Can't connect to map/server~

[ShadyLynx]

'Ello, I am having trouble with my new laptop that I just got the other day. So I installed FeralHeart, it worked fine and I was just installing a few maps that I needed, so I went to test one and it couldn't connect to the map server. I retry a few times nothing changed so I had to use the User Panel to take my character stuck in the map home. I went back online and decided to not try again until later.

I come on today and I can't connect to the server, retry a few times, it worked once but then I try to play with my characters and it says it can't connect to the map server, the characters I chose were on public maps. I hasn't been working since, I went and disconnected and connected onto my interenet multiple times and tried it, it worked a few times but still won't connect to the maps when I choose a character.

I anyone could help it would be appreciated, if you need any information on my computer just ask!

Shady Lynx~

[Rizzla]

Hmm, have you tried restarting your computer a few times? I'd also turn off your firewall, because something might be blocking it. You could also try unplugging and replugging in your router if all fails...
Hope that helps~

[~Stargazer~]

If Rizzla's idea's don't work, try this checklist:

//1) Heightmap makes your client crash.

These are the most common issues:
1-Your image isn't greyscale
2-Your image isn't square
3-It is not in the right place
4-You made more than one layer


1- when you edit in GIMP or Photoshop you HAVE to make sure it's greyscale. Not just all grey, but the file is actually a greyscale image.


2- BE SURE the dimensions are 512x512 or something similar.The Height and Width MUST be the same.
**Note. Does not HAVE to be 512x512; this is the most common, but as long as its square then it will work.

3- You have to be sure you placed it in the right folder. The handbook says to place your HM in the 'height maps' folder, but this folder was removed while the game was being developed. People say you can place it in the 'terrains' folder, but I myself place it in my map folder.

4- This is very common. You have to make your terrain on one and only one layer. You cannot create another layer over it, or even paste another layer. Even flattening the image when you save it does not fix it. Note that if you made yours with more than one layer, deleting the layers won't fix it. You have to 'undo' or start over.


This is recommended by Kov to avoid any issue, and I think it's in the handbook as well. Edit one of the existing terrain height maps (i.e. watermillterrain.PNG) and save it in either the terrains folder or your map folder. Be sure to only edit the one layer and not make new layers.

**Note: IF THIS DOES NOT WORK, see Issue #4!

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


//2) Crash even if you've not started
This is an unusual problem; i think it may have something to do with a bad download. Anyway one user posted the sollution, and it seemed to fix the problem, though i havn't confirmed it myself, it may still work for you.

Delete everything from FH and reinstall the game, simple.

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


//3) Missing Terrain/Temp file
An error saying there's a terrain/temp file missing:

Found a solution after dealing with this annoying problem. It should be a permanent fix. Just download this file from Mediafire and drop the media folder (Not the one that says 'FeralHearts Mapmaker Fix!') inside into your main FeralHearts folder, it'll go where it's supposed to, and it doesn't overwrite anything. Say yes if it asks you if you wanna merge the media folder.

[/insert geeky tech info on how she did it]
I looked at the error message, and copied a material file from one of the presets. I renamed it to tempTerrain.material and stuck it in a folder I made at FeralHearts>media>terrains called "temp." The first time I started the map maker, the material file fixed itself and put in the right code and two other files it needed. Go figure. /shrug

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

//4) Solution #1 did not work.
If you try to load a heightmap that keeps crashing the game even though you know you got all required preferences for it such as size, grayscale, 1 layers etc. Try converting it into either a .bmp or .jpeg image, save it. Load the new saved image, and convert it back to .png. This solves the issue in some cases and force the image into one layer.

I hope this helps all of you with these issues. PLEASE read carefully and check everything conscientiously before posting a thread saying it didnt work. If you have found any other sollutions please contact me so I can post it here.

[AlphaEclipse]

Hopefully something here will help.

Quotes from Red

Is the computer allowing FeralHeart to connect to the internet?
Games like these needs to be able to connect to the internet, but sometimes windows doesn't know if the game/application can be trusted or it just skips adding the game to exceptions. If you aren't able to log on the game, this might be your issue.

Open up your control panel located in the start menu. Depending on which Operating system you use, and which layout it might look differently. But Windows firewall should be in the category "security" or just find the text "Windows firewall" or "Allow a program through windows firewall". This should take you to the correct place.

