What do you do while trapped in a lag spike

[TitusOvid]

Hey folks,

I was running against a wall for about 7 minutes today and it was the perfect time to bring out the trash. I came back and was killed by trash. Coincidence? I don't think so, Tim.

[FifthTime]

I force the game to shut down through the task manager, then I watch hockey highlights or maybe one of the shows I have on the PVR.

I'm just glad that it's not just me that gets lag frozen, I was starting to get worried it was on my end.

[gallantian]

If lag is especially bad, I sometimes talk to my wife. It's the little things that keep a relationship healthy isn't it.

[bartharok]

I force the game to shut down through the task manager, then I watch hockey highlights or maybe one of the shows I have on the PVR.

I'm just glad that it's not just me that gets lag frozen, I was starting to get worried it was on my end.

You need more lagfrozen people than 2 to rule that out.

[Atremus]

What I do is Log off the game and start up ESO

[Postumus]

Heal like crazy and hope for the best.

[Powskier]

lag is a sign ,I need a smoke session

[redoubt]

You need more lagfrozen people than 2 to rule that out.

9 out of 9 people in deathwrym enough to count as not on my end?

And I usually keep watching because I don't want to be the only one left alive when it comes back and die because I'm away....

[bartharok]

9 out of 9 people in deathwrym enough to count as not on my end?

And I usually keep watching because I don't want to be the only one left alive when it comes back and die because I'm away....

You have 2 accounts in the same thread?

Or just dont care about logic?

[Chai]

Get a loc and see if its the same instancing causing the issue like it was with crafting halls for a bit there.

[Dreppo]

Hey folks,

I was running against a wall for about 7 minutes today and it was the perfect time to bring out the trash. I came back and was killed by trash. Coincidence? I don't think so, Tim.

In Soviet Russia, trash take YOU out!

[Highlander]

Hey folks,

I was running against a wall for about 7 minutes today and it was the perfect time to bring out the trash. I came back and was killed by trash. Coincidence? I don't think so, Tim.

If the lag is more than 30 secs, and if in a bad situation, I generally kill the client before I die and go find something else to do and hope it gets better tmrw. Lately, that hopefulness/optimism hasn't been doing so well.

[Such755]

All of: Scream, shout, swear, cry, break my monitor, pull hair out of my head, throw the computer out of the window, quit my job, go on a motorcycle ride, crash on purpose, blame Obama

[redoubt]

9 out of 9 people in deathwrym enough to count as not on my end?

And I usually keep watching because I don't want to be the only one left alive when it comes back and die because I'm away....


You have 2 accounts in the same thread?

Or just dont care about logic?

No, I only have one account. Not sure what you are getting at.

I just commented because I constantly see people blame the client side for ALL lag.

Yes, some lag is client side. I can generally tell the difference. When I get lag from my ISP or transmission I get lots of loss and I'm the only one who lags. I can also recognize server side lag. The easiest way is when the entire group is stuck.

Even 2 people lagging at the same time is most likely server side. The odds of it being client side on two different ISPs in different parts of the country/world at exactly the same time are very low. When we both see the lag start and end at the same time, signs point toward server side.

Now, I'm not saying it is easy to diagnose the exact cause or to fix it.

[Casareena]

In quest lagging in a fight...know I'm dead :O and look forward to re-starting the quest >.>

In quest and next to a trap, lava pool, etc. knowing the little blips of movement are taking me towards certain death...apart from swearing like a sailor see above :P

In a safe place in quest or out of quest...jump when that's working fine you know you can move again freely...well till the next bout of lag >.>

If quest survival is possible take the frustration of lag out on the next baddie :P

[Angelic-council]

Heal like crazy and hope for the best.

+1, especially when you are surrounded, it actually works.

This is not about what do we do, but what we can do.

[bartharok]

No, I only have one account. Not sure what you are getting at.

I just commented because I constantly see people blame the client side for ALL lag.

Yes, some lag is client side. I can generally tell the difference. When I get lag from my ISP or transmission I get lots of loss and I'm the only one who lags. I can also recognize server side lag. The easiest way is when the entire group is stuck.

Even 2 people lagging at the same time is most likely server side. The odds of it being client side on two different ISPs in different parts of the country/world at exactly the same time are very low. When we both see the lag start and end at the same time, signs point toward server side.

Now, I'm not saying it is easy to diagnose the exact cause or to fix it.

The second poster on the subject was relieved because one other had lagfreezes was of the opinion it proved it couldnt be on his side. Which it does not.

2 people lagging at the same time proves very little as well, since 9998 may not lag at that time. If the lag is consistent with X it proves that X causes it, but a random sample showing that 2 people do, or do not, lag proves nothing one way or the other.

