How is Bree?

[Vyvyanne]

Hi all!

So in an effort to improve performance, we just made a small change to Bree-town. Dynamic layering will kick off at a lower threshold. Please let me know if you are seeing any improvement in performance while running around that town tonight. If it is a noticeable improvement, I can look at ways to spread this change to the other highly trafficked areas.

Thank you,
Vyvyanne

[Leixy]

I just entered Bree in Brandywine, and it was layered, city ran smooth as silk!

Normally my frames per second will drop to zero for 2-5 seconds entering South Bree gate while the server and my hard drive syncs all the players in the area, their cosmetics, colors, stats, levels, etc... to my computer. Then FPS pops back up to 60 fps.

[frost702]

Focus on the ettenmoors please.

[Eirika]

Hi all!

So in an effort to improve performance, we just made a small change to Bree-town. Dynamic layering will kick off at a lower threshold. Please let me know if you are seeing any improvement in performance while running around that town tonight. If it is a noticeable improvement, I can look at ways to spread this change to the other highly trafficked areas.

Thank you,
Vyvyanne

I will see tonight! Thank you for the efforts.

One note I have been having significant lag in Wildemore lately. It is weekend/busy times but generally I am alone or only 1 or 2 others in the region at the time. It seems to be linked to the snow effect - was seeing some of the same lately in Misty Mountains as well.

My computer is fairly optimized, my screen resolution on low (my default moors setting LoL) and I have the LOTRO client on high priority. I play the moors a lot and do suffer from lag there but less than many of my companions. All of that makes me think it may be lag external to my system.

Thanks again for your attention to our problems!

Lothhil, BW

[Boskone08]

Focus on the ettenmoors please.

I don't think increased dynamic layering would be an enhancement to the Moors experience, as it would leave fewer characters on a layer. While it might be a small problem on occasion in Bree for players trying to find an event, finding others seems a key part of the PvMP segment of the game. Dynamic layering changes are likely much easier to make (and/or unmake) than most other revisions, so they may well be a 'quick and dirty' way to address an issue possibly due to population in an area where a more segmented population may not be a major issue.

And as for me, improvements in any area are a Good Thing; it happens I do not PvMP, but I'd still like to see PvMP receive as much attention as Turbine feels appropriate.

[Sezneg]

Focus on the ettenmoors please.

This type of fix wouldn't work well for the moors.

[Schinderhannes]

Hi Vyvy!
Is this a change made only for brandywine, or for all servers?

[DeadlyGazebo]

Focus on the ettenmoors please.

Layering the moors is problematic, because lots of people enjoy Massive Fights there. If you take a lot of the other people to other layers of bree-town to make it run faster for me, that's fine, it doesn't bother me much if it looks like the streets don't have many people in them; if you take a lot of the other people out of the moors to make it run faster for me, that is potentially a serious problem, because who am I going to fight against?

Hopefully they can find other things to do that will improve moors performance...

[Snowlock]

Normally my frames per second will drop to zero for 2-5 seconds entering South Bree gate while the server and my hard drive syncs all the players in the area, their cosmetics, colors, stats, levels, etc... to my computer. Then FPS pops back up to 60 fps.

Didn't you just say that you never lag?

[danielbrown1969]

significant lag in Wildemore lately.

^ This. Actually, most of Rohan to be honest ... except when I get sent to a private instance in which case my fps shoots up to the 120 range - otherwise, it spikes DOWN to 2-3 and usually is in the 20-40 range. BTW, my computer is 2 months old and was build brand-new as a gaming computer ... so, it's not "your computer" that is the problem.

[God_Of_Wargs]

People who are uninformed, please stop posting. The lag that is the issue is not FPS lag; it is server lag. If you are experiencing low FPS, that is not the fault of the server, it's a combination of the game's engine and your computer.

The lag we want fixed is the server lag - this includes the running in place, teleporting, slingshotting, upwards of 10 second skill activation delay, and so forth. That's the lag we want fixed.

Please don't post anymore about your FPS.

And yes, in terms of server lag - please focus on the Ettenmoors. This does not mean add dynamic layering to the Ettenmoors, for obvious reasons. It means please focus on the Ettenmoors. For server lag. If the only fix is to make a new PVP zone, because the issue stems partly from antiquated coding (as evidenced by the massive difference in server lag across server lines in the Ettenmoors), then tell us that, and focus on making a new PVP map with better coding that will allow for players to play in the zone without the server grinding to a halt and making it unplayable.

