This guide should help you to improve your DOW2 multiplayer experience.
- Works for all versions of Dawn of War II (Vanilla, Chaos Rising and Retribution).

Important Note 1:
- Server maintenance for DOW2 occurs around 7 - 9pm GMT every Tuesday every week.
- It usually lasts between 15 - 30 minutes.
- If you have server connection issues at that time, it is due to server maintenance.
- If this is the case, play after the server maintenance has passed!

Important Note 2:
- What if my game freezes and my troops won't listen to my commands, it used to run good before?
- The short and most common answer is that your lagging (whether if its consistent or in rare instances) is due to a unique problem from the servers.

The game was updated to make use of the battle servers, essentially dedicated servers, rather than the P2P (peer-to-peer) connection that was previously used.

In the old system if someone had a poor internet connection or PC they would lag the game for everyone, eventually the 'lag grace' would run out and they would be kicked. With the new battle servers, only the person lagging will experience the lag. Your game will slow down or freeze up until it can catch up (fast forwarding in the process) at which point you can resume normal play.

Depending on how bad your lagging, stuttering or freezing may be, it could be completely unnoticeable, sporadic or it could be a complete freeze stopping you from playing at all.

You will need to troubleshoot the root cause of the lag. For example, perhaps your game's graphics settings are set too high and your PC can't handle it. Another case could be where your household's internet usage varies, as other users are making heavy use of the internet via downloads and streaming, which can take a heavy toll on your bandwidth.

As such, check out the solutions below and see if they help you out!

What is Port-Forwarding?
https://portforward.com/help/portforwarding.htm

In brief, the working fix is to use port-forwarding using the right IP (Internet Protocol) address. Essentially, this should vanquish your lag issue with immediate effective (except with a few small hiccups).

WIP, explanation: Players playing DOW2 Retribution have inflated high in-game latency, due to misconfigured port-forwarding possibly due to dynamic IP address.

Credits (all from the Elite Mod community):
- Fix found and explained by Arthur Cloud (aka Smol Cloud aka Senpai Cloud)
- Tested by Strider and yellowmonkeySoulEater (myself).
- Advised by Clocktickin on the security risks of port-forwarding.

You guys are awesome and all due credits to you all!

Note I: Please see and use the common methods below first, before attempting this working fix! As I understand, not everyone requires this fix. If you do not experience lag, this is not necessary!

Note II: To those who know how to port-forward, please go ahead. However, to those who are unfamiliar, this will require a bit of technical knowledge and knowing how to access your own router (the link has a guide for this). Additionally, some ISPs for your router may not allow access of port forwarding (mostly because they are older router models, without modern router features).

Steps:
Main Link: Port Forwarding for Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Retribution
https://portforward.com/warhammer-40000-dawn-of-war-ii-retribution/

In summary, the basic general process for forwarding a port that you need to do is as follows:

1. Open a web browser and navigate to your router's IP address.
- On Windows, at your desktop toolbar where search is, type "cmd"
- Then, type "ipconfig"





In my case (for example):
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.131 (my computer's IP address)
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1 (my router's IP address)

Save your computer and router's IP address.



Copy and paste your router's IP address at your Web Browser, and then press enter (screenshot used as an example. Image differs depending on your router).



2. Find your router's port forwarding section.
https://portforward.com/router.htm





3. Put the IP address of your computer or gaming console in the correct box in your router.
4. Put the TCP and UDP ports for your game in the corresponding boxes in your router.
- For both these steps, find and follow instructions for your specific router in step 2.

5. Intermittently you have to reboot (basically, turn on / off) your router for the changes to take effect (THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS RESET, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DO NOT RESET YOUR ROUTER!!).

And after all that, YOU'RE GOOD TO GO!!

Security Risks:

Forewarning, port-forwarding creates some security risks.

In essence, port-forwarding allows our devices via routers to listen on those specific opened ports.

For DOW2, this allows players to communicate with each other by making each other accessible to receive data packets etc. While DOW2's multiplayer via Steam has its own system, by opening the ports, this allows for better multiplayer latency.

