Troubleshooting LAN Issues with Age of Empiles 3

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When attempting to play online multiplayer games like Age of Empires III via local area network (LAN) but experiencing difficulties getting the game client or server to connect, there are several potential causes worth investigating. One common reason for such issues is related to how your computer's operating system manages multiple network adapters.

Age of Empires 3 and Multiple Network Adapters

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In some cases, Age of Empires III may not properly recognize or utilize more than one available network adapter on a single machine. This can lead to connectivity problems when attempting to host or join LAN games. If your computer has multiple network cards installed (e.g., for both wired and wireless connections), the game client might default to using only the adapter with an active internet connection.

Troubleshooting Steps

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### Step 1: Identify Potential Network Adapter Issues

First, try hosting a local area network (LAN) game in Age of Empires III. While playing or immediately after attempting to join/leave the game session, look for your computer's IP address displayed at the top right corner of the client window.

#### If you see an IP address:

Congratulations! Your system is likely detecting and using one of its network adapters correctly. Proceed to Step 2 below.

#### Otherwise:

### Step 3: Use a Third-Party LAN Solution

If neither of these steps resolve your issue, consider utilizing third-party software designed specifically for enhancing or forcing the use of specific network interfaces in Age of Empires III. One popular option is AOE3Loader.

AOE3Loader Overview

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AEOL (Age of Empires 3 Lan) Loader is a lightweight utility that can help circumvent certain issues related to multiple network adapters, among other features such as:

* Forcing the game client or server to use specific IP addresses for LAN connections.

* Enabling/disabling particular network interfaces while running Age of Empiris III.

Download and installation instructions for AOE3Loader are typically provided alongside the executable file. Follow these steps once you have downloaded and extracted (if necessary) the software:

1. Ensure that no instances of Age of Empires III or its related processes are currently running in Task Manager.

2. Double-click on the AOELauncher.exe to launch AOE3 Loader.

In the main window, look for options under 'Advanced' or equivalent tabs depending upon your operating system and version of Age of Empiris 3 installed:

* Ensure that only one network adapter is checked as active/available for LAN play.

* If required (e.g., due to NAT issues), enable UPnP (Universal Plug-and-Play) or port forwarding settings according to the game's manual.

Once these steps have been completed, restart Age of Empires III and attempt rejoining a previously created server or hosting a new one. Your IP address should now be visible in-game for other players to connect using.

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