Dwarf Fortress Bug Tracker - Dwarf Fortress
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IDProjectCategoryView StatusDate SubmittedLast Update
0003651Dwarf FortressUndeathpublic2010-11-17 00:092012-03-02 17:41
ReporterDeon 
Assigned ToToady One 
PrioritynormalSeveritymajorReproducibilityalways
StatusresolvedResolutionfixed 
PlatformOSOS Version
Product Version0.31.18 
Target VersionFixed in Version0.31.22 
Summary0003651: Ghost appearing/disappearing causes a massive slowdown
DescriptionWhenever I see a "ghostly" creature and it appears and disappears (which leads to it appearing and disappearing from the list) my game becomes "stuck" in specified periods of time, leading to an overall massive slowdown.

The moment the ghost is put to rest, the game runs smoothly again.
Steps To ReproduceHave a ghost on your map.
Additional Information
TagsSave Included
Relationships
has duplicate 0003815resolved Dwarfu Upon reload game stops a few times, results in crash within a few minutes 
has duplicate 0003916resolved Dwarfu Bizarre intermittent lag, possibly due to ghosts (save provided) 
has duplicate 0003931resolved Logical2u Haunting Dwarf Ghost couses Game Stuttering 
has duplicate 0004241resolved Footkerchief game blocks after 15s into this save 
related to 0004053new  Encountering extensive lag during gameplay 
related to 0004207resolved Toady One Inescapable, inevitable, intolerable lag 
Attached Files
Issue History
Date ModifiedUsernameFieldChange
2010-11-17 00:09DeonNew Issue
2010-11-17 07:47takaratikiNote Added: 0013954
2010-11-20 14:42fflaguna2Note Added: 0014064
2010-11-20 14:42fflaguna2Note Edited: 0014064bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0014064#r5388
2010-11-21 21:09CruxadorIssue Monitored: Cruxador
2010-11-21 21:17CruxadorNote Added: 0014132
2010-11-22 23:25nordakNote Added: 0014163
2010-12-02 05:30nosesquidNote Added: 0014360
2010-12-02 07:46FootkerchiefCategoryDwarf Mode -- Idle Behavior => Undeath
2010-12-19 14:44KolburNote Added: 0014632
2010-12-19 15:18DwarfuRelationship addedrelated to 0003815
2010-12-20 01:14CruxadorNote Edited: 0014132bug_revision_view_page.php?bugnote_id=0014132#r5568
2010-12-20 21:15DwarfuRelationship replacedhas duplicate 0003815
2010-12-20 21:15DwarfuIssue Monitored: CapnRis
2010-12-20 21:17DwarfuNote Added: 0014666
2010-12-20 21:18DwarfuTag Attached: Save Included
2010-12-20 21:18DwarfuTag Attached: Save Needs Testing
2011-01-16 21:38KogutNote Added: 0014891
2011-01-20 16:16monk12Note Added: 0014914
2011-02-01 21:56VercingetorixNote Added: 0014965
2011-02-02 14:04mrchinchin25Issue Monitored: mrchinchin25
2011-02-03 09:02DwarfuRelationship addedhas duplicate 0003916
2011-02-03 09:02DwarfuIssue Monitored: Solra Bizna
2011-02-04 19:20Logical2uRelationship addedhas duplicate 0003931
2011-02-19 02:41Lord HermanNote Added: 0015275
2011-02-19 02:42Lord HermanIssue Monitored: Lord Herman
2011-02-26 10:46dravusNote Added: 0015524
2011-02-26 14:49DoctorZuberNote Added: 0015528
2011-03-07 11:43FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0004053
2011-03-07 15:46FootkerchiefNote Added: 0015930
2011-03-09 00:39Khym ChanurIssue Monitored: Khym Chanur
2011-03-11 14:51JimiDIssue Monitored: JimiD
2011-03-11 14:53JimiDNote Added: 0016129
2011-03-13 15:12MaDeR LevapNote Added: 0016213
2011-03-13 22:05FootkerchiefSticky IssueNo => Yes
2011-03-16 12:06FootkerchiefRelationship addedrelated to 0004207
2011-03-17 09:01FootkerchiefRelationship addedhas duplicate 0004241
2011-03-17 09:01FootkerchiefNote Added: 0016333
2011-03-19 16:49Toady OneStatusnew => resolved
2011-03-19 16:49Toady OneFixed in Version => 0.31.22
2011-03-19 16:49Toady OneResolutionopen => fixed
2011-03-19 16:49Toady OneAssigned To => Toady One
2011-03-19 20:03Khym ChanurIssue End Monitor: Khym Chanur
2011-03-22 04:42JimiDIssue End Monitor: JimiD
2011-03-22 22:50FootkerchiefSticky IssueYes => No
2011-04-08 15:55CapnRisIssue End Monitor: CapnRis
2011-05-06 21:32CruxadorIssue End Monitor: Cruxador
2012-03-02 17:41DwarfuTag Detached: Save Needs Testing

Notes
(0013954)
takaratiki   
2010-11-17 07:47   
Correct. Suffering massive delays as the ghost blinks in and out. This is on the Linux version with a world rendered on 31.18.
(0014064)
fflaguna2   
2010-11-20 14:42   
Same here on Windows. It's game-breaking until you memorialize the ghost, which takes forever due to the massive slowdowns.

