Connecting

Arelith requires the latest official update 1.69 which can be downloaded using the game's Main Menu, as well as both official expansion packs (Shadows of Undrentide (SoU) and Hordes of the Underdark (HotU)).

Connecting

Open Neverwinter Nights, and select 'Multiplayer', and then 'Join LAN Game'. After clicking on the 'Direct Connect' button at the bottom, enter one of the following IP addresses (no password is required):

Cordor - arelith.servegame.org:5123 (or 68.62.190.43:5123)

The Surface - arelith.servegame.org:5124 (or 68.62.190.43:5124)

The Underdark - arelith.servegame.org:5125 (or 68.62.190.43:5125)

When logging off of a character, you MUST return to the same server from where you last logged off, lest technical errors may occur and corrupt your character's file.

Connecting via the built-in GameSpy service is also possible, but it is a slower method for the client computer, as client has to transmit data to Gamespy before connection is made as well. It is a myth that direct connecting causes less lag for the server, it only causes less lag for the client computer and that is also only the case until connection to the server is made. Connection command, either through direct connect or served by Gamespy, is the same.

The recommended method is to directly connect from desktop. It is the fastest method for you to join the server.

See article about more players from the same network, if you are using the same wireless internet or local network (behind the same modem or firewall) with some other player of Arelith on NWN.

Player should make sure that the server was not recently reset, beore connecting. If player sees that there are only very few (0-3) players on the server, it is recommended to wait 5 minutes before joining it or asking on chat if there was a restart. This approach can prevent getting temporary ban for logging on within 5 minutes after the server restart. When direct connecting from desktop it is recommended to look at the players list before selecting the character and make sure that players are already on the server and that it was not recently reset.

Ping

"Jj's network has ping requests blocked, by the way, so the results of a ping won't tell you anything - I can connect just fine and can't ping." Fire Boar

Direct connect from desktop

Advantages

Direct Connecting seems to reduce stress on both the server and other players' experience. Please, use this method connecting if possible. It will enhance your experience and enjoyment of all players on the server.

It will also allow you to connect comfortably when Master Server of NWN Gamespy is encountering problems and doesn't provide list of online servers.

In short

For MP servers there's the direct connect shortcut:

C:\nwn\nwmain.exe +connect arelith.servegame.org:5124

Also there's a direct connect shortcut for the DM client:

C:\nwn\nwmain.exe -dmc +connect arelith.servegame.org:5124 +password dmpword

Make a shortcut by right-clicking on nwmain.exe. Put either of the 2 above (depending on DM or normal client) in the "target" line and C:\nwn in the "start in" line. Replace examples with your path to NWN and your server's address and the password if the server uses it.

Detailed guide to direct connecting

(1) Create a shortcut on your desktop to the nwmain.exe file in your NWN directory.

(1a) Go to directory where your NWN game is installed.

(1b) Right click on nwmain.exe file and click "Copy"

(1c) Right click on you Desktop and click "Paste Shortcut"

(2) Right click on the shortcut and click properties.

(3) In the Target box, add the following text to the end of the line: " +connect arelith.servegame.org:5124" (without the quotes). So the Target should look something like this:

C:\NeverwinterNights\NWN\nwmain.exe +connect arelith.servegame.org:5124

or like this for UD server:

C:\NeverwinterNights\NWN\nwmain.exe +connect arelith.servegame.org:5125

(4) Run the shortcut, which will connect you directly to Arelith.

(5) Check the player list before logging on. If there is none or only few players then the server is likely after restart. It would be appreciated if you waited for 5 minutes before connecting.

• If the server's IP address (or port) change you'll need to update your shortcut.

• If you use the same method to join a password protected server, add " +password YOUR_PASSWORD" to the end.

• If you want to connect as a DM, you'll need to use +password with the DM password, and then " -dmc" at the end. e.g.:

C:\NeverwinterNights\NWN\nwmain.exe +connect arelith.servegame.org:5124 +password DM_PASSWORD -dmc

Remember to change the port variation for each server. If you are connecting often to both servers, you may want to create two shortcuts on your desktop.

• arelith.servegame.org:5124 for the Surface
• arelith.servegame.org:5125 for the Underdark

Batches

Alternatively you can use a batch file to connect aswel using the same method. A sample script:

@echo off

cd C:\NeverwinterNights\NWN\

echo Select a Server

echo 1. Surface

echo 2. Underdark

set /p servervar= Server Number:

if %servervar% == 1 start nwmain.exe +connect arelith.servegame.org:5124

if %servervar% == 2 start nwmain.exe +connect arelith.servegame.org:5125

exit

Creating a batch Open notepad. Type this code in. And save as Servers.bat (it doesn't matter what you name it as long as it has .bat at the end).

Explaining the commands

• @echo off

That turns off the unsightly file path.

• cd C:\NeverwinterNights\NWN\

Make sure you have this, the batch doesn't seem to work right unless you set the path before.

• echo

This is the text that you see.

• set /p servervar= Server Number:

This is the multiple choice script.

server is the variable a variable and has to be set before anything can be done.

• if %servervar% == 1 start nwmain.exe +connect arelith.servegame.org:5124

This called on the servervar variable (HAS to have % on either sides I believe)

And if servervar is set to 1 then it automatically connects to the server Skipping Game Spy.

Make sure you have the path set before this, entering

start C:\NeverwinterNights\NWN\nwmain.exe +connect arelith.servegame.org:5124

Will not work!