Getting Started on Linux

From The Al`Kabor Project Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search

This is a work in progress. Please send questions or comments to krakmojo via a Conversation in the forums.

Current Process to install TAKP EQ on Linux[edit]

  1. Install Wine and PlayOnLinux
    • Arch: From Console: "sudo pacman -S wine playonlinux"
    • Debian: From Console: "sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install wine playonlinux"
    • RHEL/CentoS/Fedora
  2. Download the Windows Client v2.0 mentioned in the Windows section
  3. Download the latest Free The Mouse dll mentioned mentioned in the Windows section (currently v3.5.3)
  4. Download the 32 bit dinput8.dll version 6.0.6001.18000 from https://www.dll-files.com/dinput8.dll.html
  5. Open PlayOnLinux
    1. Tools
      1. Manage Wine Versions
        1. Install Wine v2.2-staging (x86) and close that window
        2. Using your File Manager, go to ~/.PlayOnLinux/wine/linux-x86/2.2-staging/lib/ and delete the 4 files with names containing "libz.so"
    2. Configure
      1. New→ Next
      2. 32 bits Windows installation
        1. Name this WINE instance. I named mine TAKP
    3. Highlight TAKP
      1. Install Components
        • Install D3Dx9,
        • Install vcrun2010
        • Install dinput8
      2. Wine
        • Configure Wine
        • Go to the Staging Tab
        • Enable CSMT for better graphic performance
    4. Go to the Display Tab
      1. Set GLSL to Disabled
  6. Open up your file manager
    1. Copy TAKP Folder from Pre-Configured Windows client to ~/PlayOnLinux's virtual drives/TAKP/drive_c/
    2. Copy dinput8.dll version 6.0.6001.18000 to ~/PlayOnLinux's virtual drives/TAKP/drive_c/windows/system32/ and replace the one that is there.
  7. Go back to PlayOnLinux Configuration
    1. Select TAKP
      1. Make New shortcut
      2. eqgame.exe→ next
      3. Name it whatever you want, I named mine TAKP
      4. Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
  8. Select TAKP and hit run
  • Note that when TAKP EQ enters full screen it will lose focus, you will need to Alt-Tab or re-select the game by other means the first time.
  • You can run the eqgame.exe multiple times and it will automatically rename the windows Client1, Client2, Client3, etc
  1. Repeat this process to create additional instances for multi-boxing that doesn't share files.


You may want to check the forums for the latest details on how other users have successfully installed it.

Optional Window Switching Global Hotkeys[edit]

  1. Install AutoKey
  2. Open Autokey and make a new script for each instance you want to switch to.
    1. Paste the following into the script replacing TAKP1 with the name of your


if window.wait_for_exist('Client1', 0) == True: system.exec_command("wmctrl -a Client1", False)

else: system.exec_command('/usr/share/playonlinux/playonlinux --run "TAKP1" %F', getOutput=True)


  1. Set up the key bindings you want for each window you want to switch to, changing the Client# to match the number of the corresponding EQ instance
  2. While AutoKey is running, when you use the Global Hotkey, it will check to see if the Client# is running, if it is it will switch to that window, if it isn't it will start a new instance of EQ.

To Scroll between the Clients numerically set up hotkeys with the following. I've bound them to Ctrl+Alt+Up and Ctrl+Alt+Down respectively.

  1. Enter script code

winTitle = window.get_active_title()
if winTitle == ('Client1'): system.exec_command("wmctrl -a Client3", False)
elif winTitle == ('Client2'): system.exec_command("wmctrl -a Client1", False)
elif winTitle == ('Client3'): system.exec_command("wmctrl -a Client2", False)
else: system.exec_command("wmctrl -a Client3", False)

&

  1. Enter script code

winTitle = window.get_active_title()
if winTitle == ('Client1'): system.exec_command("wmctrl -a Client2", False)
elif winTitle == ('Client2'): system.exec_command("wmctrl -a Client3", False)
elif winTitle == ('Client3'): system.exec_command("wmctrl -a Client1", False)
else: system.exec_command("wmctrl -a Client1", False)

Details on The Supported Windows Client[edit]

Since this is essentially running the Windows Client on Wine on Linux, the following from the Windows client information section applies here.

