Lighting Effects implications

[CINA]

After seeing the graphics from the screen shots I started to think of all the possiblities that this could have, not the least of which being the possibility of night fighting.

I think this would add a huge element to the game; missions in near darkness using search lightings to find your enemy in the dark, all the while you sneak around in darkness.

It would really make it feel more true to tabletop and add a lot of diversity to the game.

Thoughts?
Other implications to the lighting effects? 'Crons blinding the player a whitening out the screen?

[IndigoSpyder]

I would wish transitions whereas daytime is normal gameplay, night time causes less sight and stealth bonus is gained and weather or any other environmental disturbances will make your units with ranged attacks to be less accurate from hitting its target, hence making you resort to melee attacks. Yummy. :D

[Volomon]

Darkness would just be increased fog and lighting would just be fog revealer. I don't think Darkness has much effect on any of the races as far as I know Space Marines have really sharp vision and can pretty much smell you. Orcs maybe not so great vision but can definitely tell what direction the war is in.

So nah don't think so.

[xXxFMGUYxXx]

the only race that could be effected by this is tau but maybe not.

[Volomon]

Wait now that I think about it Orcs can definately see in low light.

[jon_the_d]

even if it was just for the added variety in visuals and atmosphere I'd say night fighting will be cool. A mod already did it for DOW. it's a cool effect.

As for affecting units performance... not so sure.

weather is a good contender for that function. Deep snow!!! Heavy rain! Hot weather!

(lol)

[Croaxleigh]

Random weather effects would rule, especially if it was a win condition option so that you could turn it off if you wanted. Same with day/night battles. It could add a lot of subtle variety to make even the same old maps interesting, and they could of course make some (again, subtle) gameplay differences based on day/night and weather.

[Flonky]

I've mentioned this in another thread but having search lights on strategic points (if they are even in the game) would make them very useful in night fighting!

[toron]

I would wish transitions whereas daytime is normal gameplay, night time causes less sight and stealth bonus is gained and weather or any other environmental disturbances will make your units with ranged attacks to be less accurate from hitting its target, hence making you resort to melee attacks.

Yes, this is an excellent idea, it would influence your strategic planning to attack on the globe if some area is in the dark or in the light. Also if you see weather on the globe in that specific area this would also influence real time combat.

Whatever is displayed on the globe transfers into combat.
(by globe I mean Universe at War globe)

[ZimZum]

Whatever is displayed on the globe transfers into combat. I quite like that idea.

Overall though, I don't think this night fighting thing would be very good. Light and dark and changing weather is cool, but from a fluffy point of view, night time isn't really an obstacle to space marine vision systems, so it'd be weird if everyone was getting pointless penalties and unfair if some races suffered more than others. I guess small effects on accuracy in rain and things like that would be alright.

[jon_the_d]

needn't be penalties for night, just the cool look.

[Hirmetrium]

Theres the possiblity that the lighting in the screens is a DX10 effect. Wouldn't suprise me, Relic worked long and hard with nVidia for COH's, this could really be the first "real" DX10 game.

Night fighting is a very large possibility, considering how flexible the essence engine was in COH - Hell, it even has weather now :P

[Elerium]

I don't like how in mini skirmishes just standing around constitutes as "hours" passing. Day and Night would move by ever so quick it would be silly looking in a game like DoW and more fitting for the likes of Warcraft.

Day/Night game modes would be nice though, but it shouldn't change gameplay in a way W3 does to make it imbalancing like Night Elves see further in the dark etc. Anyone who's played the War of the Worlds strategy game will note that if you were the Martians playing at night all the map viewed by the player would be night vision green, whereas the humans don't have that luxury. Something could be done similar for all factions to make them unique.

[Dyntheos]

Good point Elerium. I think having a static Day / Night for the match would be better than something that changes during play. Dynamic weather would be ok though. Like a rain shower passing through the map.

[Flonky]

Maybe dawn or dusk could occur about 10 mins into the match? I think that would be an interesting choice.

[Whut]

Oh man... fighting in the rain would look so sweet.

night fights would be cool too...