ZOS, Massive Spike in Ping/LAG in Recent Days - What Gives?

Jestertoo

baconaura wrote: »

constantly getting disconnected from the game servers doing the new dungeons. sorta frustrating.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l5c2uS6uzimSLMb0cgmhA6tgzlcRezGA/view?usp=sharing

That's a good capture. Did other members of the party get disconnected or just you? There wasn't any audio so I couldn't tell.
Can you run MTR or pingplotter while you play and look for packetloss?

meekmiko

Yesterday was actually pretty smooth for me, some lag here or there but it wasn't too bad at all, buuuuuut today it's horrible again. Lots of lag, skills not firing (feels very sludgy when they do go off), and pauses and rubberbanding.

Jestertoo

meekmiko wrote: »

Yesterday was actually pretty smooth for me, some lag here or there but it wasn't too bad at all, buuuuuut today it's horrible again. Lots of lag, skills not firing (feels very sludgy when they do go off), and pauses and rubberbanding.

When, where and how? PvE? openworld or trials/dungeons? PvP? ballgroups and zergs?

Please run pingplotter to 8.8.8 and watch for packetloss.
This, excluding PvP ball/zerg groups, is the number one reason for big lag spikes.
If you are seeing this, you are gonna have lagspikes and rubberbanding. Every one of those red bars in combat will be skills not firing, rubberbanding to your new location, etc.

Messi

Tandor wrote: »

Messi wrote: »

Anytime ZOS activates their protection thing to prevent attack from bad actors there seems to be an absurd amount of latency for literal days.
For example 6th of March (Thursday) they announced that they were activating this protection thing to prevent bad actors and today is a Wednesday 3/12 and I am still getting ridiculous spikes. And no, it has nothing to do with my internet speed. I have played this game for 4 years and had no issues what so ever until the last couple months. Raiding has become almost impossible.
Is this the new norm? Should I just spend weeks upon weeks lagging my brains out? Maybe at this point I should just learn my lesson.

And yet every time an attack causes an absurd amount of latency it only affects certain players, seemingly the same players each time, almost certainly a comparatively small number of players, while everyone else carries on with flawless (or for some at least adequate) performance as usual. It's a very strange situation so I'm not surprised it is proving so difficult to pin down.

I agree, exactly. We need some form of fix, this is not okay at all. It has been weeks and weeks of this and it is severely impacting my ability to play at the level I want to play at.

LadyGP

Messi wrote: »

Tandor wrote: »

Messi wrote: »

Anytime ZOS activates their protection thing to prevent attack from bad actors there seems to be an absurd amount of latency for literal days.
For example 6th of March (Thursday) they announced that they were activating this protection thing to prevent bad actors and today is a Wednesday 3/12 and I am still getting ridiculous spikes. And no, it has nothing to do with my internet speed. I have played this game for 4 years and had no issues what so ever until the last couple months. Raiding has become almost impossible.
Is this the new norm? Should I just spend weeks upon weeks lagging my brains out? Maybe at this point I should just learn my lesson.

And yet every time an attack causes an absurd amount of latency it only affects certain players, seemingly the same players each time, almost certainly a comparatively small number of players, while everyone else carries on with flawless (or for some at least adequate) performance as usual. It's a very strange situation so I'm not surprised it is proving so difficult to pin down.

I agree, exactly. We need some form of fix, this is not okay at all. It has been weeks and weeks of this and it is severely impacting my ability to play at the level I want to play at.

It's been a while since this thread has gotten an update. Curious of @ZOS_Kevin has anything to add? Maybe any results from the survey or any changes they are looking at making? Anything that was discovered during the PTS test (Gina said they found 1 issue). Etc.

Sorry for my absence in this thread the past week or so. Lots of IRL stuff atm.

blktauna

I was tanking uglies in harrowstorms in the Reach on PCEU and the skill delay was appalling. Not so much rubberbanding as frequent pauses to think and decide if we wanted to allow that skill to work this time or not.

JaxontheUnfortunate

Yeah on PC-NA for the last couple of days I have noticed fairly consistent swings in ping latency.

LadyGP

First time I was able to play since U45 last night - was in a ball group.

I had the usual packetloss/redlines on Ping Plotter which would 9 out of 10 times result in me being kicked from the game - 0 kicks tonight.

I had maybe... 10ish massive rubber bands which resulted in some deaths but never got disconected which is a huge win for me. Sure, the rubber banding stinks but... there is only so much ZoS can do when packetloss is happening.