This client is configured/modified in the following way:

  • Virtually all unnecessary files removed. No zones beyond PoP. Client size is 2.28 GB.
  • All character files, logs and client settings deleted. Client is about as clean as it gets.
  • Haynar's modifications allowing alt-enter full screen mode, a built-in FPS limiter, automatic renamed client windows, and other quality of life improvements.
  • The executable has been modified to allow the mouse cursor to leave the game window. (Secrets' mod)
  • EQW functionality has been merged into eqgame.exe, eliminating the need to run eqw.exe.
  • Beastlord MGB AA implemented in the UI.
  • Desktop gamma changes no longer crash the game.
  • The missing sun and moon put back in. (Sony apparently broke it in our era)
  • HotKeyNet with a simple client switcher script is included.
  • Seven custom UIs included.
  • Missing environmental sound effects files (emt and xmi) added. Volume adjusted in these files since the client has no environmental sound volume slider.
  • The zip archive (but not the installer) has the Luclin zone music files added. (Daybreak recently released these)
  • Missing strings added to eqstr_en.txt.
  • readonce.txt edited with server staff credits.
  • eqhost.txt points to TAKP.
  • DataRate.txt set to 9.0.
  • MP3 window made functional.

eqclient.ini is completely default save for:

  • Alliance chat autojoin.
  • Target Group Buffs turned on.
  • ShowAlarmWindow set to false.

Optional Steps[edit]

The supported client comes with several additional custom UIs. To switch to one of these, run the slash command /loadskin <ui> 1. The 1 is optional-- it will keep your current window positions. Loading UIs via the options window will not work.

To use another loading screen, grab the file above and extract it to your desktop. You'll see folders for classic + the 4 expansions. Choose the loading screen you want to use, and copy the bmpwad8.s3d file there to your client's directory, overwriting the existing file. The .bmp files in each directory are only for reference and are not needed by the client. This works for both the PC client and OSX. The location of your client files under OSX is normally /Applications/EverQuest.app/Contents/Resources

EQClient.ini settings[edit]

The eqclient.ini file contains a list of settings that can be changed to suit your preferences, many of which cannot be changed in-game through the options window.

Some commonly changed settings include:

  • WindowedMode=TRUE/FALSE - This line must be typed out at the top but below [Defaults].
  • NewUI=TRUE/FALSE - Our client still has the old pre-Luclin UI for nostalgia mode.
  • Log=TRUE/FALSE - Setting this true will automatically turn your log file on when entering the game.
  • CombatMusic=TRUE/FALSE - Enable or disable melee combat music.
  • ChannelAutoJoin=alliance - The Alliance channel is used as the global chat channel for the server.
  • TargetGroupBuff=1 - This will allow you to buff groups with group buff spells from outside the group by targeting a member of the group.
  • AttackOnAssist=FALSE - This will allow you to assist another player without automatically enabling auto attack.
  • MaxFPS= - This is the framerate you limit the foreground client window to. If this is set too high, it may consume too many system resources. Typically 60 is a good number to start with and adjust if necessary. A setting of 0 disables the limit. YMMV
  • MaxBGFPS= - This is the framerate you limit the background client windows to. You don't want this too low, since it will affect autofollow ability. But, if you have it too high, it may consume too many system resources. 60 is typically good. A setting of 0 disables the limit. YMMV
  • MouseRightHanded=1 - Switches mouse button orientation.
  • MaxMouseLookFPS= - Allows you to set the mouselook FPS to help with mouselook slowness. If your mouselook is too slow, try adjusting this to 60 or 45. A setting of 0 disables the limit. YMMV
  • AllLuclinPcModelsOff=TRUE - This disables Luclin models. This also allows use of the famous horse bug that existed on AK where you don't have the limitations of horse speed up/down that you do with Luclin models on.
  • [VideoMode]:
Width=1920
Height=1080
(match your display settings with the proper height and width prior to launching the game)
  • Velious armor textures:
LoadVeliousArmorsWithLuclin=TRUE
LoadArmor17=TRUE
LoadArmor18=TRUE
LoadArmor19=TRUE
LoadArmor20=TRUE
LoadArmor21=TRUE
LoadArmor22=TRUE
LoadArmor23=TRUE

