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Combating Lag:
Version: 1.03
Skil Level: Introductory
Game Type: Any Realm
Author: Deathwing
Objective: To Survive lag in Battle.net Realms
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Introducing Diablo II Lag:
While nearly every monster can be avoided in some way in Diablo II, there's one exception, lag. Due to the fact that all realm characters and games and stored and ran by the Battle.net Servers, Lag no longer means a slow game as it did in Starcraft, (Instead, it works as a deadly killer that has claimed more lives than anything else in Diablo 2). Having a fast connection will not help, it's a usual fault that occurs with the Realm servers, not you.
There are two types of lag, sustained lag, and sudden lag. Sustained lag acts much like a high latency rating in Starcraft, and causes a delay between input and output. In effect, it will take a few seconds before you pick up an item you've clicked on, or before you see a monster that's already attacking you. While a few seconds won't do too much damage, anything more can be deadly.
Sudden lag is even more dangerous, and it could to strike at any time without warning. You'll suddenly find that all your commands, which interact with the environment become unresponsive, and that the monsters around don't seem to be doing anything. While you're wondering through the passive environment, the monsters are actually attacking you, and you could be in a completely different position as what is shown on your computer screen. Sometimes the period of lag will last for a minute or so, and in case can often prove fatal. In this strategy, we'll give you some tips on avoiding both sorts of lag.
Detecting and Avoiding Lag:
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| Whenever you join a game, the first thing you should look at is your ping. The lower the better. |
Sustained lag is easier to avoid than sudden lag. Whenever you join or create a game, test the lag by clicking on a NPC or your stash, and actively note down the amount of time before you can a response. If this response time is anywhere more than 10 seconds, the game will most likely be quit unplayable and it's highly suggested that you quite the game before adventuring into the wilderness. Another good way to detect sustained lag is to press return and type:This will display the current ping you have. Generally everything's fine if it's below 600, 1000 will case problems and anything above 1800 is definitely unplayable.
Sudden lag strikes without warning, and is almost impossible to predict or avoid. When it hits you, your computer temporarily looses connection with the server, and the server will no longer sends you information. All existing monsters will cease attack, all monsters in places you've yet to explore won't show up. If you run far enough, you may also see the terrain suddenly cut off, since the server has not bothered to send you what lies beyond. In effect, your character is blind, deaf and pretty much lost touch with 'reality.' All through this time, the monsters can attack you. If you're not careful, you'll find that when your computer finally reestablishes connections with the server, your character is already dead.
Surviving Sudden Lag:
While the server has ceased to send information to you, your computer can still send commands to the server. So whatever you do during the lag period will be registered on the Battle Servers. Now if you're in some place safe where there are no nearby monsters, stay exactly where you are to avoid wondering into things you can't see. However things can be a bit more difficult if lag strikes in the middle of battle.
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| Minions, Mercenaries, Valkyries, Hydras anything that fights on your side is essential in laggy games. While your connection is struggling to catch up, they may just keep you safe. |
While the chances of living are slim, you have three choices, to stand and fight, to run or to quit the game. If you're outside in the open, your best choice is to run. Drink a potion every 10 seconds or so along the way. If there's a portal or a waypoint, take it. There's however no point in trying to summon a portal on the spot, since the portal won't appear till the lag recedes, and by then you'll probably be dead.
In caves or other closed places, running is not a good option. Since you don't know exactly where you were when the lag started, and the fact that your computer doesn't register your decreasing stamina, your character will often be screens away from where he actually is. In effect, he could be walking straight into a wall for all you know. Instead stand your ground and use any area of effect skill you have. Drink a healing potion every 10 secs and keep using the skill, overkill is better than death. If you're lucky, you'll survive.
Quitting the game if often the safest action, but it is quite an extreme option that should only be taken if you're playing on hardcore mode. If you decide to quit the game, then quit immediately, since your chance of dying during the lag increase with every second you stand in hesitation. You don't want to quit into the chat room only to see that you're either naked or have become a ghost.
Class Specific Tips:
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Necromancers have a relatively easy time with lag. Make sure you have all your minions around, as they'll be able to attack even while you cannot. Cast Iron Maiden on everything you see, and hope that your minions can do the rest of the job.
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The Sorceress really has a hard time here, due to her weak hitpoints and lack of passive skills. Thunderstorm and Hydras are probably your best chance. Area of effect spells such as Nova or Frost Nova are also good, Don't worry about your mana, and keep casting till the lag lightens up.
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As soon as the lag hits in, start howling. This will send all the monsters fleeing in fear, so that you'll have a good chance of living. Howl once every 5 seconds to make sure that they stay away. You'll also want to boost yourself with shout. Grim Ward can be used instead of Howl.
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If you're fighting melee attacks, use an Aura Thorns and plenty of healing potions. Hopefully they'll all die attacking you. Holy Freeze is good for a deterrent, the slower they are, the longer you'll be able to survive. Alternatively, Holy fire and Holy Shock can be used on weaker monsters.
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Low level Amazon don't have many active skills to fight of lag, and will mainly need to rely on her Dodge and Avoid abilities. Those have higher levels will fight Decoy and Valkyrie of great help. Remember even if Valkyrie or Decoy doesn't appear on your screen, it would appear on the server computers, drawing away enemy fire.
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