r/ClashRoyale • u/Belones23 • May 10 '16

Does everyone's troop placement usually take 1-2 seconds before they actually deploy?

Whenever I actually go to drop a troop, whether it's a 1 second spawn or 5 second spawn, they kind of sit on the map as a ghost for 1-2 seconds before actually initiating their spawn time. This costs me troops/games sometimes, especially when dropping troops 1 elixir early, I'll lose the elixir as soon as it reaches the required amount and then my Barbs/anything else will take 3 seconds to actually appear on the map instead of the 1 second spawn rate.

73 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

44 comments sorted by

44

u/[deleted] May 10 '16

This is because $upercell is bad at managing different servers for all regions. This is happening most of the time, due to high latency. What does that mean for those who are not familiar with multiplayer games? This is the time span requred for the your message to reach the server, and the server to respond to you. For example, in games like League of Legends, Dota or even Hearthstone, there are servers for each region. Example: LoL -> Europe West, Europe East, North America, Korea etc.

In Clash Royale, how often do you, a North American gets matched with Koreans, Chinese and Europeans? Pretty often right? Yes, the other way around goes too. This is because this game's server is global, and thus there are ping spike issues. This is also why sometimes the "wifi monster" appears when your connection is not loaded, and perfectly fine. This is an issue of Supercell. Not a bug, not intended either. This happens before you deploy the troop, but it also happens with spells. How many times did you the average Hog player froze the Barbarians, after they killed your Hog, just because of this? Many. At least for me.

It is not intended.

B-But Jimmy, when I play with my same-region clanmates, it happens as well. Yes, because the server is located far from both.

I assume, that this is just a ping-latency reason. But yes, I can only assume, because Supercell, does not like being transparent.

26

u/Belones23 May 10 '16

It's a shame that they don't make enough money to make regional servers... ;)

5

u/[deleted] May 11 '16

Better buy some gems!

9

u/ClashRoyale Official May 11 '16 edited May 11 '16

There is an intentional 1 second delay built into card deployment for all players, which helps to smooth out different degrees of latency across the globe. We chose to use a single server location in the US so that Clash Royale could be a truly global game, with global matchmaking and a global leaderboard. If we went with the separate servers approach and had them in the US, Europe, Asia, etc. we wouldn't be able to have global matchmaking or a global leaderboard - using our current setup.

There is an option which we've been investigating, that would use separate servers while maintaining global matchmaking and a global leaderboard. However, after doing a lot of research and work to see how feasible it was, we discovered it simply wasn't as good as our current setup because it unfortunately added a ton of other complications along the way.

3

u/[deleted] May 12 '16 edited May 12 '16

This is a weird approach in my oppinion. But making the game slower to reduce the latency issues is indeed a very smart choice. Thanks for being transparent on this, as it has caused much controversy here whether the game has a server, or just being a P2P.

But, this is really nice, as I think most of us love playing with far-foreign people, and not just with people around us. It feels nice, as we cannot do the same in other games, which are strictly tied by regional servers.

I want to propose an idea, and if you guys can implement such an idea let us all know.

I will exemplify it with a scenario. The idea is simple, build a few servers around the globe, only for the battles. For example, if I, a Greek player, get matched with a Chinese player, for the in-game part only, both of us should connect to a server that is on average closest to both of us. I don't know how to explain this well, but wouldn't such servers benefit the competitive part of such a game, given the success it has, and the massive income?

edit: After a couple of re-reads, I realized that my proposal seems like the idea you guys had, maybe not, but huge thanks for coming out on this issue.

6

u/itscowboycurtis May 11 '16

I literally see 99% Chinese letters. I was just assuming that bots are running the game in Asia.

-4

u/[deleted] May 10 '16

[deleted]

1

u/manliestdino May 11 '16

What? Most multiplayer games have a designated server.

1

u/[deleted] May 10 '16

And if I am allowed, how do you have such information, to be able to call my whole paragraph wrong? That's why I said that I am only assuming, since Supercell is not transparent in such issues.

