What is script latency and how to deal with it?

[Darklordroy]

Hello,

 

Yesterday I tried out the mod Death Alternative, but using it caused my game to crash very frequently to the point of becoming nigh unplayable.

When I looked at the tech support thread of the mod, the mod maker told most reported CTD's came from heavy script latency caused by using too many mods.

 

Script latency is a term I have encountered multiple times as a cause for crashes, but never really understood what it meant. So I have the following questions:

 

* What exactly is script latency?

 

* What kinds of mods primarily cause it?

 

* What can I do against it?

 

I already use ENBoost, SKSE with the Memory patch and refrain from using HQ retexture mods.

[Dumitas]

I don't know anything about papyrus, but I can answer the questions in simple language (even in I don't speak english).

 

Papyrus for Beginners (That's just to understand the basic of Papyrus script)

Quote from that page:

When modding Skyrim, you will likely find yourself needing to define behaviour that cannot be set up with the Creation Kit, like removing a key from the player when they open a door, or killing a character when a lever is pulled. In order to define this behaviour, you will need to use Skyrim's scripting language, Papyrus.

 

 

* What exactly is script latency?
Basically the scripts are instructions (algorithm), "read events and play events"; Those instructions usually works from cpu. More scripts more cpu work. More operations more time take your cpu to play a result, that result in a delay (latency / lag) in those instructions.
Sometimes that show in game events delay , other times in frames drop.

I know there is a technical way to tell that, i just trying to help you (also my grammar s*ck, no - eng)


* What kinds of mods primarily cause it?
There is common term, know as "heavy scripted mods"
Example: Frostfall, Wet n' Cold, Footprints, Realistic Needs, Locational Damage.

The "kind" is hard to tell, but are those who use extra behaviour, behaviour who can't use from Creation Kit (that mean not included in vanilla game).

* What can I do against it?
Upgrade CPU, reduce heavy scripted mods.



I know my knowledge its basic, but maybe is not the script latency the problem, maybe its a conflict.

Post you papyrus log here.

Open Skyrim.ini (My Documents/My Games/Skyrim) and add the following to it:

[Papyrus]
fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS=500.0
bEnableLogging=1
bEnableTrace=1
bLoadDebugInformation=1

Play the game and wait for more of those sweet CTD's. :devil:

Inside My Documents/My Games/Skyrim/Logs/Script
Papyrus.0.log and other 3 logs, "Papyrus.0.log" is the most recent and the one who show the script error.



Good luck!.

Edited March 5, 2015 by Dumitas

[Overlord69]

I would highly advise you against tweaking Papyrus as a solution, leave the ini settings under Papyrus alone except for logging if you need to.

There is nothing you can do to stop script lag if you have to many script intensive mods. Some mod authors have figured out a way to use Papyrus multi-threading capabilities so that they can optimized their scripts to use less of the game's resources.

[vlaka]

Take note of the mods you use and how many scripts they use.

A good indication would be to read through the mod description page and the comments section.

 

Mods like Climates of Tamriel, Frostfall, Footprints, Wet and Cold, some combat overhauls, Skyre/requiem/perma (most overhauls) etc

 

Like Overlord said, don't tweak your papyrus settings at all. Keep them vanilla. You'll end up breaking more than you fix.

[Darklordroy]

Thanks for the replies.

 

I think you are right about using too many script intensive mods. Some examples from my load order are PerMa, Sands of Time, Airship Dev Aveza (during flight) and Eat and Sleep (already removed).

 

Despite this, my game still seems pretty stable and smooth when not using Death Alternative. I can play for around 2 hours before the game has a CTD.

If it helps, I could give the mod another try to see if it CTDs and post the log here.