Ryandor.com

This is my first shot at emulating UO, and it's starting to get pretty frusterating. I'm using RunUO and it's great, but the custom map has me stumped. And before anyone tells me to go read a FAQ or do a search (This is the common answer for any questions on RunUOs forums.) I have, and I've read a few tutorials. I've done what the searchs, and tutorials and the insane posts that should most likely be disregarded have said, but I'm still stuck in Britainia.

I read Ryandor's tutorial (The pdf version, if that makes a difference.)
Per the instructions I downloaded the latest versions of Dragon and Worldforge.

I place the *.bmp image in in the Dragon dir along with the map0.mul file because Ryandor says it's safer to do it this way.
Then I run Dragon.
It says Done, so I shut it down, open DragonSP and run it. It asks to remove statics, I say yes, and it finishes itself from there.
Then I open World-Forge. And it's confusing, I admit.
I place all the correct files in the little red boxes and make them green boxes. I stare blankly at the little box in the bottom right hand side that has a check box by the word POL.
That's where my confusion starts. Do I click POL? When I do it asks for items.wsc, and if you unclick it another file is asked for. This is the third red box. Clicking the check by POL makes it ask for one file, and unchecking asks for another. Do I check or uncheck? (I've done it both ways more times than I'm going to bother to count.)
Ok, I run through world forge. I do the GetStaticIndex thing(I do what Ryandor's link to some other persons tutorial says). It says it's done, so since that program baffles me, I think I'm done.

I take my new files (I think that these are them: map0.mul, statics0.mul, and staidx0.mul) and place them in my UO dir, and also in my servers custom dir.

I start the server, and I'm still standing by the stupid britain inn.

I read through this entire forum, and I've searched through RunUO's forum. (Search words like: custom maps, remove statics, custom, map making, custom shard, statics, unfreezing, freeze and unfreeze, worldforge, etc.)

I've done my research, but there is clearly something I'm missing. Here's information that people seem to always want:
I run Windows 98SE
I am using UO:LBR 2D (3D is just too much for my computer, and it's ugly)
uh.. All latest versions of Dragon, DragonSP, Dragon+mod9(I have no idea what the mod9 is all about. I just made sure I got the latest versions.)
Worldforge latest version.
RunUO latest version.

Thank you for your time and help.

1) Did you make absolutly sure that Dragon Directories are in fact making the new map on the map/statics files in the dragon folder.

2) you dont need to have an actual map0.mul or statics0/staidx0 file in there, just enter the directory of Dragon, and end the dragon folder directory with /map0.mul ...Dragon will then create a brand new map file.. same with DragonSP. thats the best way to be absolutly sure there is nothing left behind from the old files dragon would write over.

3) Is your RunUO just a basic Default beta? If you have RunUO reading from a custom folder with the nessisary *.mul files, you will need to update that folder, as well as the UO folder.

4) World Forge, you would want the check box set on POL. the items.wsc file is an Item file. If you melted somthing from statics with World Forge, the item index would go in this file. simply create one... Right click inside WF folder> New > Text Document then name that new text file 'Items.wsc' thats all you need.
Im not certain here, why you are even using World forge at this point, It sounds like you just are assuming its somthing you needed to use, after Dragon. When in fact it is not. You would useWorld forge if you wanted to make modifications to the files.. so really, all you need to do is run Dragon, and DragonSP, then change files in UO folder.

Hope that helps.

_________________
Forget what you know, know what you forget.

I'm attempting to do it again, the way you said, by pointing Dragon and DragonSP to the dir and letting them create the output files. And yes, everytime I'm finished I replace the custom folder that RunUO reads, and the UO dir. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Sorry.

One other thing I noticed when running Dragon is that while it's going through it's process (I stare at it like a zombie while this is going on) a file called CAVE2BLACKRALLS.txt is reported as not found. Is this a serious problem, or even a minor problem, or just something I should or shouldn't need to worry about?

Thank you for your time and help.

I ran Dragon, pointing it to a folder without a current map0.mul in it. It created one and did it's job.
I then ran DragonSP and used the same method with it, of having it create files instead of overwriting. It did it's thing and finished.
I moved these new files into my UO and RunUO custom dirs, but it's not working yet. I believe something is working, because if I log into this world now, I am not on the same level as the ground. In some areas I'm below it.

I know some of these forum posts talked about the mapdif files and statdif files. I have two UO installs on my computer, one for a shard I play on, and one for my own shard. Does the client, and or server look in that other directory at dif files? Because I have no more dif files in my RunUO custom or UO dir for the shard. But I still have all the town statics, and the land still there.

But as I said, I obviously removed something important, or did something right because the map I see when I'm logged in (The standard UO map) is not the map my character is standing on.

I'm really lost, and I appreciate all the help and I hope someone has either been through what I'm going through or just knows how to stop this torment from continuing.

Thanks!

The CAVE2BLACKRALLS.txt I am thinking is a typo in the Dragon files, sould be Cave2BlackWalls.txt but I dont have time to confirm this, its not a majore issue.
So you say you have updated both your RunUO datapath folder, and the Ultima Online 2D folder with the new map/statics? It sounds like either you have not updated both folders, or possibly how you said you have 2 installs of Ultima Online, RunUO is somehow reading both install folders. When you are testing your shard, be sure your other UO installs are renamed to somthing else, other than a UO default name for RunUO to find.

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Forget what you know, know what you forget.

I didn't want to try that, but I have no choice. I renamed the folder that UO for the shard I play on is installed and my shard could not find files, so there is obviously something there. I know there are methods to switch between one shard and another, programs and stuff, but I think I'll just quit playing that shard on this computer It's a tough choice, but it must be done.

Dian, your help has been more than sufficient to put me on the path to getting my own server up and running. I thank you sincerely for your assistance.

You've inspired me to stop being just a guest and register myself with this forum! Yay you!

It worked. Those files in my original UO dir were being used instead of the files in the other UO dir, which I guess, when you think about it, is pretty obvious. But it's working now, and I'm so relieved.

Thanks again and I'm going to stop posting!

Glad you got it all sorted out
It can be a pain in the ass in the begining, but after you get through the little bits of it, you actually start to realize how simple it really is

_________________
Forget what you know, know what you forget.