[0.12.3] Big FPS Performance Drop in Wayrest Castle and Dungeon

Post here if you need help getting started with Daggerfall Unity or just want to clarify a potential bug. Questions about playing or modding classic Daggerfall should be posted to Community.
Post Reply
StormyD_SSG
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 9:42 pm

[0.12.3] Big FPS Performance Drop in Wayrest Castle and Dungeon

Post by StormyD_SSG »

Hi interkarma and team! It's StormyD of Storm Saga Games on Twitch. I'm not sure if you remember me, but I stream Daggerfall Unity every Thursday night on my channel. I recently updated to the newest version of DFU and am experiencing some major performance FPS drops in Wayrest Castle and Wayrest Dungeon. I have been tweaking settings to try and eek out a few more FPS, but the best I can get inside these locales is 21-23 FPS.

I did some internet sleuthing, but it's possible my research skills need improving because I could not find anything to address this issue, so I thought it best to ask you guys directly if there are any specific settings/options I could adjust to improve my situation.

Any assistance is greatly appreciated! Also, feel free to drop by again on the channel anytime! Please know that you are greatly appreciated, and you have some very loyal and grateful fans out in the universe!

Since I know you are going to need this. My PC specs are as follows:
*Intel Core i9 10900K
*16GB RAM
*Samsung 970 EVO m.2 SSD
*MSI NVIDIA RTX 3070

My Mod-list: (the ones that are currently activated, in-order))
Carry Weight Customizer
Convenient Clock
Loading Screen
RoleplayRealism
DREAM - ALL
Distant Terrain
Helmet Swap DREAM
Enhanced Sky
Handpainted Models - Buildings, Main and Treasure Piles
Improved Interior Lighting
Villager ImmersionOverhaul
NPCHealthIndicators
Post Processing
Real Grass
Splat Terrain Texturing
Taverns Redone with DREAM patch

Settings.ini file:
[Daggerfall]
MyDaggerfallPath = E:\Games\ES Daggerfall Unity\DaggerfallGameFiles
MyDaggerfallUnitySavePath =

[Video]
ResolutionWidth = 1920
ResolutionHeight = 1080
RetroRenderingMode = 0
PostProcessingInRetroMode = 0
UseMipMapsInRetroMode = False
PalettizationLUTShift = 1
VSync = False
TargetFrameRate = 0
Fullscreen = True
ExclusiveFullscreen = False
RunInBackground = True
FieldOfView = 66
MainFilterMode = 2
QualityLevel = 4
ShadowResolutionMode = 0
DungeonLightShadows = False
InteriorLightShadows = False
ExteriorLightShadows = True
MobileNPCShadows = False
GeneralBillboardShadows = False
DungeonShadowDistance = 20
InteriorShadowDistance = 30
ExteriorShadowDistance = 90
EnableTextureArrays = True
RandomDungeonTextures = 1

[Audio]
AlternateMusic = True
SoundFont =

[ChildGuard]
PlayerNudity = True

[GUI]
ShowOptionsAtStart = True
GUIFilterMode = 2
VideoFilterMode = 2
Crosshair = True
SwapHealthAndFatigueColors = True
DimAlphaStrength = 0.5
FreeScaling = False
EnableToolTips = True
ToolTipDelayInSeconds = 0
ToolTipBackgroundColor = 404040D2
ToolTipTextColor = E6E6C8FF
ShopQualityPresentation = 0
ShopQualityHUDDelay = 4
ShowQuestJournalClocksAsCountdown = True
EnableInventoryInfoPanel = True
EnableEnhancedItemLists = True
EnableVitalsIndicators = True
EnableModernConversationStyleInTalkWindow = False
IconsPositioningScheme = small
HelmAndShieldMaterialDisplay = 3
InteractionModeIcon = minimal
EnableArrowCounter = True
AccelerateUICopyTexture = False
SDFFontRendering = True
EnableGeographicBackgrounds = False
DungeonExitWagonPrompt = True
TravelMapLocationsOutline = True
IllegalRestWarning = True
LargeHUD = False
LargeHUDDocked = True
LargeHUDUndockedScale = 0.75
LargeHUDUndockedAlignment = 0
LargeHUDUndockedOffsetWeapon = False
LargeHUDOffsetHorse = True
CanDropQuestItems = False
EnableQuestDebugger = False
QuestRumorWeight = 50

[Spells]
EnableSpellLighting = True
EnableSpellShadows = True

[Controls]
InvertMouseVertical = True
MouseLookSmoothing = False
MouseLookSensitivity = 4.7
JoystickLookSensitivity = 1
JoystickCursorSensitivity = 1
JoystickMovementThreshold = 0.9
JoystickDeadzone = 0.001
EnableController = False
HeadBobbing = True
Handedness = 0
WeaponAttackThreshold = 0.03
WeaponSensitivity = 1
MovementAcceleration = False
ToggleSneak = True
ClickToAttack = True
CameraRecoilStrength = 3
SoundVolume = 1
MusicVolume = 0.3
InstantRepairs = True
AllowMagicRepairs = True
BowDrawback = False