Seravi

Porting from West Weald to The Scholarium. Kicked out to the login screen with Error 334. PC NA 10:03AM CST.

Rebooting

LPapirius wrote: »

LadyGP wrote: »

Yeah thread has died down a bit. I'm curious if that is because people aren't having as much issues or if they gave up. Hopefully the first one. Will post how it goes.

Eventually people get tired of trying to reason with a fence post.

The issues still persist. But most have given up and left the game already I think. At least that's what's happened to nearly 100% of those on my friends list.

^ That

"I cancelled my Subscription."

silky_soft

LPapirius wrote: »

LadyGP wrote: »

Seravi wrote: »

LadyGP wrote: »

Seravi wrote: »

Kicked 11:12AM CST PC NA

Character selection screen choosing another character. 334 Error

Oof. Rough morning for you. Hopefully things settle down. I'm going to be in Cyro tonight and see how things go.

May the force be with you!! Sure has gotten quiet on this thread. I really wish others would install the addon and keep tabs on their connections. It really helps them see where things are going wrong or not.

Let us know how it goes for you tonight!

Yeah thread has died down a bit. I'm curious if that is because people aren't having as much issues or if they gave up. Hopefully the first one. Will post how it goes.

Eventually people get tired of trying to reason with a fence post.

The issues still persist. But most have given up and left the game already I think. At least that's what's happened to nearly 100% of those on my friends list.

Yeop, they have won the war of attrition, I gave up, they are the winners. I want to play at a certain level and I just can't with what has been given to me. So I just flap around in random sets these days. Just contunue to be totally disassociated from my character as the response is random since the patch.

Feel like our sub fees could pay for localised servers to host closed content like dungeons and trials. Can't even enjoy end game pve.

I won't reply. But I'll be in the background watching.

LadyGP

silky_soft wrote: »

LPapirius wrote: »

LadyGP wrote: »

Seravi wrote: »

LadyGP wrote: »

Seravi wrote: »

Kicked 11:12AM CST PC NA

Character selection screen choosing another character. 334 Error

Oof. Rough morning for you. Hopefully things settle down. I'm going to be in Cyro tonight and see how things go.

May the force be with you!! Sure has gotten quiet on this thread. I really wish others would install the addon and keep tabs on their connections. It really helps them see where things are going wrong or not.

Let us know how it goes for you tonight!

Yeah thread has died down a bit. I'm curious if that is because people aren't having as much issues or if they gave up. Hopefully the first one. Will post how it goes.

Eventually people get tired of trying to reason with a fence post.

The issues still persist. But most have given up and left the game already I think. At least that's what's happened to nearly 100% of those on my friends list.

Yeop, they have won the war of attrition, I gave up, they are the winners. I want to play at a certain level and I just can't with what has been given to me. So I just flap around in random sets these days. Just contunue to be totally disassociated from my character as the response is random since the patch.

Feel like our sub fees could pay for localised servers to host closed content like dungeons and trials. Can't even enjoy end game pve.

I won't reply. But I'll be in the background watching.

I salute you warrior. I shall keep up the good fight.

thinkaboutit

servers are awful right now 10PM EST.

Sinlar

There has definitely been a change since the last patch involving character loading.
As soon as multiple players require loading, you immediately get hitching and lag.
Previously to the last patch, it was non-existent for this one.

Plz fix Zenni o.0

manukartofanu

It's interesting, by the way. In the short time I managed to play after the update, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of small quality-of-life improvements added to the game. However, crashes have become more frequent for me. Almost every log out to the character selection screen results in a crash, and I often crash during loading screens—not just for dungeons, but even for delves. There's no point in playing like this, so it turns out that my subscription will end after an update that I actually like.
And no, I’m not going to believe for the tenth time that the issue is on my end or somewhere along the route to the game servers rather than on the game’s servers themselves, because I have no problems with other games.

Seravi

Yea getting lots of 999+ spikes just getting my mail today. I am back to the skill fire issues, cannot fight an enemy as the game won't register my hits but they can hit me, have to log out several times along the way of a quest so I can finish since the NPCs won't respond to me, etc.

Every single route that gets put into my line with Akami is horrid. I have two Akami routes that spike around 800ms now and those two routes and the other added routes for Akami drop packets like hot potatoes!

