Strange delay when adding an ability

[Kroom]

I made an ability based on Engineering Upgrade that upgrade 4 other abilities, but every time i add the ability in game, the game stops for 1 second (each ability have 4 levels, i think that have something to do). That doesnt happend with basic Engineering Upgrade. Why is that?

 

[TheDivineBoss]

I don't do triggering, but that trigger of yours is probally leaking like hell.

 

[Kroom]

Is not a trigger, is just an ability, take a look at the Engineering Upgrade skill in warcraft.

 

[Vicboy]

Its natural to have a very big delay when adding abilities. Not leveling or removing abilities.

Just take a look at DotA's Invoker character.

 

[Kroom]

I know maps that have abilities like Engineering Upgrade and works perfectly without any freeze.

 

[Dr Super Good]

It is caused by WC3 loading new data. To lower RAM requirements, WC3 does not load all the data it will use throughout game play at the map start, it loads them as they are needed. Most things in WC3 buffer the loading of data so the data is loaded quite some time before it is needed so it is in no pressure to load it. The delay arrises when something applies pressure for data, which means it needs the data yet it has not been loaded.

This results in a period of time where a model or effect or even spell is missing as it is still being fetched from the hard disc or other backing storage. Some games do not pause for this time period as you can notice by not everything appearing at once or character models suddenly apearing when they should have been visable a while before. WC3 however, as it is multiplayer, pauses (actually comes to a stop more than puases) the game while the data is fetched. After the data is fetched (for all players) it resumes the game as normal. The reason it does this is to stop in multiplayer desyncs arising due to different hardware specs loading the models at different speeds and to overall create a more reliable game engine with fewer factors that vary from PC to PC. Preloading data via triggers reduces this lag, so it might be advisable to do so in your case.

Once data is loaded in WC3, it generally can not be "unloaded" where by it is removed from RAM to reduce RAM usage. This means it should not result in any delay the next time the same opperation is preformed.

 

[Kroom]

How can i Preload the ability then?.

 

[Dr Super Good]

You preload the models it uses or icons (if you can preload icons). It should reduce the lag but not entirly remove it.

In the end you should just ignore it as it is once off.

 

[Need_O2]

make a trigger like

Map Initialization
Create Footman for Player 1 Red at <somewhere>
Give it <ability>
Remove that footman

 

[Kroom]

I tried that and didint work, the skills still stop the game for a second.

 

[Need_O2]

then try making a dummy unit and adding it ability and putting it in map
after map starts you remove him (not at initialization lets say after 0.01 or 0.00 seconds)

It HAS TO work Im %100 sure of it
because I had an ability with 49 levels (ya it has to have 49 levels) and it waits about 2 seconds at adding
I used that dummy way and it doesnt wait at all now

 

[InfiniteSeven]

Listen to Dr Super Good, he knows what he's talking about.

Its a once off thing that you really shouldn't mind.

 

[idodik]

Brief pauses ingame are not rare in WC3. For example, training heroes (not reviving them) usually come with such.

 

[Dr Super Good]

Like I said, that comes down to how fast it can load the required models as it pauses while they are fetched.

 

[Kroom]

Finaly it works!! ^^. I create a dummy heroe and make him learn the basic skills and then all the levels of the one based on Engineering Upgrade, and the freeze is gone now. Thanks for the answers.