Nevertheless, doing port-forwarding actually allows anyone on the Internet to access those same open ports. From this, there are two possibilities:

1. Suppose someone can reverse engineer DOW2 and from there access your open ports, it is possible for them to use DOW2's features / functions. Depending on how sophisticated the technology is, they shouldn't be able to do much using your computer. Reason being, their access through DOW2 has limited permissions. In that, they are only limited in what DOW2 can actually do to your directory (eg: create / delete save files, modify your options, your customized army schemes etc.). At best, its a nuisance, but hardly a true security risk.

2. Another issue is that, those same ports that are open for DOW2 are open to other applications that use those same ports too. This carries a heavier risk, as we may not be truly aware of which applications use those same ports.

The good news, even if either occurrences happen, every OS such as Linux, Windows etc has a strong defense in its network architecture (eg: Windows Defender etc.) in place to catch and prevent this. On the safe side, when you create the entries for the ports, there's an option that allows you to on / off the using of those ports. Therefore, as a safety measure, remember to turn off the ports when you are not using them to play DOW2.

That's about it!

Note: This is the best working method we have. If anyone finds a better way, we're open to have it tested and later used!

References:
More Port Forwarding
https://www.reddit.com/r/CompanyOfHeroes/comments/zuscr/nat_connection_problem_any_quick_fixes/

Note: For COH but should be applicable for DOW2. See comments by sierra_echo_xray and kinggimped.

For more security shenanigans related to windows on how to allow ports if windows blocks the connection:
Link: https://pureinfotech.com/open-port-firewall-windows-10/

Other References:
https://www.gameranger.com/support/network/?i_ip=168112924&pp=1&r_ip=0&rt=3&x_ip=656780783

http://web.archive.org/web/20140914164130/http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?219692-Troubleshooting-connection-problems

http://web.archive.org/web/20140922064601/https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8571-GLVN-8711

Lower graphical settings
- Reduce your graphics settings, to reduce the lag. It helps sometimes, especially if your internet connection isn't strong to begin with.

Create Exceptions for Antivirus Software
- Some security softwares can sometimes interfere with Steam causing you to drop from games or cause your matches to lag.
- Try creating exceptions in your antivirus firewall for DOW2.
- Some people even turn-off their antivirus entirely. Seems to help (do it at your own risk).

Disconnect from Wifi, the turn off and on your Router Again
- Disconnect from your connected network.
- Refresh your router connection by turning it off for like 5 mins, then turn it back on.
- Then, connect back to your network.
- The reason turning off the router works to improve connectivity is that static electricity builds up on the routers. So, turning it off dissipates that buildup.

Using Ethernet Cable
- Switch from a Wi-Fi connection to an Ethernet connection to reduce network interference.
- Basically, plug your Ethernet cable directly to your router!

Move Laptop closer to router
- Improves connection. Helps sometimes.

Ensure Bandwidth to Spare
- Basically, just focus your internet bandwidth on playing, and don't download or use heavy internet usage while playing.
- Gaming while other people in your home (including yourself) are putting a heavy strain on your network (by doing things like streaming 4k videos, or downloading large files) may negatively affect your gaming experience.
- So, the stronger your network is, the more bandwidth activity it can handle at once.

Use CCleaner to Remove Space and Clean Registries



- Download it at: here[www.ccleaner.com]
- Run Health Check, Custom Clean and Registry (see screenshot)
- After using CCleaner, restart your laptop.
- It has been known (sometimes) to help fix or improve Steam connections to the server.

Upgrade Internet Speed
- Could be due to slow internet speed on your side. If its just you, and everyone else is doing alright for Multiplayer, then its probably time for an upgrade!

Original Post:
https://steamproxy.com/app/56400/discussions/0/616187203980786783/?ctp=2

- First uninstall the game.
- Remove associated rules from firewall
- Clean registry and wipe the used space on your drive using CCleaner
- Reboot / restart PC
- Reinstall the game
- Add permissions for DOW2.exe, BugSplatHD.exe, BsSndRpt.exe and WorldBuilder.exe to firewall.

