Seasonal Weather Effects: Good Idea or Potential Nuisance?

[Kelban]

I'd generally like to see weather implemented in the game somehow. As it stands, the only representations of weather are the restrictions on the timing of events such as feasts and hunts.

I wonder if having seasonal weather effects (such as attrition or upkeep modifiers during winter) would make the game more fun by adding an additional layer of strategic depth for military campaigns. Of course, the other possibility is that it could make the game less fun by contributing to the need for micro-management, not to mention the game performance effects of having the map change graphically every 3 months to reflect seasonal change.


What about just having the map change based on the seasons, without any strategic effects (purely cosmetic)? Would this be a worthwhile change?

Let's hear some thoughts!

 

[unmerged(424234)]

AI is struggling with attrition enough as it is, adding weather attrition will only make things worse.

Graphical change could be nice if done well but there are plenty of actually important things that need work.

 

[unmerged(75409)]

Nuisance.

Well unless you manage to make war revolve around those seasons, and make the AI aware of it.

EU3 has seasons and they're fun enough, even with an AI that doesn't really know how to cope.

Things you'd have to add:
- making support limits MUCH more visible
- being able (and even having to) disperse your army into castles for winter quarters, if you don't dissolve them
- add rally points (so that the re-levying of troops in spring isn't a micromanagement nightmare every time)
- add "pillaged" modifiers for provinces, reducing support limits for a season (like EU2 and EU3)
- weather effects on sea transport (don't ship troops across sea zones in winter!!)

Most importantly:
- Making the AI aware of all of that. Make it plan campaigns so that they know to only start in spring, and return back home in fall.

 

[unmerged(465257)]

A gradual change from summer to winter - a gradual change from green to white - would be lovely.

 

[unmerged(481246)]

AI is struggling with attrition enough as it is, adding weather attrition will only make things worse.

Graphical change could be nice if done well but there are plenty of actually important things that need work.

Patch 1.06 well fix that i hear. I say it'll make choosing when to fight more strategic if certain weathers affected a fight with bonuses such as defenders get a swampy/muddy benefit for fighting in the rain or the river bonus is removed in winter for the water froze over. Or even tax income decreases in certain areas for it is winter and crops are not growing, or a less levies reinforcement, and a attrition change in certain weathers for when it is spring/summer ect.

EDIT: I say bring it on more strategy would be added in the game and be more "realistic" what people would love.

 

[Nimic]

I'm not sure it would add more fun than annoyance. Essentially, nothing would happen in winter. Nothing. Because that's what happened during winter.

 

[unmerged(481246)]

I'm not sure it would add more fun than annoyance. Essentially, nothing would happen in winter. Nothing. Because that's what happened during winter.

Not if you declare war before winter

 

[esbenmf]

In Scandinavia and probably many other northern areas, fighting and campaigning was actually preferred during wintertime as frozen rivers and lakes (and even seas, just see 1658 and the crossing of the Belts by the swedes as an extreme example, wiki: March across the Belts) makes such nice paths to follow in an otherwise difficult to cross terrain of bogs, forests and running rivers with few or no roads.

Esben

 

[unmerged(424234)]

Actually, frozen seas could be an interesting mechanics.

Frozen rivers would eliminate crossing river penalties but these are already too weak anyway.

 

[spinoza013]

I would like an event pop up for seasons at least. Just to help the immersion a bit.
Mainly for selfish reasons as I get too engrossed in things I don't notice years going by.
Perhaps I should pay more attention but without clearer indication of time of year it's easy to trance out.

I'd mod them myself if there was a simple modders guide

 

[fridabina]

This would make the Mongols even more dangerous than before if u can't fight them evenly on winter (Since they don't take attrition), I like it. Its kinda historical too.

 

[DLFebin]

- weather effects on sea transport (don't ship troops across sea zones in winter!!)

No everywhere, though. Some areas should be good in winter too.

 

[Alweth]

I think this is a good idea but would have to implemented correctly. I think a visual cue is a must, so as long as that doesn't affect performance significantly, I would like to see this feature. The strength of seasonal effects and map art should take latitude, closeness to the Mediterranean, Atlantic, Gulf Stream, etc. into consideration.

Apparently Europe went from a local high in temperatures at the beginning of the CKII period to the beginnings of a local low. It could be interesting to model increasingly severe winters as the time goes on. By the way, adding seasonal weathering could potentially add a lot to a certain popular mod.

 

[Mattabesta]

Not very complicated ones but stuff like winter should be done better and it would be very cool if it would show up on the geographical map like what the total war games do.

 

[Tapscott]

I wont lie, I want seasonal weather effects added purely for the cosemetic effects

 

[GAGA Extrem]

It would be a nice detail addition, but I guess the prize in terms of game speed is simply not worth the cost.
Because apart from tax income and attrition, I don't see any benefits from seasonal weather calculation.

 

[unmerged(88697)]

Wars of the Roses, Battle of Towton 29 March 1461

Fought under bilizzard conditions and was the most devistating battle in English history to date.

Seems under normal conditions armored knights over-heat and wear out after an hour or two of battle. But, when the weather is cold knights can continue on for many hours, and that's what happened at Towton.

 

[unmerged(464016)]

I feel like the game moves too fast to really have a weather system. Though it would add another layer of depth to the war aspect of the game.

 

[apg]

event if it wasnt related to attriition, its abit unrealistic that we always look at the map and it looks like summer, there should be a lot more variation to the map with the transition of the four seasons and snow and rain overlays would be good.

It would add more atmosphere and could then be applied over a period of time to the AI, so the AI could be tailored to it. But even if the weather would not be related to attrition it would still be a really good addition to the game; even MT2W has summer and winter seasons.


So yes: GOOD IDEA!

 

[nattai]

I would like to see this. Even if it is introduced only as a cosmetic addition, I would like if it was possible (if it is not already) for mods to then take weather variations to create more realistic campaigning seasons, both on land and at sea.

Would greatly add to the immersion I would get from the game at least, even if it might not appeal to everyone.