# Fourteenth Official Chat

### Wednesday, 13 December 2000

Abaddon | Hello all and welcome to another UOX3 House of Commons Chat. Same as usual each week, no set topic. All questions to go through QuestionBot
Abaddon | If you have a question, type it out like this /msg QuestionBot !addq Your question goes here
Abaddon | So, question away!

# Questions

- Is it possible to set up UOX to run on a local network, without the internet? (SilverBlackSun, 1 votes)
- How far back is the Uox3 is the big build being held back? (_Venom_, 1 votes)
- What is UOX? :) (Menace-LoD, 1 votes)
- What is the word on the new system for containers? (Backstab, 1 votes)
- When will there be AT LAST be an alliance-option for the guildwar menu?? (Byron, 1 votes)
- Is there anything in the works for new/better Monster AI, like getting around a crate someone tosses down? (Backstab, 1 votes)
- RRRRUNNNNNNEEEE BBBBBBOOOOOOOOKKSSS will they be in the final build? (_Venom_, 1 votes)
- How is the script team doing and what are they doing currently? (Dyskolos, 1 votes)
- Will we be able to make random gold as a random item in spawned containers? (Jerelith, 1 votes)
- Any plans for a "friend" system for tamed creatures? Example: I have a tame horse, I friend it to you which lets you ride it.(but not rename it or transfer it) (Xuri, 1 votes)
- How does one become part of the uoxdev team? (_Venom_, 1 votes)
- Is the Big Build comming out so soon thet we code Tinkerers should hold off on new projects till we see the new build? (Backstab, 1 votes)
- What is your hopeful estimate on the release of "the big build"? (SilverBlackSun, 1 votes)
- Could you explain the basics of how the server handles clients connecting to it? (SilverBlackSun, 1 votes)
- What has OSI done or tried to do to stop you? (netcatx, 1 votes)
- All in all, I am happy with the UOX project, except for maybe 4-5 major bugs. Are you happy with the way things are going? (Tom2, 1 votes)
- Tools General Question: Will it get easy (more commonplace) to add new Item Pics? (Backstab, 1 votes)
- With the recent ill omens on Evil's end, has there been though of a new UOX BIG release date? (Soory if it was answered, I came late, but still excited) (Tom2, 1 votes)
- Any strategies upcoming for world saving? (Dyskolos, 1 votes)
- How much do UOX3 Tshirts cost? (Backstab, 1 votes)
- Do the devs really play on any shards or test on any shards, or are they too busy doing coding and other stuff? More directly - Do you all get to see the real UOX effects of your coding changes? (Tom2, 1 votes)
- Where in the source is the code that handles clients connecting? (which cpp file) (SilverBlackSun, 1 votes)
- Will shopkeepers be more controlable with the new scrip system.. Like not selling to Enemy Races? (Backstab, 1 votes)

Is it possible to set up UOX to run on a local network, without the internet? (SilverBlackSun, 1 votes) Abaddon | This really is more a question that is answered in the documents. But yes, it is possible. Just run it, and don't provide an internet IP for the server.

How far back is the Uox3 is the big build being held back? (_Venom_, 1 votes) Abaddon | Unknown at this time. I haven't had a chance to talk with EviLDeD about the delay yet, I only know he wishes to delay it. I'm trying to keep the code flowing as smoothly as possible from my end, so hopefully the delay will be minimized.
Abaddon | But the reason for the delay is rather simple. EviLDeD was robbed last week, and computers were stolen. I have a semi-recent backup of what he was working on, but there was a distinct code loss that needs to be redone

What is UOX? :) (Menace-LoD, 1 votes) Abaddon | If you don't know that, what are you doing here? :>. UOX is a UO server emulator, allowing you to run your own shard in an offline environment, or an online environment with some friends

What is the word on the new system for containers? (Backstab, 1 votes) Abaddon | Not sure exactly what you mean. The implementation details of containers have changed, allowing many features that never were possible (or were possible, but not feasible due to the nature of it's current implementation)

When will there be AT LAST be an alliance-option for the guildwar menu?? (Byron, 1 votes) Abaddon | I actually thought there was an option in our guild implementation to have alliances. WIth a quick scan of the code, it looks like there isn't. Real pity that, actually. However, guilds haven't always been a high feature request (or at least I get no requests about it), so that's probably why it's slipped through for so long

Is there anything in the works for new/better Monster AI, like getting around a crate someone tosses down? (Backstab, 1 votes) Abaddon | This has been mentioned and answered in a number of previous HoC chats (www.uoxdev.com for more information)
Abaddon | However, in the future, the AI will change. It will be customizable by the shard operator on a per creature basis, with a flexible use of the scripting engine

RRRRUNNNNNNEEEE BBBBBBOOOOOOOOKKSSS will they be in the final build? (_Venom_, 1 votes) Abaddon | Perhaps not initially (I have other things much higher on the priority list). However, the frame work will be there, so even if it doesn't make it into the primary build, you should still be able to achieve it with scripts and customized gumps

How is the script team doing and what are they doing currently? (Dyskolos, 1 votes) Abaddon | Dunno. They talk to EviL, not me, so I'm pretty clueless mostly. If any were here, I'm sure they'd answer for you. But from my understanding, they're coming along quite nicely on the DEF files.

