'The One Bug To Plague Them All'

Molag_Crow

Hey. What I mean by the title, is that there has been an irritating bug on the consoles (not sure if it happens on PC too) ever since console launch (9th of June, 2015.) And every single player on the console experiences this bug too. I have spoken to numerous players over the months and they've all spoke of the exact same bug, and most of us have come to accept it since we only have to logout/restart the game client to 'fix' it, until it comes back after 5-10 mins in PvP, around 10-20+ players.

I have absolutely no idea what is the exact cause for this, so maybe somebody can help us out. When it starts, the cause is very unnoticeable, but it's mainly when around 10-20+ players near anywhere in Cyrodiil, and I've seen it happen outside of Cyrodiil too.

In this video I recently created, you'll see a variety of spell particles/effects that do not properly show, like:

• Flames/Fire Spells & siege weapons, including Lightning and coldharbour's blue flames.
• The tiny cogs, nuts & bolts that rain down after using the toy from one of the Orsinium Public Dungeon quest.
• Malacath's Axe
• Cleansing/Purifying Ritual
• Proximity Detonation
• Remembrance (Templar ultimate)
• Crystal Fragments
• Streak
• Meteor/Ice Comet
• Phoenix (5) Set Explosion
• Entropy
• Mist Form

-- And MANY more that aren't even in the video, which does have an impact on combat since it's vital, especially for Sorc's who can't really see their own spells being cast, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0KtmteYsZY

Now what I (and many others) wonder, is it possible that this will ever get diagnosed & fixed, somehow? because I know it may be difficult to find the exact cause, but maybe a developer will know, so please make this issue more aware. I know it's not high priority, but it is quite annoying.

@ZOS_GinaBruno
@ZOS_RichLambert

Phinix1

If I had to guess, I would say what you describe is probably related to some performance culling/dynamic quality adjustments that are done in the background to keep FPS steady in varying scenarios of people/effects on screen, and specifically for consoles which have a known hardware cap.

They may be able to tweak the code to "rebound" from such adjustments more quickly, so you don't end up stuck with it until reboot. However if that is in fact what this is I don't think there is much they can do beyond maybe dropping view distance more as opposed to making particles a priority.

I don't have a console, but on PC you have the option to manually turn down different graphical options. If that were available I would suggest manually dropping view distance or reflections, or something unrelated to spell effects, and see if it prevented this from happening so much.

MrDerrikk

It's their version of keeping frame rates constant, instead of like on PC where you get prompted to /reloadui to reset the graphics. Or at least that's what I get from it.

Xendyn

As I recall, this was done on purpose when the load is heavy. Don't remember which patch notes tho.

DannyLV702

I actually posted a thread about this exact issue when IC dropped on ps4. That's when it started. It incredibly annoying because it takes a SH*T LOAD of the fun away from the game. I enjoy the game for the visuals and this completely fu*ks up my day and literally makes me bored to the point I don't want to play. If that's done on purpose to relieve stress from the servers, then that's the most pathetic and disrespectful approach. I enjoy the few minutes of gameplay I get when my animations are fully there and once they're gone, I feel like I'm controlling some mindless cartoon. I could rant about this issue all day...

Molag_Crow

Phinix1 wrote: »

If I had to guess, I would say what you describe is probably related to some performance culling/dynamic quality adjustments that are done in the background to keep FPS steady in varying scenarios of people/effects on screen, and specifically for consoles which have a known hardware cap.

They may be able to tweak the code to "rebound" from such adjustments more quickly, so you don't end up stuck with it until reboot. However if that is in fact what this is I don't think there is much they can do beyond maybe dropping view distance more as opposed to making particles a priority.

I don't have a console, but on PC you have the option to manually turn down different graphical options. If that were available I would suggest manually dropping view distance or reflections, or something unrelated to spell effects, and see if it prevented this from happening so much.

That does make sense to be honest, and yeah it is a shame we don't have those kind of options on console, I know what you mean... I spent a lot of time tweaking my graphics on games like WoW for spells to be a priority, even the "/console" command to make AOE spell particles double (like Blizzard) etc but I guess since it's a console, like you said... there's a cap, but still... it really does take away the fun and immersed feeling, especially when you lay down a purifying ritual and try to stay in its radius for the slight heals... it becomes difficult to track among all the other things going on.

It's difficult to see flaming oil too, especially at keeps/towers/bridges, but then again, that's what the red circle is now there for too, I guess.

MrDerrikk wrote: »

It's their version of keeping frame rates constant, instead of like on PC where you get prompted to /reloadui to reset the graphics. Or at least that's what I get from it.

