FAT vs NTFS doesn't make any difference. The game can't tell what file system it's residing on. I run on FAT on my XP machine and I play *lots* of Email games with players using Win 7 (which only runs NTFS).

I would not put a lot of faith in scenario descriptions. The computer is the author of all random maps. Random maps can be saved as scenarios. So that's how that kind of name can appear.

At this point you have 4 choices.

1) Play without SH/K4 (you might try removing just SH units and see if that works then try without K4 and see if that works to figure out what is the exact problem) when you play that opponent (since you can play other opponents just fine using K4/SH).
2) Experiment some more and see if you can pinpoint the problem. It could be on *his* machine and not yours. Or try changing your resolution or where the game is located (it should not be in C:\Program Files).
3) Don't play that opponent.
4) Install the virtual machine from the Last Citadel and play from the VM.

There is really not much else that we can help you with since the problem is pretty unique to you and this opponent at this moment

KGB

P.S. One more thing. Are you both running the same version of DLR? The US 1.02 version is what you should be running. The European version isn't compatible with the US version.

I mean computer WAS author of all maps, but in THIS game there was no author specified. And no description of islands/forest/mountains/etc as there always is. So thats why I though there might be sth to do with filesystem.

I just thought maybe game does something with the file and it becomes unplayable. Maybe only if BOTH players have ntfs. (I played a player who also had FAT system on his warlords directory - and then it was ok too)

2) LOL. It is located exactly there. Or at least it was. Oh... though not exactly. "Program Files (x86)" would be exact.

Well... okay. I'll surely try something of these, and thanks a lot for taking your time for this topic!

p.s.: 1) playing without SH still better than no game at all, but having no battering rams/roc riders is kinda depressing got used to them already.

The reason I don't recommend C:\program files is because DLR writes saved games locally (in sub folders) rather than in My Documents. I have had several players not be able to save games because they aren't admin users. You must be an admin user to save anything in C:\program files. So it's a good idea to not put the game there.

The problem is that you don't know if the problem is *your* machine or *his*. All we know is that it saved correctly on yours initially since both you and he can load his turn 1.

Has he tried to load the saved game he sent you? In other words can he open your turn 1 on his machine? If he can, it tends to point to a problem on your machine (or he is running European and you US version). If he can't open it, it tends to point to his machine being the problem.

Then I'd try eliminating the SH units, then the K4 units until you figure out which is causing the issue. Still seems very suspicious that regular units/heroes work but K4/SH don't. Still makes me think one of you has wrong units installed.

KGB

no, we both had same units installed. They were from same place (from lastcitadel). I thought this almost immediately after problems appeared and of course made sure we have same units.

I can't try anything at the moment though, because opponent doesn't respond to the mail. =\

the problem is, if he can't load my turn on his comp - problem is on his side, but if he CAN and I CAN'T - that says nothing. the problem can still be him (his comp "damages" the file but can load it itself, while the other [mine] - can't), or it can be me.

update - when i move email game files from NTFS sector to FAT sector on MY comp - they DO get altered. For example the description of scenario gets altered the way i described above. Also, the hero name template changes (i see this by seeing with what name a hero comes this (1st) turn)!

p.s. - but it still does load, lol. Now I have to investigate at what exact moment it will not. o_O

Actually the files DON'T get altered. That's impossible because it would mean copying files was flawed and we know that it's not since millions and millions of files are copied daily between FAT32/NTFS and Linux and Apple and many other OS's.

Instead what's happening is something with DLR is incompatible with your version of Windows 7 (64 bit vs 32 bit version or US vs non-US version of Windows etc) so that it's not behaving the same way all the time. That could mean you need to always run in Win 98 emulation mode (or never run in it).

Personally I'd make sure you are running from a Fat32 partition (even if that means a USB drive) and with a simple file path like C:\Warlords.

It's also another reason for you to download that virtual machine.

KGB

Well, I think you're right and I have to download virt machine instead of playing a freaking Sherlock.

AHHHH lol simple path lol.
I totally forgot about that.
I've already freaking encountered this, playing another old game.
That path must not contain spaces. And I didn't make sure it doesn't. I'm dumb. =\ Sorry. And thanks for that reminding.

As for partition - I just made a logical disk with fat32 system. But even there I made a spacebar-containing name for a directory *facepalm*

Ok. Thanx a lot for info about copying files. I didn't have much experience with that. o.O

so basically I'd better download virt machine with win98 and run DLR on it, yes?

I want to add, this may be caused by sending a turn file without zipping it previously. Turn files have .EML extension that is "email message". Some email services/programs are trying to include the file's contents into the message body (or doing something wrong like that) thus damaging the file.

mr. Quasar confirmed he and his opponent didn't zip the files..

Yes, it confirmed that the problem was not zipping the files. When we started to zip them, the game would always load the turns. So, now the game goes on and the problem in the topic is solved. Thanks to everyone!