Automatic Server Saves

[evildeath123]

I've just been the victime of another server crash...this time losing 7 levels.

I know there's the save pen, and I use it when I remember to, but as I've never had to do this before, it's taking a long time to become habitual.

I've been playing NWN for many years, and this is the first server I've played that doesn't have automatic server saves every 5 mins or so.

HG having 6 servers is more than I've seen before, but I've played on PWs that have had 4 servers, and very high traffic (maxed players on all servers all weekends, where it takes a long time to log in) and I'm wondering why there are no automatic server saves here?

Thnx

[khaine]

Afaik there was always a log out save, and whenever the server goes down your char is saved, at least I know everytime I crash I get the messege "server-side character has been saved", or something along those lines, xD.

I've never lost anything to a crash (apart from potentiality, xD) so I'm not too sure what to do.. better wait for funky to save us, xD.

xD.

[hiryuu]

"Server-side character has been saved" is a reload, not a crash. My understanding is exporting everyone at once was too lag-inducing, although that change was made a long time ago. Characters are saved by rest, by pen, or by logoff. Funky may be able to add on-level, but so much of the mod is post-40 that I don't know how beneficial that would be.

[illandous]

Nor have I ever lost something in a server crash. Dunno. Don't confuse crashes with Restarts though.

Looks like a hir beat me to it. heh.

[thedomicron]

i've lost a few levels pre-legendary from a crash, or even a few hundred thousand later on, but the habit of using your saving pen upon finding new items or the like. generally i save as soon as it feels a bit laggy, or i pick something up. pre-40 you should try to rest every time you hit town, or talk to the guardian

[kaldair]

Oooh - I like the save-on-level idea! Seems like it would have a minimal impact on lag, as it would not be expected that large groups on the server level at the exact same time. It would also help the newbies that might be less familiar with why these types of crashes w/loss inevitably occur. I wonder if another trigger could be a Boss death? I know it would cause a possible 10-at-once save scenario, just don't know how much of a lag bump that would cause? Newby taggers would love it I bet ...

Personally I've only lost two levels once, and maybe 1 level twice, and some XP as an Immo maybe twice. Hasn't been a huge problem considering the amount of time I put in 0.o

Kaldair

[holla]

When I started on HG I lost many lvls this way myself, I'm in the habit of using the save pen after lvling now, due to a couple of fruitless grinds in raz .
Could an auto-save on lvl up be added? Exluding chars with [test] in the name maybe?
This would really only benefit noncasters lvling but may help in instances like described here.

Holla.

[FunkySwerve]

The reason most servers have the autosave is, I suspect, is that they aren't well equipped to deal with some of the issues allowing individual saving can raise. We could do a staggered save, and I've been contemplating it recently, but the only reason to do it would, imo, be to eliminate the potential for exploit of server crashes. I prefer being able to save when I like, (like right after winning a bur in a roll) and we've gone to some effort to make it possible. And with the recent crash bug resolved, we really shouldn't be seeing many more crashes at all.
Funky

[hiryuu]

Could the save pen be changed to unlimited use/day? For many tanks, recharging the pen is the only reason to rest at all.

[Balduvard]

It was kept limited to prevent abuse.

[FunkySwerve]

No real reason not to, save for the concern that people would spam em. Given that I see a lot of unnecessary saves (they report in dm channel when used), I'm not in a real rush to. Also, resting will save ya, so its not a horrible thing.
Funky

[Yomi]

Using the server timer perhaps the save pen could be refreshed with 1 save per 30 minutes, which would usually give tanks enough saves while not leading to spamming. It'd be nice but not a big deal. I'd be more interested in seeing a auto-save on level. When I'm levelling lowbies that's my usual cue for saving -- after a level hit the save pen.

[gruntgruntson]

holla said:

This would really only benefit noncasters lvling but may help in instances like described here.

Holla.

yomi said:

which would usually give tanks enough saves while not leading to spamming

Could someone explain about this distinction between casters and tanks, re: save-on-level?
Is it because casters take longer to level (choosing spells etc.)?
Or is it because casters rest all the time, and therefore get saved pretty frequently?

[khaine]

Well, from what I've gathered it seems it's because their is save on rest - and as casters need to rest alot more than non-casters they rest alot more, and would probably rest after gaining after a level, whearas a tank will just continue, not restingm, and therefore not saving, xD.

xD.

[thedomicron]

just trade pens with a caster if you're a tank. when the caster rests, he saves and refills pen, tanks keep on trucking...easy peasy