LadyGP

manukartofanu wrote: »

It's interesting, by the way. In the short time I managed to play after the update, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of small quality-of-life improvements added to the game. However, crashes have become more frequent for me. Almost every log out to the character selection screen results in a crash, and I often crash during loading screens—not just for dungeons, but even for delves. There's no point in playing like this, so it turns out that my subscription will end after an update that I actually like.
And no, I’m not going to believe for the tenth time that the issue is on my end or somewhere along the route to the game servers rather than on the game’s servers themselves, because I have no problems with other games.

Hey there - I totally get your frustration and understand where you are coming from.

Just for clarity sake when you say "crashes" are you meaning like a hard crash to desktop or a disconnect back to login/character screen? Just want to make sure we are talking the same thing here (I often say crashing but I mean disconnects).

Have you had a chance to do some of the ping plotter stuff or run the tool/add-on that @Jestertoo put together? I know "you shouldn't have to" but for the sake of troubleshooting it's good data that can help point us in the right direction. If you would like some assistance with setting any of that up or debugging the data please don't hesitate to DM me (that goes for anyone who needs help in this thread by the way)

As for your last comment

And no, I’m not going to believe for the tenth time that the issue is on my end or somewhere along the route to the game servers rather than on the game’s servers themselves, because I have no problems with other games.

It is very possible that it is a route issue to the game servers. When monitoring my traffic from ESO, comparing it with games like Halo and AoC, the routes are totally different. The bulk of my issue in this thread appears to step from packetloss (and exceding the buffer) which happens around hop 12 for me in my route. That hop is an ISP that my main ISP uses and I actually hace an ongoing conversation with my ISPs main IT department and the secondary ISP.

I will say, something changes with U45 in a good way for me. Knock on wood but I haven't been disconnected since U45. I do get a ton of rubberbanding but before I couldn't even stay connected with no add-ons running for more than 10 minutes. Now I am back to using hardcore add-ons like RDK within a ball group and not having discconects - just rubber banding (which is due to my ISP packetloss). So if in fact some QoL things hit with U45 (I could'nt find anything in the patch notes but it feels like something changed) then thank you ZoS and everyone.

Anyways, I hope this message helps. I get it - I too ended my sub many months ago because I couldn't play the game without dc'ing.

Like I said, if I can do anything to assist please let me know.

Calastir

Even my own assistants take their time when summoned and then just let me stand there waiting a minute before even acknowledging me. The nerve!

LadyGP

Calastir wrote: »

Even my own assistants take their time when summoned and then just let me stand there waiting a minute before even acknowledging me. The nerve!

Sounds to me like possible packetloss or something. Anything where... "I do X and then it takes a few seconds then boom it happens" usually means packetloss.

Calastir

LadyGP wrote: »

Calastir wrote: »

Even my own assistants take their time when summoned and then just let me stand there waiting a minute before even acknowledging me. The nerve!

Sounds to me like possible packetloss or something. Anything where... "I do X and then it takes a few seconds then boom it happens" usually means packetloss.

I'm not sure what that means...but they'll lose more than a packet if they keep mistaking their master for a common beggar I can tell you that!

manukartofanu

LadyGP wrote: »

Just for clarity sake when you say "crashes" are you meaning like a hard crash to desktop or a disconnect back to login/character screen? Just want to make sure we are talking the same thing here (I often say crashing but I mean disconnects).

I mean exactly the same thing—ingame errors with various descriptions, including 3** and 2*** errors, unexpected errors, and other nonsense. I'm just tired of calling them disconnects since the error message isn't always about a disconnect. Sometimes, I even get the feeling that the error message is chosen by some kind of randomizer rather than indicating the actual cause.

manukartofanu

LadyGP wrote: »

I will say, something changes with U45 in a good way for me. Knock on wood but I haven't been disconnected since U45. I do get a ton of rubberbanding but before I couldn't even stay connected with no add-ons running for more than 10 minutes. Now I am back to using hardcore add-ons like RDK within a ball group and not having discconects - just rubber banding (which is due to my ISP packetloss). So if in fact some QoL things hit with U45 (I could'nt find anything in the patch notes but it feels like something changed) then thank you ZoS and everyone.

I've been in this topic for almost a year now, and every time I see new people coming in with complaints, while for some, the issues get fixed with the next patch. I was one of the lucky ones for two patches in a row, but now the game has become unplayable. So I'll wait for the next patch—if I even remember this game by then.

LadyGP

Calastir wrote: »

LadyGP wrote: »

Calastir wrote: »

Even my own assistants take their time when summoned and then just let me stand there waiting a minute before even acknowledging me. The nerve!

Sounds to me like possible packetloss or something. Anything where... "I do X and then it takes a few seconds then boom it happens" usually means packetloss.

