Mercenaries deserted!!!

[rixcraven]

Hello again :)
I have an issue with Mercs, non are available from the Merc Liaisons?
Followed everything I can find, sourced these files into my 2506 database
/utils/sql/svn/2380_optional_merc_data
/utils/sql/svn/2380_optional_merc_merchant_npctypes_update
/utils/sql/svn/2380_optional_merc_rules

/utils/sql/svn/mercs.sql
/utils/sql/git/required/2013_02_18_Merc_Rules_and_Tables
/utils/sql/git/optional/2013_02_18_Merc_Spells
/utils/sql/git/required/2013_02_25_Impr_HT_LT
/utils/sql/git/required/2013_03_1_Merc_Rules_and_Equipment
/utils/sql/git/optional/2013_03_14_Merc_Spells
/utils/sql/git/optional/2013_03_18_Merc_Spells

(all my players are using the UF client)

Getting No errors at all serverside, no logs in error either, it all sourced fine.
I have MercsAllow set to true, and can see no reason why they have deserted their posts.
If you can advise me in any way, please do!!!.. promised my players mercs for their protection, and now can't find any.
As usual, Many many thanks for your help.

[joligario]

Check that the NPCs are set to 71 and also run the SQL from 10/12.

[rixcraven]

Check that the NPCs are set to 71 and also run the SQL from 10/12.

Yep, NPC merc liaisons are set to 71.
found and ran the 10/12 sql, still the same, no mercs appear when you right click their Liaison?, does anyone have any ideas??

thanks for this help :)

[HnathBST]

Do you get an error when you right click the liaison? Like 'there are no mercantile available to you?' Or nothing at all?

[rixcraven]

Do you get an error when you right click the liaison? Like 'there are no mercantile available to you?' Or nothing at all?

No, that's the weird part.. no error, no nothing!
No idea at all what is happening.. I KNOW servers out there have mercs, just don't know how they do it lol, all I get is a blank box, (with all the buttons, and a hire button).. but nothing from the dropdown to select a Merc.

[HnathBST]

Hmmm. I assume you enabled mercantile when you compiled?

It's usually something stupid. Try looking through your logs and see if there is an error.

[rixcraven]

Hmmm. I assume you enabled mercantile when you compiled?

It's usually something stupid. Try looking through your logs and see if there is an error.

I did check the logs, and the .dbg from a couple of clients.. and no, nothing shows, thinking back, I followed this thread to set up the server...http://www.eqemulator.org/forums/showthread.php?t=36481,

there were no errors when it all compiled. In fact, the only issue I had was with WAN clients connecting, and that was cleared up with some great help from the chaps here :).
I really want to understand why Mercs don't work.

[bad_captain]

Check for the merc related view in the database. run it to see if you get any results. if not, it's a db issue. if you do, it's a server issue. let us know and we can help from there. Also, what client?

[rixcraven]

Check for the merc related view in the database. run it to see if you get any results. if not, it's a db issue. if you do, it's a server issue. let us know and we can help from there. Also, what client?

Hello bad_captain, read a lot of your advice during this search :)
I have a view in the DB, called vwmercnpctypes, was that what you meant?
it IS very populated.
also, all the clients are UF. Can't test it against a SOD client, cos' a hard disk failure took it. :( :(
THANKS for helping, all of you.

[bad_captain]

Yes, it's vwmercnpctypes. I was typing from my phone, so I couldn't look it up. If that returns data (and has had the 10/12 changes applied), you should be getting merc data. Do you build your own server? Can you debug?

Usually, it's something simple. The allow mercs rule being false (check DB, it defaults to false) & merchant type being the two biggest.

I know more merc debugging needs to go in to help solve these problems, but until then, you have a few options:

Check column names between the view and what's in ZoneDatabase::GetMercType() - they should match.

One way to debug is to insert a few logging lines to where they should be loading data. Add a few LogFile->write(EQEMuLog:: Debug, "Debug message"); to the code and make sure you're actually loading from the database, and then where they are sent to the client.

If you can debug with breakpoints, check to see if the npcs are getting their merc_type data when they spawn (constructor calls LoadMercTypes() & LoadMercs()). Then we can determine if they just don't want to send it to you.

If not, you may want to do a packet collect and post it here or send it to me, so we can figure out what's being sent, and what's not.

[rixcraven]

Hiya bad_captain,
I really appreciate your help in this, I know you are busy.
Yes, I did compile my server, followed this link, :
http://www.eqemulator.org/forums/showthread.php?t=36481

If I'm honest, no, I can't really debug, and don't know how to packet
collect :(
Would it be easier if I DL'd a nightly dump of the database, and sourced that?
I don't want to waste your time, and I'm sure we can run with the great bots :) (they work brilliantly) :)

[sorvani]

If you have not set anything up, i would drop your tables and source in the nightly /release

After doing that, you should only need to run the 10/12 SQL that bad_captain mentioned.

[rixcraven]

If you have not set anything up, i would drop your tables and source in the nightly /release

After doing that, you should only need to run the 10/12 SQL that bad_captain mentioned.

Cool, was pondering that option.. Thanks for ALL the help on this, you have really given my much inspiration.