Character selection & "Waiting on server data"

[Switch]

I installed PS/CS and after a little battle with tunnelling, I had the game connected to the official server (first screen show server ping and I\'m able to connect to server).
But after server connection, I arrived to the character selection screen with the message \"Waiting on server data...\" and ... that\'s all, nothing more happen. My connection stats show no more traffic to or from the server despite the connection is always established ...
If I try to made new character nothing happens.
So I wonder if the game need some more connection (not using the server port on udp protocol) or something similar ?


I run PS/CS on Linux (Mandrake 10.1) with version 0.3.008.

[th3unreal]

PLEASE HELP!!!!!

I have exactly the same problem. But i am using Windows XP Professional Edition instead of Linux but still the same problem with game freezing at Waiting on server data... As i read in the forum many users have this problem and can\'t connect to the game. This is what it says in the console:

NOTIFY: Could not get model converter
NOTIFY: Could not get model crossbuilder

planeshift.application.client:
  PlaneShift Crystal Blue
  This game uses Crystal Space Engine created by Jorrit and others
  0.99 r0 [Win32-X86-VisualC]
  You will be PROMPTED before a crash dump is generated.  Format is Normal
  (Stack and Backtrace information only)
LOG_ANY flag deactivated.
LOG_WEATHER flag deactivated.
LOG_SPAWN flag deactivated.
LOG_CELPERSIST flag deactivated.
LOG_PAWS flag deactivated.
LOG_GROUP flag deactivated.
LOG_CHEAT flag deactivated.
LOG_LINMOVE flag deactivated.
LOG_SPELLS flag deactivated.
LOG_NEWCHAR flag deactivated.
LOG_SUPERCLIENT flag deactivated.
LOG_EXCHANGES flag deactivated.
LOG_ADMIN flag deactivated.
LOG_STARTUP flag deactivated.
LOG_CHARACTER flag deactivated.
LOG_CONNECTIONS flag deactivated.
LOG_CHAT flag deactivated.
LOG_NET flag deactivated.
LOG_LOAD flag deactivated.
LOG_NPC flag deactivated.
LOG_TRADE flag deactivated.
LOG_SOUND flag deactivated.
LOG_COMBAT flag deactivated.
LOG_SKILLXP flag deactivated.
LOG_QUESTS flag deactivated.
LOG_SCRIPT flag deactivated.
Using OS Cursor
  psEngine initialized.
Creating psnetconnection d722438!

crystalspace.maploader.parse.image:
  Could not open image file \'/planeshift/textures/weapons/cleaver.tga\' on VFS!

crystalspace.maploader.parse.texture:
  Couldn\'t load image \'/planeshift/textures/weapons/cleaver.tga\', using
  checkerboard instead!

crystalspace.maploader.parse.image:
  Could not open image file \'/planeshift/textures/weapons/long02V01C.png\' on
  VFS!

crystalspace.maploader.parse.texture:
  Couldn\'t load image \'/planeshift/textures/weapons/long02V01C.png\', using
  checkerboard instead!

crystalspace.maploader.parse.image:
  Could not open image file \'/planeshift/tools/panflute01.jpg\' on VFS!

crystalspace.maploader.parse.texture:
  Couldn\'t load image \'/planeshift/tools/panflute01.jpg\', using checkerboard
  instead!
Creating psnetconnection 1d4fb310!
Creating psnetconnection 1d240dd8!

crystalspace.graphics3d.shader.fixed:
  Multitexture units: whopping 8

Anybody have any ideea pls? I would really like to play the game.. (i tried changing the ip to numerical and setting compatibility for win 98/me but no use)

[Yonin Lah]

Even if its for the sake of statistics, I too have hit this wall.

Reading that PlaneShift had an update facility, I downloaded  an older version from
http://www.fragnetics.com/files/PlaneShift_CBV0.3.006.exe
as (at the time) BitTorrent was not an option and the straight download was agonisingly slow (about 200 bytes per second).

As recommended, I registered and updated only to be confronted by this \"eternal waiting\" (as someone put it).

As far as I know I have also tried all of the possibilities related to linkdead mentioned on these forums (port forwarding, disabling firewalls, Windows ME compatibility mode, running update again, etc...).  The server stats report there are 51 people currently playing, so obviously the server isn\'t down

The only issue that still may be of relevance is that I already have Crystal Space on my system - I wouldn\'t expect that to make a difference, but I (personally) couldn\'t say for sure.

