Imperial Splendour Multiplayer Guide

[Lazy Knight]

Getting your Game Multiplayer compatible

To be able to play ETW games together, player must have the exactly same game-version. This means for IS Media.pack file contained in the main IS 2.1 download and the IS DB.pack and patch_is_text.pack from the Patch 2.1.3 download, both found first post of the download thread.

The files must be unmodified, the game compares the timestamps!

You must also load no other mods. In other words, your user.empire_script.txt must contain exactly the lines

mod "Imperial Splendour DB.pack";
mod "Imperial Splendour Media.pack";

and nothing else. Alternatively you can only have those two files checked by modmanager, in that loadorder.

Even though the localisation file (patch_is_text.pack) is not enabled via this script, it is still checked. You must use the standard localisation. Other localisations, e.g. the spanish and english one, or localisations from submods like AUM or the UCP may mess it up. Remove them from you data folder.

If you also want to play a Multiplayer campaign with IS starting units, you must copy the startpos.esf and scripting.lua from the campaigns/imperial_splendour folder into the campaigns/main folder. Backup the vanilla files!


Playing ETW online

You can play custom battles (up to 4 players) and even a campaign (2 players) online. The campaign is still in beta, you must sign up for the beta test in order to play it. ( http://www.totalwar.com/empire/beta/index.php ). Having done so, you can easily select Custom Battle or Campaign in the Multiplayer Menu.

You can chat during MP games by moving your mouse-cursos to the upper left corner of the screen, where the advisor would be. The Chatbox will appear and clicking the middle button will let you type.

During campaigns we noticed that sometimes the player can not do anything (all buttons greyed out). This can usually be solved by saving the campaigngame, and restarting from the save.

[ilikepie]

Thank you very much for this thread! I have joined the group and hope others follow.

[Procopius]

What if I modify IS using DBEditor (to slightly change stats etc) and I try to play online MP campaign with a friend with the exact same modifications? Do you think it would work or is this what you mean when you say the files must be unmodified?

[Lazy Knight]

It works if you have exactly the same file. This means that one of you must make the modifications, and then send a copy of the file to your friend. It does not work if both make the same modifications independantly, because the game compares the timestamp of the files.

[Willbxtn]

In multiplayer campaigns, even with IS installed, you can't select non-vanilla playable factions, and France, Great Britain and Spain have their colonies as protectorates. Can anything be done about this, especially the latter?

[Lazy Knight]

If you also want to play a Multiplayer campaign with IS starting units, you must copy the startpos.esf and scripting.lua from the campaigns/imperial_splendour folder into the campaigns/main folder. Backup the vanilla files!

have you done this? (I know the answer and it is "no"). Do it an all will be well.

[Pinkamena Diane Pie]

Sorry if this has been asked elsewhere, but is there a quick and easy way to play vanilla ETW online and keep the mod? Like a convenient on/off button ^^. Its just that I am still rather active in the multiplayer community and IS games aren't common.

[Lazy Knight]

you can deactivate the mod by renaming the user_empire.script.txt in your scripts folder, and reactivate it by naming it back

I do it by just putting a large X in front of it: Xuser_empire.script.txt, remove the X and mod is enabled again

[Pinkamena Diane Pie]

Thank you, +rep.

[PikeStance]

I think the information in the OP is out of date?

Last night, I made the attempt to see what MP was about, but was not really able to....

I did the "X" thing. When it uploaded- It had Empire Total War, but it had the "red" color of the IS II Beta game. Also, I clicked on the campaign button; All the Flags were French Monarchy flag, the leader was English, and the text was a single word, "test."

I then try the Mod Manager, which I was able to download correctly. I try to remove all of the mod files, but it was the exact same results as above. This is a bit disconcerting because if I ever wanted to remove the IS Mod, I will be in a complete loss.

To make a long story short, I gave up on it. I attempted to fix everything via the Mod Manager, but I had this strange black screen that kept popping up, and then later, my units whenever they moved march to the limbo (no they were not light troops). They actually never stood upright.

Eventually, I completely uninstall the Mod Manager (it honestly cause me more trouble than it was worth), and copy the IS files into the data folders overwriting. It seemed to have done the trick, except when my units march, there is no drum and fife music, but there is when the other side moves. I didn't overwrite the campaign folder, so I am wondering if I should do that as well.

This whole shenanigan meant I was up past 2 AM. I will probably hear it from my wife But I did an important "honey- do" so it will probably reduce the '---itch out' to about 5 min with only one minor after- shock.

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[Don504]

Hmm, I am not sure about MP, but if you have trouble installing the mod, you should know that you don't need the mod manger, it comes with its installer and launcher.

[PikeStance]

Hmm, I am not sure about MP, but if you have trouble installing the mod, you should know that you don't need the mod manger, it comes with its installer and launcher.

A funny thing happen when I was doing updates to my computer (one was a graphic driver).... Now, when I click on the Empire icon, I get vanilla Empire, when I use the launcher, I get IS Empire. Is this normal?


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[Don504]

Yep, you have to start with the IS launcher every time, If you haven't noticed the "Start" button adds in the IS files, and when you press the "Close" button it unloads it.

[PikeStance]

Yep, you have to start with the IS launcher every time, If you haven't noticed the "Start" button adds in the IS files, and when you press the "Close" button it unloads it.

Excellent then,... all systems normal

If I may make an aesthetic appeal....

Y'all made some fantastic images with the signature, but the installer and launcher have a rather generic look to it. Also instead of plain text, consider buttons.... it looks nicer. Oh, the size of it is awkward. On my laptop the edges go beyond the edges of the computer. It you rotate it, it would an ideal fit.

Thanks for helping to resolve my issue.

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Sorry,... one more thing... I notice my script folder is now empty. Obviously it doesn't seem to matter, since it works fine, except
What about the Hanover mod? and I notice one unit placard was all white. Also, when I mouse over the units, I never see a name of the unit.
I remember reading this issue somewhere, but I am not certain if it had been fixed with the last patch. Also, prior to updating, I didn't have any blank placards. [Note: I am calling the image that you click on to add a unit a placard; I do not know the actual name]

Thanks in advance