As it has been noted on these forums before, the TCP/IP multiplayer option was only available in the Windows version. GOG uses a DOS version of the game because the Windows version has compatibility problems with many setups.*

It was a difficult choice for GOG, I'm sure, but they went with having the game work correctly on a vast majority of systems versus dealing with many complaints that the Windows version does not work properly (or, perhaps not even releasing the game at all for that reason).

That said, perhaps a kindly worded email to GOG's support team will get you more traction than a post on the forums with an angry tone.



*That said, I have the recently released Mastertronic compilation of all the Heroes games and HoMM2 works fine on my Win7x64 setup.

The unaltered Windows version seems to work fine for quite a few people, at least on 32-bit OS'es.

Hi,
The problem isn't the release itself, the problem is that GOG should state in their catalogue that the game can't be played online. It is great to be able to play this game on new systems indeed, but in my case, i bought it especially to play with my brother online (which have a win7x64), thus i'm really disappointed...
Thank you for your advice about Mastertronic collection, very interesting. Does this version of homm2 support online multiplayer?

Dosbox, which Homm2Gold is running under, has a feature to run over a virtual IPX network... I'm gonna do some testing today to see if I can get it to connect me to my friend that lives on the other side of town

also... you could read the blue post at the end of this thread here.

My bad... Multiplayer over internet is working, just did the test! It wooorks!!! I'm so happy!
You're right, the blue post was the answer!!
Here is the blu post:

In order to start a multiplayer game, both players must agree upon who will be the Host, and who will be the Client. The Client will also need to know the Host's IP address.

The Host should select the "Start HOST game" option from the Network subgroup (found in the Start Menu).
The Client should select the "Start CLIENT game" and proceed according to the instructions.

After both games have launched, both players should click "NEW GAME", "MULTI-PLAYER GAME", "DIRECT CONNECT", "CONFIG", "COM 1" and "38,400 BAUD".
Now the Host should click "HOST" and the Client should click "GUEST".

As the installation program created a shortcut of homm2 on the desktop, i didn't bothered to look into the start menu folder. There is this network subfolder
It woooorks!!! Very very happy. Thank you, and my apologies to GOG... I was disrespectful myself... BUT, I think they should add to the game's manual a 'GOG manual' that explain all that, it would be much easier than seeking the info in all the posts...
Thank you!

If I recall correctly Direct Connect only supports two players, whereas Network>Netbios should support more players... unfortunately HoMM2 unlike GOG's HoMM1 release doesn't include the nebios.exe or the settings in the dosbox configs to be able to use the Netbios network setting.

Granted not an issue in playing the game with your brother, it would be nice if they updated HoMM2's installer to include the Netbios stuff (if/when they update the installer with better quality music)

For those interested I updated the necessary files and copied the nebios.exe from GOG's HoMM1 and zipped them up. I can email them or possibly host them on my google account.

It is entirely possible that I have no idea what I'm talking about regarding Netbios =P

Well... just finished testing out the modified netbios settings, and it seems that I can only connect two computers for multiplayer with it... So... for more than two players you are left with Hotseat... and over the net you might as well use the Direct Connect settings...

Though it may still be possible to set up for more than 2 players with netbios I have no expertise in networking

Hi guys,

I know sever years have passed since this thread but I'm trying to do the same (playing HoMM2 over the Internet) with my sister.

I followed the instruciotns you reported from the GOG team (that is what you called the "blue post") but it won't work.
We're both stuck with the "Waiting for other compupter to olg in to direct connection" message.

We have bot tried to function as host and whos being the guest uses the oter's IP public address.

I have also tried to create a Virtual Private Network via a sfotware called Hamachi but no luck.

Does it still work for you? Any suggestion

Have you added your dosbox.exe (in case if you use the DOS version of the game) or heroes2w.exe (in case if you use Win version of the game) to the exclusion list in your Windows firewall settings? Both check-boxes should be set: for Private networks and for Public networks. Also, if you are triyng to connect without VPN, proper port forwarding should be set on the router at the server side.

Hi guys, I am trying everything to make this work. The problems are:

The current explanation on the support page of the game is old. I mean this one :

In order to start a multiplayer game, both players must agree upon who will be the Host, and who will be the Client. The Client will also need to know the Host's IP address.

[i]The Host should select the "Start HOST game" option from the Network subgroup (found in the Start Menu).
The Client should select the "Start CLIENT game" and proceed according to the instructions.[/i]

That's old !!!!

The latest version on GOG has a Run Multiplayer Game.exe that is I think the same thing but with a fancy interface and there is no more a "Start HOST game" or "Start CLIENT game" shortcuts. SO GOG please change that on the support page !



@Schwertz you said to open our ports but what ports do we have to open.

I hope I will soon make this work....

<3

It works with Hamachi and netbios - no problem....

https://www.dosbox.com/wiki/Connectivity

But VPN is still a better solution.

Technically you dont needed any third party tools. Just Direct IP connection (TCP-IP or IPX - for old IPX some windows tweaking\wrappers required, already bundled in DosBox and for some Windows releases from GOG(*))

Yes, using Hamachi you can connect to each other before actual game, check connection status, virtual local IP addresses (if you not sure where to get them from Windows, cause it be easy-peasy to find only for Windows up-to-7) which you should use for connection ingame.

But for subj game (and most of Heroes M&M sub-series) you better use Windows\Mac versions and GameRanger (for Windows\for Mac)(cross-platform not-supported in game itself). GameRanger already have (mater-)room(s) for Heroes 2. Pick up game, create own new room (server) and use his virtual IP address.

* Hogs of War in GOG (later same build in Steam) bundled with open-source IPXwrapper but game initially in 2000 support TCP-IP. For some similar old games IPXwrapper required for local net play - eg Warcraft 2 (here on GOG again already bundked with IPXwrapper). IPXwrapper used for local play (net play require Bnet\pirate servers account and not use IPX, so it compatible with Win10 without any wrappers and still work).
(Warcraft 2 supported by GameRanger too, so you can choose wrapper or GameRanger or Bnet)