Give Weather Effects in the game actual usage rather than being cosmetic

[Kaliesto]

So for many years of this game has developed many weather effects with fancy names.

Well the thing is that is all it does (except only affecting Fishing & ARR Sightseeing if I remember right).

Thing is I like to see this affect Battle Conditions across the board depending on what the weather is, and its aetheric tilt towards, and also be more in line with how Final Fantasy Tactics operated based on weather conditions.

So for two examples let's take the Garuda Battle (Normal - Extreme)

For Normal Battle the Weather affects nothing

For Extreme Battle the Weather affects movement because of the strong winds, Wind Aether being enhanced for both players and Boss, and penalty stats based on the Aetheric tilt balance affecting weapons and stats that would make the most sense to be affected by very strong winds.

================================================================

2nd example: Hell's Lid Dungeon (hypothetical Hard or Extreme Mode)

Benefits:
Earth & Fire Aether Abilities is Enhanced for players

Penalties:
The sweltering heat in pockets of the dungeon can make you quickly drain more of your magic points, and your cooldowns to become slower.

[NegativeS]

Maybe fine in the open world, but in duties?

Best case, numbers are tuned slightly or it just becomes another mechanic for the boss/dungeon.
Worst case (like in your Garuda example), people will only bring jobs that benefit/don't suffer from the weather, making FOTM worse. Especially if it only affects non-normal modes like you suggest.

[Kaliesto]

I can see this happening in the open world, but in instances?

Best case, numbers are tuned slightly or it just becomes another mechanic for the boss/dungeon.
Worst case (like in your Garuda example), people will only bring jobs that benefit/don't suffer from the weather, making FOTM worse.

Will just need to account for Job's little tricks, and have different exclusive penalties.

Like disabling Dragoon's Backflip during Garuda Extreme because the force winds will cause it to be unusable or alternatively the Backflip if used will give the heavy status.

and Black Mage's little teleport thingy will cause some damage for going against the aetheric wind at high teleport speed.

[OgruMogru]

and Black Mage's little teleport thingy will cause some damage for going against the aetheric wind at high teleport speed.

Proper immersive misery, I love this! I miss the good ol' days when manafont took a chunk of your HP so if you timed it wrong and there was a raidwide you would explode.

[Asari5]

sounds good but no thats never gonna happen.

people already are annoyed when they cant use jumps for the few seconds they get immobilized in certain fights

its a pity because you would think one point in a game like this is to make your skillset fits best to whatever the fights throw at you and work around it

[Jeeqbit]

Weather is also relevant for a number S rank spawn conditions such as Laideronette (rain), The Garlok (no rain), Zona Seeker (clear/fair skies indirectly), Burfurlur (clear/fair skies), Kirlirger (fog).

There are some graphical effects, such as the ground and gear looking wet when it rains.

They have done it a bit for mechanics in certain duties. For example, the weather in Bismarck affects the mechanics (and since many players are unaware they get killed by it at random).

But more interactions would be welcome.

[Sinstrel]

So for many years of this game has developed many weather effects with fancy names.

Well the thing is that is all it does (except only affecting Fishing & ARR Sightseeing if I remember right).

Thing is I like to see this affect Battle Conditions across the board depending on what the weather is, and its aetheric tilt towards, and also be more in line with how Final Fantasy Tactics operated based on weather conditions.

So for two examples let's take the Garuda Battle (Normal - Extreme)

For Normal Battle the Weather affects nothing

For Extreme Battle the Weather affects movement because of the strong winds, Wind Aether being enhanced for both players and Boss, and penalty stats based on the Aetheric tilt balance affecting weapons and stats that would make the most sense to be affected by very strong winds.

================================================================

2nd example: Hell's Lid Dungeon (hypothetical Hard or Extreme Mode)

Benefits:
Earth & Fire Aether Abilities is Enhanced for players

Penalties:
The sweltering heat in pockets of the dungeon can make you quickly drain more of your magic points, and your cooldowns to become slower.

This would absolutely breathe new life into XIV's boring gameplay loops and set it apart from any other MMO I've played. They have an amazing idea with their weather system but use it to do nothing interesting. A shame.

[CuteBucket]

If nothing else, some weather effects would really shake up exploratory zones and PvP maps. I wouldn't want it in something like instanced battles (sounds like it'd get annoying fast), but for big group content, it could add some fun variety and shake up stale modes like Frontlines and Rival Wings.

(like they'd ever do anything cool for Rival Wings, but I can dream...)

[AmiableApkallu]

Worst case (like in your Garuda example), people will only bring jobs that benefit/don't suffer from the weather, making FOTM worse. Especially if it only affects non-normal modes like you suggest.

I think each kind of weather would have to have both an advantageous aspect and a disadvantage aspect on a per job basis that mostly balanced out. Nothing but downsides isn't fun to play through. Nothing but upsides is just being overpowered.

More frequent weather changes could also help.

I think that could be enough for many people to just play through.

[Hanayumi]

Closest thing you'll see is something like Bismarck changing weather for mechanics. They wont ever actually have world weather effect anything beyond spawns...