For the record, the ghost that caused this bug was a caravan merchant who died.
(0014132)
Cruxador   
2010-11-21 21:17   
(edited on: 2010-12-20 01:14)
It's not gamebreaking for me, though it's annoying. I've got a pretty good computer, so that could account for the difference, but I just get a pause of about 30 seconds to a minute. I have lots of ghosts going on, since I've had gratuitous amounts of death and am not burying or memorializing anyone.

It's still an important bug, though. This is probably the most annoying bug I've experienced.

EDIT: Okay, different embark, and it's gamebreaking for me now.
(0014163)
nordak   
2010-11-22 23:25   
I'm not taking a hit in fps or a pause. Windows and good system with i7 processor.
(0014360)
nosesquid   
2010-12-02 05:30   
It's happening in Mac 31.18 too. Could this be connected to bug 0003708? I've had plenty of ghosts before (nobody from before the 4th migrant wave is still alive) but no problems until a "nameless" ghost showed up.
(0014632)
Kolbur   
2010-12-19 14:44   
I have the same problem but it's very strange. I have ghosts on my map since the very beginning of my fortress when one miner got encased in ice while trying to pierce an aquifer. I've intentionally not buried or memorialized anyone to get ghosts and it was no problem until now (more than 3 years into the game now). Suddenly the breaks started (I have like 4 ghosts now) and got longer very quickly. Unfortunately it's gamebreaking for me too. Cpu usage goes through the roof and the game freezes up to a minute. The actual fps between the breaks seems to be ok. But the freezes seems to come every other step now. :(
(0014666)
Dwarfu   
2010-12-20 21:17   
CapnRis also has this save from 0003815 that seems to be the same issue.

http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=3558 [^]
(0014891)
Kogut   
2011-01-16 21:38   
My bet: it is caused by pathfinder.
Ghost can move in all directions so
(a) it will path in (2*n)^3 cube to travel n tiles
(b) it is using useless for him cached data
(c) maybe part of ghost is not pathfinding, so it is why only part is killing FPS.
 
Solution - just move ghost without pathfinding.
====
And it just happened for me.
====
And it wasn't nameless ghost.
(0014914)
monk12   
2011-01-20 16:16   
I can report that it doesn't appear to happen every time I have a ghost. In some instances I've had a ghost quietly haunting the well he drowned in, and in others I've experienced incredibly erratic FPS issues. I believe it is related to ghosts pathing through unexplored underground areas. The reason I believe this is because the ghost was not on the unit list during the largest instances of lag, but by zooming in on it via the relationships menu the cursor centered on a point that could only be Hell.
(0014965)
Vercingetorix   
2011-02-01 21:56   
Same problem confirmed here. My game started to lag for no apparent reason and there were no visible ghosts in the unit list. I ran DF reveal and I was able to find the two spirits and put them to rest. In my case they were in conventional unexplored layers.

Carving up two slabs now so things should be fine.
(0015275)
Lord Herman   
2011-02-19 02:41   
I think I'm having the same problem. 0.31.19, windows. Game started pausing 1-3 seconds with increasing frequency ever since my first ghost appeared. Right now it runs for about a second, then pauses for two or three seconds, then runs for a second again. At some point it seems to hang completely, and I have to close DF via the task manager. During the pauses, the game window won't respond to alt-tabbing et cetera.
(0015524)
dravus   
2011-02-26 10:46   
I just started getting the same issue

complete freezes for up to 30secs to 1 min at a time

had to forcefully close the process to get my system back from the game
(0015528)
DoctorZuber   
2011-02-26 14:49   
On a side note, I hate the interface for engraving a slab. Here is a summary of my process.

1. units menu, find the offending ghost
2. remember/write down the ghost's name
3. open the craft workshop and engrave a slab
4. page through the MANY MANY MANY pages of names until you find the right one.

With my rather evolved fortress, I have several HUNDRED names to search through anytime I need to engrave a slab. Some of the names aren't even visible and simply say (engrave a slab) without any associated name.

It would be a HUGE timesaver if we could enter names to engrave with a partial alphabetical match like is used for ordering manangement tasks.
(0015930)
Footkerchief   
2011-03-07 15:46   
JimiD uploaded this save at 0004053:0015925: http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=3921 [^]
(0016129)
JimiD   
2011-03-11 14:53   
Another save, this one with definite lag and ghost activity.

http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=3951 [^]

Ghost appears on the western edge of the map, at ground level, in the stream.
(0016213)
MaDeR Levap   
2011-03-13 15:12   
Ghosts, as non-material being, should not need any pathfinding at all. Just make straight line from x1,y1,z1 to x2,y2,z2. Maybe in some cases game incorrectly uses pathfinder instead of simplest case?
(0016333)
Footkerchief   
2011-03-17 09:01   
gpmfuchs posted this save at 0004241: http://dffd.wimbli.com/file.php?id=3980 [^]