Talk:Game updates/20060925

"Hourglass"
Can I say something? I HATE IT!! I can imagine, that it's there to reduce RAM consumption by loading the icons that are actually needed, but right now I can't tell quick enough what skills the enemy, ally is casting in time <_<. There should be ether an option for disabling it, or there should be a skill check made, and all the icons used by all the players and monsters on a particular map should be preloaded upon entering the map <_< &mdash; Poki#3 12:08, 27 September 2006 (CDT)
 * All Image Data is on our computers so there is nothing to load. The Hourglasses are totally unneeded. It works before without them so it has to work now, too. [[Image:Poke.gif]] Poke 15:28, 27 September 2006 (CDT)
 * I'm wondering what variable is causing this for some users ... I've seen it a few times in my skill bar even before the Nightfall event, and more frequently now. But I'm yet to see it in the skill or effects monitors.  Those always go straight to the icon for me.  I'll explore some additional areas and see if I can get it to happen in some zones or arenas. --- Barek (talk • contribs) - 15:50, 27 September 2006 (CDT)
 * I can't interupt now with my mesmer. Unless I only ever use Cry Of Frustration --SK [[Image:Monk-icon-small.png]]  15:59, 27 September 2006 (CDT)
 * Supposedly it's a workaround for a major bug that appeared just before the preview went live. ANet didn't want to delay the start even further, so they applied this temporary fix, and they are now working on a permanent fix. So hopefully the hourglasses will be gone very soon. --[[Image:TurningL sml.gif|Tetris L]] 17:00, 27 September 2006 (CDT)
 * Hmmm ... I did several PvP areas with my Mesmer last night - no problems interrupting, and never had an hourglass in the skill or effects monitor - only in my own skill bar when I first leave an outpost. I'll try Fort Aspenwood and random arenas tonight to see if the problem occurs there.  The strange thing is that my machine is NOT a high end machine.  I mean, it was decent when I bought it four or five years ago, but now ... naaa.  Even the video card was just a mid-range when I bought it.  So I'm finding it weird that I'm not seeing these problems too.
 * Not that I'm complaining mind you - I'm quite happy to not be experiencing these problems ... but it is odd that I'm not seeing them. --- Barek (talk • contribs) - 11:45, 28 September 2006 (CDT)
 * You need to load the skills icons in video memory. I'm assuming with Nightfall it is no longer possible for everyone to have all of them loaded all at the same time and the game engine has to page some in and out of memory. --Theeth (talk)   17:18, 27 September 2006 (CDT)
 * Yes, I was talking about loading the icons to the RAM, just like textures. I'm thinking that the additional skill icons are just starting to be too much for lower-end computers, and by no means do I want the game requirements to be boosted unnecessarily, but this thing is annoying -_-. Hope they fix it soon... &mdash; Poki#3 [[Image:Poki.jpg|20px|My Talk Page :o]] 18:17, 27 September 2006 (CDT)
 * Well, once they hit Campaign 12 there are going to be literally hundreds of skills in your skill menu on a loadup and too many skills being used against you for a computer to handle. What I'd like to know is if users with very high-performance systems are seeing these hourglasses as often - if they are seeing less of this it could be an indication that the best way forward would be to, you know, up your system specs. *grin* Kessel 07:36, 28 September 2006 (CDT)
 * Is my Athlon XP 2800 and 1 Gigabyte of RAM high-performance enough? Well I have those hourglasses as you might have noticed... &mdash; Poki#3 [[Image:Poki.jpg|20px|My Talk Page :o]] 11:23, 28 September 2006 (CDT)
 * It does have anything to do with CPU or RAM, it's Video Memory (quantity and bandwidth). I made some rough calculations, assuming 32x32 icons, for all the skills, that would go to a whoping 4.5 MB of video memory. That is a lot to waste on simple icons (which is why I'd assume they're making a load on demand scheme). --Theeth (talk)   18:02, 28 September 2006 (CDT)

My point was that there is no way GW can continue expanding and adding skills campaign after campaign unless they come up with a solution for not loading all the skill icons into video memory at once. The hourglasses appear to be their chosen solution. Kessel 11:28, 28 September 2006 (CDT)
 * I really dislike the hour glass icon too. In moments of heat, especially in Fort Aspenwood; I quickly look at the icon to see what the other person/foe is using - not the name... and when it's just a picture of an hour glass; I have a moment where I'm like "...what?" This preloader icon really disables my ability to react in time. It looks like I'm going to start having to look at the text over the icon I guess... Mirka 11:35, 28 September 2006 (CDT)
 * They don't need to load every skill though. Just whats in that PvE area or what's on everyones PvP skill bar.  Surly its not that hard? --SK [[Image:Monk-icon-small.png]]  12:20, 28 September 2006 (CDT)
 * This is hopefuly what they'll be implementing... 83.159.9.78 12:28, 28 September 2006 (CDT)
 * Naaaa... the icons don't take up much room. Hardly any.  Even at 10K per image, that's 1000 images per megabyte.  I think almost everyone can afford one or two megabytes of ram for images if necessary.  I keep hearing about some pre-preview bug that they patched with this temporarily.  Let's wait it out a bit. --Jeremy Winston 14:08, 28 September 2006 (CDT)
 * 10KB per image is 100 per MB. But again, it has nothing to do with RAM. --Theeth (talk)   18:02, 28 September 2006 (CDT)
 * Oops.. sorry about my math error. (How embarrassing!) --68.10.81.78 09:36, 1 October 2006 (CDT)
 * Anyone still seeing these? I've only ever seen them on my skill bar when first entering a zone, never on the skill monitor or effects monitor - its been easy for my Memser to keep interrupting.  I don't know what the variable is that makes a difference - everyone using the latest video drivers for their video cards?  My system is from 2003 (it's newer than I though, but still dated technology) - using a P4 2.6Ghtz and 1GB RAM, and the video card is only an nVidia 6600 w/ 256MB RAM (also old, and only a mid-range card when it was new).  I'm not complaining about not seeing the hourglasses; but I still find it odd that I don't.  --- Barek (talk • contribs) - 14:09, 1 October 2006 (CDT)


