Major Bug: Immortal Empires game hard freeze during siege defense post 2.1 update

Dogmeat2000

Game: WH 3 v2.1.0 build 16106.2677981
Mode: Immortal Empires, Ironman Mode

Bug:
Game freezes shortly after battle initiation during siege defense battles post 2.1 update. It was working fine during v. 2.0.

Attached are:
1: Auto-save file from campaign map prior to initiating battle.
2: Copy of dxdiag
3: Video of the process leading to the freeze.

Updated with a few possible "workarounds", while we wait for a hotfix:

Courtesy of SusaVile (page 3)

SusaVile said:

Possible workaround:
I copied the save files out to the desktop,deleted the game and all files in appdata and steam. Reinstalled the game and started 1 campaign,saved it to have created folders automatically by the game.Put back my save files and tryed it.I played 4 defensive siege battles for now and no more freezing.Hope this solved it.And it could work for you too.

Courtesy of myself...

Dogmeat2000 said:

Another "workaround" is to revert back to v.2.0...

To do so, on windows;
1: With Steam running in the background type "steam://nav/console" into your browser.
This will open the console in steam, allowing you to enter commands.

2: Enter this command "download_depot 1142710 1142711 3760397070497080852" (without the "" brackets) and press enter.
This will download the 2.0 executable (and support files). It will not tell you how far it is, however you can check your network usage to see if it's still downloading or not. (CTRL-ALT-DEL -> Task-manager)


3: When done with step 2 the above, enter this command: "download_depot 1142710 1142712 4551955223934834567"
This will download the main 2.0 data files. They are around 100GB in size, so will take quite a while.

4: When step 2 and 3 is done, backup your WH3 v. 2.1. files (copy to another location), and take the downloaded files from above and move & overwrite into the main WH3 folder. (you''ll probably find them in Steam\steamapps\content\app_1142710)

Backup any saves you have, that you're playing on (just in case).

Now, make sure to open WH3 using the executable and not steam - as steam will simply just update it to v.2.1. again... Keep doing so until the hotfix is released.

More detailed info on how to revert to previous game versions can be found here: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=889624474


Just tested the battle I first uploaded in this thread (first post), and managed to fight and win it this time. Campaign seems to be progressing as before the 2.1 update also.

Dogmeat2000

Additionally:
Running a Geforce RTX 3090 Graphics Card
Nvidia driver v. 516.94

Nimmerlein

Got the same problem here. Happened on a major high elf siege map and now a minor city map. Both are defensive sieges. Battle starts, a few seconds later it freezes. Can navigate the map but cant click any UI elements. Music is still playing. Save file also attached before the battle, 3 times tried, 3 times the same freeze.
Update: *Crash* happens exactly 12 seconds in. No mods used.

GienekMaster

Sadly the same problem here...

s_3rog4

Same problem here!

Watsosm2

Exactly the same problem for me- a good description of the issue by Nimmerlein. Mine was a Vampire Counts defence battle against Greenskins. I immediately verified my files and was told that 7 files were unverified and were reacquired - but the problem persists. The first freeze occurred almost at the end of the battle but the subsequent freezes have all occurred at the start of the battle. Subsequent attempts to verify the files have all stated that they were successfully validated. Have made 5-6 attempts to play out the battle.

Uzii

Exactly the same problem. Siege defence battles only.

Unf_Avatar

Same here, Siege battle with High Elves against Tomb Kings and after a few seconds all freezes and u only can move arround with the camera.

Steam Game File is ok. Graphics card driver up 2 date and also directX. No Mods used.

tuctuc87

Same issue here.

CheeseToastie93

Also got this issue playing multiplayer Immortal empires. Any siege battle, large or small usually happens between 1-3 minutes in.

As others have said, the game still plays music, you can move the camera and your character portrait still moves. Originally thought it was desync but you can't even bring the menu up to quit out. Must alt-F4.

This campaign started yesterday and has been intensive, with no problems until this patch.

