Occultist Smoke Trap Lag

[SoCalAries]

The title says it all. The trap causes lag in my game invariably, and I don't have a cheap computer.
Anyone else experiencing this?

Is there a way to enable anti-aliasing through the control panel, and if so will that stop the lag I'm experiencing?

[Munderbunny]

That's weird. The area effect has a fairly low particle count (just checked, it's <700), which is pretty low, especially compared to some others (like the force of nature). And, it only uses one basic shader, so nothing that taxes the system.

It does though continuously applies a dot on all creatures around. Does it cause lag when you use it alone, or just with other monsters?

[shaposh]

Subjectively it looks like lag, i noticed this too. But real fps does not drop significantly.

[Kir4]

Is there a way to enable anti-aliasing through the control panel, and if so will that stop the lag I'm experiencing?

In Start Screen->Options-> Video, there's a checkbox for anti-aliasing. However, that should have a negative effect on your fps, as it's consuming more resources.

[SoCalAries]

It does not lag until the monsters get the animation swirling around them, and then it lags. It lags pretty consistently, but never without monsters.

[SoCalAries]

I'm using Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. So there is no start screen > options >video.
I go to control panel presumably, but can't figure out what exactly I'm looking for.
Someone told me this would reduce lag, if I were to enable it on my control panel instead of in the game.

That being said, should I just disable it? I don't know that I could tell the difference without it or not. Lol I just max the settings in every game I play and never have a problem. I mean I play Bioshock 2, RE5, DA:O, MW2, all maxed out with no lag... This should be a non-issue.

[shaposh]

The game will lag in Wusao mount. anyway.
Besides, from my expericence enabling AA from game menu is less laggy. I play with AA enabled everywhere and switch it off in Wusao.

BTW, you should go into your graphics card settings and set Anysotropic Filtering (AF) level to 4. This improves graphics quality alot. AA should be set to be controlled by application.
I play in 2560x1600 allmaxx.

[Kir4]

@SoCalRies

I'm using Win 7 Pro 64 Bit as well. You probably misinterpreted "Start Screen" (I was talking about TQ's start screen).

Anyway, you'll very likely find accurate AA-options within your graphic card's driver software, so start searching there.
Aye, and unfortunately, TQ is really, really bitchy with it's resources management... most people experience lags, even though their computer may be up-to-date. :/

[Munderbunny]

Honestly, it's a really random report. I'll take a look at the default oa/da debuff effect and see if the partical count is high enough to cause lag with lots of monsters. I've never experienced this myself though, so I dunno if I'll be able to replicate your problem.

[SoCalAries]

I'll replicate it if you want me to.
I just don't know how I'm supposed to post the video.

Guess I can upload it to Youtube and embed a link here. I'll get on that.

[Munderbunny]

I don't doubt that you're getting that lag. I need to be able to replicate it here in order to find the problem and fix it.

Did you ever try reinstalling and/or defragging your harddrive? I know that sounds very generic, but a couple of the causes I'm guessing could be related to either a corrupted install, or an extremely fragmented installation. But, if it's happening every time you use the smoke trap in a session, not just the first time, the latter is less likely.

[SoCalAries]

The first time... being every time I load up TQ and the first time I use it every game, or the first time ever and only that first time? Lol

I made a vid of it lagging haha. I guess I'll just delete that.

[Munderbunny]

In a session.

[SoCalAries]

Is there a way to improve the AI on the core dweller or any other pets?
I know there are limitations to what you can do, but for instance, he throws a boulder as soon as he spots a single enemy, so he crushes a weak little mob and doesn't hit a group of them or anything...
So then they all rush him, and his boulder is on cooldown. Seems like a total waste.
The SS will switch places with a weak little mob, which is total overkill, and then will proceed to get owned by the strong guy he teleported right next to...
I am quite aware that there are significant limitations to what you can do to change how the AI functions, but maybe you can prompt a "smarter" use of these skills? Just a thought.

[Munderbunny]

I appreciate the unintended flattery of this request. However, I'm sad to say it's beyond my ability.

[SoCalAries]

Sorry MB, the reason I haven't continued a report is because I haven't played my assassin lately, because I'm new and I like to play around with different builds before I go all the way with one.
I promise that when the patch comes out I will play/test the Occultist mastery a lot.
That's not to incentivise you lol. Doubt that would do any good anyway haha..

[Munderbunny]

1.4 will likely be the last patch by me for a very long time (if I even do another patch). With the test release, I'm only looking to make sure the fixes I got in it are properly implemented. As I don't have enough info on your smoke-trap lag problem, nor anyone else complaining about lag related to the smoke trap, there's nothing I can do about it right now.

So, just letting you know, I'm not exactly looking for anyone to test anything after 1.4. :) Those who are waiting for 1.4 to play or test things or whatever are doing so for their own sake, I assume, not for mine. Underlord 1.3 is not like an entirely different game from 1.4 or anything. ^^

[SoCalAries]

Okay, got it.
Thanks for the heads up.