Good Morning, if anyone has chance to browse this and give me advice I'd appreciate it. I still have core available for gdb.


gdb) frame 0
#0 0x080f2c97 in act (AType=33, format=0x828a75a "$n has entered the game.", ch=0xa6500b0, arg1=0x0, arg2=0x0, type=5) at comm.c:2787
2787 if ( HAS_PROG( to->in_room, ACT_PROG ) )
(gdb) list
2782 bug( "%s: %s -> %s", __FUNCTION__, ch->name, to->name );
2783 return;
2784 }
2785
2786 txt = act_string( format, NULL, ch, arg1, arg2, STRING_IMM, actobj );
2787 if ( HAS_PROG( to->in_room, ACT_PROG ) )
2788 rprog_act_trigger( txt, to->in_room, ch, ( OBJ_DATA * ) arg1, ( void * ) arg2 );
2789 for ( to_obj = to->in_room->first_content; to_obj; to_obj = to_obj->next_content )
2790 if ( HAS_PROG( to_obj->pIndexData, ACT_PROG ) )
2791 oprog_act_trigger( txt, to_obj, ch, ( OBJ_DATA * ) arg1, ( void * ) arg2 );
(gdb) print *ch
$1 = {next = 0x0, prev = 0xa64fd18, next_in_room = 0x0, prev_in_room = 0xa6122e0, master = 0x0, leader = 0x0, fighting = 0x0, reply = 0x0, retell = 0x0, switched = 0x0, mount = 0x0,
editor = 0x0, hunting = 0x0, fearing = 0x0, hating = 0x0, variables = 0x0, spec_fun = 0, mpact = 0x0, reset = 0x0, mpactnum = 0, mpscriptpos = 0, pIndexData = 0x0,
desc = 0xa647848, redirect = 0x0, first_affect = 0x0, last_affect = 0x0, first_carrying = 0xa61d160, last_carrying = 0xa4ef4b0, on = 0x0, in_room = 0xa185960,
was_in_room = 0xa185960, pcdata = 0xa650518, siege = 0x0, city = 0x0, last_cmd = 0, dest_buf = 0x0, alloc_ptr = 0x0, spare_ptr = 0x0, tempnum = 0, first_timer = 0x0,
last_timer = 0x0, morph = 0x0, name = 0x94394d8 "Patriot", short_descr = 0x0, long_descr = 0x0, description = 0x0, landmark = 0x0, num_fighting = 0, substate = 0, sex = 1,
Class = 4, secondclass = -1, thirdclass = -1, race = 0, trust = 0, played = 617771, logon = 1381308901, save_time = 0, timer = 0, wait = 0, blood = 2924, max_blood = 1462,
hit = 264, max_hit = 132, mana = 400, max_mana = 200, move = 599806, max_move = 300000, slicevnum = 0, practice = 94, numattacks = 0, money = {0, 99542488, 945, 0, 27928},
gold = 0, exp = 811181, firstexp = 0, secondexp = 0, thirdexp = 0, firstexpratio = 0, secondexpratio = 0, thirdexpratio = 0, level = 108, firstlevel = 0, secondlevel = 0,
