NS running at different speeds

Sarisel

<div class="IPBDescription">is it just my perception or is something going on?</div>I remember since 2.01 that there have been times where I have joined NS games that seemed to run too slowly - it felt like skulks moved in slow motion even with celerity on, marines were also moving around somewhat slowly. There seemed to be plenty of time to aim, make plans in the middle of firefights, etc.

On the other hand, I have also experienced instances where the game seems to run too fast. It isn't that the player models were visibly warping, but everything seemed to be moving faster than normal. As a result, faster reaction times were needed.

Now, I'm not suggesting speed changes of +/- 100%. It feels more like a range of +/- 15% - noticeable but still playable.

My framerates appear to be fine on my computer. Is it just in my head or is this caused by low server ticrate or something else? I understand that the fewer frames you get from the server, the faster the game seems to move and the worse the hits register. Is this the problem or is there some sort of issue that has been neglected throughout the versions? Has anybody else experienced this?

Niebelung

I know what you mean, although i've seen it correlate somewhat to which map . . . for example, i definitely move faster on ns_shiva than on most other maps.

Crispy

Certain servers definitely seem to have plugins that increase the base speed for all lifeforms, I've only really noticed this on combat servers though and I don't think there's any way for a mapper to alter the base unit speeds short of putting unidirectional wind tunnels everywhere, which hasn't been done in Shiva.

pSyk0mAn

Don't do drugs and avoid plugin infested crap server <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />

I noticed something similar though, but I think it has only to do with my mood, practice, tiredness and overall motivation.
I vote for "it's only in your head", but hey, maybe this is another evil bug similar to the spectator hitbox bug, so keep on the investigation <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />

KainTSA

Never noticed this effect myself. At least not without the cunsumption of beverages that reduce my reflexes.

haymo

I'm pretty sure the r_speeds on shiva are messed up.

Sarisel

I noticed it playing on a server on ns_eclipse - everything was moving faster than usual but the reg was okay, you just needed better reflexes for everything. However, upon quitting and restarting my NS only a couple of minutes later, I joined the same server - the map had changed and the speeds seemed to be back to normal. It's definitely not my state of mind.

Splinter_Steve

I think I've also experienced what you're talking about a handful of times with a "slo-mo" feel in 6v6 on aliens.

Sarisel

I'd like to look into this, but I have very limited info except that I know that this is server-related. After playing for a while, you get a feel for what kind of gameplay feels "right" and what doesn't. This goes beyond the issue of hit registry - the server can feel sluggish, coarse, choppier than normal and these can almost always be explained by server-side FPS, CPU usage, update rates.. I know that much because I have tweaked all of my rates.

But I can't explain why everything would run faster <b>or</b> slower than usual. Since it seems to happen on various maps, various servers, and it is consistently faster or slower (only one of the two for a given period of time), this is going to very difficult to isolate.

DC_Darkling

EVERYTHING you do is processed serverside. Meaning if the map is heavier the server has more fps to process.
You might even force the server to drop fps and give some lovely side effects like slowing down

AnimeLOL

I think its in the mind.

Niebelung

by shiva i meant altair. or is it ayumi? ns_coldturn. i aboslutely run like 30-50 u/sec faster as a skulk on that map, every time i play it. haven't checked it with cl_showspeed on a listen server though, I should do that.

Sarisel

I'm pretty sure the cl_showspeed doesn't change. It's the entire game that runs faster or slower.

Alcapwn

I get that feeling too sometimes, i usually just chalk it up to different state of minds.

Soylent_green

I've noticed this varrying quite a lot with mod, fatigue and (dis)interest in a lot of different games. I don't think it's a real effect.

What would be a non-subjective test for this? Compairing walltime vs server up-time on different maps?

Sarisel

I would suggest:

1. Get a stopwatch.
2. Pick a length of a map where you can just walk straight.
3. Time yourself moving through this distance on the server.
4. Start the map yourself through the console and test walking through this same distance with the same character.

If the times don't add up, something is going on. Also, for more accurate results, it is better to take several trials and find their means (averages). Then you can compare the two means directly or statistically (t-test for two means).

I think this is what I'll do next time I feel a server is running weird.

coolstory

I haven't played NS for a long time; let alone much time at all with 3.2. However, I have noticed these effects but I don't remember which server or map they were on. There are times where I've definitely felt like I move 2 miles per hour as a skulk with celerity bunny-hopping (scrims, pubs, doesn't matter). Other times it feels more normal, although I don't think I've ever felt like I moved faster than normal, I definitely can tell times where I felt slower for sure.

Also similarly, I've played marine rounds where my bullets feel like they connect very fluidly and I can mow down a skulk in like 13 bullets tops consistently, yet times on different servers/maps bullets feel a lot more wonky and it takes something like 30 consistently with dead on aim.

I've always chalked it up to server settings, ping, and fps though since I have a pretty terrible computer tbh--I'm lucky to get 60fps most of the time.

1-800-CAL-SKILL

Couple of things pop to mind:

1) Increased resolution - running at a higher resolution would give you the illusion of moving slower.
2) Bunnyhopping - Maybe you did better bunnyhopping? Maybe you jumped more?
3) Fatigue - It is a known fact that humans do not see constant FPS, a more fatigued, relaxed human will work at a minimum, ~20fps while somebody who is pumped full of caffeine, taurine and methamphetamines will see >100fps. Being more tired could give you an illusion of having more speed.

Sarisel

Well, the first two points may be relevant in some cases, but not in mine since I did not switch resolutions and I always have a pretty consistent top speed bhop. The third point may very well be true, if only the problem did not go away when I changed servers. However, the problem did go away when I changed servers - without me having to rest. So I'm almost positive that it is a server issue which goes under the same group as hit registry problems that sometimes seem to appear when a server has not been reset in a while.