@Raninia - will SSG acknowledge continued network and login issues?

[JH15547]

On Friday, October 1st at 4:39 PM EST there was a tweet that indicated that the login issues being seen by many players should have been resolved. Since that time, numerous players have reported still having issues on the forums and elsewhere. But we have not received a response from SSG, even an acknowledgment that you are aware there is still an issue.

I am a strong supporter of SSG and LOTRO (the amount of $$$ I give the company is testament to that), but this kind of thing has got to stop. If there is a production issue impacting a significant portion of the player base, there needs to be more proactive communication. I understand that these things do take time and wouldn't necessarily have expected the small team at SSG to be working furiously over the weekend to fix it. But some acknowledgement that the issue has been seen and logged would go a long way to mollifying the majority of players impacted. Right now, based on what I've seen communicated, the only impression I get is that either SSG doesn't care there is an issue or doesn't even realize there is one. Neither is a good impression.

For the record, marketing was able to make 4 additional posts on Twitter since Friday's tweet on the login issues. I'm aware some of this is likely automated via queue, but it's disconcerting nonetheless. All it does is reinforce some of the bad impressions I noted above.

[istvana]

I agree in all respects.

Last year I wouldn't even have posted to agree - ho hum, SSG being SSG.

This year things have been a lot better until recently. But not a word other than "it is fixed" (it wasn't but I don't blame Cord for passing on what he was told by the technical people) for a problem affecting a lot of players since the middle of last week.

And while there have been a few answers to questions and requests about the expansion packages the great majority of questions have not gotten any response. No I don't mean the question about conversion to the new system which many of us care the most about - we don't know yet is a perfectly legitimate answer - it is total silence on many other points that I refer to).

[Cordovan]

We are continuing to investigate these issues. So far we have not found anything in our environment to cause it, which lends support to the idea that this may be related to regional or Internet backbone issues. However, we are continuing to investigate. So far the most common commonality is that those affected are either Verizon users or using their infrastructure, although we don't yet know if that is a cause.

[Starborne]

We are continuing to investigate these issues. So far we have not found anything in our environment to cause it, which lends support to the idea that this may be related to regional or Internet backbone issues. However, we are continuing to investigate. So far the most common commonality is that those affected are either Verizon users or using their infrastructure, although we don't yet know if that is a cause.

One thing of note, in mine and others' experience, is that some issues are character specific. For example, my RK (my main) bugged out in Bree 3 days ago, and now I'm unable to login to that toon. Loading bar doesn't filled, eventually says "connexion lost."

Happened to my hunter and champ as well, although they miraculously returned sometime this morning. I miss my RK

[Vicka]

On Verizon FiOS. When I get disconnected it can be a real challenge to re-log that same character.

[Bothketbog]

On Verizon FiOS. When I get disconnected it can be a real challenge to re-log that same character.

Hmmm, me too. In Queens, NY. All my other services seem to be working fine, but login issues persist today on Crickhollow. Also timed out logging on to a toon on Anor.

[Starborne]

Guys, I was able to fix the bug by using a VPN. I'm on Verizon FIOS as well -- might be worth a shot for you all.

[Tralfazz]

Hmmm, me too. In Queens, NY. All my other services seem to be working fine, but login issues persist today on Crickhollow. Also timed out logging on to a toon on Anor.

Also in Queens but using Spectrum cable. No issues with LOTRO at all. Did a lot of testing on Saturday after reading about people's issues, couldn't replicate any of them. Did a little testing and a couple of hours of playing on Sunday, no problem. Did a little testing this morning, no problem.

What is most odd if this is a problem related to Verizon or other ISP-specific physical infrastructure is that many folks reporting issues with LOTRO report they are having no issues with other online games. Or they have issues with one or a few LOTRO characters/servers but no issues with others.

[JH15547]

We are continuing to investigate these issues. So far we have not found anything in our environment to cause it, which lends support to the idea that this may be related to regional or Internet backbone issues. However, we are continuing to investigate. So far the most common commonality is that those affected are either Verizon users or using their infrastructure, although we don't yet know if that is a cause.

Thanks for the response Cord. Yes, I am on Verizon Fios if that helps. I haven't noticed any issues with streaming or playing other MMO's, but that could be a data center / ISP chain thing I guess if the Verizon backbone infrastructure is the issue.

[Moonrager]

I'm also a FIOS customer having LOTRO issues. I don't have any many login issues getting into the game, but I do get several connection losses to the server per week, but I can log back in relatively quickly once I get the game back up again. However, I have not had chat channels since last week. They only communication in game I've been able to accomplish in the multitude of logins was the other night I could direct message a friend. Other than that, I just get errors on any of the other channels.

And like other members, when I leave LOTRO and go play New World most recently, and other MMO's I have no issues "at all" with those games. Connection or chat.

With the upcoming Gundabad release and influx of returning/new players... if you've got an issue with your servers or with the backbone of other service providers, you may want to figure that out quickly. Otherwise, those new people with or without FIOS (if that is the root cause) will not stay long if they can't get logged in, stay logged in, or chat with others once they get in.

[Maynaroth]

Interesting. I have also been having the same issues - either unable to find a server connection, or timing out when loading an initial character screen or zone - and I'm a FIOS user. Nothing to add to the discussion other than pointing out the FIOS connection (or lack thereof)

[istvana]

Thanks for the reply - also on FIOS. Having no issues with anything but LOTRO so if there is an internet issue it presumably is in the routings near your end.

