TCP / IP Multiplayer Game FAQ and Detailed instructions for running one

Alright people i got an account here in order to spell this out for you all - For some reason noone on here has posted an accurate literate attempt at answering TCP / IP questions or even a comprehensive guide to running your own games.

Ive played over TCP / IP with a friend in texas (im in california) and its stable. It just took a little troubleshooting.

Ive checked a few bugs including one where supposedly if the host went first the end turn would freeze and the TCP game would become unstable - This is NOT true

Alright heres a breakdown :

Open up windows notepad - leave it blank

The HOST is a SEV instance that needs to run independently , DO NOT PLAY AS A HOST IF YOU WANT A COHERENT GAME.

What you DO do is run SEV , Log in as a host enter your IP and port and set it to wait for players.

NOTE ** You do not need to load your empire , Simply select all game options , do not load the map or GENERATE the map - simply select the options you want the map to have.
In multiplayer make sure you tell all your friend the password you put at the top. Select simultaneous , Different computers , TCP/IP connection.

Now for those of you with trouble with this ,
Your IP can be located on your default gateway when you right click on your current connection in your system settings in windows. Click it and click properties etc.

Your IP and port can also be found on IPchicken .com .

Make sure the IP and port match the ones listed there (from IP chicken) as host , your trying to use a different port as host from the default so locate your machines.

Once host is active , have your friend join it.
Once a friend or friends have joined the TCP/IP game and the host is stable Alt Tab out.

Note ** Use ONLY alt tab do not use the mouse to click different instances , the Notepad is your 'clear window' so to speak which you can alt tab out with clean , this is more important when you have BOTH instances of SEV running - Once this happens simply alt - tab between SEV instances if needed , dont click them.

Startup another SEV instance. Here you simply connect as a player to the host you have running , Yes the HOST must run his player and the game host for this to work , As a player connect using the default port and perhaps the same IP IE 6598. If you have trouble connecting play with the ending ip numeral , change it by one etc.

Once you connect to the host from the second SEV instance as a player. Alt tab back to host to begin game once this is done go back to player and load your empire. Once THAT is done go back and process turn as host.Then go back to player and play your turn.

From here its a matter of play turn , once your done end it.
Then go back to host and process it and back and forth as you like.

Ive had 400+ turn games this way with similar turn time as a single player one - all you need todo is alt tab when done to the host and process and viola!!!

Any questions and I may actually respond , ill be checking here once per week maybe a little more.

Hope this helps all of you!

-Shawn