Weather effects....Or am I blind?

My random guess it was a trashed tech demo that developed in parallel to the actual game, and was never included in the game.

Either way, nothing we can do about it now, but just hope they have that amazing visual for 2.0.

Thing is the weather is already dynamic (you can see it gradually transition, even between the time day) but the problem is to that extent they likely scaled it back when they realized the servers can barely handle having a game on them, let alone something as great as that.

It'll no doubt resurface back in 2.0.

Hello.

In version 2.0, we plan on revamping the system for the appearance of weather so that the weather itself has meaning behind it. Since there are limitations to what can be implemented in the game, it would be difficult to depict every aspect of nature realistically, but we will do our best to match the weather patterns with each area in conjunction with all of your feedback.

There are things we can and can’t implement, but if you have any ideas, please send them to us. :)

Hello Bethany!

Weather is a veritable treasure trove of content, especially for 2.0.

First of all, we can have certain mobs appear in certain weather. Certain drops can occur at gathering nodes more often in certain weather. In fact, I seem to remember you saying that under certain conditions, gathering nodes will spawn. Might weather be one of those conditions?

Mayhaps, a path will open to an area in certain weather. For example, when it is raining in Thanalan, a little river will appear that blocks a path, but in drier weather, you will be able to cross.

Back in town, it might be easier to raise chocobos, grow gardens or build housing in certain weather.

The plausibilities are endless!

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Originally Posted by HiirNoivl

Mayhaps, a path will open to an area in certain weather. For example, when it is raining in Thanalan, a little river will appear that blocks a path, but in drier weather, you will be able to cross.

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I especially like this idea. In FFXII you visited the place with the sunstones or w/e they were called. At the beginning of the game it was all dried up like the desert. When you returned later in the game during the rainy season, it was like a swamp. The area was the same but because of all the water, there was different monsters than before and certain paths were changed. This was really cool and memorable for me, I hope they can do something like this in FFXIV too.

They did it with XI as well so I would be surprised if it isn't done with FFXIV, especially with a confirmed stance on making weather playing a role.

Like having a hidden walkway up to the top of a certain mountain, but when it rains the waterfall runs along the path so you won't be able to ascend during flooding weather. Even if the top was just for scenic purposes. Would be hard to pull off in live action though <_<

Hehehe people can potentially be trapped as well. /chuckle

I hope they have anima!

One thing I'd like to suggest is that if weather blocks off certain routes that we have alternate ways to reach these blocked off areas. Blocking off parts of the zone wholesale in FF12 was fine because you could manually change the weather in that area, but I dread having another instance of FF11's Kuftal Tunnel's stupid basement and that dumb magic rock that literally disappeared/reappeared at random and would block your way for long stretches of time without any other option except to wait.

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Originally Posted by Zahak

Like having a hidden walkway up to the top of a certain mountain, but when it rains the waterfall runs along the path so you won't be able to ascend during flooding weather. Even if the top was just for scenic purposes. Would be hard to pull off in live action though <_<

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I think they could do something maybe like the fire walls at Ifrit's cauldron in FFXI. This was a wall of fire that went up and down and when it was up you couldn't go past it. If you waited like 10mins(?) the fire would go down for a few seconds and you could pass it. Or if you didn't want to wait, you could use an ice cluster to put out the fire.

They could make like a water fall coming down a hill with a stream that formed in the road, and after a while, the rain would let up a bit, and the flow of the water would slow down and you can pass it. Or could use some item to pass it right away.

Yeah I'd figure someone would whine about it.

Uh... When is going to rain i see the sky turn gray slowly and rain starts pouring a little then boom lots of rain

http://www.listofimages.com/wp-conte...ft-550x309.jpg
Zones where it like always rains, and when you get closer to say HNM spot, or closer to an evil dungeon, or closer to a higher level zone/area... the rain turns to blood or some other different color. To signify you're nearing something. Maybe the rain can even just change direction, to show the weather is getting worse.

