CD key: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 10:46, 22 February 2012

Where to find them

CD keys were included with your game, probably in your manual or on cover of your CD. It is that string of digits that you had to type in while installing your game.

Once the game is installed, the CD keys are stored in the file named "nwncdkey.ini" inside your NWN folder. This file can be opened with any text editor. Be very careful not to edit it by accident or delete it!

Why They Matter

Your CD key is your password to Arelith. Bioware's NWN master server is currently down indefinitely, which means that logging in is possible without creating an account or using a password. Obviously Arelith can't just allow anyone to log in to any account, so we assign player accounts on a first come, first served basis. Here is how it works.

You log in and select a character.
The server checks to see if your account has a CD key tied to it.
- If not, your current CD key is tied to your account.
- If so, you are allowed to play provided your CD key matches the one tied to your account. Otherwise, you are immediately booted with the "CD key authentication denied" message.

Playing from a different computer

It is recommended that you transfer your CD keys when you switch to a different computer or when reinstalling NWN. This can be done by copying file nwncdkey.ini.

Multiple players

If multiple players are playing from the same household, in order to play at the same time each player will need a different CD key. It is recommended that each player has their own CD key, and always uses that CD key.

Alternatively, multiple players may use the same CD key, provided they do not play at the same time. However, RP Rating and bans are tied to CD keys, and as far as the DMs are concerned, each CD key is exclusively available to only one player. The "my room mate did it" excuse does not wash here.

Note: If multiple people are playing from the same network, you should ensure that each player's client port is set differently, otherwise you may run into issues connecting.

Storing your CD Keys

There are two places in which your CD keys can be normally found:

Inside the NWN folder in a file called nwncdkey.ini.
Inside your installation manual (It is those numbers that have to be entered when game is installed.)

It is recommended that you store you CD Keys in case your computer or manuals become damaged or unusable. Previously, Bioware provided a CD key storage service for their games, however, this feature is no longer available. You should instead copy your nwncdkey.ini file to a safe location or print it in case you lose your manual.

Public CD key

Sometimes, you may be asked to provide your public CD key (this would be likely requested by PM). Here are instructions on how to obtain it:

1. Find your original NWN CD Key (Key1 of nwncdkey.ini or inside your NWN instruction manual)

2. Take the first 8 even numbered digits. That is, take the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, and 16th character (either number or letter) from the CD key. For example,

If your key is:

12345-ABCDE-12345-ABCDE-12345-ABCDE

What you want:

12345-ABCDE-12345-ABCDE-12345-ABCDE

Public CD Key is:

24ACE24A

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 CD keys were included with your game, probably in your manual or on cover of your CD. It is that string of digits that you had to type in while installing your game.
-Once the game is installed, the CD keys are stored in file "nwncdkey.ini" inside your NWN folder. This file can be opened with any text editor. '''Be very careful not to edit it or delete it!'''
+Once the game is installed, the CD keys are stored in the file named "nwncdkey.ini" inside your NWN folder. This file can be opened with any text editor. '''Be very careful not to edit it by accident or delete it!'''
 == Why They Matter ==
-Several systems on Arelith are tied to CD keys of players. Playing from different computer or new instalation of NWN game can cause several problems that could be [http://arelith.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Common_Bugs#I_can_not_use_my_Shop.2C_Quarters.2C_Bank.2C_or_Portals|mistaken for a bug].
+Your CD key is your password to Arelith. Bioware's NWN master server is currently down indefinitely, which means that logging in is possible without creating an account or using a password. Obviously Arelith can't just allow anyone to log in to any account, so we assign player accounts on a first come, first served basis. Here is how it works.
-CD key are tied to:
+* You log in and select a character.
-* Ownership of Shop and Quarters (not recognized as owner)
+* The server checks to see if your account has a CD key tied to it.
-* Bank (all your savings will be gone)
+** If not, your current CD key is tied to your account.
-* Portals (all your activated portals will be gone)
+** If so, you are allowed to play provided your CD key matches the one tied to your account. Otherwise, you are immediately booted with the "CD key authentication denied" message.
-* RP-rating (gone)
-* Actual position of your character (you will likely start on boat/in Grond/Udos' Inn)
-* Respawning point (reset to default)
-You will be missing all those if you use different CD key.
+== Playing from a different computer ==
-If you log on by mistake with other CD key, then returning to old CD key and server reset afterwards should fix this.
+It is recommended that you transfer your CD keys when you switch to a different computer or when reinstalling NWN. This can be done by copying file nwncdkey.ini.
-To avoid all these issues, it is good idea to [[CD Key#Storing you CD Keys|store your CD keys]].
-== Playing from different computer ==
+== Multiple players ==
-It is recommended that you transfer your CD Keys when you play on different computer or making new installation of NWN. This can be done by copying file nwncdkey.ini.
+If multiple players are playing from the same household, in order to play at the same time each player will need a different CD key. It is recommended that each player has their own CD key, and always uses that CD key.
-== Storing you CD Keys ==
+Alternatively, multiple players may use the same CD key, provided they do not play at the same time. However, [[RP Rating]] and bans are tied to CD keys, and as far as the DMs are concerned, each CD key is exclusively available to only one player. The "my room mate did it" excuse does not wash here.
-There are two places where your CD Keys can be normally found:
-* Inside the NWN folder in a file called nwncdkey.ini.
-* Inside your instalation manual (It is those numbers that have to be entered when game is installed.)
-It is recommended that you store you CD Keys for any case of any accident that may damage your computer or manuals.
+Note: If multiple people are playing from the same network, you should ensure that each player's client [[port]] is set differently, otherwise you may run into issues connecting.
-<s>* Open up nwncdkey.ini or manual and note down the keys there.
-* Log onto http://nwn.bioware.com/ with your NWN login and password.
-* Go into "My Account -> Edit My Account" and under "Register Games" choose NWN and each expansion in turn.
-* Input the CD keys into that and then you'll be able to recover them at any time, so even if you end up needing a new disk you can still use the old keys just fine.</s>
-'''Note: Since EA bought out Bioware, they've upgraded their website to be in line with EA, and as such, this feature is no longer available. This means that if your key was stored on the website, you canot access it.'''
-You should copy your nwncdkey.ini to a safe location or print it in case you loose your manual.
+== Storing your CD Keys ==
+There are two places in which your CD keys can be normally found:
+* Inside the NWN folder in a file called nwncdkey.ini.
+* Inside your installation manual (It is those numbers that have to be entered when game is installed.)
+It is recommended that you store you CD Keys in case your computer or manuals become damaged or unusable. Previously, Bioware provided a CD key storage service for their games, however, this feature is no longer available. You should instead copy your nwncdkey.ini file to a safe location or print it in case you lose your manual.
 == Public CD key==
-Sometimes, you can be asked to provide your public CD key (this would be likely requested by PM). Instructions how to obtain it:
-. Find your original NwN CD Key (Key1 of nwncdkey.ini or inside your NwN instruction manual)
+Sometimes, you may be asked to provide your public CD key (this would be likely requested by PM). Here are instructions on how to obtain it:
+. Find your original NWN CD Key (Key1 of nwncdkey.ini or inside your NWN instruction manual)
-. Take the first 8 even numbered digits. That means: take the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, and 16th character (either number or letter) from the CD key.
+. Take the first 8 even numbered digits. That is, take the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, and 16th character (either number or letter) from the CD key. For example,
 * If your key is:
 -ABCDE-12345-ABCDE-12345-ABCDE