[Sarzor]

Mostly I go spend my time and money elsewhere.

[Eric_the_Dead]

In Soviet Russia, trash take YOU out!

Does this mean that during a lag spike you come Yakov on the forum? ;-)

[LightBear]

Hey folks,

I was running against a wall for about 7 minutes today and it was the perfect time to bring out the trash. I came back and was killed by trash. Coincidence? I don't think so, Tim.

I actually do it the other way around. Going into Heroic ToEE on my capped main with Castigation active and wearing a Necklace of Mystic Eidolons.
I guess it could only be topped off with Sundering Ooze Guard.

[Dendrix]

Log off and go do something fun.

[Warrax23]

I usually NerdRage and wonder why I actually pay for this game at all. I've been wondering that a LOT lately.. Very displeased.

[TitusOvid]

It seems there are just two ways then. Quit or try to pull through.

I won't bring out the trash ever again then.

[Spoonwelder]

I am getting a new type of lag lately - just total lockup. I can click stuff but nothing happens, I can hit escape and try to log out but nothing happens, I can't move around but I can swing weapons, when it hits there is no waiting it out .....I am just locked - I have waited 5 and 10 minutes before with no change in the result. If I Alt-F4 and restart the client I load back in to the exact spot and the mobs will respawn as I reappear (ie. I don't die as mobs continue to hit me). If I wait 5-10 minutes and then restart I come back in outside the quest (normal 5 minute return rule seems to be applying).

Solution is a quick restart BUUUUT that is annoying - and it has happened solo and in groups but the group is fine and continues along - most time my voice chat still works so I let them know I am relogging.

This is probably client side but nothing has changed on my end. Probably need to uninstall, defrag, reinstall......and hope. But if anyone has had this happen and knows of solutions please do tell.

[Powskier]

cure for lag?-Less porn... tracking cookies may be eating up your resources... for my ddo's sake, I'll 'stick' w good 'ol playboy, for frills.

[Seikojin]

Depends, if I am in combat, I spam my cycles. This way as the server picks up commands, I tend to come out of the spike alive and the monsters dead. If it is in a safe spot, I talk to my wife, kids, the cat, check email, etc.

[UurlockYgmeov]

Kobold eat a Klondike Bar!

[slarden]

No, I only have one account. Not sure what you are getting at.

I just commented because I constantly see people blame the client side for ALL lag.

Yes, some lag is client side. I can generally tell the difference. When I get lag from my ISP or transmission I get lots of loss and I'm the only one who lags. I can also recognize server side lag. The easiest way is when the entire group is stuck.

Even 2 people lagging at the same time is most likely server side. The odds of it being client side on two different ISPs in different parts of the country/world at exactly the same time are very low. When we both see the lag start and end at the same time, signs point toward server side.

Now, I'm not saying it is easy to diagnose the exact cause or to fix it.

If one person in the party is lagging it's on their end or a total excuse to explain dying.

If the whole party is lagging it's something else. Recently, I've been believing a theory floating around Sarlona that certain people in the group with some sort of a bad connection is the cause of full party lag. One person specifically is now not accepted to raids and that alone seems to have reduced the frequency of laggy raids. The problem with that approach (assuming it's even true) is that it's largely guess work and far from conclusive.

[UurlockYgmeov]

If one person in the party is lagging it's on their end or a total excuse to explain dying.

If the whole party is lagging it's something else. Recently, I've been believing a theory floating around Sarlona that certain people in the group with some sort of a bad connection is the cause of full party lag. One person specifically is now not accepted to raids and that alone seems to have reduced the frequency of laggy raids. The problem with that approach (assuming it's even true) is that it's largely guess work and far from conclusive.


I've long suspected it and there is sufficient factual evidence to support this theory.

since it is a multiplayer game - the game ends up sending information between itself and each of the players in a party. Normally if you aren't in a party - seeing someone walk by doesn't really need much information to be shared, but in a party much more information, much more time critical information is needing to be shared. So if one computer has a much higher TTL or latency, this affects the entire party.

Example of this showing causality? Ever been in a party where the party stag-lags? (stagnant lags - lags so bad that nothing gets through for minutes?). Ever try to have one party member close their client - then restart? After they reconnect another does this, systematically progressing through the entire party. I have several times. Now while correlation does not prove causality, it can point and hint and even suggest; and this is strong suggestion of a cause. How do I mean? If when the instant one party member closes their client and the lag goes away for the entire party? Yes - that is when.

Why? Could be numerous things including a character that hasn't been reincarnated for several major updates.

