Weather - Server side or client side?

emeraldbay

As many of us know, weather is currently decided by the client and not the server. This causes issues with RP situations - we can't talk about the weather at all, because the chances that the other person isn't having the same
patterns is too high. It makes things quite awkward.

Now, I can't see any logical reason for someone to be against making weather server side, but I would like to see where the community stands on this issue. Keep in mind that reasons like "they need to fix bugs first" are not valid. Voting "yes" only means that you would like for it to happen sometime in the future, not right this second.

j4k3s7a

Weather should be switched to server-side.

I feel it would be better for the whole atmosphere of the game to have synced weather, even for non role players like myself. Sometimes people just talk about the weather, lol.

Swampster

I don't care one way or the other.

emeraldbay wrote: »

Now, I can't see any logical reason for someone to be against making weather server side, but I would like to see where the community stands on this issue.

You can bet they'll be here shortly telling you why it is a bad idea.. sense or no sense!

Foxhunt

Weather should be switched to server-side.

Having the weather server side would be the best option of the two. Everyone should see the same weather at the same time.

Enodoc

Weather should be switched to server-side.

I didn't even know it wasn't server-side until the other day. I can see no good reason for it to be client-side.

Moonscythe

Weather should be switched to server-side.

I don't have any friends but if I did I would talk about the weather in game because I do in the real world. It would be disconcerting to be complaining about a rainstorm only to have my friends (if I had any) whisper about me losing it.

Cahuani

Weather should be switched to server-side.

Rain! Snow! Ash Storms! I WANT MOAR!

andre.roques.3b14_ESO

Weather should be switched to server-side.

It should be server side for PvP to even the playing field, for PvE it doesn't seem like it matter much.

Azarul

I don't care one way or the other.

Doesn't staying client side help with lag?

epoling

I don't care one way or the other.

Given that so few people actually notice the difference, it seems almost like a contrived issue. It shows how much the game has progressed that we now have people making threads worrying about what weather others are seeing.

UrQuan

I don't care one way or the other.

Azarul wrote: »

Doesn't staying client side help with lag?

Possibly. I can't say that I really care about whether the weather is the same for me as it is for others on the server. If keeping it client side has any effect on server lag then I'm for keeping it client side. If not then might as well have it server side.

Phantax

I wouldn't mind either way if we could have some of the weather being more drastic. Heavier rain storms, severe blizzards (not all the time mind, just rarely and random)

KhajitFurTrader

emeraldbay wrote: »

As many of us know, weather is currently decided by the client and not the server.

You have a source for that?

Merlin13KAGL

Weather should be switched to server-side.

Server side - it should affect the entire localized zone for all characters, and the communication traffic would be minor.

A simple code to the client to indicate generalized weather conditions could then be rendered client side.

Are you going to see the clouds exactly as I do? No. But there won't be drastic differences, either.

Right now, I'd be happy if they'd sync locations and direction of orientation relative to my group members.

I Teamspeak with a friend and when I am looking at a Monster in front of him, it should be safe to assume he sees it. However, on his screen, it may be behind or beside him.

Make a bit of a difference, especially in PvP, when 3 o'clock on his view is 7 o'clock on yours.

Phantax wrote: »

I wouldn't mind either way if we could have some of the weather being more drastic. Heavier rain storms, severe blizzards (not all the time mind, just rarely and random)

@Phantax, Haven't been in a proper Ash storm since three games ago.

It would make things more epic in large scale battles. Flames could spread. The occasional actual lightning strike to a trebuchet or tower.

Right now, the best weather surrounds the dolmens...and that one starter quest in AD (really wish that would have truly would have required action more posthaste).

UrQuan

I don't care one way or the other.

Phantax wrote: »

I wouldn't mind either way if we could have some of the weather being more drastic. Heavier rain storms, severe blizzards (not all the time mind, just rarely and random)

Sometimes (relatively frequently actually) I find that sand storms blow up in Al'Akir that greatly reduce my visibility. I always thought that was a nice touch.

Cyberdown

I don't care one way or the other.

so many things are far more important than changing the weather system to cater to a small group of people who discuss the weather with eachother in voice comms or chat.

emeraldbay

Weather should be switched to server-side.

KhajitFurTrader wrote: »

emeraldbay wrote: »

As many of us know, weather is currently decided by the client and not the server.

You have a source for that?

I have the fact that you can go outside, ask others if it's raining or not, and get a myriad of different answers. "Yeah, it's raining for me," "it's cloudy, but not raining," "it's sunny right now, but it was raining earlier," etc. An official answer would be helpful, but wouldn't tell us anything we can't figure out on our own.

