A number of new areas have been added, and some areas changed to reflect the bug reports above. We're officially on 2.01 now, though module for server will remain named 2_00 so you all have less to download.

This does mean you need to update your pwc. It may not have made it to worldgate yet though.

We're currently testing out some of the stuff for portalling. Stay tuned!

[HEEGZ]

Can't wait.

Any updates on a map? Even a soon to be outdated jpeg would be nice. Trying to figure out the server boundary.

[ayergo]

i only have a rough sketch of areas and connections, but it is still same boundaries, Beregost north to BG, and west to Ulgoth's beard. Cloakwood is also complete.

[HEEGZ]

Same boundaries as old BG roughly? Nice.

[ayergo]

Hammering out details of how the server portalling is going to work. Still seeing crashes about every 24 hours or so that may be linked to the remote DB connection.

Acadius is working hard to get it all working.

[AcadiusLost]

So far I've:

-Gotten a (mostly) functional quarantine system in place, that jumps and immobilizes PCs who log in while their last saved location does not match the current server.

-Toolsetted a basic generic Quarantine area which can be customized between servers.

-Improved the way that the ACR stores persistent variables to the database, such that updating of an existing p-variable also updates it's embedded timestamp.

-Improved the way that the ACR stores server names to the database, to enable persistent variables associated with a particular server to be indirectly referenced by ServerID (and not be broken if the spelling or arrangement of the module name changes).

-Coded a method, based on those two changes, to query the destination server of a portal to confirm that it has "checked in" with the SQL database lately. This way PCs don't portal out to a server that is down for the day.

-Coded functions to compare timestamps on p-variables and return the number of real-life hours between two DB writes. This will allow us to implement the "once per 24 hours" rule for portalling.

-Built a basic portalling conversation with conditionals to tie together the destination server and passport checks.

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Still to do:
-Finish the conditional checks for most recent portalling
-Insert the checks for p-variable "passport" OnClientEnter
-Add the deletion of passports on successful portalling, along with the writing of a persistent Portal Record with a timestamp.
-Add a DM widget to display information about a quarantined or recently portalled PC
-Insert logging hooks for Portal Attempt and Portal successful events.

-Test with servers sharing a local-network vault
-Test with remote servers sharing a ssh-tunneled remote network vault.


If tonight is productive, I may be able to get through the better part of the to-do list, so we can get on the the last testing case, which would ideally be linking up BG and WHL/skullport/whichever for a few hours (days?) of proper testing in a near-live setting.

Going to re-post this to ACR to look for server test volunteers.

[Teric neDhalir]

Stuff that's kinda lost on me.

*sigh* Isn't he dreamy?

[AcadiusLost]

Progress on this last night was derailed by the FTP/worldgate failure, then some unexpected good RP when trying to check in on TSM. Will try again tonight to get it to a testable stage.

[ayergo]

I switched back to the beta server vault last night as opposed to the local vault. May be increased lag for char access. If anyone wants their local char ported over lemme know and i should be able to move it.

[ayergo]

I put in a bath house made by Thangs, as well as necessary scripts for paying for usage. There is a smoke room and a sauna, as well as a surprise or two inside. I haven't updated the pwc yet, but will do so soon now that the worldgate stuff is sorted out.

Also working on some NPCs since i have a bit of time for portalling. I'm also mulling populating some more of the caves i have in place.

[ayergo]

I've got to switch gears and look into the server vault problem more carefully. I switched back to local vault as mapping the SAMBA drive was timing out too much.

[ayergo]

Added a bunch of generic interiors for DM use. Uploaded new pwc to the ftp, will be a bit before Curm updates the worldgate client.

[Curmudgeon]

ALFA Beta server WorldGate has been updated with the latest BG PWC.

[HEEGZ]

Sweet, I'll be sure to check the new stuff out this weekend Thanks guys.

[AcadiusLost]

Zicada's settled into a vault hosting arrangement that seems to be acceptably fast from my connection in Virginia; TSM has been using it for the better part of a week now without too many complications.

My recommendation at this point would be to:

1. Set up the new networked Beta vault (Netdrive (new version) mount to webdisk.alandfaraway.orf) for use with Baldur's Gate. Zic or I can help get it set up at next convenience; we'll be on IRC.

2. Plug in a testing version of the Portalling system, with a temporary portal to a test server of mine, which I can leave up for a while to facilitate testing of portalling between remote PCs. (I should be able to package up an alfa_acr.hak and portalling.erf with instructions late tonight or tomorrow.)

At some point Pre-Live we should arrange another mod upload, so I can do a review for core script/wands/etc. I could also drop some of the new Returns Bins in around clothing/armor/weapons merchants as examples. Hopefully we can get everything in line, then run a brief period of concentrated testing with fixing of high-priority bugs, then shift promptly over to Live status with appropriate fanfare.