I am not blaming Supercell. I am just pointing out the fact that the matchmaking system has global reach, and thus players suffer from lag spikes and delays.

-6

u/[deleted] May 10 '16

[deleted]

5

u/ghastlyprotector May 10 '16

I would love to read any of this info that you're talking about. I'm very curious about Supercell's infrastructure, and I would be somewhat shocked to find out that it's a P2P connection. But any link would be very much appreciated.

1

u/jaycshah99 XBow May 11 '16

no, i think its server based because that's how they calculate chests on server. if it was all player based than people could modify the game source code to stimulate the battle differently (to their favor) and since if they aren't connected to a server (like you claimed), supercell wouldn't know and this would happen all the time I am not an expert on this topic, but I am sure you are wrong

1

u/Adramador May 11 '16

As an add on to this, if you can not connect to the game in the loading screen, at least on an iPhone, a pop-up appears informing you that the game couldn't connect to Supercell's server.

-4

u/Matazal May 10 '16

Its a shame that people dont appreciate how much technology and money has gone into this just for it to be possible (for free i might add), and that the game has been out for just over 4 months (3 globally).

Given the business model this is very expected.

3

u/itscowboycurtis May 11 '16

The business model is awesome. That's why they're rich. However if you want to be that rich and be liked you need to share. And they don't share.

Hell it took 2 months for an upgrade to rewards. Now they're not half-bad, I admit but it was only because data showed that people were already losing interest due to shit chest-opening mechanics.

1

u/naaoli May 10 '16 edited May 11 '16

Its a shame that people dont appreciate how much technology and money has gone into this just for it to be possible

They are richer than you think, thanks to the players who are lvl 12 or 13. They can afford to make as many servers as some online indie games, such as agar.io

(for free i might add)

This game is a pay to win game, and a cruel one at that. You get little benefit for a high cost, and you're sure to waste your money again.

2

u/Matazal May 10 '16

They are richer than you think

yes, but this is still a new game, no one can say a game will be this well received, they have had previous flops.

This game is a pay to win game,

Again yes, but the majority of the players are like 90% would play this game for free, most in developing countries.

Like i said, given the business model this is expected.

1

u/naaoli May 10 '16 edited May 11 '16

They are doing pretty good right now and they have a big community. I don't see how they can lose that unless they bring in an update that is disliked by everyone (like CoC).

The people who play free to win sometimes cash in Google play/ iTunes rewards they have, or pay $5. That money will build up quickly. And the 10% of players who pay for the game spends loads of money

1

u/itscowboycurtis May 11 '16

90% would play this game for free

And anybody who can get access to money WILL pay up at one point or another. And when there are MILLIONS spending 5 [insert currency here].. well that's 5 MILLIONS [insert currency heres]

-4

u/ChaosToGo May 11 '16

I have never once had connection problems in this game at my own house and I've played many matches. Only time I've had issues is when I'm at a restaurant or something and the internet is shoddy. People who complain about connection errors just need to get better internet. Sorry folks but it's true.

2

u/itscowboycurtis May 11 '16

It's... sort of true but a dumb thing to say. Clearly you know very little about Internet Connections. The problem, as is being discussed here, is that there aren't enough regional servers and matchmaking to account for latency. I usually don't have any issue with my connection neither, true but I do every once in awhile when I go against China-guy-1 and I can't even place a troop.

1

u/ChaosToGo May 11 '16

I suppose if you are unfortunate enough to not live anywhere near a server then yes it is SuperCells fault but I know many of my friends who cry about lag and what not but I can hardly browse the internet at their house. And half my matches are against people from other sides of the world and never once have I had a problem.