[Ark_Guard]

We are continuing to investigate these issues. So far we have not found anything in our environment to cause it, which lends support to the idea that this may be related to regional or Internet backbone issues. However, we are continuing to investigate. So far the most common commonality is that those affected are either Verizon users or using their infrastructure, although we don't yet know if that is a cause.

Well, funny you should say this. I'm on Frontier's FIOS in Dallas area of TX and they bought all that area out from Verizon. So, there may still be some tie-ins there. I've had spikes of really high latency the past few days with some packet loss.

[Fr0striven]

Verizon FIOS, Pittsburgh, PA. Still seeing issues on Gladden, Day 4 of issues....

[Murtanion]

Verizon FIOS, Pittsburgh, PA. Still seeing issues on Gladden, Day 4 of issues....

Ironically, Comcast, Pittsburgh PA. Having issues as well.

[Tullkas]

On Verizon FIOS in NY could not log in last 2 days I tried.

[istvana]

Things have been almost normal for me the last two hours. Almost. May just be good luck maybe something has improved.

[Aurora7]

Does this have anything to do with the "Let's Encrypt" root certificate that expired Wednesday, September 30th?
(https://www.zdnet.com/article/fortin...crypt-expires/)

Was Verizon (or parts of it) using the expired certificate, so that some of the internet traffic required rerouting?

Regards
Aurora7

[istvana]

Excellent theory.

[cdq1958]

I am on Charter Spectrum and have had no issues logging in. My 130s do have the long standing long log out times and sometimes have the server time out response.

[scifispirit]

One thing of note, in mine and others' experience, is that some issues are character specific. For example, my RK (my main) bugged out in Bree 3 days ago, and now I'm unable to login to that toon. Loading bar doesn't filled, eventually says "connexion lost."

Happened to my hunter and champ as well, although they miraculously returned sometime this morning. I miss my RK

I want to add to this. For me, the issue seems to be in-game location specific. I have 10 characters. I brought one of them to Bree for my VIP perk, but I froze and then got booted. I could not log back in with that character. So, I tried all my others. I was able to log in with all of them except 3, and they happen to be ones that I left in Bree the previous timed I played with them. It was a 45 minute ordeal for me. But there was something about loading Bree that my game or my PC couldn't handle. It just seemed too coincidental considering I had no issues logging in with all my other characters.

My husband experienced something similar on a different night. He was running the map table missions and crashed shortly after teleporting to one of the locations. He wasn't able to re-log in with that character, but WAS able to log in with his secondary character who was obviously left in different location. So, for me, it seems like a location specific loading issue. But, honestly, what do I know? :/

[chalexHere]

Been having the same problem since Friday. Also on Verizon FIOS. Oddly enough, my wife also plays - going through the same router - and hasn't had any issues (knock on wood).

I did find a forum thread going back to 2015 that suggested it is a port issue. I followed the advice and seemed to have found my solution. If you open Documents\The Lord of the Rings Online\UserPreferences.ini (or UserPreferences64.ini for the 64-bit client) and go the the [Net] section, there is a setting called UserSpecifiedPort. This is set to 0 by default, which causes the game to use any port between 9000 and 9013.

Whenever I have a lockup issue - usually when swift traveling or going through a door - I exit the game, change this setting to specify a number between 9000 and 9013, and reenter the game. While there might be an initial glitch - like the game reporting the server is down or it not being able to establish a connection - I am invariably able to get into the game again even on the same character.

When playing the game, we are always switching from one server in their farm to another. A given "server"- like Brandywine or Landroval - is actually a bank of physical machines. When you go from one area to another - such as when you swift travel or go through doors or even cross a boundary like from Breeland to the North Downs - you are actually being switched over to a different physical server, whichever one is handling that region of the game currently. This is where they are currently having a problem with maintaining our connections.

[JH15547]

Been having the same problem since Friday. Also on Verizon FIOS. Oddly enough, my wife also plays - going through the same router - and hasn't had any issues (knock on wood).

I did find a forum thread going back to 2015 that suggested it is a port issue. I followed the advice and seemed to have found my solution. If you open Documents\The Lord of the Rings Online\UserPreferences.ini (or UserPreferences64.ini for the 64-bit client) and go the the [Net] section, there is a setting called UserSpecifiedPort. This is set to 0 by default, which causes the game to use any port between 9000 and 9013.

Whenever I have a lockup issue - usually when swift traveling or going through a door - I exit the game, change this setting to specify a number between 9000 and 9013, and reenter the game. While there might be an initial glitch - like the game reporting the server is down or it not being able to establish a connection - I am invariably able to get into the game again even on the same character.

When playing the game, we are always switching from one server in their farm to another. A given "server"- like Brandywine or Landroval - is actually a bank of physical machines. When you go from one area to another - such as when you swift travel or go through doors or even cross a boundary like from Breeland to the North Downs - you are actually being switched over to a different physical server, whichever one is handling that region of the game currently. This is where they are currently having a problem with maintaining our connections.

FWIW, the past 24 hours have been smooth for me. Appreciate the timely response from Cordovan and SSG.