Adding seasons and weather

[endriu]

Hey guys, I've been playing for a while but that's the first time I write here.
I really like the game and I'd like to suggest a few things that could give it a more sandbox-ish appeal, so here's a small list:

1. A not so random map.

I mean, I really like the idea of an unknown map, but I'd like a few more landscapes too, which could be used as a "guide". First of all, an icy/cold one, in the northern part of the map. (I know it has already been suggested a few days ago, but I'm adding it to my list because it will be useful later, in the other suggestions)
In this landscape we will have not so much trees, maybe just some pine and some random bush. Crops will not grow, and all you can eat is meat and roots. There will be a different fauna too, such as reindeers, white and/or grizzly bears, wolves(white or not), lynxes and, instead of rabbits, maybe squirrels?

2. More leather stuff

I'd like to have the possibility to make furs from boars, deers and bears' pelts. This will be useful for suggestion number 5.

3. Weather

Adding the possibility to rain and snow, maybe fog?

4. A change of season

Well, every 30 in-game days(two rl weeks, if I'm not wrong) there will be a change of season.
Let's start from spring:
- Terrain tiles will be like the ones we have now.
- Crops will grow at the highest speed.
- Temperature will be normal.
- Trees have lots of leaves and fruits.
- Rain: 45-50% possibility

Summer:
- Terrain can remain the same.
- Crops will grow at half of the possible speed, if they are not irrigated.
- Temperature will be quite hot.
- No rain or snow

Autumn:
- Terrain starts losing its green shape and becomes brownish.
- Crops will grow at 75% of possible speed if not irrigated.
- Normal temperature.
- Rain/fog

Winter:
- Snowy or bare terrain. Water is frozen and we can walk on it(so we don't have any more problem with bridges or swimming xD). If we need water we can destroy ice and pick it up.
- Crops do not grow(we may need to harvest before winter comes).
- Cold temperature.
- Snow, snow, snow *.*
This would be the same as tundra landscape I described in suggestion number 1.

5. Temperature

Since it may be too hot or cold, we will need to go around almost naked or covered up by furs(see suggestion number 2).
If we are too dressed when weather is hot or not so much protected in winter, we'll have a malus with food and stamina and they will decrease faster. Maybe in winter we could have a HP loss too.

Cheers

[Jackard]

These are here to help you!

Vaguely titled grab bag threads increase the chances that good ideas will be lost, ignored, or forgotten.

[endriu]

Avoid making 'potpourri'
Linked to the above, please avoid making grab bag threads with multiple unrelated suggestions. Give each idea its own thread so posters can discuss its merits, so that ideas aren't overshadowed by more popular ideas, and so that they might be found later using the search tool.

First 5 suggestions are strictly related. I'll change the topic name and write the last stuff in other threads. Sorry.

[Riou1231]

I like the way you think. Maybe when it rains crops should grow faster? And maybe rivers and lakes should rise and claim some of the land around them.

[niltrias]

As has been mentioned before, one problem with seasons would be coming up with things so that winter doesnt because 30 days of auto-death for newbies. Seems like it would be pretty boring for farmers, as well.

Unless someone comes up with some pretty sweet ideas to fix that, Ill be in favor of area/elevation-based temperature zones. Then we just need to make newbies spawn into the "spring zones"...or maybe you could have an option at the beginning, heh.

Although i would like to see more leather/fur uses.

[arriel]

As has been mentioned before, one problem with seasons would be coming up with things so that winter doesnt because 30 days of auto-death for newbies. Seems like it would be pretty boring for farmers, as well.

Unless someone comes up with some pretty sweet ideas to fix that, Ill be in favor of area/elevation-based temperature zones. Then we just need to make newbies spawn into the "spring zones"...or maybe you could have an option at the beginning, heh.

Main winter drawback is that the crops won`t grow. For a newbie it will be quite some time before he gets exploration, find seeds and starts growing anything. We can just give newbie "fur coat" when he starts so he won`t get frosen. And leave forageables, just convert them into "frozen chantrelles", "frozen apples", etc. They all may require a fire to "unfreeze". So, basically, all newbs will have the same food supply on start.

Introduce easily buildable "snow den" (essentially a dugout with a snow covering), which will dissipate in summer but negate frost bites while the character is in it. Same for caves maybe.

Overall, I really like seasons idea.

[Apostata]

I aswell support seasons idea. But instead of giving fur coats to newbies, and ehm..let them be depended on collecting frozen (rotten) "apples" ( oh my..I was laughing about 5 minutes), it would be better to support them with plenty of starter food, so they can manage to surivve more than 48 real hours. To be playing and actually living in winter should be privilege of more well equiped players - those which already had house, made a lot of supplies for winter (at least some good and educational management). So, there could even start some more opened towns, where newbies could survive with patronage of inhabitants. Or of course, such issue could be solved by meditarrean area center of map ( mild winter, reliable spring, rich harvest) and more and more harsh south and north climate with frozen rivers, lakes in winter, Yeti, Ice cream.

[jorb]

If seasons rolled across the map, you could probably just always spawn newbs in spring areas.

Agree with more leather/fur produce, though. We have been adding in some stuff lately that have had really good effects on the value of string, bone and hides. Boneglue, ropes for coffers, etc.

[sabinati]

bah, it should be the same season across the map. give them a fur coat and let them go ice fishing

[jorb]

bah, it should be the same season across the map. give them a fur coat and let them go ice fishing

Certainly depends on how large the map is. But a fur coat would work as well.

Edit: The game is much too easy as it is anyway.