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Weather refers to a variety of conditions reflected in-game. This is a game mechanic first introduced as part of the 2.5 update, titled Survival of the Pack: Deluxe Edition.[1] The feature was a winning entry for the new ideas contest as decided by the community in a poll run by the WolfQuest Team.[2]

In WolfQuest: Anniversary Edition, weather returned with the initial release of Early Access in 1.0c. The elements retains some random factors and is more closely tied to the hidden in-game calendar. As the seasons progress, the player-wolf will see for themself that so too does the weather.

Lightning strikes will no longer set trees alight, and all animals are safe and will not be struck.

In WolfQuest: Classic, the player will see a variety of naturally-occurring conditions at random intervals. They cannot be controlled or otherwise influenced, merely observed and waited out.

Weather in Classic works very much like its Legacy predecessor, with the only difference being the removal of the shiny reflective effect associated with rain.

In Legacy versions, weather is a new element that was introduced with the addition of Survival of the Pack: Deluxe Edition in version 2.5. It was a winning suggestion on the WolfQuest ideas thread.[2] Over time, the player will see:

  • Rain
  • Lightning
  • Snow

While not directly harmful to the player-wolf, their packmates, or their rival neighbors, weather does have an effect on prey and scents. It is possible to disable the weather effects through OptionsGame Settings using the provided weather toggle. Players cannot modify or decide the game's weather, which changes autonomously at random intervals.

During January 2011, a fundraising contest was held to decide whether or not lightning would be added to the game. By March 1st 2011, the contest ended and $1,181 was raised, successfully reaching the target and securing the new feature in 2.5.[3]


Northern Lights[]

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, is a rare phenomenon sometimes observed in the sky at night.

In the Anniversary Edition, auroras have been in the game since 1.0.1a, but the event was considerably rarer prior to receiving a buff in 1.0.8b. They can occur year-round, but tend to appear most often in the fall and winter seasons on all game maps are most noticeable at night. They can appear during the day[4] albeit less noticeably. Auroras in-game will appear in one of three colors: red, green, or blue.

In Classic, there are no auroras.

In Legacy versions, there are no auroras.


Wind[]

In the Anniversary Edition, wind makes its return, albeit more as a background element only made visible by environmental cues and in scent view if one pays attention to the floating spores carried by the breeze. Outside of scent view, the player can tell which direction the wind is blowing if they pay attention to the direction of debris such as leaves and trash depending on the game map being played.

Ungulates and lesser prey may be quicker to detect a player-wolf who is downwind, which in turn will result in a faster panic and/or flee reaction. Approaching from upwind will delay or prevent panic and flee responses, giving more time to move into a better position to observe, back off, or strike depending on the situation.

Wind direction is not indicated on the compass anymore.

In Classic, wind is a constant ambient element observed in each game map. This is a dynamic and ever-changing element of the game. Hunting ungulates and trespassing into rival wolf territories can be helped or hindered by the wind. Approaching either zone while upwind will reduce the time taken for unaware targets to detect an approaching player-wolf, giving precious time to strike before detection can spark a chain reaction; approaching when downwind will speed up their detection and reaction time.

Players can determine wind direction in one of two ways.

  1. By paying attention to the direction of foliage, litter and other debris that has been caught by the breeze.
  2. By checking the compass.
Over time, wind diminishes and scatters scent quality.[citation needed]

In Legacy versions, there is no apparent wind element at play.


Rain[]

In the Anniversary Edition, rain is a returning element from its predecessors, adding one new possibility: a den site may flood during or after the conclusion of rainfall. The probability for this event is low / uncommon. Heavy rainfalls are common starting from late spring and lasting throughout the summer.

In Classic, rain occurs naturally every twenty minutes in Amethyst Mountain, spring and summer Slough Creek, and Lost River. Like wind, this element affects scent trails.

While it is raining, the scent identifier showing the target animal and age of a trail will instead display "Unknown age" even if the target is nearby or within line of sight. For existing trails, this persists until the drizzle has subsided. For fresh trails laid after rainfall has subsided, the timer will display as normal.

Players can anticipate this event when the sky becomes overcast and, exempting night-time, the game world's lighting darkens.

In Legacy versions, it will rain every twenty minutes in Amethyst Mountain and during the spring and summer in Slough Creek.

The player can anticipate this event when the sky becomes overcast.


Lightning[]

In the Anniversary Edition, lightning is a harmless effect. The player will see flashes in the sky and hear the rumbles and sharp cracks while it is ongoing, which will fade and subside as it draws to an end. Lightning strikes do not hit any animals and will typically briefly connect with the ground; they do not make contact with trees, thus trees are never seen to be engulfed in flames. It is unknown if any of this logic will change.

There is a higher probability of lightning occurring during heavy rain showers.

In Classic, lightning will affect the behavior of an elk herd, making some of its individuals a little more skittish than usual. This element will occasionally strike a tree, causing it to burst into flames for a short period of time. This fire cannot spread and will never result in a wildfire; it will extinguish and no damage is observed.

