Posted by Night Hawke on Nov 16, 2008

While I was sitting in a lawn chair in the dark, watching The storm I got to thinking about gaming and one part of the game world or setting that is used very rarely, the weather.

Ever notice how every day is a sunny day? It seems in many games the weather is only considered for unique locations in the setting, Like Where ever there is undead the sky is overflowing with unforgiving dark clouds or whenever you find an evil sorcerers tower the black clouds are swirling over head?

However if you are in a human city everything is sun shine, rainbows & puppies? My point to all of this is the weather is in service to only a few plot motifs, basically bad guys equal bad weather and good guys equal sunny day.

Most of these motifs are turning into Oh i see a storm ahead, we must be close! I think a GM could really immerse the the PC in the game and invoke the characters feelings in the PC if these motifs where not used to foreshadow some of these events.

Now I do understand that the weather can lay down powerful emotions in support of many stories however is it wrong for the bad guys to have clear skies and sun? I don't think is is bad for the emotion of a in game event in fact I think it could go even farther to reinforce why nobody else is coming to rid the world of this evil, It's not dark! he must not be home...

Also which following description has more effect?


Number 1:
Slowly you creep up to the cliff edge peering down into the chasm to the archaic granite tower, slowly the oppressively blackened clouds swirl over the tower, dropping a cold penetrating rain down unto all those below it. As your eyes inspect the ancient tower for a weakness they settle onto a glowing mist swirling around the top of the tower. It feels as if your stomach slowly slumps deep into your abdomen and your heart leap into your throat as you realize the mist is forming an eye!

As you begin to turn to descend back to safety you see a horde of undead clawing up the chasm walls, and to your dread even more of these soulless corpses are creeping up the slope behind you, as if a plague coming to devour your very soul. With a deep breath you release your blade from its sheath and sigh, "Maybe today is a good day to die."


Number 2:
Slowly you creep up to the cliff edge peering down into the chasm to the archaic granite tower, the sun caresses the ruined towers worn stones highlighting the vines that are interwoven through its frame.

As your eyes inspect the ancient tower for a weakness they settle onto a glowing mist swirling around the top of the tower. The mist flows around the tower slowly coalescing into a orb just above the old towers peak, It feels as if your stomach slowly slumps deep into your abdomen and your heart leap into your throat as you realize the mist is forming an eye!

With a crushing force that seems to shake you to your core the sky floods with black clouds blasting from the eye. The clouds overtake your perch in a matter of seconds a cold penetrating rain shatters the silence of this previously serene valley.

As you begin to turn lightning crashes exploding a tree in fire with deafening thunder chasing close behind it, you see a horde of undead clawing up the chasm walls, and to your dread even more of these soulless corpses are creeping up the slope behind you, as if a plague coming to devour your very soul. With a deep breath you release your blade from its sheath and sigh, "Maybe today is a good day to die."

Now which one grants you more immersion number 1 or 2? I like the second it makes you feel like this wont be so bad then turns its complete fury on you instead of just adding in something you could guess is lurk just around the corner.


So what do you think? Jointhe conversation here!