Once there you'll get a new window with a list of programs. Try to locate FeralHeart.exe in there and add it to exceptions by marking the checkbox. If you can't find it, and the game to the list by yourself by pressing add program.

If you don't understand how to do this still, ask someone else to do this for you.

Sometimes there might be something else blocking the program from accessing the internet. A good example of these are some Antivirus programs. This can vary a lot as well. But check up if by any chance your virus program might be blocking feralheart. And just not only by clicking the icon in the corner sayings "Nope!". Look in the advanced menus and preferences first. Only you can check this.

How's your internet connection?
Sometimes the internet connection of the users trying to play the game might be weak. This can cause you to not being able to connect or staying online for a longer time, many people might start blaming the game or server for this when it in fact might be themselves.

Here's a few things you can check:
1. Are you even connected to the internet right now?
2. Are you running any downloading/streaming programs?
3. Are there any other computers/devices using the same internet?
4. Are you currently using a wireless connection, if so, are you getting good signal?

Sometimes the internet connection can time out for various reasons and then jump back on again, so be sure to try a few times first.

Programs in the background
Downloading things or running streaming programs eats your bandwidth, and this bandwidth is needed in order to play the game, especially if you're using slower speeds. You can start by shutting off things like downloading programs and internet browsers. Maybe even IM programs such as MSN and AIM and try to play again.

Turn off extra devices
If you got more than 1 computer or other devices also using the internet, try turning them off if they're not in use. This will give you more bandwidth to spare.

On a wireless connection?
If you're using a laptop you might be using a wireless internet connection. These can sometimes loose their signal to the internet source. So try placing yourself closer to your modem, this might give you a stronger signal.

These things should solve the most connection problems!


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


If you have made sure your connection is working fine, and maybe FeralHeart has worked all good before, there still can happen things in the game when walking around in different maps. Examples of these are so called "Bad Tokens", "Failed to connect to map server" messages.

Even though the game has it's own server, it's not perfect and can get stuck as well. If you're experiencing troubles a good bet is always to wait a few mins/hours and try again later. It solves a lot of problems.

Bad tokens is the servers way to tell you that something went wrong when loading a map/location most of the times. The client failing to communicate with the server, or other way around. If there was some connection problems just during the time you tried to load a new map, this might happen to you. Also maps that has an extreme amount of online users, or more objects and other custom things might take longer to load, and the chance of getting bad tokens might rise. Usually the issue doesn't last for too long and get solved by just trying going through a portal again or loading the character again or just keep reconnecting, for some it's worse than others.


Failed to connect to map server is a message you also can get while changing maps and entering portals in the game. It's usually nothing severe either, and as worst, your character might be stuck in that map until there's a reset of the map server process. Another issue similar to this can be if you get the loading screen after choosing a character, but it never loads. Most of the time it should be followed by this "failed to connect" message. If you try to choose another character that isn't placed in the same map, it sometimes let you play since every map in the game, has it's own server process. Sometimes the server needs to be restarted in order to fetch some stuck characters. If you had characters that's been stuck for weeks, you should contact the staff.


Failed to connect to front server is another funky message you might get. Most of the time you get this either when your internet is down or the server is down completely. It can also be that your firewall or any other security software is preventing FeralHeart from accessing the internet. If it's the server and not your internet it should be sorted shortly and be back up and running, if it will be down for longer times the staff will let you know.

If the server is up though for a longer time, and you're still having issues to connect, you should follow the tips mentioned in the post "Unable to log on/go online" above, and if that fails to work. Contact those responsible for your internet or maybe someone that knows more and are able to help you.

[ShadyLynx]

@Rizzla
I restarted my laptop awhile ago and it still isn't connecting to the map, every 3 trys to get to selecting my characters works but then I try to get in-game on a character on the public maps and is now saying it can not connect to the 'main server'.

@~Stargazer~
I made the map I tried myself and it worked fine on others and my own laptop, of course until it died the other day.

@AlphaEclipse
At the moment, I can add, that the computer came with a 30 day trial with Norton so I just will use that up and then get the internet security I had on my old computer. Norton does seem to be blocking alot of stuff including stuff on areas on my firewall. It wont allow me to add an app or feature, which is weird.\

Thanks everyone ^^ Shady Lynx~