Cache

From Neverend

The cache is a large amount of space on the hard drive that is updated by automatic download during gameplay. The client rapidly processes all cache data, and queries for updates. Update prioty is within the area of the player; the closest data to the player is processed first, and each successive radius going outwards. This allows close data to be loaded first while objects in the distance are updated with a low priority. The lowest priority is the area around the player that is past the draw distance, which is updated if the player has already updated priority areas first and still has good bandwith.

If a player is warped or transported to a new area, the updating process is the same, with the most priority immediately around the player, then radiated outward in concentric squares. Transportation by ship or mount requires rapid updates with priority given to the immediate area around the vehicle and to the area in front of the vehicle in whatever direction the vehicle is travelling, with the side and rear areas of the vehicle given less priority.

Terrain is updated based on framerate and bandwith, displaying more detail in ideal conditions and more abstraction in lagged conditions. Fields will hide their crops, plants, and extra layers of texture and texture effects. Buildings will be abstract and lightly textured instead of rendering detail from a distance. This abstraction should ideally not occur at close ranges, but may have to in times of great congestion and lag, especially during siege warfare and crowded events.

The update process identifies data as being old and expired, and will not load expired data. It identifies semi recent data in need of updating and displays it if an update is not available. Newly updated data has the most priority and is downloaded and displayed first, overwriting old data. Old data may be displayed if updated can not be received due to lag, but this may cause visual errors.

Data that is mapped closest to the player location expires fastest, while data further from the player location takes longer to expire. This allows distant towns and locations to remain intact and wait for further updates when visited again. Data from further away has the most priority to be deleted when the cache space limit is reached.

The cache also stores data on players, NPCs, monsters, signs, banners, town settings, and territory settings. This data is usually overwritten quickly but exists for fast retrieval when the same players, NPCs, monsters, or town details are being reloaded. Data with the oldest timestamp has the most priority to be deleted.