Setting up a permanent NWN server

[Morrus]

For those of you with knowledge of such things:

1) How hard is this to do? What is involved?
2) What sort of resources would it need? Would it need its own server?
3) How would it actually work (if you get what I mean). I don't have the game yet, so have no manual to look at. People would log on, I presume... the DM obviously couldn't be there 24/7, but could you have a group of DMs who drop in and out occasionally? And regular "events" or adventures could be scheduled in the world at specific times.

I'm thinking of a smallish peristent world called "EN World" (possible gradually expanded by fan-submitted areas). People can wander around and interact and mess about with some small scripted encounters and adventures whenever they like. Occasionally events would be schedules in that world - e.g. "Wednesday night, XXXX will be running an adventure" or "Quake-style battle. Log in and duke it out on Friday night!" Different types of events for different tastes.

 

[Leopold]

1. SETTING up server: What OS? You can run multiple instances of the game off one machine but prepare for having MEGARAM needed (around 1gb for more than 4 with 16 players per game)
As far as getting it running? Simple as typing it at a command prompt in linux or using the gui in windoze.


2. Yes it would see above. IT's EXTREMELY CPU intesive and RAM consuming, right now they had the one guy in bioware run 8 instances off a dual Athalon rig running 8 games with 1 player each and it was running at a nice clip..the more players and games you run the more of a high end server you will need.


3. The DM would have to script the story out so that they wouldn't need to interact, but I presume you could have it autospawn and kill monsters, again I never built a module so I don't know but a DM would have to be present to move the game along if it stalled out.


ENWorld server? IN theory the game can support 64 players in one world at one time to do this you will need minimum (and this is from bioware):

1. Fast cpu: 1ghz or higher Dual CPU prefered.
2. RAM:1GB or more, the more people the more resources the bigger the map the more it sucks the RAM up.
3. Hard drive: Doesn't have to be fast by any means, 1GB of space is MORE than enough.
4. Bandwith: T1 minimum, no cable, no DSL (Unless it's 3MB/1mb down/up). Remember you are having 64 people run around like in everquest killing things and this is all taking place at the same time so it's heavy duty in both directions. No players on 56k either as they will choke on the game and slow everyone down.
5. OS: Linux, less overhead, less resources, all around better. If you can't get it, Win2k/WinXP for stability and DO NOT PLAY ON SAID PC WHILE YOU SPAWN THE SERVER!!!

That's what you are looking for, if you want 4 instances of the game (only 1 cd key needed) running 16 players you might be able to do it on a 1ghz CPU with 512mb of RAM and a High End DSL, anything less and you are asking for trouble.

Let me know if this helps any as I built a small server to house NWN and have ravaged the boards finding out what works and what doesn't.

 

[Morrus]

Ah well. Scratch that idea, then.

 

[Leopold]

Ah well. Scratch that idea, then.

worth a shot though chief! maybe later on down the line when they clean it up we can have a small game for moderators only hosted by y'all at your new server