&

Xendyn wrote: »

As I recall, this was done on purpose when the load is heavy. Don't remember which patch notes tho.

The amount of times I had to /reload my ui on WoW to fix this stuff... it doesn't surprise me. I would honestly prefer it if they gave consoles a "/reload ui" option rather than resetting the game (not entirely sure if a simple relog fixes it, but I'm sure it does) if it really is a... forced graphical step in keeping FPS steady (even though the FPS still isn't steady most of the time)

Molag_Crow

DannyLV702 wrote: »

I actually posted a thread about this exact issue when IC dropped on ps4. That's when it started. It incredibly annoying because it takes a SH*T LOAD of the fun away from the game. I enjoy the game for the visuals and this completely fu*ks up my day and literally makes me bored to the point I don't want to play. If that's done on purpose to relieve stress from the servers, then that's the most pathetic and disrespectful approach. I enjoy the few minutes of gameplay I get when my animations are fully there and once they're gone, I feel like I'm controlling some mindless cartoon. I could rant about this issue all day...

I know exactly what you mean because the visuals really do bring you that feeling in the game. If it is done on purpose, it is a huge shame... there should be other approaches like an in-game "reload ui" button which puts you on a loading screen. I hope ZOS are reading this so maybe they'll consider such an option.

Animations are important.

dlepi24

For a game that doesn't have buff timers because the visual cues are so "on-point", it really makes it hard to play without them.

Molag_Crow

dlepi24 wrote: »

For a game that doesn't have buff timers because the visual cues are so "on-point", it really makes it hard to play without them.

True. Hopefully with the 'scrolling battle text' feature that's coming to consoles (and PC, despite addons) they'll include buff timers and stuff.

Molag_Crow

So I guess this is intentional then and nothing can or will be done...

Molag_Crow

Is there a chance that anybody from ZOS that can confirm this?

Saint314Louis1985

make a better option for knowing when c frags is ready for insta cast. maybe make the skill icon on the skill bar flash or turn purple or something!! cant really tell when its ready in large battles.

Molag_Crow

Saint314Louis1985 wrote: »

make a better option for knowing when c frags is ready for insta cast. maybe make the skill icon on the skill bar flash or turn purple or something!! cant really tell when its ready in large battles.

Good idea, it would only make sense to add that in.

MissBizz

Saint314Louis1985 wrote: »

make a better option for knowing when c frags is ready for insta cast. maybe make the skill icon on the skill bar flash or turn purple or something!! cant really tell when its ready in large battles.

In the latest ESO Live Gina did mention that the skill icon for frags does actually do something whenvits ready to instant cast. It doesn't change to a totally different icon like that NB skill but it apparently does light up (or something). I must say though, I played my Sorc (on PC) a couple weeks ago and I didn't notice it change. Although, I didn't know what I was looking for either.

MrDerrikk

Saint314Louis1985 wrote: »

make a better option for knowing when c frags is ready for insta cast. maybe make the skill icon on the skill bar flash or turn purple or something!! cant really tell when its ready in large battles.

How do you miss the glow around the health bar? That and the purple glow on the hands (granted I miss that one a lot). The biggest alarm bell for me though is the noise of the proc, which I can still pick out when there's a raid spamming everything at once.

Molag_Crow

MrDerrikk wrote: »

Saint314Louis1985 wrote: »

make a better option for knowing when c frags is ready for insta cast. maybe make the skill icon on the skill bar flash or turn purple or something!! cant really tell when its ready in large battles.

How do you miss the glow around the health bar? That and the purple glow on the hands (granted I miss that one a lot). The biggest alarm bell for me though is the noise of the proc, which I can still pick out when there's a raid spamming everything at once.

Oh? Haven't played my Sorc yet tbh but at least I now know it'll be best to play with her with sound on

Jitterbug

...and in the patch notes bind them

Saint314Louis1985

MrDerrikk wrote: »

Saint314Louis1985 wrote: »

make a better option for knowing when c frags is ready for insta cast. maybe make the skill icon on the skill bar flash or turn purple or something!! cant really tell when its ready in large battles.

How do you miss the glow around the health bar? That and the purple glow on the hands (granted I miss that one a lot). The biggest alarm bell for me though is the noise of the proc, which I can still pick out when there's a raid spamming everything at once.

ive watched for this as someone else mentioned it in another post... my health bar hides when my health is full and i have shield up. it doesnt appear until my health actually takes dmg. at that point im more worried about spamming ward and healing up than throwing a c frag. i play on console.. maybe they have an option for leaving your bars up all the time? i will have to look into it more.

ive never noticed anything with the skill icon. if it does change, it has to be something minor and hardly noticeable.