Snutze#3968

same issue here

timorye

Same problem here.

mb760076

Same issue here playing as dwarfs. Start a siege defense and the game locks up and freezes with no crash. The only way to play is to control alt delete and restart the game.

krlcz

Same here. First settlement defense battle after patch and it always freezes. Field/siege offensive battles are ok.

feliperocca#5196

Same Issue

Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-9900K CPU @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz

32,0 GB Ram

Nvida 3090

Frezzing in minor settlement battles when defending.

Hannibal8

This happened to me twice in a row, at exactly 1499 supply while defending a siege battle.

For a workaround, this mod alleviates the issue for me:

Defensive Supply Removed https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2791693822

I had noticed the freeze occurred at 1499 supply two times in a row, so by not having any supply, it could never be reached!

starkmaddness

Same issue. Froze during a minor settlement defensive siege battle, except for the camera and audio.

Dogmeat2000

Hannibal8 said:

This happened to me twice in a row, at exactly 1499 supply while defending a siege battle.

For a workaround, this mod alleviates the issue for me:

Defensive Supply Removed https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2791693822

I had noticed the freeze occurred at 1499 supply two times in a row, so by not having any supply, it could never be reached!

Not sure the exact supply amount is the cause. In my case I used 1000 supply points before initiating the battle and the game froze at 40 supply points accumulated (total 1040 points).

But it's definately somehow related to the defense/siege portion of the game (so probably also supply points)....

Killscream1991

Same issue here. Unable to defend dwarf hold currently without auto resolve defeat, so this one going in the book.

steam_1645113748267DpvCOH

Dogmeat2000 said:

Hannibal8 said:

This happened to me twice in a row, at exactly 1499 supply while defending a siege battle.

For a workaround, this mod alleviates the issue for me:

Defensive Supply Removed https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2791693822

I had noticed the freeze occurred at 1499 supply two times in a row, so by not having any supply, it could never be reached!

Not sure the exact supply amount is the cause. In my case I used 1000 supply points before initiating the battle and the game froze at 40 supply points accumulated (total 1040 points).

But it's definately somehow related to the defense/siege portion of the game (so probably also supply points)....

I tried the remove supplies mod but still got the same error. The game froze the second the AI destroyed my gate

krlcz

Hannibal8 said:

This happened to me twice in a row, at exactly 1499 supply while defending a siege battle.

For a workaround, this mod alleviates the issue for me:

Defensive Supply Removed https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2791693822

I had noticed the freeze occurred at 1499 supply two times in a row, so by not having any supply, it could never be reached!

Doesn't do anything for me, still freezes with this mod.

Zmey_Matvey

same problem, supply mod doesn't help

RavenWolf#7573

Same here. Game freezes after couple of minutes in my Praag defense battle. I can't continue my campaign of The Realm of Chaos which I started from 2.0. I don't have mods. Hard/Hard

mickyparker86

Having the exact same problem - playing as Bretonnia defending against Greenskins in a siege of Fort Bruges. It happens roughly 1 minute in, and seems to be triggered by the gates being destroyed from what I can tell. I have run the battle several times with the same result - have verified files and made sure all drivers are up to date. It's always on a siege and has happened previously and I've just auto resolved to move on - but this is a critical battle which I can win, but auto resolve has me losing. I will keep checking back for solutions if anyone finds one - fingers crossed!

This has only happened since the patch today.

skylerbond

Same problem here. MP Siege battle locks up like it's paused but the camera is still free. Told a friend to get the game only for us to learn they broke it this morning. Dammit!

Hondlis#2158

Me too

ZeroBandit

For me it's when clicking the recruit hero button, the game crashes.

baldecio

Same issue here with 2.1 patch

CheeseToastie93

Tried a new game campaign, but the issue persists. I hope it gets patched quickly, game-breaking material. The first settlement attack was fine, 2nd attack (same settlement) resulted in a crash, around 1 minute in, and all supplies were used.

Claudius911

Same Problem here... Seems to freeze on any siege battle

Shasman

Same problem here