To see if the lag is caused by the server, the network or your PC, check out this LagMeter tool. Its free and I like it.

Here is an article that I found helpful to reduce lag times, you might too.

reprint from datastronghold.com
If you are an avid online gamer, you most certainly have suffered from game lag and computer freezes. Many have spent hours trying to tweak in-game graphical settings in order to increase the frame rate and boost the performance of their favorite games. However, in more case than not, those efforts award the player with only a slight improvement in overall game play. Your [COLOR=#FF3C16 ! important][COLOR=#FF3C16 ! important]system[/color][/color] might even meet the recommend hardware specs for optimum performance but the game causes computer freezes when the action gets heavy. However, tweaking the in-game specs and upgrading hardware may not be the best way to overcome gamelag and computer freezes.

This irritation may be attributed to conflicting software that is competing for your system’s resources or improper configuration. Most online games such as World of Warcraft should run smoothly on an average setup. Game manufacturers assure us that their recommended specs should run the game smoothly. However those recommendations are calculated when the games are tested on [COLOR=#FF3C16 ! important][COLOR=#FF3C16 ! important]PCs[/color][/color] that were optimized for those particular games. There are very few who are willing to dedicate a whole computer specifically for a single game. Nevertheless, there are a couple steps that you can take to free up more resources for your game play. These tips will allow you to better optimize your PC for smoother game play booth online and off-line. .

Stop Game Lag and Computer Freezes Tip #1: Get more bang out of your [COLOR=#FF3C16 ! important][COLOR=#FF3C16 ! important]bandwidth[/color][/color].

There are literally dozens of services running on your Windows [COLOR=#FF3C16 ! important][COLOR=#FF3C16 ! important]operating [COLOR=#FF3C16 ! important]system[/color][/color][/color]. These programs have no respect for your online play. They need bandwidth and system resources just as much as your online games. Many of the programs automatically startup when you log on to the net or at the moment Windows loads. Windows service programs can perform a host of operations from [COLOR=#FF3C16 ! important][COLOR=#FF3C16 ! important]searching[/color][/color] for updates, downloading, and even sharing [COLOR=#FF3C16 ! important][COLOR=#FF3C16 ! important]applications[/color][/color] with your games. The task is to cut down on the amount services running while your are playing the game in order to free up bandwidth and resources. This is a great tip tostop game lag and computer freezes. Here is how.

1. Click on "Start"

2. Click "Run"

3. Type services.msc

4. Select "Extended" from the Services Window to view a detailed description. Also note the status of the service in question.

5. To stop the service, select "Stop the service" or right click the service, choose "All task" then click "Stop"

6. Click "OK"



Stop Game Lag and Computer Freezes Tip #2: Turn off your Anti-virus/Anti-spyware programs during play.

I am sure the suggestion scares you. However, these programs are very taxing on your computer. They can cause game play lag and computer freezes by initiating a host of small applications and processes during game play. Turning these programs off during your game play is not entirely risk free but you will be amazed at the results by doing so. ...

Isla Tormenta now has a pirates guide. All of the basic information is there, what is new and unique is a map of Tormenta Cave with the dig location noted.

Take a look.

These were yesterdays updates to the Test Servers, so look for them to come to the live servers soon if these "fixes" don't create more problems than they solve.

August 8, 2008 TEST Server Release Notes

• Ships no longer spawn on top of one another in Privateering
• Fixed an exploit that allowed you to run faster than normal if you were running and strafing at the same time
• Added new hints for Privateering
• Players can now dock immediately after respawning regardless of time since taking damage when in Privateering mode
• Adjusted the collisions on ships
• Fixed several crashes that would occur if you exited the game while using a weapon
• The capitalization of the names of the Privateering islands and their lords is now consistent
• You must now be at least a level 15 pirate in order to get the French/Spanish undead quests from Woodruff
• Reduced the amount of damage skeleton ships can deal