--- a/console_cmds.c	Sun Oct 15 23:42:18 2006 +0000
+++ b/console_cmds.c	Sun Oct 15 23:48:34 2006 +0000
@@ -739,7 +739,8 @@
 
 	if (argc == 0) {
 		IConsoleHelp("Connect to a remote OTTD server and join the game. Usage: 'connect <ip>'");
-		IConsoleHelp("IP can contain port and player: 'IP#Player:Port', eg: 'server.ottd.org#2:443'");
+		IConsoleHelp("IP can contain port and player: 'IP[[#Player]:Port]', eg: 'server.ottd.org#2:443'");
+		IConsoleHelp("Player #0 is new company, #255 is spectator all others are a certain company");
 		return true;
 	}
 
@@ -749,14 +750,25 @@
 		NetworkDisconnect();
 
 	ip = argv[1];
+	/* Default settings: default port and new company */
 	rport = NETWORK_DEFAULT_PORT;
+	_network_playas = PLAYER_NEW_COMPANY;
 
 	ParseConnectionString(&player, &port, ip);
 
 	IConsolePrintF(_icolour_def, "Connecting to %s...", ip);
 	if (player != NULL) {
 		_network_playas = atoi(player);
-		IConsolePrintF(_icolour_def, "    player-no: %s", player);
+		IConsolePrintF(_icolour_def, "    player-no: %d", _network_playas);
+
+		/* From a user pov 0 is a new player, internally it's different and all
+		 * players are offset by one to ease up on users (eg players 1-8 not 0-7) */
+		if (_network_playas == 0) _network_playas = PLAYER_NEW_COMPANY;
+		if (!IsValidPlayer(_network_playas - 1) &&
+			  (_network_playas != PLAYER_SPECTATOR &&
+			   _network_playas != PLAYER_NEW_COMPANY)) {
+			return false;
+		}
 	}
 	if (port != NULL) {
 		rport = atoi(port);

--- a/network_client.c	Sun Oct 15 23:42:18 2006 +0000
+++ b/network_client.c	Sun Oct 15 23:48:34 2006 +0000
@@ -511,7 +511,8 @@
 		// Say we received the map and loaded it correctly!
 		SEND_COMMAND(PACKET_CLIENT_MAP_OK)();
 
-		if (_network_playas == 0 || _network_playas > MAX_PLAYERS ||
+		// new company/spectator (invalid player) or company we want to join is not active
+		if (_network_playas == PLAYER_NEW_COMPANY || !IsValidPlayer(_network_playas - 1) ||
 				!GetPlayer(_network_playas - 1)->is_active) {
 
 			if (_network_playas == PLAYER_SPECTATOR) {

--- a/network_gui.c	Sun Oct 15 23:42:18 2006 +0000
+++ b/network_gui.c	Sun Oct 15 23:48:34 2006 +0000
@@ -929,7 +929,7 @@
 			}
 			break;
 		case 8: /* New company */
-			_network_playas = 0;
+			_network_playas = PLAYER_NEW_COMPANY;
 			NetworkClientConnectGame(_network_last_host, _network_last_port);
 			break;
 		case 9: /* Spectate game */
@@ -1195,7 +1195,7 @@
 	_clientlist_proc[i++] = &ClientList_SpeakToAll;
 
 	if (_network_own_client_index != ci->client_index) {
-		if (_network_playas >= 1 && _network_playas <= MAX_PLAYERS) {
+		if (IsValidPlayer(_network_playas - 1)) {
 			// We are no spectator
 			if (ci->client_playas >= 1 && ci->client_playas <= MAX_PLAYERS) {
 				GetString(_clientlist_action[i], STR_NETWORK_CLIENTLIST_GIVE_MONEY);

--- a/network_server.c	Sun Oct 15 23:42:18 2006 +0000
+++ b/network_server.c	Sun Oct 15 23:48:34 2006 +0000
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@
 
 	// join another company does not affect these values
 	switch (playas) {
-		case 0: /* New company */
+		case PLAYER_NEW_COMPANY: /* New company */
 			if (ActivePlayerCount() >= _network_game_info.companies_max) {
 				SEND_COMMAND(PACKET_SERVER_ERROR)(cs, NETWORK_ERROR_FULL);
 				return;
@@ -608,6 +608,12 @@
 				return;
 			}
 			break;
+		default: /* Join another company (companies 1-8) */
+			if (!IsValidPlayer(playas - 1)) {
+				SEND_COMMAND(PACKET_SERVER_ERROR)(cs, NETWORK_ERROR_PLAYER_MISMATCH);
+				return;
+			}
+			break;
 	}
 
 	// We need a valid name.. make it Player

--- a/openttd.c	Sun Oct 15 23:42:18 2006 +0000
+++ b/openttd.c	Sun Oct 15 23:48:34 2006 +0000
@@ -480,7 +480,10 @@
 
 			ParseConnectionString(&player, &port, network_conn);
 
-			if (player != NULL) _network_playas = atoi(player);
+			if (player != NULL) {
+				_network_playas = atoi(player);
+				if (_network_playas == 0) _network_playas = PLAYER_NEW_COMPANY;
+			}
 			if (port != NULL) rport = atoi(port);
 
 			LoadIntroGame();

--- a/player.h	Sun Oct 15 23:42:18 2006 +0000
+++ b/player.h	Sun Oct 15 23:48:34 2006 +0000
@@ -213,7 +213,8 @@
 
 /* Player identifiers All players below MAX_PLAYERS are playable
  * players, above, they are special, computer controlled players */
-enum {
+enum Players {
+	PLAYER_NEW_COMPANY = 254, ///< Command 'player' in Multiplayer to create a new company
 	PLAYER_SPECTATOR   = 255, ///< Spectator in Multiplayer or the player in the scenario editor
 	MAX_PLAYERS        = 8,
 };