thirdlevel = 0, temp_base_hit = 0, quest_curr = 173, quest_accum = 173, used_trade = 0, focus_level = 0, faith = 0, chan_invite = 0, arena_mob_count = 0, arena_obj_count = 0,
arena_wins = 2, arena_loss = 0, map_toggle = 0, map_size = 0, map_desc_toggle = 0, map_name_toggle = 0, map_type = 0, act = {bits = {1644172872, 268964352, 0, 0}}, affected_by = {
bits = {512, 0, 0, 0}}, no_affected_by = {bits = {0, 0, 0, 0}}, carry_weight = 4, carry_number = 1, xflags = {bits = {0, 0, 0, 0}}, no_immune = 0, no_resistant = 0,
no_susceptible = 0, immune = 0, resistant = 0, susceptible = 0, attacks = {bits = {0, 0, 0, 0}}, defenses = {bits = {0, 0, 0, 0}}, speaks = -1, speaking = 1,
saving_poison_death = 0, saving_wand = 0, saving_para_petri = 0, saving_breath = 0, saving_spell_staff = 0, alignment = -923, barenumdie = 1, baresizedie = 4, mobthac0 = 0,
hitroll = 5, damroll = 5, hitplus = 0, damplus = 0, position = 15, defposition = 0, style = 2, height = 90, weight = 292, armor = -13, wimpy = 0, deaf = {bits = {0, 0, 0, 0}},
perm_str = 25, perm_int = 12, perm_wis = 12, perm_dex = 20, perm_con = 21, perm_cha = 13, perm_lck = 13, mod_str = 0, mod_int = 5, mod_wis = 0, mod_dex = 0, mod_con = 0,
mod_cha = 0, mod_lck = 0, statpoints = 0, mental_state = -10, emotional_state = 0, retran = 0, regoto = 0, mobinvis = 0, home_vnum = 56300, colors = {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 31, 22, 27, 17, 23, 28, 18, 24, 29, 19, 25, 30, 20, 26, 16, 21, 8, 8, 4, 9, 0, 5, 8, 8, 14, 8, 8, 8, 4, 8, 8, 11, 2, 8, 8, 4, 8, 8, 8, 3, 8, 4, 10, 8, 8,
14, 8, 8, 1, 4, 3, 8, 8, 9, 11, 11, 1, 8, 3, 8, 11, 3, 4, 3, 2, 14, 10, 11, 10, 5, 4, 4, 4, 9, 8, 9, 9, 14, 13, 9, 10, 11, 2, 3, 5, 4, 11, 2, 6, 3, 11, 9, 8, 9, 5},
challenged = 0x0, challenge = 0x0, betted_on = 0x0, bet_amt = 0, cmd_recurse = 0, pnote = 0x0, comments = 0x0, hate_level = 0, ward_dam = 0, kinetic_dam = 0, color = 0,
influence = 0, clanname = 0x0, clan = 0x0, degree = 1, questcountdown = 0, questvnum = 0, questtype = 0, questgiver = 0, success_attack = 0, damage_amount = 0,
soldierset = 0 '\000'}
(gdb)

