Explorers/geologists bugged

[Iolanthe]

(Sorry for posting here, but there's no feedback thread about this "feature".)

Since there are now [Feedback] threads with no [News] and [News] with no [Feedback] threads this might be a good time to review and/or rewrite the now agéd News Feedback Rules:

News Feedback rules.

Hello,

Because we wish to have more clarity for game feedback and also have a cleaner forum, you will no longer be able to create a thread in this section.

However, you will still be able to comment on the feedback threads I will be creating for every single News.

Hope you understand and please stay on topic.

BB_Dantesama

It's getting rather messy.

Is it really that hard to use the test server to check these "offers" do in fact work before they go live?

.fr, the new guinea pigs in place of .pl, had this bug or a version of it. Be nice if thiings caught on the live first-out-of-the-gate servers didn't go global. Looks like there may be a patch for it, coming here... soon?

Is it really so hard to write a description that does not mislead (unintentional or otherwise)?

People said the same during the earlier "Explorer Week[s]", it really would benefit from a little more clarity.

[Zotamedu]

I timed it for my geologists and it is not visual. They should take 4 minutes to finish and I set a timer. They were not even close. Thank you for a gift that is not working. You messed up the timing for my explorers. I will now get less stuff than I otherwise would have.

[Ozzymandeus]

Beside the bug..

Seriously, stop messing with search times!
This game is about planning. This "Exploration Week" is not appreciated as it mainly messes up the planning.
If you want it to be a feature, add it to premium, but drop the idea of "Exploration Weeks".

(Sorry for posting here, but there's no feedback thread about this "feature".)

Like SmurfAsH, I have to question the wisdom of temporary changes to search times. However, more than that I really do have to question how such a minor change can kick up so much lag. Somewhat ironically, I usually get a minor dose of it during the day after maintenance. However, today has blown my usual levels of post-maintenance lag out of the water. Prolonged hourglasses when opening the Trade Office, buffs failing to show up properly (both when placed by others on my island and me placing them on others buildings) and even simple, basic functions such as scrolling across my island seem to be impossible without intermittent freezing today.

I contacted support about my issues with the explorer searches and the basic gist of their reply was along the lines of:
'we are aware of the problem, but we don't know how to fix it yet'.

Well.. I know one way you can fix it:

Undo whatever changes you implemented during maintenance and don't try to introduce them again until they have been properly tested...

You have a test server.... USE IT!

[KC-Grim]

15 of my explorers are skilled up for medium treasure search that i send out 4 times a day, well i was sending them out 4 times a day until this latest debacle now it takes them 6 hours to return instead of 4-4½hours.
You have really outdone yourselves this time BB

[Sir_Killemall]

Lag is horrible indeed, demolished a building instead of a mine due to some sort of freezing lag when scrolling
Worse thing is it seems to keep going back in time a few seconds then racing to catchup, so things like upgrades disappear, settlers running all over isle
(checked on 2 pcs and 2 connections so its not my pc or internet connection)
Ive had this lag before and its very very frustrating

Nice usual buggy changes from BB, good idea, terrible implementation, normal service delivered.

[Kit_]

As it seems there is no immediate fix for this problem and it is affecting all players, I would like to ask for the special offer to be turned off. It is not benefiting anyone and is making game play worse. I understand this was meant to be a gift to players but it is not working, and having your explorers taking longer than normal is extremely annoying.
So please, please BB, can you just get rid of it?

[frenkzmacolo]

It's safe to assume that bug affects most, if not all players, and has been known for over 24. In this time they were unable to post something about it, fix it or simply revert changes...

[minion79]

I have also experienced similar issues - It mainly requires refreshing to rectify and appears to be a graphical bug (primarily).

1. Send out explorers/geologists - times shown should be reduced by affecting skills and extra bonus 20%.
2. Leaving island or refreshing causes timer to reset/ show time without bonus reduced times from event and/or affecting skills
3. Explorers/Geologist return at the reduced time (loot appears in mail/deposits become available) but specialist remains busy in star menu with timer bar still incomplete.
4. Refreshing at this point should clear the graphical error allowing you to resend specialists on their next task.

Hope this helps.

[Kit_]

Mine is not a graphical error at all, I know when my explorers normally come back, and have it all timed, so have been able to keep an eye on what they are doing. They are not sending loot mails at an earlier time, or their usual time, but when the extended timer finishes and deposits are found only when the geologist finishes. The only way I can get the searches to work is if I do not leave my island at all, so only useful on the short searches such as stone, copper and marble.

[frenkzmacolo]

Its not graphical bug. None of my eplorers/geologists return at reduced time, in fact, instead of 13h for extra long treasure search before, it now takes 16 hours with lucky explorer. Same goes for geologists.