The game for unknown reasons becomes sluggish when performing most things in game. Symptoms include but not limited to slow reactions, slow incoming information, slow validation of action:
Example 1) Gathering - I have to significantly slow down my interactions with the interface waiting for whatever the server does while others are able to chop away at a node in 2/3 the time I am able to. More often than not, I have to double or triple click the desired material from the interface because the first two did not register at all. And certainly a LOT slower than the next person to come along.
Example 2) Quest dialogue bubbles - When activating quests / accepting / interacting with quest items or waiting for quest related actions to complete, there is significant time between the "interaction" cast bar completing, and having the action register on the server and my quest log; often the action will not register at all requiring me to have to perform the action again. This includes but not limited to communicating with quest givers, turning in quests/items, performing "interactions" with various quest related locations or items in the field.
Example 3) Crafting - When performing crafting actions, often the interface will slow down significantly such that if I do not give significant time between actions, I do not receive the effect of the action on my synthesis. This has happened several times where application of a buff to a particular set of actions - for instance waste not (however it is not limited to any action - it happens on ALL) - the effect is not applied and the synthesis rotation is severely compromised. Frustration is amplified by having crafters next to me power through their rotation at a substantially greater rate while I have to worry about whether my last action was applied correctly - if registered at all.
Example 4) Combat - During combat, I have to wait for nearly half a second for additional effects. For example but not limited to the BLM effect Firestarter, or Monk combo chaining to register however there are many additional effects that are impacted as well. The result is that my combat rotations for any and all jobs is SEVERELY compromised. This affects my ability to play any of my classes effectively. A recent occurrence of this problem was during a T4 coil instance where my stacks of umbral ice and astral fire were not being correctly applied or updated, despite the damage being done to the target. This caused my rotation to stall and I ran out of mana as a consequence and severely reduced the amount of damage output I was capable of for that attempt. This happens FREQUENTLY and limits my ability to play the game to the level that other players are able to.
Example 5) Reactions to ground effects - During combat there is significant de-synchronization between my character and any aoe effect that is cast on my character. I move out of the space before the cast ends, however I am still impacted by the sluggish response of the server. This seems to be a cause effect problem in which the server is slow to update my client about the incoming effect, and then slow to process my reaction to the effect which because of the longer than normal incoming indicator, I am already too late to avoid. Many high level raid encounters are un-predictably unplayable due to the situation.
It appears that the game is bound directly to the server and that there is no player state checks performed by the client. In higher latency situations, the interface behaves poorly; negatively affecting play-ability. I do not see this as something you plan to address despite being a widespread problem for many international players - however it is a game breaking problem. Please see to addressing this.
Details below:
ISP:
N/A
Type of Internet Connection:
N/A
Internet Connection Speed:
N/A
Date & Time:
N/A
Frequency:
Always
Character Name:
Overdrive Taru
Race:
Lalafell Male
World:
Behemoth
Class/Level:
N/A
Area and Coordinates:
Everywhere
Party or Solo:
Both
NPC Name:
N/A
Monster Name:
N/A
In-Game Time:
N/A
Steps:
Play the game.