Same problem. I opened Mantis ID=0004704.
Server: TheRealm
I had an area with apple trees, and the southernmost half would remain billboard until I walked 2/3 way north, then ALL the southernmost trees disappeared, only to reappear when I backed up ~5 tiles south of southernmost tree.
Later found this was the northern extent of a HUGE "area" problem with forest trees disappearing.
I am now sending an email with absolute coordinates (from the server log - you look for "player position after
" then get x y z #'s)
THERE IS A POINT GOING NORTH where the problem disappears. In absolute:
Player's position AFTER
778 2162 1081.2 = the northern extent of the problem of missing trees (and when reappearing are billboard, not accessible e.g. inspect)
VISIBILITY SEEMS RELATED TO TREE FADE SETTING (but NOT accessibility, i.e. still billboards when they DO show up). With tree fade at min (0.10) then trees may appear (seem to have to move to get refresh of visibility) but disappear as I approach the northern extent of the problem.
The failing-tree area seems to have distinct boundaries, but not purely rectangular -- or there are multiple rectangular areas linked.
I wanted to determine the southern extent, but in walking, it was SO FAR, (and I saw sows and boars, I don't want to die in the name of game debugging at this point), so went back for a horse - only to realize I'd be riding a horse through a forest of invisible trees.
The trees still show up as occupied in Terraforming/Observe.
My first log-on today, I experienced above, but after about 15 minutes everything worked again! I do NOT know what might have changed.
YESTERDAY it was many (5-8) hours after logon that the trees worked again (e.g. I could "Gather apples").