Server lag, or clientside?

[argotto]

I'll cut to the chase here. Basically, I've been playing on and off for years now, and I decided to come back. My PC has always been overkill for a game like this, and is even more so now. My internet connection is wired and fast/stable.

Anyway, the lag I experience seems very out of the ordinary. I can deal with the lag on land, but when I take to the open seas, I expect to see smooth sailing. That is exactly what I am not seeing at the moment. Enemy NPC ships appear to be stuttering about as if the server is not synched with the movements of the AI. They pretty much just pause for 1-2 seconds, then instantly appear in the spot they would have normally been headed to, but it is not a smooth transition, which makes gunning and even sailing a lot less enjoyable. I have tried changing my API between the 3 different settings, trying several resolutions and even the lowest settings possible. To no avail.

Does anyone know if they are working on this lag issue, or should I not bother wasting my money on another subscription this year? Sorry if this post seems a bit 'angry', I am not meaning to sound like it, but I am very disappointed that after 4 years the lag and bugs have only gotten worse.