I'm not sure what that means...but they'll lose more than a packet if they keep mistaking their master for a common beggar I can tell you that!

Packetloss is basically when your internet "blips" for a second. Think of a garden hose running freely and then a truck running over the hose. You have that split second where the water stops then starts again (and comes out a tad faster because of the backed up pressure). This is basically what is happening for a lot of people with their ISP (which is totally common FWIW and almost never noticed in current games).

manukartofanu wrote: »

LadyGP wrote: »

Just for clarity sake when you say "crashes" are you meaning like a hard crash to desktop or a disconnect back to login/character screen? Just want to make sure we are talking the same thing here (I often say crashing but I mean disconnects).

I mean exactly the same thing—ingame errors with various descriptions, including 3** and 2*** errors, unexpected errors, and other nonsense. I'm just tired of calling them disconnects since the error message isn't always about a disconnect. Sometimes, I even get the feeling that the error message is chosen by some kind of randomizer rather than indicating the actual cause.

Gotcha, I figured that is what you were saying but I didn't want to assume. Like I said, if you want me to help you with pingplotter so we can tell if it is in fact a bad route or packetloss (or not so you can cross that off) feel free to DM me

manukartofanu wrote: »

LadyGP wrote: »

I will say, something changes with U45 in a good way for me. Knock on wood but I haven't been disconnected since U45. I do get a ton of rubberbanding but before I couldn't even stay connected with no add-ons running for more than 10 minutes. Now I am back to using hardcore add-ons like RDK within a ball group and not having discconects - just rubber banding (which is due to my ISP packetloss). So if in fact some QoL things hit with U45 (I could'nt find anything in the patch notes but it feels like something changed) then thank you ZoS and everyone.

I've been in this topic for almost a year now, and every time I see new people coming in with complaints, while for some, the issues get fixed with the next patch. I was one of the lucky ones for two patches in a row, but now the game has become unplayable. So I'll wait for the next patch—if I even remember this game by then.

I woudn't say the issue is fixed for me. I would say it feels like something changed that gives more "grace" when you have issues (packet loss related issues to be specific). I don't get kicked (although it was only one day 2 hours of testing... I've been way to busy IRL to even think about playing TBH). Not trying to downplay your situation or anything by any means... we have been in this thread for about a year now so I totally get where you're coming from.

Seravi

My two Akami hops from yesterday.

| po110.bs-a.sech-dfw.netarch.akamai.com - 5 | 5236 | 5013 | 5 | 57 | 706 | 5 | (5236 Sent with 5013 Received 706ms) 5% Loss

|ae120.access-a.sech-dfw.netarch.akamai.com - 49 | 2081 | 1064 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 6 | (2081 Sent 1064 Received) 49% Loss

allochthons

PS/NA
Things for me have been fairly good. The biggest issue being heavy attacks not firing, esp in IA. But I play during North America mornings, and rarely during prime time.
When I have played prime time, though, it's been fairly good. I even had a vCR that was pretty smooth!

Except during maintenance days, on the days ZoS has posted they've been getting DDOSed. Those days are bad, of course.

Seravi

allochthons wrote: »

PS/NA
Things for me have been fairly good. The biggest issue being heavy attacks not firing, esp in IA. But I play during North America mornings, and rarely during prime time.
When I have played prime time, though, it's been fairly good. I even had a vCR that was pretty smooth!

Except during maintenance days, on the days ZoS has posted they've been getting DDOSed. Those days are bad, of course.

Yep for the most part mine has been great. Then the DDoS stuff started all the time and now so with Akami my game play is spotty.

LadyGP

Seravi wrote: »

allochthons wrote: »

PS/NA
Things for me have been fairly good. The biggest issue being heavy attacks not firing, esp in IA. But I play during North America mornings, and rarely during prime time.
When I have played prime time, though, it's been fairly good. I even had a vCR that was pretty smooth!

Except during maintenance days, on the days ZoS has posted they've been getting DDOSed. Those days are bad, of course.

Yep for the most part mine has been great. Then the DDoS stuff started all the time and now so with Akami my game play is spotty.

My ak routes take me all the way to miami and then back lol. No idea why my isp is taking that route.

cptscotty

Tons of lag again tonight. Very spikey.

JaxontheUnfortunate

Yup it was bad enough for me to log out game was unplayable.

FolksySpade

the lag was insanely bad tonight. Which is confusing because the ping was settling at around 200 and not spiking at all.