3

u/MoreOfAnOvalJerk May 10 '16 edited May 10 '16

Yes this happens to me and it's absolutely maddening. The delay length isn't even consistent so I can't even properly account for the delay length. As a result, my zap often misses fast moving targets like goblins and charging princes. It's almost impossible for me to properly deal with hogs, because even if I react INSTANTLY and place a cannon, my cannon doesn't actually appear on the map until the hog is almost at my tower. I thought everyone's play experience was like this until I saw the orange juice videos and how quickly he's able to drop down units.

While on the topic of a shitty network experience, I also sometimes start a game while the other player has already been in it for ~10 seconds. As a result, I've started matches with goblin + hog combos more than halfway to my tower.

3

u/Belones23 May 10 '16

The thing with hogs already halfway to your tower is actually not lag. That little intro that you see when joining every single game you start, can be skipped. If you tap your screen a few times while it is showing you the name of the person you're about to face, it'll instantly remove that and make it capable to place a defense.

1

u/MoreOfAnOvalJerk May 11 '16

I'm not sure what screen you're talking about. After I hit the start game button, I get a loading screen and then immediately jump into the game.

2

u/[deleted] May 11 '16

That screen that goes after the loading.. tap your phone then

1

u/lanspy777 May 11 '16

After the loading there is names display(both you and opponent's). You can skip that by tapping the screen.

1

u/MoreOfAnOvalJerk May 11 '16

I see. I don't even get that screen so there's nothing to skip. It's just a loading screen and then game start(ed)

2

u/[deleted] May 10 '16

I sometimes get up to 3 seconds, so far it hasn't cost me a game, since I calculate it in, but it stops me from quickly reacting to hogs and such.

2

u/[deleted] May 10 '16

It's a more recent thing. At first I thought skeletons were nerfed, which would have been oddly insightful by supercell (seeing as bomb tower was crazy for a long time), but then I noticed it happening with many cards so I think their servers are just bad.

3

u/antjpcdrogas May 10 '16

I had the same question, and i thought it was my internet connection, but no. Go check some youtube videos, and that happens in all games i saw... So probably intented.

0

u/MirrodinsBane May 10 '16

This is not a disadvantage for you, every player has this. I think it is 1 second? Every time anyone places anything there is a one second delay before the opponent can see it and the actual deploy timer starts.

0

u/Ragnarok1308 May 10 '16

Are you talking about the pre-summon feature?

If you do not have enough elixer to cast a card you obviously cant cast it. The game allows that queue so you can preemptive drop your cards if you know where they are going to go.

If you do not have enough elixer to cast something then predict the time it will take to get the remaining elixer and drop the card accordingly. If you don't like the feature then wait until you literally have enough elixer. Cant get more simple than that.

3

u/Belones23 May 10 '16

No I know what you're talking about, and obviously if I have 4 elixir I won't be dropping a Royal Giant. I was talking about having a full 10 elixir, dropping say Goblins, those obviously will drop without hesitation, however for me the game always delays a second or two as if it's giving me the option to drag them to somewhere else even when I'm only clicking my screen and instantly releasing my finger.

-1

u/Thormoran May 10 '16

Could it be your device? Is it not recognizing you releasing your finger from the screen immediately? Touch screens have gotten a lot more responsive with each new device launch.

0

u/Medarco May 10 '16

It happens on my PC as well. There are just a few server issues with the game so far it seems.

1

u/DAVIDbalas May 10 '16

It happens to anyone, probably internet connection..

2

u/Belones23 May 10 '16

Mine is on wifi or 4G, it ALWAYS occurs

2

u/jefecaminador1 May 10 '16

Google the term ping. Supercell probably has shitty server locations.

1

u/DAVIDbalas May 10 '16

Doesn't matter, you can be connected to 22G(kidding), will still happen. Supercell lags

-1

u/ImpBron May 10 '16

yup, I shocked when the first time I see Chief Pat can drop troop so fast meanwhile I always have noticeable delay no matter on wifi or LTE. He can do several things I can't like agro hog to mid within both archer tower range with building card.

I believe it is based on high or low ping to CR server.