It is not possible for player-wolves, their mate, their offspring, prey or predators to be struck by lightning.

In Legacy versions, lightning has a chance of striking a random tree near the player which temporarily sets it ablaze. It is not possible for players, their mate or their pups to be struck and/or killed by lightning. Similarly, predators are unaffected by weather conditions.

It is not possible for players, their mate, their offspring, prey or predators to be struck by lightning.


Snow[]

In the Anniversary Edition, snow is common throughout the year in Yellowstone. Whether it settles on the ground permanently or melts away some time later is determined by the season.

Unique to the remade game, snow can accumulate into deep snowbanks in winter if the graphics settings are high enough.[5] Animals will make trench trails in the deep snow, affecting their speed and stamina drain.[6] Snow will also gradually accumulate on trees, boulders, rocks, cliffs, and other such terrain-affixed decal as well as lightly blanketing animals.

In Classic, snow occurs naturally every twenty minutes in winter Slough Creek. Like wind, this element affects scent trails.[citation needed]

While it is snowing, the scent identifier showing the age of a trail will instead display "Unknown" even if the target is within sight. For existing trails, this persists until the drizzle has subsided. For fresh trails laid after snowfall has subsided, the timer will display the usual timer.

Players can anticipate this event when the sky becomes overcast and the game world's lighting brightens with a distinct white overlay.

In Legacy versions, snow occurs every twenty minutes in winter Slough Creek.

Players can anticipate this event when the sky becomes overcast.


Gallery[]

Anniversary Edition Gallery

Contributions for Weather in the Anniversary Edition are welcome in this gallery!

Amethyst Mountain Gallery

This gallery is composed of screenshots from the Amethyst Mountain map.

Slough Creek Gallery

This gallery is composed of screenshots from the Slough Creek map.

This version features two versions of the Lost River game map.

Lost River (Anniversary Edition) Gallery

This gallery is composed of screenshots from the modernised Lost River map.

Lost River (Classic) Gallery

This gallery is composed of screenshots from the original Lost River, now dubbed Lost River (Classic). This revision was ported from Classic 2.7 into the Anniversary Edition engine.

Classic Gallery

Contributions for Weather in Classic are welcome in this gallery!

Legacy Gallery

Contributions for Weather for Legacy versions are welcome in this gallery!


Trivia[]

  • Weather was suggested in the big ideas contest under the name "Weather and Time", categorized as a Game Enhancement idea. It was submitted by forum member Exiah, who won the Grand Prize category. She and a guardian attended a meeting with eduweb to discuss the submitted game idea as part of a free trip to Minnesota.

Anniversary Edition Trivia

  • If the player idles long enough on the title scene, they will see weather effects.
    • This looks to be a restricted Amethyst build; normally, only rain and lightning can be observed. However, if the player loads a save set in winter and comes back to the menu, they will be able to observe snow.
    • "Thor" is used for the name of lightning assets in the game files, of course referring to Thor the God of Thunder.
  • Heavy snow starts falling (and if enabled, deep snow begins accumulating) immediately upon starting a new Slough Creek game starting in winter.

Anniversary Edition and Classic Trivia

  • Snow does not occur in the original Lost River game map.

Classic Trivia

Legacy Trivia

  • During January 2011, a fundraising contest was held to decide whether or not lightning would be added to the game. By March 1st 2011, the contest ended and $1,181 was raised, successfully reaching the target and securing the new feature in the deluxe edition of Survival of the Pack.[3]
  • Rain and snow caused a reflective overlay for the duration that the effects were active. While this was intended to mimic damp or icy terrain respectively, feedback about the feature from players suggests the attempt didn't quite work out as planned.
    • The reflective overlay was removed completely in Classic, and remains absent as of the Anniversary Edition remake.


References & External Links[]


Environment
Game World BirdsInsectsSeasonsTimeVegetationWeather
Technical SkyboxTimeWeather
Technical
Configuration Graphics QualityLauncherShaders
Features AccountsAchievementsAge perksCustomizationElder wolfExperience pointsFriendsHuman ImpactsMultiplayerPackRestSleep
Game Files Add-onsAudioModelsMusicTextures
Game Mechanics AffinityAIAuto-saveCompanionshipDeathDifficultyFondnessScent viewSpawnersWeather
Interactive AnimationsCarcassCourtship (Anniversary)Den sitesEmotesNPCsHuntingMapPack RallyRendezvous sitesSocial arena (Classic/Legacy)TimeZones
Interfaces User InterfacesHeads-up DisplayPack Stats (Legacy/Classic)Pack Info (Anniversary)Tutorial
Miscellaneous Bugs and GlitchesCheatsDevelopment buildsDeveloper shortcutsSkyboxTroubleshooting
Operating Systems LinuxMacintoshWindowsIOSAndroidKindleStorefronts
Versions Legacy (1.1.0-2.5.1)Classic (2.7.X)10th Anniversary
Update historyHidden updates
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