Startup module load up to 4 times faster than in-game load

[Weissrolf]

When a campaign is started from Launcher it loads modules up to 4 times faster compared to loading the very same modules in-game via Data Module Activation panel. Tested with and without extensions. Is this expected?

Startup:

MEASURE: MODULE LOAD - 1.5607054 - (SR) Drag N Drop
MEASURE: MODULE LOAD - 0.2725514 - Age of Ashes AP 1 Hellknight Hill
MEASURE: MODULE LOAD - 0.420684 - Age of Ashes AP 2 Cult of Cinders
MEASURE: MODULE LOAD - 0.0048462 - Calendars
MEASURE: MODULE LOAD - 4.6097019 - Pathfinder Second Edition Core Rules

In-game Data Module Activation panel:

MEASURE: MODULE LOAD - 6.2701963 - (SR) Drag N Drop
MEASURE: MODULE LOAD - 1.0695087 - Age of Ashes AP 1 Hellknight Hill
MEASURE: MODULE LOAD - 1.5664359 - Age of Ashes AP 2 Cult of Cinders
MEASURE: MODULE LOAD - 0.0249992 - Calendars
MEASURE: MODULE LOAD - 7.5052858 - Pathfinder Second Edition Core Rules

[Weissrolf]

Turns out that player sessions load all data modules after Part 2 and thus a lot slower than the GM. FGU measured nearly 70% longer (13 s) load times for the same modules on the same hardware, joining as PC connected via localhost.

GM Start

LOAD - PART 1 - 8.7900455
...
MODULE LOAD - 1.5228778 - (SR) Drag N Drop
MODULE LOAD - 0.0310285 - Animal Companions
MODULE LOAD - 0.0050229 - Calendars
MODULE LOAD - 0.9637189 - Pathfinder Advanced Player's Guide
MODULE LOAD - 0.5336547 - Lost Omens Character Guide - Player Guide
MODULE LOAD - 2.4049503 - PF2 Bestiary
MODULE LOAD - 3.2689695 - Pathfinder Second Edition Core Rules
...
LOAD - PART 2 - 10.1072451
Total Load time: 18.9 seconds


PC Join

LOAD - PART 1 - 8.7816866
...
MEASURE: LOAD - PART 2 - 1.2496604
...
MODULE LOAD - 5.9296107 - (SR) Drag N Drop
MODULE LOAD - 0.253857 - Animal Companions
MODULE LOAD - 0.0220627 - Calendars
MODULE LOAD - 1.8307918 - Pathfinder Advanced Player's Guide
MODULE LOAD - 0.8534557 - Lost Omens Character Guide - Player Guide
MODULE LOAD - 6.7018625 - PF2 Bestiary
MODULE LOAD - 6.0244612 - Pathfinder Second Edition Core Rules
Total Load time: 31.6 seconds

All these modules are loaded right after the Character Selection window is opened, thus keeping the players from selecting their PC while desperately clicking on its portrait.

[Zacchaeus]

Modules are only initialised when you startup (I'm assuming here that the modules are not open in the campaign when you start up). Once you open the campaign and then load the module that's when the module actually loads.

[Weissrolf]

The modules are open in the campaign and they are loaded when the campaign is started. Only that for the GM they are loaded before PART 2 and thus faster, while for the player they are loaded after PART 2 and thus much slower.

In my example the players literally stares at the Character Selection window for over 20 seconds (on a very fast computer). More likely they try to click on the portrait once its loaded (happens in between modules) and wonder why nothing happens.

Questions:

- Why is loading of modules after PART 2 so much slower?

- Why do players load modules after PART 2 and not before PART 2 (like the GM does)?

[Weissrolf]

Is this expected behavior or a bug? Should we wait for a fix or just forget about it and live with it? Please let us know.

[Moon Wizard]

As being a small team and the fact that it's not a general issue affecting a large number of people, this is currently on our list to investigate, but not scheduled. We won't know the scope of the situation until we have time to investigate, identify the situation, and determine when to prioritize any changes.

Regards,
JPG

[Weissrolf]

Thanks for the answer, it's well appreciated. I understand the implication, even though I do not agree with the "not affecting a large number of people" part.

As it seems it affects every player who is not the GM of a campaign, but sharing modules from the GM. This in turn also affects GMs as the whole group has to wait for the slowest client to load those modules. Sessions could start faster/earlier if player clients would load those modules as fast/early as GM clients do. One of my players has a flaky internet-connection and thus needs to (re)connect up to three times per session on a weak/old PC. With maybe 3 hours of effective game-play per session these minutes add up.

Anyway, we will manage and once Corona is over we will meet back at the table and FG may switch back to a GM only tool.