Weather effects....Or am I blind?

[Soukyuu]

The weather shown in the OP post was a sped up cycle, that's why the sunset looked so impressive. The sky is changing depending on time, and it's a realistic, gradual change.

The weather effects are all there, but they limited the weather types in some regions. For example LL only has rainy, misty, windy and sunny, no stormy (lightning) weather. Gridania has rainy, stormy, misty and sunny weathers. Ul'dah has sandstorm, sunny and rarely rainy weather types.

So the effects are there, just not everywhere. Another curiosity: all the towns have only sunny and misty weather.

The only thing that annoys me about the weather is it's set intervals of changing, namely every 8 ingame hours. They should have made that random, too.

[Rokien]

as you see here, all the clouds are pretty much the same, and the weather just changes, no sign of any storm or whatever. There is nothing dynamic about it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQi9CAfgOIY

[lackofwords]

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.

[Elexia]

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.

[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.

[Roaran]

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.

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.

[FallenRaine]

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.

Have a feeling stuff like the Smn unlock quest from xi gonna happen now..

[HiirNoivl]

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!

[Zetsumei_Tsunarashi]

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.

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.

[Elexia]

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.