[MilesBeyond]

On the server front though, I have a glimmer of good news there: I've been able to get a new VM spun up on my (very nice) work laptop with the last server backup I have from February 8 running on it. I need to discuss some details with the staff, but it *may* be possible that I could at least have this temporary server running while I'm gone to give you all your daily fix of Thay, since I won't be using that work machine anyway while I am on vacation. But then deciding what to do when I come back is the big question that needs to be worked out first to avoid doing so causing even more problems. More to come on this front after I've talked it over with the staff. Stay tuned...

We could spin it into a new campaign, where the February 8 server is an alternate universe. When we get the main server back up, we could have all the characters from the Feb 8 server invade the main server, try to kill their counterparts, and take over their lives.

Hahaha, I'm kidding.

I don't think a temp server would be a bad idea, but the problem would be the uncertainty. If people think the server won't be permanent and everything will be erased when the main one's back up, they might do all sorts of silly and ridiculous things they might not otherwise do. Of course, if it then turns out that the main server can't be recovered, we're left with this server where everything's gone crazy. At the same time, if there's a possibility that the server can be recovered, then people might be reluctant to take this time all that seriously because it could be investing time into a black hole (which, in the grand scheme of things, I guess is what we're doing anyway, but you know what I mean).

Not that I think the time on the Feb 8 server would be a descent into mad chaos, but I'm guessing it would probably require heavier moderation than usual.

1) Go ahead and restart Thay so people can have their daily fix. Include a HUGE disclaimer that it's a temp situation and old/rebooted Thay will be restored if possible and will likely render the next few weeks moot. Players can use this time to have fun, test out new builds, and keep from going into DT's. *grin*

A period of OOC time like between the final campaign of the old world and the beginning of the new one could be fun for sure.

Hmmm, perhaps we could have a contest where everyone tries to replicate and imitate someone else's character. Or does that dip too much into the sort of mad chaos I talked about above? ;)

[Gwydion669]

If people think the server won't be permanent and everything will be erased when the main one's back up, they might do all sorts of silly and ridiculous things they might not otherwise do. Of course, if it then turns out that the main server can't be recovered, we're left with this server where everything's gone crazy.

*laughs* Just trying to figure out what silly and ridiculous things might happen that I haven't yet seen! My personal favorite was a werewolf rampaging thru town while the "werewolf killers" were actually emoting *fires an arrow that misses* while looting the dead bodies in the wake.

In a month long period, I can't even see most cheats being a problem. Muling? Okay, a third level character ends up with 100k gold. Still can't buy a house. Yep, they can buy a lot of cool equipment ... which they are too low level to use.

The only thing I could really see are nutjobs deciding to kill all the merchants/guards/npc's in a town. Or deciding to randomly attack and kill fellow players (griefers). In those situations, there would still be DM's likely to come on and give the offendors a boot to the head.

As for the mess that's left behind ... that's why I think it should be a clean reboot if the old information can't be salvaged.

[Balanor]

I know you've got another thread started on actual campaign ideas or things to do in the interim, but once again the NWN gods apparently love to kick someone while they're down. The NWServer on my work laptop is fine if I login from another machine on the network, but it is not posting externally. I've literally spent all day trying to figure this out, going so far as to create a new host machine and see if that fixes it. Some of the details are here where I posted for help -
http://forum.bioware.com/topic/512541-nw...rayed-out/

Right now I'm beginning to heavily suspect that the Active Directory policies that have been applied to my work computer are affecting the NWServer within the VM to launch properly, but I honestly don't know. So at this point, I need to take a break from the computer desk, grab some air, clear the mind and drive the murderous rage at my computer from my mind, and try to think through WTF else I can do to try and bring up even a temp server.

[Balanor]

After the better part of more-or-less ~14 straight hours working on trying to get the server to post to the internet, I am conceding defeat. I’ve created two Windows 7 VMs, one Windows XP VM, loaded NWN on them from the Diamond install disk at least 3 times, and from the ancient 2002 disks once even. I’ve updated the network adapter driver on the physical machine running the VMs, and done so many other things I’ve lost track of them all. But the NWServer will simply not post to the internet on any VMs that reside on my work machine.

I can only hope and assume that the problem is with the physical host laptop, and when I get my new computer after my vacation, I’ll be able to start up a VM on that and run the server on it. I hope. So after getting everyone’s hopes up for a temporary server over the next couple weeks, I must backpedal now and say again that Thay will be down until at least September 11. Or at least that's when I'll be able to post a status update.

I’d apologize again, but that’s all I’ve been doing and I’m sure you all are as tired of hearing it as I am of saying it. So I’ll just say instead to enjoy your time wherever you end up the next few weeks, and god forbid if it is outdoors or in the sunlight.

[zDarkShadowz]

If you figure it out whats going wrong, let me know the answer you came up with? Years ago i had a laptop that could post games online, but i only had a dialup connection at the time... I was fine with that cause i had this great idea and other people could connect, so i taught myself to write scripts in nwn when i was about 15... and when i finally learned i was confident i could make any given thing if i thought it through... Well, we had changed internet from dialup to satellite, and that wouldnt let me host.. Never been able to host since, even when moving to broadbandbafter that..

[Gwydion669]

Meh. Muerde happens. Don't worry about it.

I'm sure we can all find something to do in RL. Like call up friends and relatives and listen to the variations of "<insert name here>, my God! You're ALIVE!"

[Animayhem]

No worries. Enjoy your vacation.

[Bela]

You have done everything in your powers to try to sort this out for us and for that we shall be ever grateful.

Time to take "time out" now, go ahead and try to relax with your wife and have some fun.

Thank you for your effort, time and no doubt ultimate frustration while trying to set up the laptop.

Enjoy your holiday and try not to let this spoil it. :D

[MilesBeyond]

I know you've got another thread started on actual campaign ideas or things to do in the interim, but once again the NWN gods apparently love to kick someone while they're down. The NWServer on my work laptop is fine if I login from another machine on the network, but it is not posting externally. I've literally spent all day trying to figure this out, going so far as to create a new host machine and see if that fixes it. Some of the details are here where I posted for help -
http://forum.bioware.com/topic/512541-nw...rayed-out/

No worries, the campaign was just a suggestion. The main idea that I'm presenting is that whether you're able to salvage the whole thing, part of it, or we need to start from scratch, we'll find a way to have fun with it no matter what.

[Balanor]

Okey - so I've got one last status update for the dead drive. This will be my last for awhile, on either the data recovery or the server status, as I'll be (mostly) away on my vacation until Sept 11.

The short story to start with is that Office Max really blew it on this one and I lost a lot of confidence in their ability to do this. So instead, I took the drive to Best Buy. They've given me a tracking number to check on the status of the recovery, and even a UPS tracking number for the drive as it makes its way to the recovery center. I'm definitely much more impressed with their organization and handling of this than I was at Office Max, anyway. The cost will be similar, 'starting at' $500, but that depends on how badly damaged the drive is. Apparently if they need to go to the next 'level' the price increase becomes even more horrible than it already is, starting at $1500. The Geek at Best Buy *seemed* to think that the $500 level likely be the level at which they could get the data since the hard drive wasn't clicking when it crashed which would indicate massive physical damage they'd have to work around which would take them up to that ridiculous cost. But I won't know until they start work on it around the middle of next week.

They will be calling me once they've begun to let me know just how bad things are and how far they'll have to go to recover the data. So when I get the really good, or really bad, news about it though, I'll post here when I get a chance.