Guild Wars 2

Beldin.5498:

Chrispy.5641:

Beldin.5498:

People wanted weather in EQ2, when they added it mostly it was just depressing rainy weather. Also i played in Lotro while it was raining for over 1 hour and had really headaches after that. And then there was that Snowstorm in Lotro where i couldn’t see my own feet .. of course mobs had mo problem to see and attack me.

All in all these things were always just plain annoying, so i say thanks but no.

So, you get hit with a snow storm, and enemies, who live and grew up in that climate, have no problem seeing you? How is that any different from a Cat being able to see better than you at night?

Its a game .. a game for me should be fun .. and it was NO FUN to run around in a mess like this for me :

Now hold on for a second! I too played LOTRO. For the Time (even though you could time a rainstorm to the time of day), the rain effects were very well done. Because of how collisions were done in that game, Turbine was able to make rain fully volumetric, and it would create a small splash and disapear whenever it hit an object. You could actually take shelter under an overhang under a bridge, a rock, etc, and it wouldn’t be raining there, but would still be raining everywhere else.

That took a huge load of resources on the server to accomplish, but years later, that is still the standard for which I measure weather effects today in any videogame. It was very immersion breaking even in Skyrim when you walk under an overhang or something, and its snowing/raining through the rocks and hitting you still. (Guild Wars 2 probably has internal switches set that tones down the snow/rain/etc before entering a cave, then turns it off completely, which still seems like a workaround, but it atleast doesn’t break the feeling of being in a fictional world.)

Also, While the Blizzard effects in the Misty Mountain were cheap and had a giant fog overlay and just messed up everything, the updated snow effects in Forochel were probably the best I ever saw at the time, and it still equals, if not passes some games today (such as Skyrim)

Back to the Guildwars 2 side, I wasn’t suggesting that Anet makes the weather effects to the point that a Blinding Blizzard actually fully block your view of the screen or anything, because there is already a certain amount of special effect overload in parts of the game as it is. I was more making suggestions that the weather actually affects your (and Enemies) ability to do combat to a small degree.

Chrispy.5641:

Also, While the Blizzard effects in the Misty Mountain were cheap and had a giant fog overlay and just messed up everything, the updated snow effects in Forochel were probably the best I ever saw at the time, and it still equals, if not passes some games today (such as Skyrim)

Been in a blizzard with lots of wind (a native Ohioan though I live elsewhere now) so I could believe a blizzard where visibility was reduced to near zero even standing in shelter if the wind could carry snow anywhere near you.

Also been in rainstorms where it was unsafe to drive because visibility was reduced to less than “Minimum Assured Safe Distance”.

Really not keen on anything close to that mixing into my game unless I have ways of turning off the visual weather effects

Back to the Guildwars 2 side, I wasn’t suggesting that Anet makes the weather effects to the point that a Blinding Blizzard actually fully block your view of the screen or anything, because there is already a certain amount of special effect overload in parts of the game as it is. I was more making suggestions that the weather actually affects your (and Enemies) ability to do combat to a small degree.

I was thinking more along the lines of environmental effects from GW1 such as the ones which made Domain of Anguish HM more difficult, or would add difficulty to spots in Urgoz’s Warren . . . or made moving in Ascalon tar rivers incredibly unpleasant.

Some really creative ideas, keep ’em coming!

I remembered each day of the week in FF11 is based on an element, and skills related to those elements get bonuses

Right Toe Of Grenth.4032:

I remembered each day of the week in FF11 is based on an element, and skills related to those elements get bonuses

They also had bosses there that needed 30+ hours to get killed or whatever .. so we really need more ideas implemented from that game.

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

Chrispy.5641:

Also, While the Blizzard effects in the Misty Mountain were cheap and had a giant fog overlay and just messed up everything, the updated snow effects in Forochel were probably the best I ever saw at the time, and it still equals, if not passes some games today (such as Skyrim)

Been in a blizzard with lots of wind (a native Ohioan though I live elsewhere now) so I could believe a blizzard where visibility was reduced to near zero even standing in shelter if the wind could carry snow anywhere near you.

Also been in rainstorms where it was unsafe to drive because visibility was reduced to less than “Minimum Assured Safe Distance”.

Really not keen on anything close to that mixing into my game unless I have ways of turning off the visual weather effects

Yeah, definitely. I think that if there’s one aspect of a game where the real world should always ‘look’ more realistic, its in the weather effects.

(Also, Ohio? Pfft….Try the NE Florida/SE Georgia area. There is no worse area in the country when it comes to rain.)

They have weather in some area of the Edge of the Mist map. Just wish we get to play it one day.

Xillllix.3485:

They have weather in some area of the Edge of the Mist map. Just wish we get to play it one day.

Any noticeable day/night cycles though?

Randulf.7614:

A true Living World needs a living environment.

A true Living World needs a living environment.

Not that the devs read every thread on the forum, but it would be nice to hear a devs perspective on the feasability of some of the suggestions. Whether or not, for example, weather could be more dynamic, so it rains in different areas at times, etc., instead of everything being static.

Neural.1824:

Not that the devs read every thread on the forum, but it would be nice to hear a devs perspective on the feasability of some of the suggestions.

Good luck with that. We can’t get devs to respond to serious issues and you want them to comment on the weather? It’s been 18 months since launch and we still don’t have a clue what the devs think about 99% of the topics that get raised in these forums.

Mash Hog.5672:

Randulf.7614:

A true Living World needs a living environment.

A true Living World needs a living environment.

From some reason you would think this should have been obvious as night and day (pun intended) to the Devs since beta.