Say as we got closer to Dzemael Darkhold, the sky just got dimmer, and rain started, but when you're far enough from the zone line, the weather goes back to normal.


http://www.ffwa.org/ff10/images/script-shots/51.jpg
Like the plains in FFX, a zone with all lightning weather, and every so often the ground starts to glow to signal a lightning bolt is about to crash in that perimeter, like eruptions from ifrit, but, more/less reaction time depending on whether we lose animation lock or not. Getting hit by lightning can take off % HP or something, maybe there can be specific gear or buff that can be cast to negate lightning dmg (or SS can eat it).

Snow weather, and as you get closer to HNM/zone/area the blizzard can pick up, standing still for too long in certain areas, or this area in particular can give you some frost debuff idk.


http://images.wikia.com/wowwiki/imag...ey_concept.jpg

Dark weather (not purple) where it's like night time or the skys dark, for instance clouds block out the sunlight all the time. So it's never really bright. It's just like being in a shadow zone. With only lights/lamp posts to guide adventurers... Maybe have some tough monsters who make loud noises hiding in the shadows of places players shouldn't wander off too. Additionally there could maybe be some little glowing bugs that hover around and they're the only source of players able to see certain areas of the zone. Either way, the general concept is a dark ominous zone, like Castle Zvahl Baileys + Castle Zvahl.

http://gamekiq.com/wp-content/galler...reenshot00.jpg

That's from Amnesia, but having say 1 little zone where players feel like they're playing a survival horror, and the monsters are from demon mythology or w/e... The zone can lead to Count Draculas castle or something.

Lastly I thought the Dynamis zones were pretty cool. There was obvious differences from the cities in Dynamis compared to the regular version. Perhaps having like a high monochromatic zone/weather color. Not completely black and white, but very faded, like the zone is taking place in the past...

Fighting in a city would be exciting, like a lost/forgotten/pillaged city, the size of Ul'dah or something. Only it's riddled w/ smoke and fog, and there are flames scattered everywhere.

Really don't expect any of these to ever be implemented. Just my expectations for a revolutionary MMO. Though 11 allowed players to deal extra elemental damage during that elements weather/day, I don't know how many other MMOs had similar/unique uses for their weather.

And Dodore during purple weather is another good example!

A place where you can see lightning actually strike the ground like in FFX would be awesome. Heck I liked the lightning dodge game, let the lightning hit me too!

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Originally Posted by Rukkirii

Hello.

In version 2.0, we plan on revamping the system for the appearance of weather so that the weather itself has meaning behind it. Since there are limitations to what can be implemented in the game, it would be difficult to depict every aspect of nature realistically, but we will do our best to match the weather patterns with each area in conjunction with all of your feedback.

There are things we can and can’t implement, but if you have any ideas, please send them to us. :)

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Interaction between players and the weather itself, more specifically - the effects of weather on how players play, is the best way to add meaning to weather.

If you break up the different degrees of weather then decide what the player should feel from those situations, you could have a fairly dramatic effect on the game.

I could see the following:

• Extreme Weather
  A Player should Fear extreme weather, and would want to stay far away from it. However, to make things interesting, create situations where if one risks Extreme Weather there might be Extreme rewards.
  
  For example, consider a volcanic eruption. Let's say that every few days the volcano on La'Noscea erupts. Prior to erupting the volcano starts spewing ash into the air signaling the violence to come; and, 5 minutes before the eruption, a very valuable diamond node appears near the bottom of the volcano. Adventurers would, upon seeing the signal of ash and flame, would gather their companions and brave the hot descent into the volcano's depths. And for all that do not make it to the node in time, they will either die slowly from the poisonous gasses and enemies that lurk in such places or they will simply be overcome by the sudden eruption of lava.
  
  
• Light Weather
  
  Light Weather, not being particularly dangerous, could offer other changes to the environment. Heavy rains could change the type of fish you encounter. After a bit of rain, certain plants or bugs may become harvestable by botanists.
  
• Mild Weather
  
  Mild Weather could combine the effects of light and extreme weather. What comes to mind at the moment could be something like enemies that appear during a dust storm. During a dust storm, perhaps certain dangerous enemies will use the storm for cover and start lurking about, and, at the same time, certain locations with rare ore are uncovered. In order to obtain the rare ore, you would have to risk running into the dangerous enemies.