Will we be able to make random gold as a random item in spawned containers? (Jerelith, 1 votes) Abaddon | Isn't that possible now? Using an item list with multiple gold entries and using that item list for that container. Greater control over spawning is being planned upon though

Any plans for a "friend" system for tamed creatures? Example: I have a tame horse, I friend it to you which lets you ride it.(but not rename it or transfer it) (Xuri, 1 votes) Abaddon | Greater pet control is an aim for the future, most definitely. We nearly have the frame work in that we want, and when that's in place, bolting on features should be a much simpler task.

How does one become part of the uoxdev team? (_Venom_, 1 votes) Abaddon | Mostly, you need approval from the Dev Team lead (EviLDeD). However, we freely accept and encourage all freelancers to code and to send us snippets. Not all snippets will get in, for sure, but we do encourage those to learn to code that can.

Is the Big Build comming out so soon thet we code Tinkerers should hold off on new projects till we see the new build? (Backstab, 1 votes) Abaddon | It really does depend. I'd advise no, because learning to code on this project, whether pre or post big build, is a good thing. If you learn to code on the current system, you'll see some of it's limitations, and see why we changed things
Abaddon | It's useful for a before and after situation. If you worry that you'll find code duplicated, or systems different, then it's highly likely. We've been spending a lot of time on cleaning things up and changing certain internals. You're likely to have fixed something we might already have fixed
Abaddon | But I still think no, because coding is useful regardless.

What is your hopeful estimate on the release of "the big build"? (SilverBlackSun, 1 votes) Abaddon | I really cannot say. I have a to do list that I'm working through, and that's getting smaller each and every day. Certain things on those list are deemed critical, but aren't all that simple. So... it really does depend, I don't know. As I mentioned earlier, there was some lost code, so that has to be redone

Could you explain the basics of how the server handles clients connecting to it? (SilverBlackSun, 1 votes) Abaddon | This is probably more appropriate in private, but hey, there's nothing else :>
Abaddon | Every 3 seconds a server listens for any new incoming clients
Abaddon | If a client connects, it acknowledges, stores the socket, and receives the first 4 bytes (used to authenticate a real client)
Abaddon | It then receives another message, which is usually the username/password combination. It authenticates the login, and sends back a server list
Abaddon | User selects from list, which the server receives as another packet. THe server then sends a relay packet to the client to point it to the right server, and disconnects the client
Abaddon | 3 seconds later, it accepts a connection from the client
Abaddon | This time, the packet is a char list request (that also is authenticated)
Abaddon | At this stage, it's accepting "encryped" information (though it's not encrypted).
Abaddon | Then it goes into the world

What has OSI done or tried to do to stop you? (netcatx, 1 votes) Xuri | I'll take this one :) Hm Appart from changing the encryption in the UO client every now and then, and changing their TOS(Terms of Agreement) to say players aren't allowed to play on playerrun shards and that you'll get banned if they find out (don't rememeber exactly what it says but something like that hehe) - not much.
Xuri | I believe they've put down their foot, or hand or lawyers or whatnot a few times when some shards have tried charging money for playing on them, though that might just be a rumor.
Xuri | So I don't think OSI are actively trying to stop the emulator community from existing…

All in all, I am happy with the UOX project, except for maybe 4-5 major bugs. Are you happy with the way things are going? (Tom2, 1 votes) Abaddon | I'm happy with the way it is heading, most definitely. And I think it will have a very bright future

Tools General Question: Will it get easy (more commonplace) to add new Item Pics? (Backstab, 1 votes) Abaddon | I believe that there are tools being worked on. I know for sure that Krrios is working on integrating all his things together into one tool. It's written using C# on .NET, is at the InsideUO stage, and he also wants to turn all aspects of that into writeable ones too (so a ModifyUO). However, I know not how far along he is
Xuri | Punt has one as well.

With the recent ill omens on Evil's end, has there been though of a new UOX BIG release date? (Soory if it was answered, I came late, but still excited) (Tom2, 1 votes) Xuri | As Abaddon already said earlier :) No new release date is set as of yet.
Xuri | Some code was lost when EviL got some of his computers stolen, and that code needs rewrite.

Any strategies upcoming for world saving? (Dyskolos, 1 votes) Abaddon | All I can say at this time is yes

How much do UOX3 Tshirts cost? (Backstab, 1 votes) Abaddon | You can buy them? No idea, sorry. I think that Weazel and/or EviL were involved with that

Do the devs really play on any shards or test on any shards, or are they too busy doing coding and other stuff? More directly - Do you all get to see the real UOX effects of your coding changes? (Tom2, 1 votes) Abaddon | I never have the chance to play or test on any full shards (Xuri's my guinea pig though :>). I'm usually too busy coding or doing other things
Xuri | :D
Abaddon | However, when I do make code changes that could be dramatic, I try and do as exhaustive a regression test as I can
Abaddon | usually that's just whatever immediate systems it affects, but depending on time, I try and branch out into the related systems as well
Abaddon | But I do admit, at times, when I am really rushed for time I code blind and pray I get it right

Where in the source is the code that handles clients connecting? (which cpp file) (SilverBlackSun, 1 votes) Abaddon | Network.cpp is where most of the code is. cNetworkStuff::GetMsg() is in uox3.cpp (does message handling)

Will shopkeepers be more controlable with the new scrip system.. Like not selling to Enemy Races? (Backstab, 1 votes) Abaddon | Definitely so