I’m far less interested in weather effects (wish that wasn’t in the title) than I am with the effects that could be created using a more distinctive day/night cycle.

VOLKON.1290:

I’m far less interested in weather effects (wish that wasn’t in the title) than I am with the effects that could be created using a more distinctive day/night cycle.

Happy now? :P

xXxOrcaxXx.9328:

VOLKON.1290:

I’m far less interested in weather effects (wish that wasn’t in the title) than I am with the effects that could be created using a more distinctive day/night cycle.

Happy now? :P

Would you mind changing it to Day/Night Cycle instead of (and Weather)? I’d appreciate it… thanks!

VOLKON.1290:

xXxOrcaxXx.9328:

VOLKON.1290:

I’m far less interested in weather effects (wish that wasn’t in the title) than I am with the effects that could be created using a more distinctive day/night cycle.

Happy now? :P

Would you mind changing it to Day/Night Cycle instead of (and Weather)? I’d appreciate it… thanks!

Problem is, that this thread contains lots of good ideas relating to weather changes.
Even if some of them are over the top.

Tobias Trueflight.8350:

Rouven.7409:

xXxOrcaxXx.9328:

(…)

• Darker nights can then be used to allow for new mobs to spawn with unique drops and for unique night time events to kick off.(…)

I played another game that had something like that. All this particular point would do is add yet another timer to the game. Personally I would go without this part.

I read that and what came to mind was: “Oh blessed Tunare, Kithicor Woods again?” For those who don’t know the tale . . .

There was a game called EverQuest which had a day/night cycle. During which in certain areas you were . . . in professional terms “completely boned” if you didn’t have some form of night vision in forest areas. Many human newbie characters died to secure this as one of the fundamental pieces of every character’s “Survival Kit” of abilities. “Must get night vision” was on there, along with “some method of water breathing”. But I digress slightly.

Now, in this game there was a massive GM event which ended with what was called “Bloody Kithicor”. The evil faction and the good faction on a continent met in combat in one of the more underutilized zones which happened to be a forest right outside one race’s starting city. There were GM-spawned NPC soldiers for both sides, there was a big battle and it ended when the evil side dropped what was a magical equivalent of a neutron bomb and killed everything alive in the woods except those fortunate enough to be protected. This was “Bloody Kithicor”, and it is well known to veterans of that game who lived through it. (I was out of town and unable to participate.)

As a result, in the aftermath . . . by day the forest was dark as usual (i.e., bring your light sources)and populated by the usual forest denizens. When the sun went down? Out come the really high level undead who have faster movement speed than unbuffed characters, will follow you the entire length of the zone, and some of them have a one-shot instant damage spike which can wreck anyone lower level than them.

In short? You stayed out of Kithicor Woods after sundown. You made that journey only with speed buffs and only if you were confident in your ability to identify and duck those spike-tossing undead.

This was not, as could be said, a popular change. But it definitely left a mark!

I seem to remember though reading an answer to this a long time back, along the lines that it was darker in beta but people did not like it, got changed etc. But take this with a grain of salt, it’s been a while.

It’s generally said if you have to choose between immersion and playability, you should decide which exactly is more important for your game before chucking one or the other. This is also noted in games where realistic need for food and water was considered but left on the floor after betas.

This place was great, dangerous and scary. Best way as a human to see was to get a large light stone for your invo. I wish there were more zones like this in games but nooo it’s too hard etc.

I think in general games tend to keep “nighttime” very bright and light and it’s so unimmersive.
More darkness, rain etc. please. It really adds so much to the whole atmosphere of wandering around in a fantasy world.

I wouldn’t mind weather if it was optional and could be toggled off. I tend to play the most when the weather in my real life is unpleasant. I’m a fan of spending as much time outdoors as possible. I don’t want to log into the game on a rainy day to look at rain pouring down on my character for an hour.

Adding variable weather would be a good start….

But what bothers me the most about the day and night cycle in this game is that there IS NO DAWN OR DUSK! It simply fades from light to dark, no color change, no sunset, no sunrise….just light > dark > light > dark.

Having a real lighting system, stretched shadows depending on the suns position, etc.

Claims to be a living world — -- — Doesn’t have dynamic weathering.

The Snowblind fractal has the most awesome nighttime in the game. I’d LOVE to see that same level of darkness on a moonless Tyrian night.

Sinbold.8723:

The Snowblind fractal has the most awesome nighttime in the game. I’d LOVE to see that same level of darkness on a moonless Tyrian night.

Yep, me too.

Nightarch.2943:

Claims to be a living world — -- — Doesn’t have dynamic weathering.

Doesnt have dynamic weathering, doesnt have a dynamic day/night cycle according to which clock your running, and doesnt have environmental buffs/debuffs based on weather/terrain. Go figure.

I would like this, but remember that floating mob names wouldn’t vanish, so it’ll look a bit ropey imo.

Svarty.8019:

I would like this, but remember that floating mob names wouldn’t vanish, so it’ll look a bit ropey imo.

You can turn mobnames of mobs, which aren’t directly in front of you.
But yeah, turning all mobnames of would be nice.

Spawne.3128:

Nightarch.2943:

Claims to be a living world — -- — Doesn’t have dynamic weathering.

Doesnt have dynamic weathering, doesnt have a dynamic day/night cycle according to which clock your running, and doesnt have environmental buffs/debuffs based on weather/terrain. Go figure.

Well, I mostly play at night, I don’t want it to be night everytime I log in because it’s at the same time.
Maybe if there were “6hour” days in game.