 * The hourglass is really annoying. T~It is there always when a skill icon is used for the first time. Thus is also see it in the skill monitor. --[[Image:Gem-icon-sm.png]] (talk) 14:21, 1 October 2006 (CDT)
 * It's not only loading when you see it the first time. It is loading more frequently I think. Everytime I open my skill window it seems to load the icons again. It's really annoying. --[[Image:Warrior's_Endurance.jpg|18px]] numma_cway 14:31, 1 October 2006 (CDT)
 * It even loads when I have a blank skill slot. &mdash; [[Image:Fin_sig.gif|User:Kyrasantae]] kyrasantae  &#91; c &#93; 16:26, 1 October 2006 (CDT)
 * Yup. :( --[[Image:Gem-icon-sm.png]] (talk) 03:17, 2 October 2006 (CDT)

From Gaile on guru forums:
 * Secondly, you've noticed that your Skill Bar is often, when first heading into an instance, displaying lovely hourglasses. Now, I'm a big fan of hourglasses. I love the whole fantasy/alchemy/wizardry/old fashioned/Wicked Witch of the West has Dorothy locked in the castle tower look of the things. However, attractive as they may be a decor item isn't so helpful when you're in combat. Soooo, we'll fix that, too. According to our interface programmer, it's a matter currently under investigation, and it's another pesky one but will be addressed soon.

I hope they are fixing this soon. -- (talk) 05:09, 2 October 2006 (CDT)
 * Thank goodness I am wrong about it being a feature and here's to hoping they do fix it soon. If anything, ANet has proven before that they tend to fix things like HoH chests before bugged Arborstone missions, so since this hourglass stuff has an impact on PvP they might actually, you know, focus on it. Kessel 05:20, 3 October 2006 (CDT)

Secondary profession lost
Damn, why didn't I change my secondary profession to D or P to have it removed after the preview? I've always wanted to be a pure monk. :/ -- 17:03, 27 September 2006 (CDT)
 * You could have even run around without a secondary at all during the preview, then you'd also be stuck without a sec. :P 17:31, 27 September 2006 (CDT)
 * ^whoops that was me &mdash; [[Image:Fin_sig.gif]] kyrasantae  &#91;t |c &#93; 18:24, 27 September 2006 (CDT)
 * Just wait a month till the release of Nightfall when the new GUI will be permanent. You will be able to change your profession from the Skills and Attributes page to any Second profession you "Unlocked" on that char, including the "No profession" profession :P &mdash; Poki#3 [[Image:Poki.jpg|20px|My Talk Page :o]] 18:17, 27 September 2006 (CDT)
 * I'd never change my profession to a pure in PvP because it would cause opponents to guess at what you're doing less. >> Kessel 07:34, 28 September 2006 (CDT)
 * And doing it in PVE means you're likely to be missing out on elite captures. Still, nice for Tombs, ne? &mdash; 130.58 (talk) 11:38, 28 September 2006 (CDT)

I played som RA on Tuesday, 9/26, played at least one character with a Dervish secondary. No dervish skills, but still had the secondary. Perhaps PvP characters didn't have it removed? Also, I had switched my PvE Mesmer to pure Mesmer during the preview (it made it easier to view the skills for me). When the preview was over, I just went to a skill changer and gave myself back a secondary. I didn't see any problem at all. --Jeremy Winston 14:11, 28 September 2006 (CDT)
 * My friend has made a PvP Ranger with a Elonian Hair, face, skin and armor (No NF Profession and skills) during the event and is still able to use her to this day :P &mdash; Poki#3 [[Image:Poki.jpg|20px|My Talk Page :o]] 15:43, 28 September 2006 (CDT)

You're all wrong. :P My PvE character was W/D until I changed it yesterday for the Elite Skill Weekend. He hasn't unlocked any Dervish skills (so he didn't have any skills then), but he still was W/D until yesterday. I also saw a Mo/P in Gyala Hatchery some hours ago. -- numma_cway 15:32, 30 September 2006 (CDT)