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Originally Posted by HiirNoivl

Yeah I'd figure someone would whine about it.

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Really it's because there is nothing you can do about weather. It's all random and it absolutely blows when you need to get somewhere and, like in my example, there is a stupid rock in your way and you have to stand there for 20 minutes. We need to at least have detours in the cases like a river flooding that would be blocked off for a potentially long time.

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Originally Posted by Estellios

Really it's because there is nothing you can do about weather. It's all random and it absolutely blows when you need to get somewhere and, like in my example, there is a stupid rock in your way and you have to stand there for 20 minutes. We need to at least have detours in the cases like a river flooding that would be blocked off for a potentially long time.

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It doesn't have to be a big inconvenience, for example, say it's a shortcut to Ifrit cave that opens up in dry weather... the minute that short cut was unavailable people would whine even if they could just get there the way they always have.

blizzards would be awsome if not a random avalanche.mabey a random dust devil or tornado in a desert area like if i recall altepa desert was.

Elemental abilities will do more damage in certain weather or special effects.

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Originally Posted by Estellios

Really it's because there is nothing you can do about weather. It's all random and it absolutely blows when you need to get somewhere and, like in my example, there is a stupid rock in your way and you have to stand there for 20 minutes. We need to at least have detours in the cases like a river flooding that would be blocked off for a potentially long time.

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Yeah, I see what you're saying. It would really suck if a major part of a zone was blocked--like if the lakes in La Noscea flooded and the entire Iron Lakes area was gone. Or if the narrow path to Broken Water was blocked. That's just a bad idea.

But what if there was a really nice exp camp that wasn't accessible during rainstorms (of course, SE is pretty good at one-way drops, so no worries about being stuck). Or a ship that was attacked could have somehow ended up onshore in a valley... The lower levels could only be accessible when the rain had stopped for a while, and during floods, a fallen tree (or whatever) could float to a suspiciously convenient location so that we could cross over to the upper levels. Maybe in rare ice weather in La Noscea, one of the lakes could freeze, allowing us to access a little island with something?

Don't think of it as blocking off areas/paths, but adding in special little areas for certain weather. ^^

For areas like the shroud, where there are (generally) several ways to bypass, it wouldn't bother me at all if those little streams we have to cross flooded.

something i would love to see is weather in town.

makes no sense for it to be storming outside then just cloudy or clear skys in town

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Originally Posted by moeru

something i would love to see is weather in town.

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No... no you wouldn't...

oh..right that would just increase the server or system lag wouldent it?

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Originally Posted by moeru

oh..right that would just increase the server or system lag wouldent it?

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Maybe in 2.0, that will change and no longer be an issue. It is very odd to have town be bright and sunny but the second you step outside it's raining.

I wouldn't mind rain, or lightning bolts in the sky. Snow worked well in town during the Christmas event.

Only one I really wouldn't want is a sandstorm. That's why uldah has those giant walls though ya know :P

I can only hope that, with the new servers and the world map moving to zones, this free's up more space to add interesting weather effects. I would love to see more than just duststorms and rain.

I think the weather in XIV is alright but I would like to see a little more detail. As well as having the weather change at random intervals rather than at set times.

I have seen every effect demonstrated in the link in game. Make sure your effects are on, and take the ferry next time it's storming. You will see plenty of lightning.

I could really get behind weather activating events instead of blocking things. Like Mychael's ship-brought-ashore example, stuff thats a sweet surprise but you aren't being punished if the weather starts.

Some great ideas in here. I have always liked the concept of different mobs or challenge during different weather patterns or time of day (or combination). Scaling a mountain thats already trecherous and if a blizzard comes in you prob wont make it due to lack of visibility and hard mobs. But if you risk it you get greater reward or rare drops from those mobs.

Another idea- can create certain materia types during certain weather conditions

I think the best idea for weather effects is something like Aion 2.0 (or something). A village will be flooded during extreme rain and you won't be able to talk to npcs or anything. A snow will show on the same village during winter.

