Neverwinter Nights 2 Dedicated Server (NWN2 DS)

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How To Run Neverwinter Nights 2 Dedicated Server (NWN2 DS) as a Windows Service with FireDaemon

Neverwinter Nights 2 is role playing game that takes place in a medieval world. The dedicated server component can be run as a Windows Service using FireDaemon. FireDaemon will allow you to have the dedicated server start automatically at boot prior to login, allow you to start multiple instances of the dedicated server and so forth. This HOWTO will show you how set it up. You can also use FireDaemon Trinity or PanelDaemon to manage FireDaemon and other Windows services via a web browser or mobile phone.

Neverwinter Nights 2 Dedicated Server Setup Under FireDaemon

If you are deploying FireDaemon on Windows Vista or Server 2008 ensure you read this and this. Windows XP and Server 2003 users should read this.

You can either run the server from your NWN2 directory or by downloading and installing the Stand-Alone server. In the case of the Stand-Alone server, you will need your NWN2 installed on the same computer to extract the data files. If you want to run the server from your NWN2 directory, skip to step 2. Continue to the next step if you want to use the Stand-Alone Server.

1) First download the Stand-Alone server from here.

Proceed through the installation menu. If you want to run the NWN2 Original Campaign click Yes and on the next dialogue box click yes if you want to host games based on the NWN2 Expansion (Mask of the Betrayer).





After a few minutes, the data file extraction should be complete and you can proceed to the next steps.

2) Setup NWN2 under FireDaemon

1. Download and install FireDaemon Pro into the directory of your choice (typically C:\Program Files\FireDaemon).
2. NWN2 uses 1 configuration file to store its settings. You can find it in the "[Server Options]" section of "nwnplayer.ini" in the directory where you installed the server.
3. Next start the FireDaemon GUI from the desktop shortcut. Click on the "Create a new service definition" button in the toolbar (or type Ctrl+N) and enter the information into the fields as you see below. Obviously adjust paths to suite your installation. Pay special attention to the Parameters list.
   
   
   
   The most important field on the tab is the Parameters. The Parameters define the initial setup of your server.
   
   Here’s the full parameter list you should have (example names are provided):
   
   -module "modulename" -publicserver 1 -servername "My NWN 2 Server" -servervault 1dmpassword "password" -autosaveinterval "5"
   
   • -module "modulename": Loads a specific module, replace "modulename" with whatever module you want to load.
   • -publicserver 0|1: Registers your server with GameSpy (so other players can find it). (0 = No, 1 = Yes)
   • -servername "My NWN 2 Server": Names your server.
   • -servervault 0|1: Whether server or local characters are allowed (0 = No, 1 = Yes).
   • -dmpassword "password": Sets the password required by DMs to DM the game. Enclose the password in double quotes if it contains spaces.
   • -autosaveinterval "5": Sets the autosave interval in minutes. For a persistent server set n to greater than 0. Setting this to lower than 5 minutes can have an effect on server performance. On the contrary, setting it to more than 15 minutes can anger players if they have done alot in the 15 minutes. So you should set it to somewhere between 5 to 15 minutes.
4. Now click on the Settings tab. If you DON'T want to see your dedicated server running, uncheck the Interact with Desktop check box & select "Hidden” from the "Show Window” dropdown. You can optionally run NWN2 as the user you installed it as. In the Logon Account field type your username (eg. Administrator) and then enter the users password twice in the Password and Confirm fields.
   
   
   
5. Now click on the Advanced tab. You can change the Process Priority to allocate more CPU time to the dedicated server or specify which CPU or core the dedicated server will run on (in the case of multi-processor, hyperthreaded or multi-core CPUs).
   
   
   
6. Now click on the Dependencies tab. Make sure the service depends on the lanmanworkstation (Workstation) service to ensure the TCP/IP and CIFS stacks are both up prior to starting NWN2 DS.
   
   
   
7. Now click on the Install button to install and start NWN2!
   
   

Below is an example "[Server Options]" from the nwnplayer.ini file:

[Server Options]
One Party Only=1
Game Port=5121
Max Players=6
Server Name=My Server
GameSpy Enabled=1
Game Type=0
Disable AutoSave=0
CD Banned Behavior=0
Suppress Base Servervault=0
Disallow Shouting=0
ShowDMJoinedMessage=1
BackupSavedChars=0
MPEnabled=1
DMPassword=
PlayerPassword=
PVP Setting=1
Reload Module When Empty=0
PauseAndPlay=0
Auto Save Interval=0
AllowLocalChars=1
Game Region=0
ServerDownTimer=180
Enforce Legal Characters=1
ItemLevelRestrictions=0