Rune_Relic

Weather should stay client-side.

Client side... need all the network bandwidth devoted to combat.
PVP server lags as it is without adding more work.

If bandwidth isn't an issue with the weather system then fine.
I also think it can add communal atmosphere to the battlefield.

butterfly442

Saw RP.

Could not find the dislike button.

Decided to let you know I dislike people who RP. Or anything about RP.

They cry to much about things that have nothing to do with what MMOs should be fixing.

emeraldbay

Weather should be switched to server-side.

butterfly442 wrote: »

Saw RP.

Could not find the dislike button.

Decided to let you know I dislike people who RP. Or anything about RP.

They cry to much about things that have nothing to do with what MMOs should be fixing.

Well, you certainly have the right to dislike RP, but I would kindly thank you to refrain from posting things that do not contribute to the discussion at hand.

GnatB

Weather should stay client-side.

I think you should be able to go into an inn and, for a nominal gold fee:
1. Sleep until Dawn
2. Sleep until Dusk
3. Sleep until the weather changes.

As such, all three would need to be client side. Also could get a hour duration "well rested" buff or something that increases hp/man/sta regeneration by a minor amount.

UrQuan

I don't care one way or the other.

GnatB wrote: »

I think you should be able to go into an inn and, for a nominal gold fee:
1. Sleep until Dawn
2. Sleep until Dusk
3. Sleep until the weather changes.

As such, all three would need to be client side. Also could get a hour duration "well rested" buff or something that increases hp/man/sta regeneration by a minor amount.

This wouldn't work well because of events like werewolves that infect you with lycanthropy, as they only spawn at night when it's a full moon. If night and day were client side, how would they spawn for everyone at the right time?

GnatB

Weather should stay client-side.

UrQuan wrote: »

This wouldn't work well because of events like werewolves that infect you with lycanthropy, as they only spawn at night when it's a full moon. If night and day were client side, how would they spawn for everyone at the right time?

Because ESO werewolves don't work like that. Entire questlines dealing with them/fighting them, and it doesn't matter if it's day or night. (and I thought I read in a different thread that day/night was already client side)

UrQuan

I don't care one way or the other.

GnatB wrote: »

UrQuan wrote: »

This wouldn't work well because of events like werewolves that infect you with lycanthropy, as they only spawn at night when it's a full moon. If night and day were client side, how would they spawn for everyone at the right time?

Because ESO werewolves don't work like that. Entire questlines dealing with them/fighting them, and it doesn't matter if it's day or night. (and I thought I read in a different thread that day/night was already client side)

The ones that can scratch you to give you lycanthropy do work like that. The bog-standard ones that don't infect you are there any time of day or night.

AlexDougherty

Weather should be switched to server-side.

That way we can all gripe about the lousy weather together.

reften

I don't care one way or the other.

Man I hate logging in and putting my headset on and BOOM thunder hits. Scares the crap out of me.

non-issue to me.

zgrssd

Weather should stay client-side.

Enodoc wrote: »

I didn't even know it wasn't server-side until the other day. I can see no good reason for it to be client-side.

Resources.
MMO servers have to run at as little cost as possible. The game mechanics themself have to adapt to that dictate.
When there is a conflict between running cost and future development, the running cost will usually win.

Maybe groupwide synching of weather. If they think it is feasible I don't mind if they do. But there is other data that would be more intersting (like stam/mana values of groupmemmbers). If they think it is feasible after they ironed that out, I don't see why not.

But I don't need the weather to be synched.

DogFaceInBananaPatch

Weather should be switched to server-side.

This poll should of had only two options.

1) Weather should be switched to server-side.
2) Weather should be switched to server-side.

Natjur

Weather should stay client-side.

Should stay client side as that allows it to be disabled. Never see rain again

DogFaceInBananaPatch

Weather should be switched to server-side.

Natjur wrote: »

Should stay client side as that allows it to be disabled. Never see rain again

Thoroughly explain how.

emeraldbay

Weather should be switched to server-side.

matt3k wrote: »

This poll should of had only two options.

1) Weather should be switched to server-side.
2) Weather should be switched to server-side.

I can't simply assume that everyone has a definite stance on the issue. For some people, it just doesn't matter, and forcing them into a yes or no situation isn't good for the results. By having a neutral option, you ensure that the people answering yes or no are the people who actually feel one way or the other, and aren't just answering to see the poll results.

Natjur wrote: »

Should stay client side as that allows it to be disabled. Never see rain again

I imagine this would be the case anyways. Just a little on/off toggle that tells your client whether or not to pay attention to the weather info that's sent out by the server. It would be just as easy as having a toggle for client-side weather.