Now if this is the case (the one party member grassy Gnoll theory (Yes grassy Gnoll not grassy knoll :eek: :rolleyes: ;) )) why wouldn't Turbine want to tell us? Because it would lead inevitably to exclusivity. It happens, we the players figure out (or think or guess) which character was causing it, and we'd spread that gossip like kobold with diarrhea; and soon that character would be (unfairly) ostracised.

There are many causes of lag - (even blame Netflix for dumping House of Cards and Daredevil all at once :eek:); some can be fixed (server side tuning through performance logging, adjusting quests and code and scripts, and removal of spaghetti code and redundant scripting (I'm looking at you handwraps)). Some are client side and can be fixed by setting a set dynamic memory size, faster HDD's or swapping to hybrid drives and SSDs, updating OS and IE to latest, defragging, and streamlining what is going on, etc. Finally some are just out of our control ---> TTL , latency, heavy load on internet infrastructure, and my favorite - electro-magnetic interference from solar flares, CME's, and activity.

So grin and bear it - do what you can and have faith that Turbine will as well.

[Warrax23]

So grin and bear it - do what you can and have faith that Turbine will as well.

Unfortunately Faith is something some of us are running short on these days. :(

[UurlockYgmeov]

Unfortunately Faith is something some of us are running short on these days. :(

well buck up - the Turbine team has successfully gone to great lengths to not only give us a better game, but also to improve (again vastly successful) teamwork between the players and the Dev's. They have also successfully greatly reduced lag - and continue to actively hunt down the lagmonster.

Every MMO has Lag - ddo is a MMO; however its lag is by far in the best 10% (meaning least lag and so on).

Have faith. Lag has immeasurably improved over the course of the last 15 months. I remember the lag then - hanging (literally) in the air for 15 minutes between even a chat update.

Things are looking up! The future is so bright , you gotta wear shades! :cool:

[JamnJD]

Lag has immeasurably improved over the course of the last 15 months.

I don't think we're playing the same game.

I can appreciate that the Dev team speaks of hunting down the lag monster. But as far as I'm concerned, it's all lip service until I notice a difference on Live. And as far as I can see, I haven't noticed much of an improvement.

When lag starts to hit, it's really not fun for me to play. It totally breaks immersion and simply increases frustration. So I'll finish the quest that I'm in and then sign off.

Sometimes I'll even fire up (ugh!) Neverwinter for a bit, or I'll just go off and read.

I come to the game to relax and have fun. If the game is going to grief me, I simply flip it the bird and move on to something else. The relationship is getting sour now.

I really love the game when it's working though. But because of that, any grief caused by the lag monster has a big negative impact on me.

...J

[UurlockYgmeov]

I don't think we're playing the same game.

I can appreciate that the Dev team speaks of hunting down the lag monster. But as far as I'm concerned, it's all lip service until I notice a difference on Live. And as far as I can see, I haven't noticed much of an improvement.

When lag starts to hit, it's really not fun for me to play. It totally breaks immersion and simply increases frustration. So I'll finish the quest that I'm in and then sign off.

Sometimes I'll even fire up (ugh!) Neverwinter for a bit, or I'll just go off and read.

I come to the game to relax and have fun. If the game is going to grief me, I simply flip it the bird and move on to something else. The relationship is getting sour now.

I really love the game when it's working though. But because of that, any grief caused by the lag monster has a big negative impact on me.

...J

so here's the thing... we are both playing the same game.

I am playing the game with a 5-6 year old HP notebook.... on its third graphics card/mb...

so if I am not experiencing the lag you are, and we are both playing the same game? eliminate the impossible (the game) and whatever remains, however unhappily, embarrassing, must be the truth.

[Warrax23]

so here's the thing... we are both playing the same game.

I am playing the game with a 5-6 year old HP notebook.... on its third graphics card/mb...

so if I am not experiencing the lag you are, and we are both playing the same game? eliminate the impossible (the game) and whatever remains, however unhappily, embarrassing, must be the truth.


Or maybe it's because you just don't notice the lag on your machine? I have a brand new rig and I still get a lot of lag. Could also be which server your on. I'm on Sarlona and we've been getting a lot of chop. But how do I know it's not just me... Public chat, guild chat with people not in my group all locked up it's fun to see the tidal wave of "Is the game locked up for you? Yes, I'm in the market, I'm on the boat, I'm in eveningstar". So I guess it's just our imagination..

[Faltout]

so here's the thing... we are both playing the same game.

I am playing the game with a 5-6 year old HP notebook.... on its third graphics card/mb...

so if I am not experiencing the lag you are, and we are both playing the same game? eliminate the impossible (the game) and whatever remains, however unhappily, embarrassing, must be the truth.
Wait, did you just describe the game as a single concrete entity? :D
"The game" consists of several processors and also several possibly limited processes. So if someone lags, what he is doing in his process (the instance) and what processor this instance is on matters very much. Also, you missed a 3rd factor. The player. Different players will tolerate different amounts of lag. I am fine with half a second delay and misfires and the need to click something twice to work. Someone else may be smashing his computer because he got 0.1 second delay or while turning around, his graphics were not already loaded.

