Why can someone steal a resource after you're already engaging with it?

Athan1

Tbh this happens with every event that multiple players can interact with, be it a resource node, a dolmen pinion, a treasure chest. Why is it that sometimes you are already at one of these nodes engaging with the event (e.g. you're already kneeling on the floor trying to open the chest), then in the same second but after you another player walks behind you and grabs that node from you, resulting in a "another player is already using this" or whatever message, accompanied by that annoying sound? I was literally there first!

I know that the other player also saw themselves there first (they probably were), and I know this has to do with server-client communication delays, but there must be something that you can do, programming-wise, to prevent different users from seeing a different layout of the map. I don't mind being second to a node, but why do I get communication about me faster than about other players? They should both come from the server, so the server should receive info, organise events, and send them to each player in the correct sequence, events must be shown in the correct order. It's fine if another player got there first, but it's frustrating to see players literally steal things before your eyes, when you have visual evidence that you were there first, e.g. you're literally already chopping wood with your axe or on your knees weeding out the flowers before the other player arrived. Tbh this is a visual bug and I should probably be posting this in the bug section, this needs to be fixed.

In any case, I don't really see why someone would try to beat you to a resource in the first place, but maybe that's just me, when I see someone obviously going for a node or chest I just let them be if they're closer to it and I try to go another away. Cooperation works for everyone in the long run!

VaranisArano

The server isn't always particularly accurate with where other players are in relation to you, especially if they are moving quickly or there's lag or a ping spike. I see it a lot in Cyrodiil when I'm riding with my raid and suddenly players will "snap" ahead of us into a different position. It's noticeable when I'm farming near someone else who is also running a fast farming build. From our own perspective, we're running very normally, just fast given the speed boosts ZOS offers. From the perspective of an outside observer subject to any delays of client-server communication, we sometimes look like we're glitching (even though it's entirely legit.)

It's frustrating, but sometimes there are delays between the server and client that make it seem like you were first, when you weren't. From your perspective, it looks like you had it and they swooped in for the steal? From their perspective, they got there first fair and square, then you come running up behind them.

heng14rwb17_ESO

what is your ping?
is it 100ms?

Sylvermynx

High ping.... I have only satellite for connection. This happens to me a lot. I don't even see any other players around me, I start the harvest animation, and suddenly there's a player who's already grabbed it.

Frustrating yes, but with high ping, it is what it is.