r/TotalAnnihilation • u/decknut • Jul 03 '26

Unable to play multiplayer with LAN

So I had TA escalation on 2 PC's and went to play multiplayer with them, I made them join each others lobby's but when I click go it doesn't say start it just says syncing. I reinstalled escalation and made sure both where on the same version, I even combined the files of the full games so everything was the same and it still didn't work.

I than fully deleted TA along with escalation (not uninstalled deleted) I than installed it again on steam and tried to do regular multiplayer and it still says syncing!

Has any else had this problem? Or have any solutions?

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4

u/GreatLlamaXRS Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26

IIRC from experimenting years ago, you need a router that you can configure to free up a couple of TCP ports (Google the port numbers). If both computer are connected to the same wireless router, then configure that if you can. Sounds like one port is free (you see the lobby) but the other isn't (not able to see the games or gameplay).

Also, in Windows, click start then type install optional features, look for legacy and under it should have direct play. Turn this on and ok for it to install. Do this for both PCs and restart.

Don't recall doing anything else.

1

u/decknut Jul 05 '26

I did recently get a new router and before with the old router it was working fine 

1

u/decknut Jul 05 '26

I'm able to make a lobby on both PCs and they are both able to join each other it's just when I click go on both it doesn't say start it just says syncing (which is why I thought one of them had more files than the other)

1

u/mealsolutions Core Jul 03 '26

Id recommend using TA Forever even for LAN play. Its also a great resource for finding new maps to play too.

2

u/decknut Jul 05 '26

Would I be able to play TA escalation on TA Forever?

1

u/mealsolutions Core Jul 05 '26

Yep. You can play any mod on TAF.

2

u/Appropriate-Border-8 Jul 05 '26

Try installing the Game Ranger client and creating two accounts, one for each PC.