Lags killing battles which were formerly without any::: Help needed

**haniel** · May 25, 2009, 11:51 AM

I'm playing TATW for a while now, and first it was a pleasure to play, but suddenly (maybe after installing the 1.1 patch?) there appeared lags in the battles first not so bad (as I remember) but they were becoming worse and worse. I put down the settings(huge units still in use). which were formerly pretty high but did work fine even in larger battles with between two and three full stacks (at the beginning as I remeber without any lags and high settings) But this does not seem to work; the game is in a 3/4 stack against a 3/4 stack battle (still huge units) nearly unplayable, even after I reinstalled it.

I have a Intel Core Duo T 5550 1.83 Ghz (norebook) with 3 GB Ram, a ATI MobilityRadeon HD 2600 XT and Vits home Premium and I'am not playing on the baterie.

Please help, because this doesn't make fun any more

**Gigantus** · May 25, 2009, 12:13 PM

I came across the same problem, half way through a siege battle the FPS rate must have been close to zero. I assumed that it had to do with the graphics (texture files) in the Third_Age\data\blockset\textures directory. Renaming the huge (5MB) files and thereby using the Reduced City Textures Mod files that I had already installed in my root directory, the lag got drastically reduced.
Question to the devs: what exactly is different in those files from the original ones?
Your ambient_limestone_normal.texture file is 5462KB, the original is 5462KB and the reduced version is 342KB.

**haniel** · May 25, 2009, 12:32 PM

I don't know if we exactly have the same prob; in my case it seems that the performance has become in general, not in a single battle bader; may this have something to do with the 1.1 patch?

**Achilla** · May 25, 2009, 12:34 PM

In 1.0 battle AI was XAI, in 1.1 it's Really Bad AI. Not sure if it's the cause but modified pathfinding files might cause a heavier load on older comps. My old P4 3.2 ghz 1.5gb ram 128mb X600 piece of crap handles this game on small unit scale, yours cannot?

**Germanicu5** · May 25, 2009, 12:55 PM

That's very unlikely, most values used by XBAI generate heavier load. I'd rather blame textures and such.

I read in another thread, that some combination of turning shadows/reflections/filtering "on" was giving good results, but I can't vouch for this "solution".
Regards

**Gigantus** · May 25, 2009, 01:25 PM

And I say again:

Reduced City Textures

Works like a charm now.

**Achilla** · May 25, 2009, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by gigantus

And I say again:

Reduced City Textures

Works like a charm now.

You don't have to post the same thing two times

even if it's a good thing

I'm already using it.

**Kahvipannu** · May 25, 2009, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by gigantus

And I say again:

Reduced City Textures

Works like a charm now.

Sounds good, but 512 x 512 seems a bit low.. Anyone know if there is a mod out there, example, to have resolution like 1024 x 1024 for buildings?

**Haerski** · May 25, 2009, 05:36 PM

One other good way to get rid of lags is to use program which shuts all unecessary processes from your system and frees the resourses for gaming. I sometimes use SparkleXP and battles work like charm, but it also shuts down your firewall and anti-virus programs (Can be disabled, but those programs have a bad habit to eat your system resources) so I can't keep internet connected at same time. It also requires to restart computer before program takes full effect. If you are ready to face those negative effects and not too willing to lower your graphics, this program is for you.

**Tintin2** · May 26, 2009, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by Kahvipannu

Sounds good, but 512 x 512 seems a bit low.. Anyone know if there is a mod out there, example, to have resolution like 1024 x 1024 for buildings?

May I ask what it does by reducing it to 512 x 512 ?
Does it change anything graphical in your settlements ?
Sorry for the dumb question but it makes me curious.
Kind regards

**Gigantus** · May 25, 2009, 08:41 PM

Check out the GameBooster and other useful stuff here.

**haniel** · May 26, 2009, 01:59 AM

Thanks guy, I'll trie that end of june, because until then I won't play, because I've got 3 weeks of exames now...
P.S.: Textures of buildings may not be the prob; I reduced them before and the lags remain (the appeared also in open field battles...).

Thanks!

**JuL14n** · May 26, 2009, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by gigantus

Check out the GameBooster and other useful stuff here.

I'm trying A-SC right now and I'm very pleased.

I used CCleaner & Spybot S&D before, but this tool is much better as it looks like.

If Gamebooster works as good as this I will have to rep+ you.

Edit: What's that? Can you hear it?
- No? ;O
It's my computer stopped saying krrrrr... While I'm playing!

rep+

**Point Blank** · May 26, 2009, 06:09 PM

Rhun units slow framerate they are more complex models or higher-res texture.

**Gigantus** · May 26, 2009, 10:16 PM

May I ask what it does by reducing it to 512 x 512 ?
Does it change anything graphical in your settlements ?

Nothing gets changed, at very close zoom buildings might not be as "crispy" as before.

**Kahvipannu** · May 28, 2009, 03:45 AM

Originally Posted by gigantus

Nothing gets changed, at very close zoom buildings might not be as "crispy" as before.

Oh? I misunderstood what that mod does

Going to download it asap. Thanks for tip, gigantus

**Gigantus** · May 28, 2009, 10:19 AM

One is glad to be of service

**Willy1798** · May 28, 2009, 01:44 PM

I'm having a similar problem however I don't believe it is graphical. I've only noticed the extreme slow frame rates when the enemy is assulting my walls with siege towers. Soon after they start lining up to get in the siege tower the FPS drops. I took the time to charge out of the gates and attack the units getting into the tower. FPS increased a bit and once I got all the enemy out of the tower the game returned to normal. Additionally if I pause the game the camera works fine. I'd like to add that I love this mod...and thanks to all those involved with its release.