Optional (experimental):
- Run Steam in TCP mode (see below steps on how to do it, currently experimental)

Original Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/CompanyOfHeroes/comments/70nfau/internet_connections_fine_but_coh2_lags/

You can have great download speed yet have horrible packet loss at the same time (which goes almost unnoticeable for regular internet use). This is very bad for games, but how do you check this?

Steps:
1. Open windows start, type in "cmd" and open it
2. Type in "ping www.google.com -t" and hit enter
3. Let it do its thing for 10-15 minutes, don't do anything internet related and look at the results from time to time.
4. If your ping is always below 20-30ms you're fine, if you keep getting very high spikes of ping (over 200-300ms) or even worse if you get "timeouts" you've got internet problems.

Now this isn't the best test for internet packet stability but it's usually good enough. If you've got ping spikes or timeouts you might want to report it to your ISP, or check if you've got something using your internet that you aren't aware of.

If it's not your internet it could be dying hardware or perhaps something's using your resources in the background, like malware, miners and such. You can use task manager and check the performance tab for anything useful, if you see CPU spikes on other things except Coh2.exe (or any other game's exe like DOW2.exe) you might want to investigate. Or you might try reinstalling your game as a last resort.

To explain, a few people have reported these high potential experimental methods have helped them (they was taken from the CoH forums on Steam). While I can't confirm if it does help (since they aren't fully tested), I'll leave these options here just in case.

Using "-tcp" ()

1. Set steam launch options by first navigating to your Steam installation (by default this is located at C:\Program Files\Steam)
2. Right-click on Steam.exe (this file is listed as an application and features the black and white Steam logo) and select 'Create Shortcut'
3. Right-click on the new shortcut and go to 'Properties'
4. Select the 'Shortcut' tab
5. In the 'Target' field add the launch option -tcp. So "C:\Program Files\Steam\Steam.exe" -tcp
6. Click "Apply" and then click "OK" to close the "Properties" window



How To Decrease Ping and Lag In Steam Games [Tutorial]

- Run Steam and go to 'Settings'
- Select 'In-Game'
- Change 'In-Game Server Browser' and reduce the no. of pings!




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rRNiSzdeIs
Disable Full Screen Optimization
https://www.reddit.com/r/Amd/comments/a1t86m/are_you_guys_disabling_full_screen_optimization/



1. Find your DOW2's / Elite Mod's shortcut.
2. Right click on it and click on "Properties'
3. Follow the screenshot and click on "Disable Full Screen Optimization"
4. Click "Apply" and then "Okay" to continue.
5. Play the game!

How It Works:
Full Screen Optimization refers to a feature exclusive to Windows 10 (since the Creators Update) in which games run at a weird hybrid between exclusive full-screen and windowed borderless mode.

According to Microsoft, it's supposed to improve performance and stuff like instant alt-tabbing, etc... But in reality, it seems to be (in some cases) reducing a game's performance and frame-time.

This needs testing. Not tested at all.

How to Fix "Could Not Connect To The Steam Network" - [2022]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhQbsU5aFB4

Troubleshooting-connection-problems (RelicNews)
http://web.archive.org/web/20140914164130/http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?219692-Troubleshooting-connection-problems

http://web.archive.org/web/20140922064601/https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8571-GLVN-8711

new update Note: Comment by [DGF] Hans Liebherr is very interesting
https://steamproxy.com/app/56400/discussions/0/616188473180527250/#c616188473190239318

Search found 148 matches: connection

https://dawnofwar.info/forum/search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&sr=posts&keywords=connection&start=60

https://steamproxy.com/app/56400/discussions/search/?q=connection&gidforum=882957626147560924&include_deleted=1

How to fix lag when playing online multiplayer games
https://www.asurion.com/connect/tech-tips/how-to-fix-lag-when-playing-online-multiplayer-games/

Connecting to stream server has been lost
https://steamproxy.com/app/56400/discussions/0/616187203980786783/?ctp=2

Firewall rules for egress communication when loading campaign menu
https://steamproxy.com/app/56400/discussions/0/358416640402161555/

Connectivity (lag) issues with dawn of war 2]
https://www.techsupportforum.com/threads/solved-connectivity-lag-issues-with-dawn-of-war-2.536666/