Possible idea....

[Lorkar1]

I was in FD today and was looking at the falcons and cow in front of the trading post. And the thought struck me, do the falcons, cows, townfolk and other essentially non-functional NPC's contribute to the lag on the server? Is this something that is kept track of like the rest of the creatures? If so would it not make sense to thin them out or remove them entirely? I understand the need for aesthetics but, given the current popularity with the server would it not make sense to reduce the load on both the engine and cpu? This might only be a minor reduction in the lag factor but every little bit helps. Another idea just occurred to me. Maybe turning down the weather effects would also reduce server load. Again I say this only if it helps reduce lag. If it doesn't make a difference then disregard.

[Okie GET]

it seems to me that popularity is dropping rapidly. the server has hardly been full for the last 5 or 6 days. even during prime time playing hours it hasn't stayed full for long.

[Flailer]

The 'background' NPCs do contribute some processing on the mod, but it's pretty trivial. All mobs despawn when you leave a map, so all those decoration mobs don't really do a whole lot for very long.

Our mod isn't really even maxing the CPU, so we might just be capping out of what the NWN engine is capable of. It never really was designed for this sort of thing in the first place...

Filling of the mod is cyclical - depends on people's school schedules mainly. There's no 'popularity' drop...

[Mentarch]

it seems to me that popularity is dropping rapidly. the server has hardly been full for the last 5 or 6 days. even during prime time playing hours it hasn't stayed full for long.

Methinks you keep going to the wrong server. The place here is regularly at 39-46 players in evenings - prime time. ....

[Lorkar1]

I was thinking of all the time that PC's spend in Ave, FD and faction cities and the NPC's there as far as the drain went. If it is trivial then I guess that was the answer. I am sure many of you have the same vision I do as far as what NWN could be as opposed to what it is. If I had only paid more attention in school. Then I might be better suited to having a solution then just tossing ideas. Thanks for the fish.(to quote DD)

P.S. There was a waiting period all night until right around 11pm EST or so.
Damn kids need more homework I say.

[Kirg]

Although I don't think the NPCs in the Frozen Inn (?) and in Frozen Dale will contribute to lag, they are sometimes a nuisance for walking purposes. They are mostly just in the way . Could we send them an epidemy or other similar experience? Just let less spawn pls.