[Mar-Evayave]

Thanks, Vyv! I'm interested to see how it goes on my computer next time I log in.

Do you expect this will impact music groups too much? Will we need to port players into our layers?

*timewarp* Ah, I see. Found this thread via the Dev Tracker. Didn't realize it was Brandywine-specific.

What about the rest of the servers?

Focus on the ettenmoors please.

Layering the Moors might not be such a great idea, though. It seems like most servers need as many people in there as they can get.

Didn't you just say that you never lag?

Haven't read any recent postings of that nature, but it does depend on the type. Bree is also pretty rough on my computer. Lots of graphics to load. Yesterday it took a full minute before my kinmates fully loaded on my screen, and for most of that minute their characters were in their skivvies. xD That said, it wasn't significant FPS drop for me. But I also wasn't experiencing any running in place, etc. Guess it was just a slow load. My game does that at every Winterstock as well. Takes a while to load the entire crowd.

People who are uninformed, please stop posting. The lag that is the issue is not FPS lag; it is server lag. If you are experiencing low FPS, that is not the fault of the server, it's a combination of the game's engine and your computer.

The lag we want fixed is the server lag - this includes the running in place, teleporting, slingshotting, upwards of 10 second skill activation delay, and so forth. That's the lag we want fixed.

Please don't post anymore about your FPS.

And yes, in terms of server lag - please focus on the Ettenmoors. This does not mean add dynamic layering to the Ettenmoors, for obvious reasons. It means please focus on the Ettenmoors. For server lag. If the only fix is to make a new PVP zone, because the issue stems partly from antiquated coding (as evidenced by the massive difference in server lag across server lines in the Ettenmoors), then tell us that, and focus on making a new PVP map with better coding that will allow for players to play in the zone without the server grinding to a halt and making it unplayable.

I want all lag fixed. FPS drops, server lags, the works. If there is anything Turbine can do on their end to reduce the FPS issue, then I say let them try. I want FPS fixed just as much as server. There are more places than just the Moors that lag (Bree one of them). When high level areas are worse in regards to FPS drops and low level areas are better, then that seems to indicate (to me) that there is something in the coding of those areas that makes it different. If there is anything Turbine can do to improve the coding so it better accommodates low-end systems, then I most definitely want them to try it.

[peachykins]

No change for me. Still choppy & even got a reduced awareness.

[danielbrown1969]

If you are experiencing low FPS, that is not the fault of the server, it's a combination of the game's engine and your computer.

Well, since it is NOT my computer, by your admission then it is the game ... and since it is the game, I / WE/ THEY want it fixed - just as badly as YOU want the server lag fixed.

[Snowlock]

T
Haven't read any recent postings of that nature,

LOTRO runs great for me

1234567890

[TheOrcsBane]

If you are experiencing low FPS, that is not the fault of the server, it's a combination of the game's engine and your computer.

You forgot about trying to target any enemy that has more than 6 players attacking it.

[siipperi]

Well, since it is NOT my computer, by your admission then it is the game ... and since it is the game, I / WE/ THEY want it fixed - just as badly as YOU want the server lag fixed.

It's your computer if it takes longer than few seconds after the loading screen, turn down AA.

Edit. Only place I have noticed pure fps performance problems that isnt afgected by server lag is central gondor

[siipperi]

Thanks, Vyv! I'm interested to see how it goes on my computer next time I log in.

Do you expect this will impact music groups too much? Will we need to port players into our layers?

*timewarp* Ah, I see. Found this thread via the Dev Tracker. Didn't realize it was Brandywine-specific.

What about the rest of the servers?



Layering the Moors might not be such a great idea, though. It seems like most servers need as many people in there as they can get.



Haven't read any recent postings of that nature, but it does depend on the type. Bree is also pretty rough on my computer. Lots of graphics to load. Yesterday it took a full minute before my kinmates fully loaded on my screen, and for most of that minute their characters were in their skivvies. xD That said, it wasn't significant FPS drop for me. But I also wasn't experiencing any running in place, etc. Guess it was just a slow load. My game does that at every Winterstock as well. Takes a while to load the entire crowd.