Velious armor textures are not enabled by default as they can cause an issue with Vah Shir armor not displaying. Most players would probably prefer them on however.

Using Classic Spells and Models[edit]

In-game maps[edit]

While the client doesn't allow for in-game maps (that was added during the LoY expansion), you can however use a 3rd party Windows application called ZlizEQMap in order to achieve something similar. It involves keeping logging on and then binding sense heading and /loc to a movement key while an app continuously looks for these. It then will display your location on the current zone map and direction (if sense heading was successful). This doesn't work well for all zones, but works surprisingly well for most. The details can be found here:

ZlizEQMap pack for TAKP

Audio triggers and overlays[edit]

This client predates the built in audio triggers that exists in the official current client. However, you can accomplish the basically the same thing with a third party app such as Gina. It continuously parses your log file for specific text and you can either have it trigger a sound or pop an overlay window on your screen. Or you can do both. Unfortunately, this is only supported on PC and not Mac.

For more info browse here: Gina homepage

Known Issues and Troubleshooting[edit]

Connectivity Issues[edit]

"Sometimes my character's spell gems stay greyed out and the server stops responding to my client."

This is what is commonly referred to as 'desyncing'. The precise cause(s) of the problem are unknown (else they would get fixed up) but there are things that can be done to reduce the chance of this occurring.

  • Ensure that your internet connection is uncongested. Try using a wired connection to your router instead of wifi.
  • Make sure your firewall isn't blocking client ports.
  • Make sure your frame rate is limited if running the Windows client.
  • Use one of the clients linked above if you're using a different one.
  • Try connecting over a VPN. Some users claim this helps.

Reports from users experiencing this issue are important in order for developers to identify the cause. If you experience this issue, please report it on the forum and explain what you were doing at the time it occurred.

See also this post summarizing connection issues:
Connection Issues for TAKP

Chat channel drops[edit]

If your chat channels regularly drop, you can try adding ChatKeepAlive=1 in the defaults section of the eqclient.ini, this will increase frequency the keepalives are sent to every 15 seconds.

If one packet is dropped that is the keepalive from Client to Server, you will time out before it triggers again, if the ChatKeepAlive=1 is not set. So this specific condition can contribute to chat channels dropping.

Issues running the game[edit]

If you see any of these when trying to first run the game:

  • windows application error
  • the memory could not be read

This could be that Directx 9c or a Visual C runtime is not installed. Try installing the following, rebooting and trying again:

Other general issues[edit]

Mouse cursor is moving too rapidly:

  1. Open PlayonLinux
    1. Configure
      1. Select your TAKP install
        1. Miscellanious Tab
          1. Set "Mouse Warp Override" to "Enable"


Pauses or lag when opening bags or opening UI elements.

  • Ensure that your antivirus software has exclusions set for the EQ folder and the UI files underneath it.


Why is my non-QWERTY keyboard not working correctly in game?

  • The default client is packaged with the QWERTY keyboard layout file. This can be changed by replacing the keyboard.txt in your TAKP folder with the one made for your locality keyboard.txt by nationality. Please note that several are still missing and will be uploaded as we can find/make them


Items no longer needed - kept for history tracking

Retrieved from "https://wiki.takp.info/index.php?title=Getting_Started_on_Linux&oldid=4737"