Regardless of these frustrations, its good to see this kind of initiative out there.

Naturally, I\'ll be watching keenly for any further ground made on this issue  

Cheers all.

[Externals]

I see that you guys are running older versions of the game, all of you. Try running the updater, maybe it will help a little. Try closing all other programs. These are only a few suggestions but they might work.

[Yonin Lah]

Thanks indeedie, but the update has been run and then some.  The login screen reports version 0.3.009, which I understood to be the latest.  But then again there might be something in that - somewhere the updater perhaps missed something crucial, also leading to the missing files reported through th3unreal\'s console.

I could also be completely wrong

[heidx]

I concur.
The message \"Waiting on server data\" appears indefinitly. Updated yesterday (3/30) and today.  No character appears on \"turntable\". No character can be selected. I do have good ping times 300 ms or so.

[Externals]

Hmm, well maybe you can delete, reinstall, and update the game and try then? It tends to work for me when my client has a major crash i cant get through.

[Yonin Lah]

Rather than just plow through another 70MB of updates I figured I\'d rather go the whole hog and get BitTorrent working for the latest version.  At least that way I know it\'s not so much an issue with the updater.  I\'ll post again later, success or not.

[Externals]

I dont think they have the most current version up for download. But its your computer, try what works for you.

[Yonin Lah]

I meant to say a later version

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Even though it was kinda expected, the newer download (and consequent update) still waits at the character selection screen.  At least the updates have gone from 70MB for the old version to 2.5MB for the new one, and I\'m fairly content it\'s not an updater issue (I\'m sure there\'s more than a couple of people here who wondered why I ever doubted it).

But since both installations failed the same way, that also suggests that it\'s an issue specific to the machines that have this problem (probably also obvious to some).  The main possibilities that come to mind are already having Crystal Space and being stuck with the DirectX debug runtime, but I wouldn\'t have expected these to make a difference.  But this is heading somewhere that may be better in another thread...

----------------------------------------------------------------------

OK now I\'m getting somewhere...

I managed to hijack my wife\'s laptop to test PS on.  At first it behaved just the same, but then worked fine when I got it on a regular dial up connection.  This points a big finger at the modem/router which doesn\'t appear to be doing as it\'s told (or at an operator who doesn\'t *really* know what he\'s doing )

It\'s an Netcomm NB5 ADSL modem.  I\'ve tried (to name only a few):
- port forwarding of UDP on 13331 (but I understand that is not needed for the Laanx server).
- port forwarding of UDP on 7354 (the NB5 doesn\'t appear to have a distinction between inward an outward).
- putting my computer in the DMZ (with no other port forwards selected).  Also by disabling the Windows firewall at the same time to make sure (although I didn\'t need to on the laptop).

Regardless, there seems to be something essential it\'s not letting through to begin the \"Character Select\" process.  Any suggestions would be warmly appreciated.  Appologies also if I seem to be rehashing an old question (I have spent a fair bit of time scouring the forums and wouldn\'t mind some solid clarification ).

Cheers all.

Edit by Moogie: Posts merged into one. Nothing to do with being sensitive- it\'s just the rules.

Edit: Thanks indeedie.  Conform I shall (breaking rules is the lesser challenge).  Appologies to Burntleaf!  

[heidx]

My setup is about the same as Yonin\'s. I tried both updating and new install with the same results.
I can however supply an ethereal capture on request. In my case at least the network appears to be working.
PM me to request if desired.

[Yonin Lah]

Now I\'m even more suspicious that it\'s a hardware issue.  I was hoping someone more enlightened in these matters could throw a yea or nay behind it.

I used Ethereal to inspect the packets that were hitting my ethernet card (while attempting to connect with the laanx server).  There definitely seems to be packets going back and forth between laanx and port 7354 on my machine, but they occur almost regardless of my router settings.

They occur whether port forwarding is active or not.
They occur if I deliberately map 7354 to the wrong port (they still end up at 7354).
They occur if I deliberately forward 7354 to the wrong LAN IP.
They occur if I deliberately put another LAN IP in the DMZ (with no forwards active).

As I understood most of these measures should have stopped the packets reaching my machine.  Either I\'ve got the concepts wrong, or perhaps there is a fault.  And if there is a fault with my equipment, then that\'s one less thing for the devs to worry about (and one more thing to consider when trouble shooting)...

Cheers.