Season changes in Eorzea

[Gemina]

Curious what the community thinks about the seasons changing throughout our days in Eorzea. Not sure if it is possible while still supporting PS3, and PS4 limitations, but I think it would be so cool if over the course of a week or so, we see obvious changes to the climate in all areas of the game. Some places like Costa del Sol and Coerthas will see very little if any change, but how could would it be to see the leaves turning in the Black Shroud, or falling snow in La Noscea? Perhaps even Thanalan could see some flowering in the Spring.

They could also perhaps do different things with the changes such as music, different mobs depending on season (exclude hunted mobs so they are always available), and so forth.

Thoughts?

[Enkidoh]

I think it would probably be too complicated to implement (not to mention time consuming now to go back and redo zone textures in different 'seasonal' variations), so SE probably won't see the justification.

Plus, climate in Eorzea seems to be all over the place and is not as clear cut as it may seem, I have never seen it written anywhere that it ever snows in La Noscea at all (not surprising given how far 'south' it is), and the Black Shroud's trees seem to be evergreens and not deciduous, that is, they never have a US-style 'Fall' where they go brown and shed their leaves in autumn, not surprising given how powerful the elementals are there which would keep the trees green year-round anyway (the more 'autumn' looking foliage in the North Shroud is actually fire damage still lingering from the Calamity that the forest has not recovered from yet). And to say nothing that Coerthas is locked in a never-ending Winter that probably never will see the Spring again for lore reasons.

Having said that, there are minor seasonal weather changes in the three main cities for seasonal events (at Christmas time light snowfall appears in each city but doesn't really change the ground texture, and around Easter time the Little Ladies Day event has Japanese style cherry trees in full bloom in each city (complete with cherry blossoms being carried on the wind). But that is probably the closest you'll probably get I'm sorry to say.

[Gemina]

Snip..

You're very likely right, and it is just wishful thinking. I wouldn't think it would be like our slider request and having to go back and redo god knows how many gear pieces, but rather it would be an addition not unlike adding additional areas that come with expansions. I know the playerbase would probably rather that time and energy to go towards the development of new areas to explore, but I also believe it is important to keep interest in the starting cities so they remain populated.

The actual weather and locations are just ideas, and not meant to change the game's lore. La Noscea is a costal/island area, so snow would be very unlikely there, and I am all too familiar with the perpetual icy depths of Coerthas. The Black Shroud though is adjacent to Coerthas and more subject to seasons than any other region, I just wouldn't want to leave anybody else out. The elementals should be well aware that seasons are a life/death cycle that is perfectly natural

[Neophyte]

Well, I just assume that Hydalin has no axial tilt nor does her distance to the sun change throughout the year. Therfore no seasons.

[Gemina]

Well, I just assume that Hydalin has no axial tilt nor does her distance to the sun change throughout the year. Therfore no seasons.

That is definitely one way to look at it. That is a sad rock though. A planet like that, which also supports life would basically have one part where vegetation grows year-round, and another part where nothing ever grows. Seasons are actually a pretty important part of what Hydaelyn is all about.

[LineageRazor]

I think it would probably be too complicated to implement (not to mention time consuming now to go back and redo zone textures in different 'seasonal' variations), so SE probably won't see the justification.

They could go the subtle route, like they did in FFXI. That game had seasons, but the changes those seasons brought were hard to spot unless you were looking for them. It mostly affected weather (areas that got snowy weather would get it more often in winter, and less often in summer, for example), but in some areas trees would change color, or patches of snow would appear.

It's probably too late, now, even for subtle changes, though. Seasons pretty much need to be built in from the ground up, and given the insane time and money budgets they were under to make ARR, it's not too surprising that seasons weren't taken into consideration. Honestly, we should consider ourselves fortunate that we got any kind of weather at all, given that it has very little impact on gameplay outside of fishing.

[Naunet]

the more 'autumn' looking foliage in the North Shroud is actually fire damage still lingering from the Calamity that the forest has not recovered from yet).

Where's the lore that the very distinctly autumn-colored leaves in the North Shroud is due to "fire damage"? Curious. Though I don't think SE needs you making their justifications for them. xD

@OP: Seasons would be cool in climes where it's appropriate.

Well, I just assume that Hydalin has no axial tilt nor does her distance to the sun change throughout the year. Therfore no seasons.

No axial tilt has a lot of other implications that would make it very challenging for life to have evolved, though SE has not shown they understand science (and especially ecology and biology) particularly well in the game.

[SigmaOZ]

I completely support your suggestion, in fact I made a similar one asking season changes in-game a long time ago but was quickly forgotten and probably never seen by the Devs, I hope they can see it this time!...

@SE and anyone else interested

Have you ever played Pokémon Black & Pokémon White!?... You definitely should as they show how seasons can work inside a game by cycling them every single month of real life time, even special fiends could appear during specific seasons not to mention quests and whatnot, it would make the game all the better!...

Forget about excuses and let the Producer and the Dev Team make it a reality, regardless of how poor the game code is they can absolutely make it!...

[Gemina]

I completely support your suggestion, in fact I made a similar one asking season changes in-game a long time ago but was quickly forgotten and probably never seen by the Devs, I hope they can see it this time!...

@SE and anyone else interested

Have you ever played Pokémon Black & Pokémon White!?... You definitely should as they show how seasons can work inside a game by cycling them every single month of real life time, even special fiends could appear during specific seasons not to mention quests and whatnot, it would make the game all the better!...

Forget about excuses and let the Producer and the Dev Team make it a reality, regardless of how poor the game code is they can absolutely make it!...

Aww, sorry your suggestion ended up in the forum abyss, and hopefully they do see this one and it at least raises an eyebrow. But yes, you're thinking just like me.

Many times it has been mentioned about more dangerous open world content, and perhaps the winter ala Game of Thrones could bring interesting and dangerous mobs you're better off staying away from if you're solo. Of course, nothing would change about how the areas operate now. B/A/S elite marks still spawn as normal, same with FATEs, normal mobs, and NPCs; you'll still get Tension weather when Odin is around and so forth.

La Noscea could get a hurricane season not much different than when it is raining like crazy in Costa del Sol. How cool would it be to see trees and other debris flying around when you look up?! How about severe thunderstorms during summers in Thanalan that leave random telegraphed areas where lightning strikes that you need to dodge similar to dungeons? Easy enough to dodge and doesn't cause much damage, but could slap you with paralyze right near a hungry mob so best to not ignore it? I think the potential there is pretty big. Nothing so difficult that it creates huge headaches, but you know in the back of your head, "Hey, it is not as easy to traverse this area during this time of year."

I only see it as additions to keep current content interesting.

[SigmaOZ]

~

Why do you even bother!?... Weather is not the same as seasons!...

We do have weather in Eorzea but I also want seasons, detractors like yourself just make me want to leave the game, but I won't, I just hope to never meet you!...