I understand that that can not be done in major cities, but the "useless" shacks all around or the small towns? that'll be awesome. Maybe you can fish for a legendary fish in a drowned village? or merchants appear only in good weather?

I would like to see some random special events too (tornados, rainbows, etc.), but some should be very rare like a rainbow after rain. These kind of events could be linked to other appearances.. like only during a rainbow could appear in the zone (in a random place) a special or magical npg (a green gnome? lol) that could give you a riddle or a hint to find its treasure. Or particular NM to find and fight.

And it would be neat if these special or normal events would have an 'interactive' part in the game:

- Tornados could damage you and throw you away;
- A sand or snow storm could blind you (and only some monsters that use the sight to 'see' you) for that period, giving you and a possible opponent a little penalty in 'accuracy' during a fight;
- During heavy rain, fire based spells could become less effective (but the water ones more powerful if any), so as during a lightning storm you could summon a bigger lightning bolt directly from the sky (maybe randomly) if you use the lightning spell and so on.

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Originally Posted by Munba

I would like to see some random special events too (tornados, rainbows, etc.), but some should be very rare like a rainbow after rain. These kind of events could be linked to other appearances.. like only during a rainbow could appear in the zone (in a random place) a special or magical npg (a green gnome? lol) that could give you a riddle or a hint to find its treasure. Or particular NM to find and fight.

And it would be neat if these special or normal events would have an 'interactive' part in the game:

- Tornados could damage you and throw you away;
- A sand or snow storm could blind you (and only some monsters that use the sight to 'see' you) for that period, giving you and a possible opponent a little penalty in 'accuracy' during a fight;
- During heavy rain, fire based spells could become less effective (but the water ones more powerful if any), so as during a lightning storm you could summon a bigger lightning bolt directly from the sky (maybe randomly) if you use the lightning spell and so on.

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yes love those ideas.

they had sandstorms and rain in alpha ... if I remember correctly. I don't remember 100%, but I remember sort of my video card going to the crapper every time weather happened. So I'm thinking this did happen.

I never noticed there is currently no weather lol

I'd like to see some aurora weather. I know there aren't any northland areas currently, but Coerthas seems to be the most northern of all areas on the map so far. I'd love to see this implemented in the future.

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Originally Posted by Majidah

they had sandstorms and rain in alpha ... if I remember correctly. I don't remember 100%, but I remember sort of my video card going to the crapper every time weather happened. So I'm thinking this did happen.

I never noticed there is currently no weather lol

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I'd call you wrong, miss! There is definitely weather! Yesterday I spent roughly half an hour running under heavy rain in La Noscea! Even had a bit of fun noticing how it also rains underground :D (It does because the rain is an overlay and not an active effective of the background [my computer would die if it was], so it takes a bit to process the information and remove the overlay)

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Originally Posted by Shikaree

Anybody for FFXI/FFXII-esque elementals?

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I was thinking something along these lines, too -- and if not Elementals (extremely powerful ones), then perhaps weather-specific mobs that would appear.

Weather should not be predictable unless it's an area that is known to have one particular type of weather a large portion of the time (e.g. Deserts).

Also - I'd like to throw out weather-specific gathering points. Imagine hearing on the Linkshell that it's raining in Location X, which triggers the availability of collecting rare item Y at a specific place.

Battle-related effects (enhancing/enfeebling of specific attributes or magical abilities) would be welcome as well.

Weather should also have a direct affect on Synthesis success (who crafts in the rain, anyway?).

Just a few thoughts, thanks for listening!

Necrobump to add an idea:

An NPC in each area (maybe at hamlets?) that gives you a weather forcast for the next 7 in-game days.

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Originally Posted by UmJammerSully

Necrobump to add an idea:

An NPC in each area (maybe at hamlets?) that gives you a weather forcast for the next 7 in-game days.

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/laughs

Why ?, in 11 the weather made a difference the only difference it makes in this game is if Dodore is up or not.

Obviously if they add more situations where rare NM's spawn during certain weather or elementals spawn in certain conditions then I would agree but as of right now its pointless.