Why is print *to different then print *ch?

gdb) print *to
$2 = {next = 0xa589560, prev = 0x6f0478, next_in_room = 0xa6500b0, prev_in_room = 0xa6132f8, master = 0x0, leader = 0x0, fighting = 0x0, reply = 0x0, retell = 0x0, switched = 0x0,
mount = 0x0, editor = 0x0, hunting = 0x98f6088, fearing = 0x0, hating = 0x0, variables = 0x0, spec_fun = 0, mpact = 0x0, reset = 0x0, mpactnum = 0, mpscriptpos = 0,
pIndexData = 0x3c, desc = 0x0, redirect = 0x20, first_affect = 0x0, last_affect = 0x0, first_carrying = 0x1, last_carrying = 0x0, on = 0x0, in_room = 0x1ffff, was_in_room = 0xa,
pcdata = 0xa, siege = 0x32, city = 0x3, last_cmd = 0x3, dest_buf = 0x2, alloc_ptr = 0x4c

, spare_ptr = 0xa, tempnum = -1, first_timer = 0x1,
last_timer = 0x1f5cc, morph = 0x0, name = 0x50001

, short_descr = 0x0, long_descr = 0x0, description = 0x0, landmark = 0x0, num_fighting = 0,
substate = 0, sex = 0, Class = 0, secondclass = 0, thirdclass = 0, race = 0, trust = 0, played = 0, logon = 0, save_time = 0, timer = 0, wait = 0, blood = 0, max_blood = 0,
hit = 0, max_hit = 240, mana = 240, max_mana = 174138560, move = 174138080, max_move = 173634384, slicevnum = 174138080, practice = 0, numattacks = 0, money = {0, 0, 0, 0, 0},
gold = 0, exp = 0, firstexp = 159897568, secondexp = 0, thirdexp = 0, firstexpratio = 0, secondexpratio = 0, thirdexpratio = 0, level = 0, firstlevel = 0, secondlevel = 0,
thirdlevel = 0, temp_base_hit = 0, quest_curr = 0, quest_accum = 60, used_trade = 0, focus_level = 0, faith = 0, chan_invite = 0, arena_mob_count = 0, arena_obj_count = 0,
arena_wins = 16385, arena_loss = 0, map_toggle = 0, map_size = 0, map_desc_toggle = -1, map_name_toggle = 1, map_type = 6, act = {bits = {5, 1, 1, 1}}, affected_by = {bits = {1,
48, 5, 4294967295}}, no_affected_by = {bits = {1, 128461, 0, 196611}}, carry_weight = 0, carry_number = 0, xflags = {bits = {0, 0, 0, 0}}, no_immune = 0, no_resistant = 0,
no_susceptible = 0, immune = 0, resistant = 0, susceptible = 0, attacks = {bits = {0, 0, 0, 480}}, defenses = {bits = {240, 174138800, 174138320, 173634384}}, speaks = 174138320,
speaking = 0, saving_poison_death = 0, saving_wand = 0, saving_para_petri = 0, saving_breath = 0, saving_spell_staff = 0, alignment = 0, barenumdie = 0, baresizedie = 0,
mobthac0 = 0, hitroll = 0, damroll = 0, hitplus = 0, damplus = 0, position = 0, defposition = 4664, style = 2439, height = 0, weight = 0, armor = 0, wimpy = 0, deaf = {bits = {0,
0, 0, 0}}, perm_str = 0, perm_int = 0, perm_wis = 0, perm_dex = 0, perm_con = 23, perm_cha = 0, perm_lck = 0, mod_str = 0, mod_int = 0, mod_wis = 0, mod_dex = 0, mod_con = 0,
mod_cha = 0, mod_lck = 0, statpoints = 16385, mental_state = 0, emotional_state = 0, retran = 0, regoto = 131071, mobinvis = 0, home_vnum = 29, colors = {0 , 1,
0, -2610, 1, 0, 0, 1, 3, 0 , 720, 0, 240, 0, 9888, 2657, 9408, 2657, 29520, 2649, 9408, 2657, 0 , 24712, 2447, 0 , 60, 0, 0,
0, 32, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0}, challenged = 0x0, challenge = 0x1ffff, betted_on = 0xa, bet_amt = 10, cmd_recurse = 50, pnote = 0x3, comments = 0x3, hate_level = 1, ward_dam = 0,
kinetic_dam = 76, color = 0, influence = 10, clanname = 0xffffffff

, clan = 0x1

, degree = -2609, questcountdown = 0,
questvnum = 327681, questtype = 0, questgiver = 0, success_attack = 0, damage_amount = 0, soldierset = 0 '\000'}
(gdb)

(gdb) info locals
to_obj =
txt = 0x8317800 "Patriot has entered the game.\r\n"
to = 0xa6122e0
vch = 0x0
third = 0x0
actobj = 0 '\000'
__FUNCTION__ = "act"
(gdb) frame 1
#1 0x0814b9d1 in genesis (d=0xa647848, argument=0xbf942734 "Something") at genesis.c:1624
1624 act( AT_ACTION, "$n has entered the game.", ch, NULL, NULL, TO_CANSEE );
(gdb) list
1619 ch->pcdata->htown = htown;
1620 }
1621
1622 }
1623
1624 act( AT_ACTION, "$n has entered the game.", ch, NULL, NULL, TO_CANSEE );
1625 send_to_char( "\r\n\r\n", ch ); // a spacer?
1626 checkBuidty( ch );
1627 get_curr_players( );
1628 if ( IS_SET( ch->pcdata->flags, PCFLAG_UNAUTHED ) ) {
(gdb) print ch->name
Cannot access memory at address 0xa8
(gdb) print *ch
Cannot access memory at address 0x0