[Map]
AutomapNumberOfDungeons = 5
AutomapDisableMicroMap = False
AutomapRememberSliceLevel = False
AutomapAlwaysMaxOutSliceLevel = False
ExteriorMapDefaultZoomLevel = 8
ExteriorMapResetZoomLevelOnNewLocation = True
AutomapTempleColor = 457DC3FF
AutomapShopColor = BE5518FF
AutomapTavernColor = 557530FF
AutomapHouseColor = 453C28FF

[Startup]
StartCellX = 109
StartCellY = 158
StartInDungeon = True

[Experimental]
TerrainDistance = 2
TerrainHeightmapPixelError = 5
SmallerDungeons = True
CustomBooksImport = True
AssetCacheThreshold = 25

[Enhancements]
LypyL_GameConsole = True
LypyL_ModSystem = True
AssetInjection = True
CompressModdedTextures = False
NearDeathWarning = True
AdvancedClimbing = True
AlternateRandomEnemySelection = True
DungeonAmbientLightScale = 0.9
NightAmbientLightScale = 1
PlayerTorchLightScale = 0.9
PlayerTorchFromItems = True
CombatVoices = True
EnemyInfighting = True
EnhancedCombatAI = True
GuildQuestListBox = True
BowLeftHandWithSwitching = True
LoiterLimitInHours = 12

User avatar
Jay_H
Posts: 4061
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2015 1:54 am
Contact:

Re: [0.12.3] Big FPS Performance Drop in Wayrest Castle and Dungeon

Post by Jay_H »

I'm no help on the technical side, but welcome! I definitely remember you, I was there with Kamer on the night you finished A New Main Quest :D Glad to see you here on the forums, and I hope we can find a solution to this!

StormyD_SSG
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 9:42 pm

Re: [0.12.3] Big FPS Performance Drop in Wayrest Castle and Dungeon

Post by StormyD_SSG »

Awesome! Thanks Jay_H! Great to chat with you again!

User avatar
Interkarma
Posts: 7236
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2015 1:51 am

Re: [0.12.3] Big FPS Performance Drop in Wayrest Castle and Dungeon

Post by Interkarma »

Hey StormyD , welcome to the forums! :)

Your rig is more than powerful enough for DFU+mods, I can only guess something is going wrong in the background.

Assuming problem only happens with mods installed, my standard troubleshooting tip is to delete/disable all mods then restore them one at a time until mod triggering problem has been identified. It's often the last mod you expect.

For general performance, "DungeonLightShadows" can be a hog, but you already have that disabled. Your resolution is fine at 1080p. None of your other settings jump out as problematic for your specs.

Another troubleshooting approach is to setup a clean install of DFU in a separate folder (just unzip a new copy somewhere else like "C:\Games\DFU_Test"). Run clean copy and confirm problem not present, then add mods one at a time until problem triggers.

Please get back to us with what you find and we'll try to make progress from there. Good luck! :)

StormyD_SSG
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 9:42 pm

Re: [0.12.3] Big FPS Performance Drop in Wayrest Castle and Dungeon

Post by StormyD_SSG »

Awesome! thanks for the quick reply and the great feedback. I'll try these out and share my results. :D

User avatar
dani26795
Posts: 29
Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2020 3:51 am
Location: Spain

Re: [0.12.3] Big FPS Performance Drop in Wayrest Castle and Dungeon

Post by dani26795 »

According to its Nexus page (https://www.nexusmods.com/daggerfallunity/mods/7), Villager Immersion Overhaul mod has been broken since at least early September. Maybe that's the one causing this issue?

StormyD_SSG
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2021 9:42 pm

Re: [0.12.3] Big FPS Performance Drop in Wayrest Castle and Dungeon

Post by StormyD_SSG »

dani26795 wrote: Wed Oct 20, 2021 6:45 pm According to its Nexus page (https://www.nexusmods.com/daggerfallunity/mods/7), Villager Immersion Overhaul mod has been broken since at least early September. Maybe that's the one causing this issue?
That was it! thank you so much for pointing me in that direction! It was indeed Villager Immersion Overhaul causing the issue. As soon as I disabled it, my FPS jumped to 90-120!

It seems strange to me that a mod which only affects actors outside the buildings would cause such a massive performance issue inside castles and dungeons. Just wow!

Oh well! No Worries! I am sure that when Squidkamer has time, we'll see a fix for it. Much love to him for all he does for this game, and the same goes for all of you! (and of course especially interkarma!)

User avatar
Interkarma
Posts: 7236
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2015 1:51 am

Re: [0.12.3] Big FPS Performance Drop in Wayrest Castle and Dungeon

Post by Interkarma »

Happy you were able to solve! :)

Post Reply