I want all lag fixed. FPS drops, server lags, the works. If there is anything Turbine can do on their end to reduce the FPS issue, then I say let them try. I want FPS fixed just as much as server. There are more places than just the Moors that lag (Bree one of them). When high level areas are worse in regards to FPS drops and low level areas are better, then that seems to indicate (to me) that there is something in the coding of those areas that makes it different. If there is anything Turbine can do to improve the coding so it better accommodates low-end systems, then I most definitely want them to try it.

This sounds like you are playing on seriously underpowered PC. Loading times and getting character data shouldn't take that long, and turbine should not be blamed if not played on proper gaming computer.


They are using bw as test bench because it's one of biggest servers and most likely as active as big part of servers after server migrates.

[Juravael]

The only downside to adding more layers that I see is that Bree will now feel even more empty than it already does.
I know folks will bash me for saying that but I like the city to feel alive and full of players, not a ghost town. I play on Landroval (We used to play on BW but we left because we didn't care for the "community" there) and some days I may only see 10-20 people, if that.

I don't have these "lag" issues that others complain about though.
I'm almost always sitting at 90 - 120+ FPS no matter where I am in the game and I play on the highest settings.

I very rarely experience server lag.

[Leixy]

I was playing in Eregion last night, and the game was a smooth 60 FPS, 3 years ago, Eregion would knock me down to 10 fps at very high settings. I'm using basically the same PC.

Turbine has definitely helped optimize this game over the years, anything else they can do to help that will be better for the game experience.

My guess is they will move us from the current 28 or so LOTRO servers, down to 9-12 LOTRO servers, I am very happy Vyvyanne is looking at ways to make both our current experience better, but also better quality of life after the mergers.

[Vyvyanne]

Thank you for the feedback. To answer a few questions....

1. The change last night was only on Brandywine which is our busiest server and would notice the greatest difference. As we saw no detrimental affects last night I will get the change made on the other servers as well. I will also look into doing a similar change in other high traffic areas. As we encourage players to move to higher population worlds, we want the world to be fuller, but not at the expense of performance.

2. For those concerned about music festivals. Your in Bree-town festivals would be limited to ~75 people with this new level, but the Festival grounds outside of Bree-town proper are not on the same volume level, so those can still be 100+ gatherings.

3. Ettenmoors- This is a much larger issue that can not be fixed by a simple server flag change like dynamic layers. We are working on a different solution for that but it will take longer. We will have more information in the coming months.

[Leixy]

Vyvyanne, I'm very glad you are doing this now, because Bree always gets to be an insane place during Anniversary fest.

Thanks!

[Eirika]

Thank you for the feedback. To answer a few questions....

1. The change last night was only on Brandywine which is our busiest server and would notice the greatest difference. As we saw no detrimental affects last night I will get the change made on the other servers as well. I will also look into doing a similar change in other high traffic areas. As we encourage players to move to higher population worlds, we want the world to be fuller, but not at the expense of performance.

2. For those concerned about music festivals. Your in Bree-town festivals would be limited to ~75 people with this new level, but the Festival grounds outside of Bree-town proper are not on the same volume level, so those can still be 100+ gatherings.

3. Ettenmoors- This is a much larger issue that can not be fixed by a simple server flag change like dynamic layers. We are working on a different solution for that but it will take longer. We will have more information in the coming months.

Vyvyanne - Thank you for the mention of ongoing work for the Moors. :-) It is good to be reassured it is still on the agenda.

As a BW resident I do also worry about the affect of transfers on our performance and community. I am happy to see the tests and trials you are doing on our server however, when you blend populations you get conflict. Already we see that because folks transferring in often want their new BW community to act like their old - you see everything from mild complaints to outright nasty comments and observations. It will pass but I really do think you need to explore expanding our ability to add more folks to ignore. It will be needed in the coming months as populations shift in both directions.

Note to all - when I mention lag inside and outside of the Moors I am referring to classic lag - slingshotting, immobility and so forth. I do not monitor FPS but I do have my (older) system optimized as much as is possible for the game. When I can afford a new system I will be excited to see if it helps issues I don't associate with Server Lag.

Lothhil, BW

[Leksi]

Thank you for the feedback. To answer a few questions....
.

Thanks for the interaction.

[Giliodor]

3. Ettenmoors- This is a much larger issue that can not be fixed by a simple server flag change like dynamic layers. We are working on a different solution for that but it will take longer. We will have more information in the coming months.

Makes me wonder... If you're working on solutions to lag in the Moors, does that mean Osgiliath won't be a PvP map? Don't see why you'd work on an old area if there's a new area in the making.