Culling
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This page contains information about a Guild Wars 2 element, mechanic, or feature that has been removed or replaced. The information on this page does not apply to the current version of the game or the content is no longer available. |
Culling used to be a network design to limit the number of visible characters to manage the game's performance. It was removed first from WvW and, later, from PvE game mode in 2013. It was replaced by generic character models mechanic, regulated by "Character Model Quality" and "Character Model Limit" in Graphics Options.
Historical mechanics[edit]
Once reached, this limit results in only the characters/NPCs closest to the player being reported to the client. The aim of this limitation is to:
- Limit server bandwidth and network resources.
- Reduce client-side resource utilization and client side technology requirements.
When a player character moves through the game world, any character (other players, NPCs, monsters) within a certain radius around the player (visible range) gets reported to the player's game client. This lets the game draw those characters, allows the player to select them, shoot at them, etc.
Although achieving these aims, culling has led to numerous problems due to nearby players and NPCs becoming completely invisible. While this is considered a problem throughout both PvE and WvW, it has been a particular problem within WvW, where the number of players during many battles is considerably larger than the chosen limit, resulting in numerous enemy players not being visible to opposing forces.
Removal in World vs. World[edit]
Culling has been removed from WvW in the Flame and Frost: The Razing release on March 26, 2013. WvW players are now expected to control the load on their systems in order to attain acceptable frame rates, by introducing limits themselves, using two new graphics settings:
- WvW Character Limit: Five settings from Lowest to Highest. Controls the total number of character models that may be displayed in WvW. The remaining characters will appear as nameplates only. It is assumed that the farther they are, the more probable that only their nameplate will be visible. The exact number of characters corresponding to these settings is unknown.[verification requested]
- WvW Character Quality: 3 settings from Lowest to Medium. Controls the number of high quality character models that may be displayed in WvW. Among the characters that are drawn (controlled using the setting above), this setting determines the number that is drawn normally, in high quality. The rest will appear as low quality character models which consume less resources on the player's computer.
Culling in PvE[edit]
Culling was observed to gradually increase in the PvE areas since the game's launch. The current observed limit is around 30 friendly NPCs and 12 monsters.[verification requested] As distant characters come closer, their bodies become visible some distance before their nameplates appear. Visible, but distant characters and monsters cannot be selected until they come within a minimum distance.
As you move your character in a direction, new characters/NPCs will gradually appear into the scene (taking a few seconds) while those behind you disappear. This gradual apparition was one of the issues affecting WvW stealthy characters, and providing them with a few seconds of extra invisibility as they came out of stealth.
Culling in PvE was removed with the Clockwork Chaos release on August 20, 2013, and replaced by generic character models mechanic.
