Good evening, I know this game is infamous for its multiplayer issues & as such I am aware there are already a lot of discussions about this. However I have not come across any that resemble my particular situation, which admittedly may be due to lack of effort on my part. Anyway I am attempting to connect two computers running on the same Verizon DSL corded router through TCP/IP. But regardless of allowing two separate programs through both computers on my <private network> when prompted by desktop. Neither can seem to locate each others games. Every time I type in the Local ip of the hosting computer, or the name of the host as prompted, the game does not show up on the drop down list. All I did manage to get was a weird lag spike when using the host characters name "I tried everything", but the game never showed up.

If anyone can give me a solution to this problem it'd solve me a lot of headaches, I can't imagine it's a port forwarding problem, considering both computers are on the same router.
both computers are windows 7 home Premium if that makes any difference. I am also running Malwarebytes an that garbage Microsoft security essentials.

NOTE: Please disregard post, I had to connect to my computer to the homegroup network. problem solved.

Just throwing a shot in the wind.I know some might play darkstone through gameranger once in awile, but if any still feel like playing through IP, just e-mail me. ( ryozomo@gmail.com ) You can always type my Ip adress anytime, i dont mind anyone joining in if i'am on multiplayer. The IP is 192.168.1.69,

That's a local IP. You'll have to give your WAN IP if you want others on the internet to join. ;)

You also don't always get your correct WAN IP from PHP scripts on websites (whatsmyip.com, ect). For me they give my ISP IP address. I have to login to my router to get my WAN IP. Then all you have to do is setup Port Forwarding.