When trapped in a lag spike, I open the forums, I chat on guild chat, I browse sites. Always having sound on in case the lag wears off.

[JamnJD]

Or maybe it's because you just don't notice the lag on your machine? I have a brand new rig and I still get a lot of lag. Could also be which server your on. I'm on Sarlona and we've been getting a lot of chop. But how do I know it's not just me... Public chat, guild chat with people not in my group all locked up it's fun to see the tidal wave of "Is the game locked up for you? Yes, I'm in the market, I'm on the boat, I'm in eveningstar". So I guess it's just our imagination..

Urlock is not noticing lag because Urlock's old hardware lags *all* the time, so really can't tell lol.

Joking aside, you bring up a good point Warrax. Mileage may vary depending on which world we're playing on. It's also evident that there are players who rarely see the lag monster because of the nature of instanced based gaming and luck. But this doesn't mean that the problem doesn't exist.

There's enough reporting on the forums and in game to note that there is in fact a problem. Still.

...J

[UurlockYgmeov]

Urlock is not noticing lag because Urlock's old hardware lags *all* the time, so really can't tell lol.

Joking aside, you bring up a good point Warrax. Mileage may vary depending on which world we're playing on. It's also evident that there are players who rarely see the lag monster because of the nature of instanced based gaming and luck. But this doesn't mean that the problem doesn't exist.

There's enough reporting on the forums and in game to note that there is in fact a problem. Still.

...J

*chuckle* I notice lag --- and am first to adapt my playstyle to it. first to type /loc, and first to usually shrug it off.

I've done EVERYTHING possible (short of getting a new machine (which should happen later this year with 32 gb of ram, and dual SSD's (one dedicated to DDO)) - including running diskkeeper, winX, and having DDO installed on a dedicated seagate XT (hybrid) drive - reserved for ONLY DDO.

I've tweaked and ubersupertrweaked - so yes, I know lag exists, and see it - but usually don't experience (notice experience rather than the incorrect term - notice) much lag; that is in severity, duration and frequency.

I can and do comment on lag when I can speak with complete certainly it isn't my machine or internet causing the issue.

with that said - I cannot rule out the possibility that Kobold plays with networking wires..... maybe put rare earth magnet over them.... wrap the cat6 around the rare earth...

now that I mention that... think it is time to go fibre from computer to public internet... ;p

[Warrax23]

*chuckle* I notice lag --- and am first to adapt my playstyle to it. first to type /loc, and first to usually shrug it off.

I've done EVERYTHING possible (short of getting a new machine (which should happen later this year with 32 gb of ram, and dual SSD's (one dedicated to DDO)) - including running diskkeeper, winX, and having DDO installed on a dedicated seagate XT (hybrid) drive - reserved for ONLY DDO.

I've tweaked and ubersupertrweaked - so yes, I know lag exists, and see it - but usually don't experience (notice experience rather than the incorrect term - notice) much lag; that is in severity, duration and frequency.

I can and do comment on lag when I can speak with complete certainly it isn't my machine or internet causing the issue.

with that said - I cannot rule out the possibility that Kobold plays with networking wires..... maybe put rare earth magnet over them.... wrap the cat6 around the rare earth...

now that I mention that... think it is time to go fibre from computer to public internet... ;p

We should all just move to boston and plug in locally. And I have to say my machine has 32 gbs of ram and it's amazing... don't forget to get an SSD, they are very much worth the cost.

[caberonia]

Log off and play something else.

[UurlockYgmeov]

We should all just move to boston and plug in locally. And I have to say my machine has 32 gbs of ram and it's amazing... don't forget to get an SSD, they are very much worth the cost.

considering I am currently several thousand miles away from Boston....

But ever try playing on a Satellite connection in the middle of the Baltics? Don't.

[Singular]

All of: Scream, shout, swear, cry, break my monitor, pull hair out of my head, throw the computer out of the window, quit my job, go on a motorcycle ride, crash on purpose, blame Obama

...like a boss.

[Sarzor]

We should all just move to boston and plug in locally. And I have to say my machine has 32 gbs of ram and it's amazing... don't forget to get an SSD, they are very much worth the cost.

I live a few miles from Turbine, and let's just say my lag amounts are not enviable.

[Warrax23]

I live a few miles from Turbine, and let's just say my lag amounts are not enviable.

I meant run cable directly to their datacenter IE lan! :)