Difference between revisions of "Time dilation"

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During large fleet engagements, lag usually occurs. The reason is that so many players are sending actions to the server of a system, that the server can't handle all those action in a timely manner.
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'''Time Dilation''' ( sometimes '''TiDi''', pronounced "tie-die"), is a game mechanic which is used to make large fleet fights in EVE more possible.
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During large fleet engagements involving hundreds or thousands of players, lag usually occurs. The reason is that so many players are sending actions to the server of a system that the server can't handle all those action in a timely manner.
  
 
Imagine a bunch of houses with roads connecting to a building in downtown. Each house would be a person in EVE and the building in downtown would be the server. Now let's imagine that a car from a house is an action, like turning on your missile launcher. Normally, if just a few people drive their cars on the road, traffic goes smoothly. But if you have a huge number, then you get a traffic jam.
 
Imagine a bunch of houses with roads connecting to a building in downtown. Each house would be a person in EVE and the building in downtown would be the server. Now let's imagine that a car from a house is an action, like turning on your missile launcher. Normally, if just a few people drive their cars on the road, traffic goes smoothly. But if you have a huge number, then you get a traffic jam.
  
The actions being received/sent are not on a rhythmic pattern. Imagine lots of cars one minute and the next just a few. Thus there would be times of fast traffic and slow crawls (lag spikes).
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The actions being received/sent do not arrive in a regular pattern. Imagine lots of cars one minute and the next just a few. Thus there would be times of fast traffic and slow crawls (lag spikes).
  
What CCP did to combat this is to implement '''Time Dilation''' ''(TiDi - pronounced 'tye-die')''. TiDi would slow almost all actions. This is kind of like setting a speed limit on the road so that all the cars go at a steady smooth pace.
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To combat this effect and to make large battles fairer, [[CCP Games|CCP]] created Time Dilation. TiDi slows almost all actions down. This is kind of like setting a speed limit on the road so that all the cars go at a steady, smooth pace.
  
TiDi affects a node, the hardware hosting specific regions in EVE space. When lots of players start to overload a node, TiDi takes place. This not only keeps a smooth pace but helps prevent players from lagging out (where their client disconnects).
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TiDi affects a node, the hardware hosting a specific region in EVE space. When lots of players start to overload a node, TiDi takes place. This not only keeps a smooth pace but helps prevent players from lagging out (where their client disconnects).
  
When TiDi occurs, it's like everything is in bullet time from The Matrix film. It's actually quite awesome the first time you see it.
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When TiDi occurs, everything happens in slow motion or "bullet time". Note that TiDi has no effect on [[Eve Server Time]]: players in a time-dilated area will see the same time as everyone else in EVE, even though their actions are implemented more slowly.
  
== How It Looks In The Client ==
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== Icon ==
  
 
[[File:tidi.jpg|300px|thumb|right|What time dilation icon looks like. Note the yellow circle]]
 
[[File:tidi.jpg|300px|thumb|right|What time dilation icon looks like. Note the yellow circle]]
  
  
When a node has a certain amount of load (due to player activity) all systems on that node will show an icon representing the current Time Dilation. You can see the icon on the screenshot, which has a yellow colour.
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When a node has a certain amount of load (due to player activity) all systems on that node will show an icon representing the current Time Dilation. You can see the icon on the screenshot, in which the icon has a yellow colour.
  
 
The rule of the thumb is:
 
The rule of the thumb is:

Revision as of 12:21, 27 November 2021

Time Dilation ( sometimes TiDi, pronounced "tie-die"), is a game mechanic which is used to make large fleet fights in EVE more possible.

During large fleet engagements involving hundreds or thousands of players, lag usually occurs. The reason is that so many players are sending actions to the server of a system that the server can't handle all those action in a timely manner.

Imagine a bunch of houses with roads connecting to a building in downtown. Each house would be a person in EVE and the building in downtown would be the server. Now let's imagine that a car from a house is an action, like turning on your missile launcher. Normally, if just a few people drive their cars on the road, traffic goes smoothly. But if you have a huge number, then you get a traffic jam.

The actions being received/sent do not arrive in a regular pattern. Imagine lots of cars one minute and the next just a few. Thus there would be times of fast traffic and slow crawls (lag spikes).

To combat this effect and to make large battles fairer, CCP created Time Dilation. TiDi slows almost all actions down. This is kind of like setting a speed limit on the road so that all the cars go at a steady, smooth pace.

TiDi affects a node, the hardware hosting a specific region in EVE space. When lots of players start to overload a node, TiDi takes place. This not only keeps a smooth pace but helps prevent players from lagging out (where their client disconnects).

When TiDi occurs, everything happens in slow motion or "bullet time". Note that TiDi has no effect on Eve Server Time: players in a time-dilated area will see the same time as everyone else in EVE, even though their actions are implemented more slowly.

Icon

What time dilation icon looks like. Note the yellow circle


When a node has a certain amount of load (due to player activity) all systems on that node will show an icon representing the current Time Dilation. You can see the icon on the screenshot, in which the icon has a yellow colour.

The rule of the thumb is:


Icon Colour Speed Reduction
Green Slightly Reduced Speed
Yellow Half Speed
Red Low Speed

Resources

Time Dilation Dev Blog