Why is ch suddenly not there at this point?

void act( short AType, const char *format, CHAR_DATA *ch, const void *arg1, const void *arg2,
          int type )
{
    char                   *txt;
    CHAR_DATA              *to;
    CHAR_DATA              *vch = ( CHAR_DATA * ) arg2;
    CHAR_DATA              *third = ( CHAR_DATA * ) arg1;

    /*
     * Discard null and zero-length messages.
     */ 
    if ( !format || format[0] == '\0' )
        return;

    if ( !ch ) {
        bug( "Act: null ch. (%s)", format );
        return;
    }

    if ( !ch->in_room )
        to = NULL;
    else if ( type == TO_CHAR )
        to = ch;
    else if ( type == TO_THIRD )
        to = third;
    else
        to = ch->in_room->first_person;

   /*
     * ACT_SECRETIVE handling
     */ 
    if ( IS_NPC( ch ) && xIS_SET( ch->act, ACT_SECRETIVE ) && type != TO_CHAR )
        return;

    if ( type == TO_VICT ) {
        if ( !vch ) {
            bug( "Act: null vch with TO_VICT." );
            bug( "%s (%s)", ch->name, format );
            return;
        }
        if ( !vch->in_room ) {
            bug( "Act: vch in NULL room!" );
            bug( "%s -> %s (%s)", ch->name, vch->name, format );
            return;
        }
        to = vch;
    }

/* Volk - object socials */
    bool                    actobj = FALSE;

    if ( ( type == TO_CHAR || type == TO_NOTVICT || type == TO_THIRD ) && arg2 == NULL
         && AType == AT_SOCIAL )
        actobj = TRUE;

    if ( MOBtrigger && type != TO_CHAR && type != TO_VICT && type != TO_THIRD && to ) {
        OBJ_DATA               *to_obj;

        if ( !to->in_room ) {
            bug( "%s: to->in_room is NULL", __FUNCTION__ );
            if ( IS_NPC( ch ) ) {
                if ( ch == supermob )
                    bug( "%s: %s(%s) -> %s", __FUNCTION__, ch->name, supermob->description,
                         to->name );
                else
                    bug( "%s: %s(%d) -> %s", __FUNCTION__, ch->name, ch->pIndexData->vnum,
                         to->name );
            }
            else
                bug( "%s: %s -> %s", __FUNCTION__, ch->name, to->name );
            return;
        }

        txt = act_string( format, NULL, ch, arg1, arg2, STRING_IMM, actobj );

        txt = act_string( format, NULL, ch, arg1, arg2, STRING_IMM, actobj );
   
// mud.h defines HAS_PROG as #define HAS_PROG(what, prog)  (xIS_SET((what)->progtypes, (prog)))
        if ( HAS_PROG( to->in_room, ACT_PROG ) )  // This is line 2787 where it crashed
            rprog_act_trigger( txt, to->in_room, ch, ( OBJ_DATA * ) arg1, ( void * ) arg2 );
        for ( to_obj = to->in_room->first_content; to_obj; to_obj = to_obj->next_content )
            if ( HAS_PROG( to_obj->pIndexData, ACT_PROG ) )
                oprog_act_trigger( txt, to_obj, ch, ( OBJ_DATA * ) arg1, ( void * ) arg2 );
    }

    /*
     * Anyone feel like telling me the point of looping through the whole
     * room when we're only sending to one char anyways..? -- Alty
     */
    for ( ; to;
          to = ( type == TO_CHAR
                 || type == TO_VICT ) ? NULL : ( type ==
                                                 TO_THIRD ) ? to->next : to->next_in_room ) {
        if ( !to ) {
            bug( "%s", "act: null to comm.c 2989", __FUNCTION__ );
            return;
        }

should check out previous frames and see where ch went bad as well as it can give you a good idea of who it might have been by the descriptor. also the crash was from to->in_room being invalid, it wasnt null but I think its invalid.