Dark and Light/SOG Errors

SOG Errors (Build 0.88.81)
The current release of the Dark and Light client, SOG is currently at build version 0.88.81. Here's a (semi) complete list of all current know errors, bugs, and exploits, official communications on them, and how to work-around or fix them.

(Kudos to Sika for compiling much of this information!)

Can't hear sound in game.
Update your soundcard drivers.if a driver upgrade doesn't fix it, go to start menu, click the run button, then type in dxdiag when it's fully loaded go to the sound tab turn down direct sound acceleration 1 noth to standard acceleration.
 * Solution by Liam115

Why don't I hear any combat sounds when I play SOG?
The combat sounds are in fact in the game and working. The default volume settings on the music are likely drowning out your combat sounds. Open the preferences menu, then the audio seb-menu to adjust the sliders to your desired level.
 * Solution by Pizza the Hutt

"Loop Connect" error
This is the notorious "Loop Connect" error.

The cause of this bug is unknown. It likely has to do with too many users attempting connections at the same time. There's no fix yet, only a work-around to remove yourself from the loop.


 * Solution by Malfedor
 * 1) Press [CTRL] [ALT] [DEL] keys to shut down the SOG client.
 * 2) Restart the SOG client

I get the message "The maximum number of connection[s] is reached"
This is the "Loop Connect" error.

I get the message "Cannot open actual domain information hasn't been sent from the network"
This is the "Loop Connect" error.

I get a message with "Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Library"
This is a ubiquitous error. There are many solutions listed here.


 * Solution by Holysin
 * 1) Go here and download/install tihs codex http://www.free-codecs.com/Indeo_Codec_download.htm
 * 2) Delete DnL.ini Do a search if you cant find it.
 * 3) Run the launcher and login with your forum info.
 * 4) Have fun playing SoG!

Delete dnl.ini and dnl.cfg in the SOG folder and run it with full-check again PS:If you can't see your files you need to make it so that you can. there are hidden files all over your computer. To make the .ini files visible you need to go to the folder: C:\program files\Dark and Light\Launcher\SOG(or where you put it)
 * Solution by Liam115

Once in the folder go to Tools/Folder Options and click on the "View" tab. You'll see an option to make all files visible.

Edit your Dnl.ini file to adjust your sound before you get in game. If I set mine to all 0(zeros) I crash with dnlg error imediatly, so I tweaked it till I had a setting that kept me in game the longest..which was about 10 mins.
 * Solution by Nemodain

heres what I have now..

[Audio] Enable audio=1 Enable music=0 Always use Windows default audio device=1 Audio device set by user=0 General volume=75.00 Ambiant volume=75.00 Music volume=75.00 Enable Environmental Audio=0

So adjust yours till you have the longest time without error.

Then goto your SoG folder..look for Profile folder go into it. Inside Profile look for Defaultplayer_settings. Its an XML file. Open the XML file, I had to allow activeX controls as I got a popup blocking it. Right click XML file then click source. Should open a notepad that you can edit in. Scroll down and look for Roads and Transport..set them to false, they are true by default. I set all displaychannels to flase except AVpos. Looks like this...

  false   false   false   true  <==set to false  true  <==set to false  false   false   false </Fortresses> <Towers> false </Towers> <AvPos> true </AvPos> <AvQuest> false </AvQuest> <AvEnemy> false </AvEnemy> <AvFriend> false </AvFriend> <AvNeutral> false </AvNeutral> <AvWanted> false </AvWanted> <AvLvlFXP> false </AvLvlFXP> <ItDIPos> false </ItDIPos> <ItDIName> false </ItDIName> <ItTPos> false </ItTPos> <ItTName> false </ItTName> <ItEXPos> false </ItEXPos> <ItEXName> false </ItEXName>

There is another line down further just like this one, I set them to false also.

I know this is the same work around posted in here about unchecking roads and trans, but that did not work for me.This however did work for me as well as 2 other people. If you are having the Dnlg error after logging into game and would like to try this please do and post results here. The xml will update after you log anyway so don't worry about what you change. It did however let me stay in game for over and hour without the error.

In the SoG install directory there is a file called EAXAC3.dll with the file version of 1.1.3.0, the latest that I have installed from Creative is 1.1.2.0 so I copied this from my Audigy install (located in Windows\System32) into the SoG folder and it seems to have fixed the problem. Might just be coincidence, so that's why I haven't posted it into the forums yet. So far I've had a couple of hours with out crash, so looks promising.
 * Solution by Hafoc

The "No Such User" error
This is a common error. Here a two possible solutions.

