Weather and Lighting Ideas

[Voloius]

I really like the way the lighting works in Book 1. Day/night is gradual. Different lights have different ranges and intensities which fade out as they go. Night is dark, but not completely so.

Just an idea to expand on that a little - phases of the moon, where some nights are lighter than others. If you plan on adding weather patterns such as snow, rain and thunderstorms, could you also add in cloud cover, either during night or day, or both?

Just something that occurred to me. I don't think I've ever seen a game that included moon phases.

Book 1 is great though!! I've really enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next one!!

[devinv]

had to chime in on this one-- ultima 5 (1988) had phases of the moon, it determined where you would go when you stepped into a moongate.

[Dragonlady]

had to chime in on this one-- ultima 5 (1988) had phases of the moon, it determined where you would go when you stepped into a moongate.

True, but it didn't reflect the light use at night...if I recall correctly. (currantly replaying U4 at the moment before going to U5 )


In Minions of Mirth they have weather effects on lighting. Kinda cool in one way, but probably hard to impliment. It is really scary to be out wandering around when lightening strikes. Makes me jump in real life!

[Kreador Freeaxe]

In Minions of Mirth they have weather effects on lighting. Kinda cool in one way, but probably hard to impliment. It is really scary to be out wandering around when lightening strikes. Makes me jump in real life!

And I keep wondering if running around in plate armor with two big metal rods in my hands is going to get me struck. I think that would be interesting.

[realmzmaster]

I remember that Alternatre Reality: The City had weather effects and the grdual changing of night to day. This was important because certain shops, healers and inns were open at different parts of the day and night. In fact some exclusive inns were only open at certain times at night. The sky would show the Sun in the daytime and Moon at night, but I do not believe the moon had phases.

And I keep wondering if running around in plate armor with two big metal rods in my hands is going to get me struck. I think that would be interesting.

Interesting? Maybe. Electrifying, most definitely!

[Unclever title]

And I keep wondering if running around in plate armor with two big metal rods in my hands is going to get me struck. I think that would be interesting.

Interesting? Maybe. Electrifying, most definitely!

And potentially increasing the power (and danger to self!) of elemental spells using electricity.

It would thus also make sense that rain would boost the attack strength of freezing an opponent or perhaps reduce the cost.

And if weather would affect elemental spells could then light affect divination? Though that is closer to faith... there could be significance with the phases of the moon in terms of buffs in that sense.

[devinv]

I can just see it becoming a quest: "Your job is to take this polearm up onto windy hill tonight when the storm is most intense and poke it up at the sky-- the last two guys got killed by lightning but we've put some really nice leather grips on there this time so we think you'll probably be OK!"

And I keep wondering if running around in plate armor with two big metal rods in my hands is going to get me struck. I think that would be interesting.

Interesting? Maybe. Electrifying, most definitely![/quote]

[devinv]

I gotta say I tried going back to ultima 5 but after 20 years (!) and just playing eschalon the interface was killing me. The graphics I can deal with but not the rest of it. How did I ever put up with that?

True, but it didn't reflect the light use at night...if I recall correctly. (currantly replaying U4 at the moment before going to U5 )


In Minions of Mirth they have weather effects on lighting. Kinda cool in one way, but probably hard to impliment. It is really scary to be out wandering around when lightening strikes. Makes me jump in real life! [/quote]

[Artius]

Just something that occurred to me. I don't think I've ever seen a game that included moon phases.

had to chime in on this one-- ultima 5 (1988) had phases of the moon, it determined where you would go when you stepped into a moongate.

The first Ultima game that had phases of the moon was Ultima 3. Ultima 2 had moongates, and though they worked pretty much the same way, they didn't have the moon phases to correlate with.