Hi all,
This thread is intended tp porovide 'constructive advise' to both EAW newbies and veterans alike on how to get the best out of EAW when flying on-line.

Please do not enter into prolonged or lengthy discussions on which methods are best etc. Just post the inbest information we have and how it's done.

I will monitor this one regularly.

This thread is a way out of date - so I updated this post to contain all the needed info. Until otherwise posted ignore anything below this post. This update is on December 6, 2009.

I intend to keep this post updated - Uriah.

Intro to Online play:
There are two groups of online players. Some play in both groups. I call one the 'LaunchPad' the other the 'Flyboys'.

Time is important:
Time anywhere in the world.
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/


Both groups use Team Speak.
get teamspeak here:
http://www.teamspeak.com/?page=downloads
Install Teamspeak2 client

Flyboys use:
Label: European Airwar
Server Address: 62.48.74.43:8769
Choose a nickname.
Log in as "Anonymus".
No Password requiered.


Launchpad:
the host is GameSpeak
203.34.186.11:8767
once connected scroll down to 'eaw launchpad'
the password is 'eawrules'

======================= LaunchPad ==================================================
The LaunchPad folks lead by VB also use Chatzy
http://www.chatzy.com/251310437564
And website for the LP is:
http://eawlaunchpad.multiply.com/

They use a set of code that is hex edited but works well with many old mods.
VB is on 12 hours a day and can be found at Chatzy.
You can use Win98 here.

======================== Flyboys Group ===============================================
Flyboys use a set of code they have altered and compiled.
Gameranger is used for online play. Gameranger does not support Win98.
Get started here!
http://www.gameranger.com/

TO SETUP GAMERANGER:

Run the install and follow the prompts. You will need to setup this account with a valid email.

When installed (very simple) open the application.
Gameranger Instructions:
Go to the file menu > EDIT > OPTION > GAMES: European Air War

The first time that you try and join a hosted EAW game, you will also be asked to navigate to your (matching) version of the EAW executable on your hardrive. Warnings will appear if a player has a different executable to the host.

Below has a few edits I have made -
from Knegel:
This is for all who play, or want to play EAW1.28c on GameRanger!!

Since the EAW community is very small these day�s and cause almost all people, who play on GameRanger, mod EAW anyway(in this or that way), we think that a "open beta" development is the only that work, at least regarding the multiplayer related development.

We will most probably stay in a steady development, so we decided to have a permanent download link for the latests EAW1.28c_MP**.exe.

"MP" of course stand for "MultiPlayer", although some features also might be of interest for offliners.

This link will be always present as "welcome message", if you join the EAW TeamSpeak server, together with the date when the download got updated.
This is the current message:
Download the latest EAW1.28c "MultiPlayer" executable (05.Dez.09):
http://www.users.on.net/pam_biddell/EAW1.28c_MP.zip

Here some important informations:

1. All our exe�s will have the "basic name" "EAW1.28c_MPxx"(EAW1.28c_MP01, EAW1.28c_MP02, EAW1.28c_MP03 etc).

2. Unless we did implement critical gameplay related changings, we wont change the netcode and "basic name" of an new exe. For "not citical adjustments" we only will add a "character" to the name, while the new exe stay fully compatible regarding the gameplay.

Example:
The 1st exe is called "EAW1.28c_MP01". If we make a "not critical adjustment", it will be called "EAW1.28c_MP01a", if we make another "not critical adjustment", its "EAW1.28c_MP01b", etc.

3. A "not critical adjustment" is a new feature or bug fix, which don't change the gameplay or world setup.
For example the new feature to enlarge the "chat font" by an new EAW.ini value is not a critical adjustment. While a changing in the flight/damage model routine would be a "critical changing".

4. If we make a "critical adjustment", where the gameplay isn't compatible anymore, we will change the netcode and the basic name to "EAW1.28c_MP02" and so on.
Only in this case its realy needed to have the latest exe to be able to play online.

5. Since the zipped EAW.exe itself is a rather small file of just 590kB, it shouldn't be a problem to stay up to date.

I don't expect many "critical adjustments" anyway.

Its of course needed that as many people, who want to play on GameRanger with EAW1.28c_MP, stay informed and up to date and that all explain possible newbes the rules.

So please help the people to setup TS, or at least give them the above download link, so they can download the latest exe, if needed.

Here you get GameRanger:
http://www.gameranger.com/


A very good help for newbes, regarding 1 vs 1 dogfights in EAW, is Mark Shot's STK, you get it here:
http://www.simhq.com/_air/air_037a.html


So at best you copy this message and store it as text file, at least the links!

Greetings,

Knegel

Here is an idea: I have been reading online, so why havn't I been flying online? If there is a totally basic web page on HOW TO get flying online I havn't found it yet. I have been looking at countless web pages, hundreds of posts among the THOUSANDS of posts on this forum and still have not flown online. It is a bit overwhelming! Yes, I managed to bookmark tally ho "starting gate" but have not read that yet.

In Red Baron 3D all I do is go to a multiplayer menu and BAM! I'm in the arena. I read on one page out there for EAW or OAW I guess its called here, we must have 1.2version with certain plane mods [or not] or risk crashing a server. Don't quote me as to that last example, but I don't want to log on and crash the mission of the day without being shot down first.

Do I need to have an OAW folder , or is this just for personal mods?

Do I need to go through some sort of membership to any site as a portal to get flying online [read something last night that I think started with a K, to sign up for something?


I'd like to see a starting page like that of Max [the one with lt. brown background] with simple instructions. That site is great. It simply lays out how to put in mods and get XP going.

enough bandwidth for me for now!

Andy

Note: Windows 2000 compatability:
EAW won't recognise USB joystick. Use Microsoft Application Compatability Toolkit 'act30pkg.exe' -You'll have to use a search engine to find it-. When you've got it, set up a 'custom database' settings with 'emulate windows joystick' unchecked to fix this issue. You must then click 'install database' and that should do the trick.

Watch this thread for new action pictures from our current online sessions or visit the EAW Launchpad!

Teamspeak server details can be obtained via our (admission free) chatroom as it may change:

http://www.chatzy.com/251310437564

Open all day ,no membership required, professional help or just a chat. And you can also have a look at my latest creations or just visit our screenshot gallery to get an impression of our games!

https://rabartel.home.xs4all.nl/test/Gallery/image/

This is the latest screenshot taken:


VonBeerhofen

https://rabartel.home.xs4all.nl

Download GameRanger:
http://www.gameranger.com

TeamSpeak:
EAW
62.48.74.43:8769

AO

I just posted a similar message in a different thread, but for those who fly 1.28 or later online you need to hold the ESC key down for several seconds to exit the game.

Before this it was easy to hit the Esc key accidentally when trying to hit the in game chat key which is just below it on the keyboard. If you did you would get the "Do you wish to exit?" message which requires a "Y/N" response.
The problem was that this would pause the game for all the other players.
Hence, the routine was changed.

With 1.40 we have made the exit key "Shift [" or "Shift ]" on the US English KBD for online games.

Jel

Testing the 325nd set-up before the real missions start.
Host only testing in EAW140 is really useful



I love these sunset missions

Note That MarkEAW has a nice site now that includes online tips.
Check out the EUROPEAN AIR WAR HELP SITE

Note my site also has additional information