AOM Multiplayer Troubleshooting with Hamachi (vpn client)

Hi All,

First of all this blog covers up troubleshooting almost all the multiplayer problems encountered during AOM family games.

The general procedure used here is applicable to

• Age of Mythology & expansions.
• Age of Empires 3 & expansions.

It is assumed you’re using Hamachi vpn client. & Im using AOM as a reference but U can apply the same thing to other games mentioned above.

In almost all the occasion’s problems occur during multiplayer due to restrictions settled up or IP related problems.

Hamachi offers you a Virtual IP something which starts with (5). (Ex : 5.x.x.x ) In order for you to play via Hamachi you and your friends must be the same LAN. If you’re using Hamachi that is done implicitly as all players will be in the LAN 5.x.x.x

The first goal is to make sure that AOM picks up your Hamachi IP during the runtime. Now there is one place in AOM where you can check the IP used by AOM to communicate during LAN play. To go there run AOM.

Go to Multiplay => Lan / Direct IP => pick a nick name & OK => Host Game

When ever you go to host game you’ll see the runtime IP picked up by the AOM. If it is the same IP as your Hamachi IP then you’re ok. (Check the picture )

If Hamachi IP is same as your AOM runtime IP you can skip Section 1 & proceed to Section 2

Section 1 ==> IP trouble shooting

If you see some other IP or no IP at all (most unlikely) follow this section. AOM tends to pick a connection which is online/active during runtime. If it doesn’t you have to force AOM to pick up the connection you want. So you need AOM to pick up your Hamachi IP :D

First make sure you’re connected to Internet & Log into Hamachi.

Now go to Control panel => Network Connections (you’ll see all the Connections available )

Now except for Hamachi connection disable all the other Connections.

Now before Hamachi times out the connection quickly run AOM & go to host game & see if your only active Hamachi IP (5.x.x.x) is picked up by the AOM runtime :D :D Im 100% sure this will work for you. Now you can re enable your other connections. ( If AOM picks up an IP it will remain so you don’t have to do this again & again, Only the first time )

General tip => what we did here was to force AOM to pick up Hamachi IP. If you want to play over LAN or any other connection disable all connections except the one you want prior to running AOM. Now run AOM quickly as your only active connection may timeout & disconnect :D :D

Since you’re done with the IP troubleshooting, proceed to section 2 or follow it again until its right :D

Section 2 => Connection timeout types &troubleshooting

AOM has two types of connection timeouts on errors. When you hit start game you’ll get a 15 second countdown & then a 120 second countdown. If any of them time out then you can follow this section

1) 15 second initial timeout.
2) 120 second initial timeout.

120 seconds timeout issues

Cause – IP conflict. You have a problem with IPs. both of your connections are ok. But you have a wrong IP. If you’re in a LAN & not using Hamachi its better if your IPs are from the same subnet work. If you’re using Hamachi then wrong IP picked up @ runtime by AOM. Go back to section 1 & follow the steps carefully again.

15 second timeout issues

Cause - This is mainly due to Internet connection problems and firewall issues. Make sure your IP is correct & make sure you’re connected to the Internet. Before exchanging information about the game AOM check for connectivity of the ports & stuff on both ends. If there is a problem this initial 15 countdown timer will expire & game ends.

Solution – Until both of you (or the group of people playing) gets it right bring down the security levels to see if you can play by then. Turn off windows firewall & other firewall Softwares used on every player PCs. The players behind Routers may have to enable uPnP port forwarding in the router. Please follow the router help for doing this.

Turn off firewalls so all traffic leaving your pc will have no restrictions.

Enable uPnP so the router will allow remote connections on ports.

p.s – this is to pinpoint the problem you’re having. After that you can turn on the firewalls & stuff to bring back your security up & running.

Now proceed from here to section 3 if you both can play AOM while having turned off firewalls & enabling uPnP port forwarding on both ends. ( you and your friend )

Section 3 => 15 second timeout troubleshooting

We are going to do this to find where it gives troubles. If you’re reading this part of the blog it’s assumed you can play AOM multiplayer without firewalls & uPnP enabled, Unless you care alot about turning off firewalls you can skip reading this & play AOM :) & after that re enable your firewalls :) or else keep reading :)

Turn on a firewall on one end (u or friend) & see if you can multiplay. If not allow access to AOM through the firewall. Normally a pop up window appears when a connection establishment is detected by the firewall software Allow this for AOM :).

Now re check if U can multiplay while having turned on firewall on one end :) If succeeded turn on the firewall on the other end & follow the same procedure until U get it right :). So If now you two can play you’re certain that it cant be a problem of the firewall & you’ve enabled it so its secure again :).

For those who are behind routers I asked to enable uPnP port forwarding in section 2. Doing this is actually no harm. If you’re using torrents U need this to be done anyway. Anywho if you’re so very concerned about not leaving the uPnP enabled then read the AOM read me file & find which ports are needed to forward to play the game. So now you can forward only those ports in your router.

(Be certain & careful about TCP or UDP ports you’re enabling coz it can be troublesome if you don’t allow the correct port & correct type (allowing TCP port 8000 is not same as allowing UDP 8000 ). I recommend not to do this & leave uPnP enabled as it is unless you have very high security needs. :) Follow the same procedure, by doing it to one end & see if it works if ok then proceed to the other end & configure until it works fine :) :)

If everything upto now is OK you can follow the ordinary way of playing in multiplay. One person Host the game while others Join to that game :).

When you enter the selecting game window. If the host’s Game doesn’t appear, Please type the Host’s IP address (Hamachi IP of the host 5.x.x.x ) at the IP address bar. Check the picture below :)

Hope what I’ve said is clear & helped you in troubleshooting the multiplay issues with AOM. I recall that same procedure is applicable to all other AOM family games troubleshooting :D. My initial post on this topic can be found here (check posts by AlienX) & I thought of writing this blog as I saw it helped many people in there :)

If you think this helped you solving your case please leave a comment on which area you think I should be more specific about in here so I can improve it for the people who need it in future :)

Cheers,
AlienX