For all those that still get the no such user error, all you have to do is go to http://www.darkandlight.net/sog and click on lost password. You will get a new password mailed then and instead of your username you get told a number, which you have to use as your login name and then it works. You have to use your old password tho for the game until the next database synchronisation.
 * Solution by |Darky|

Check if you input the error account or password. (Or try this:Change your forum password to the same one you first created when making an account.OR change it to the same password you had when you were ordering pioneer key / getting your free key.)
 * Solution by Liam 115

I get a message with the word "Decompression" in it
There are two possibilities:

this means one of the game files is corrupted.
 * Message from AD Support

Run the client with "full-check" enabled again.
 * Solution by Liam115

I get a message with words like "gl_ARB_multitexture, gl_ARB_texture_evn_combine, gl_ext_secondary_color error"
Download the Indeo drivers (3-pack) (http://www.free-codecs.com/Indeo_Codec_download.htm), get the latest graphics card drivers and make sure you have DirectX 9.0c.
 * Solution by Liam115

Monitor displays a "Out Of Range" or "No Signal" message, or screen goes black
Update your monitor or graphic card drivers.
 * Solution by Liam115

I get the message "#LOGIN_CUSTOM_DEFINE_ERROR#"
This is that the login server is down, you may also get this error if you where disconnected suddenly and it might work if you re-try in a few minutes
 * Solution by Liam115

This just means that the login server is down or having problems. Just keep trying. There is nothing on your end to fix.
 * Solution by Xyld

I get the message "We are unable to locate your character's home on the server. Please contact DnL support"
This means the user database is unreachable so you cannot login before the next server reboot. We apologize for the inconvenience.
 * Mesage from DnL Support

For Dual monitors, SOG doesn't launch on the screen set as main screen on the properties
the dnl.ini file contains a variable in the section [Graphic] named "Monitor number". You'll have to change this variable to 0, 1 ... according to the monitor you want to use to play the game.
 * Solution by DnL Support

Best bet is to log in using a full integrity check. Happens to me all the time and this works every time so far
 * Solution by Xyld

I'm not able to interact at all in the game
This one SUCKS. There is no other way to put it. Had this happen right after a server crash. So far the only solution is to delete that character and start over. Sorry all. But it did solve the problem. Try all other options first, including a full system reboot, possibly a reinstall, and a full integrity check. This is a last resort.
 * Solution by Xyld

I would advise you to wait for the next server reboot if you don't want to delete your character.. but this can take some time. It's up to you while we are waiting for the devs to fix this.
 * Addendum by Sika

to fix it just type /gate and it will fix the error.
 * Solution by Neoo

I keep getting "Incorrect User Name" / "...Password" errors
If your username contains special characters ,just typein your username without them.if you have recently changed your password try the previous password instead, if this doesnt work youll need to contact Customer Support
 * Solution by Liam115

I can't login with one or all of my characters
Go to C:\Games\SoG\Launcher\SOG\Profile\USERNAME\Soic and delete ks.dat (Where USERNAME is your character's name.) Notice that this worked on my level 19 character so it is a viable and working solution for some problems. Also notice that this did not work on my level 16 wizard, so even tho the crashes are the same, they are not caused by the same thing.
 * Solution by Jodh and Psycron

I get an error with the word "msxml4.0" in it
Download msxml4.0 here : http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...&DisplayLang=en
 * Solution by Liam115

I get an erroro with the word "patcher.exe" in it
This is common on AMD processors Open control panel
 * Solution by Liam115
 * 1) System
 * 2) Advanced tab
 * 3) Settings button (in performance box)
 * 4) Data excecution prevention tab
 * 5) Press "Add"
 * 6) Find and select 'patcher.exe'

I have a problem while getting a file from the server using the client patcher
Are you running a Firewall/Broadband router? You will need to open/foward the Port 20013
 * Solution by Liam115

Performance (Build 0.88.81)
Here are some technical tricks to make your experience with SOG easier and more efficient.

How can I increase the stability of SOG?

 * Solutions by Pizza the Hutt
 * 1) As with all games, make sure you are running as little as possible when you enter the game. Hit ctrl+alt+delete to view a list of the currently running processes.  Typically, if you have any more than 40-45 running right after start-up you have some kind of spyware on your machine and should run a scan.  Security Suites will typically run 5-9 processes depending on which features are installed and active.  Also, take a look at the startup tab and look for obvious names.  Real Player and Quick Time love to add themselves to the start-up folder.  Do you really need those programs running in the background?  While removing the processes will not in any way garauntee crash free gaming, it just might help a tiny bit.
 * 2) If you have never done so, run DXdiag and conduct all of the tests located within just to be absolutely sure your hardware can handle the latest graphics and sound technologies. To do this: 1.  click start -> Run -> type in: dxdiag -> click "OK" -> ensure that the system information is close to the listed specs of your machine (rarely windows hardware profiles can become corrupt... sometimes, if the recovery is partially successful, hardware specs may not be reported accurately.  If you KNOW you have 1 Gig of Ram and DXdiag says you have 256MB... contact your tech support or consult the Microsoft KB).  Go through each tab and conduct the tests following the on-screen prompts.  It is always nice to be sure the problem is not on your machine.
 * 3) Many players have reported that there is less lag and better stability once off of the starting island. Try to expedite your passage to these areas for better gameplay.
 * 4) Almost any game or online service relies on a series of scripts (files that list a series of actions for the computer to take). Anti-virus software searches for scripts and you anti-virus program may see some of these scripts as malicious and end the process causing your crash.  I have noticed slightly more reliable gameplay (in all games) with anti-virus programs disabled.