SH3 Random Weather Generator [RELEASE v1.02]
 

Now released!

Available here: http://rapidshare.de/files/12236889/...er102.zip.html

FIXED ISSUE THAT WASN'T UPDATING MANUALLY SET VALUES!

Simply place in the same folder that your SH3.exe is located, and shortcut to your desktop.
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CURRENT FEATURES IN RELEASE 1.02
1.02
-Fixed Manual entry problem

1.01
-Added pretty background image
-added log file to log random values for troubleshooting.

generate random weather "realistically"
i.e. no more than 8 knots wind, no rain if there are no clouds, etc.

generate weather based on user selected values
ie. Windspeed, direction, cloud cover, precipitation and fog


randomly set "rate of change" values for clouds, wind, fog, and precip.
ie balanced for smaller rates of change to be more common, except in the case of winds.

randomly set weather interval check Dependent on what month you select. This doesnt mean it will change in that interval, thats just the timer for checking to see IF it changes.

Date driven weather patterns
Following in the footsteps of SH3Cmdr2.4, will generate rate of change, and interval values based on seasonal weather patterns. (this will NOT mod wave height, I am leaving that to SH3Cmdr) Expect harsher weather in the winter months, and so on.

Mediterranean weather patterns
Sailing for the 29th? Select the option and rate of change and intervals will be set accordingly.
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PM me here on SUBSIM.COM about any inconsistencies, bugs, or enhancements you think would improve this.

Cheers, and thanks for the help.

Jamie

I can't test it ATM, but good work. :up: No more weeks-long storms.

I'd be very happy to test this for you. My mail address is in my profile.

Regards

Kentrat

Kapitänleutnant, U-136

Skweetis:
I would love to test, I'm tired of the "clear" sky or "storm" sky.

evanhorn@sc.rr.com

Panama Red

So........you could be in a sub pen in a '15' storm???!?! :doh:

I agree, its not realistic (maybe, I'm not sure) to have 15 m/s wind while at port.

But I recon that it will be an easy thing to program.

it would be neet if we could add this to SH3 commander

Well, Its quite simple for me to adjust the formula's to whatever everone thinks is fair. upper limit for windspeed if you have suggestions....

weather
 

I agree with gdogghenrikson. Contact jscones and see about adding this to the new commander due out soon.
irish1958

I would like to test this, but I cant get SH-commander to work so a version which does'nt use that would be great! :up:

Email:
roesdahl@tiscali.dk

/Kriller

Yes it coul be very cool a weather start randomization in sh3 commander :yep:

Randomizing the start and porcentage values could do that the weather can be different in every patrol and not the fixed stock.

it´s better use a random program that made the changes by hand
:rotfl:

cheers

Kriller, v0.91 BETA is on the way,

Panama, I made some changes and have sent you the updated version.

Thanks Guys!

I posted in Jones' SH3 Commander thread offering the source code, however, it will be dependent on if we are writing in the same language.... I would love to see it as part of Commander too, then I wouldnt have to run them both seperately! :)

kriller2, your email bounced back... is it spelled correctly?

For those that Beta test, I need to know if it seems balanced as well...

Any suggestions on upper limits for values such as interval, windspeeds that would prevent fog from forming, max windspeed for departure (if the seas were too rough, would they not set out? at what point would it be bad enough weather that would preclude a ship from setting sail)

Any suggestions on this, or any glaring issues (its a pretty simple programme so far approx 50 lines or so of code, so I dont anticipate any) and any suggestions on improvements would be greatly appreciated. I would like to make it available to all as soon as possible.

On the topic of SH3 Commander, I havent heard anything from Jones, but if he is programming in VB, I have already created a module and form that he can cut and paste the code into his, or call the form directly if he prefers... we'll see.

Thanks for the kind support and suggestions. Keep them comming.

[EDIT] Actually, if someone is willing to host it for me until it is complete, then I can submit it to subsim, Ill make it an open beta that all can download and try, thanks [EDIT]
Jamie

This sounds good.

After it's beta tested and the correct values sorted out, let me know. I'm hesitant about a few things - the possibility of heavy storms when starting in port or impacts in the Med, although my fears can be allayed by someone that knows about these things. In the meantime, it may be wise to limit the variance to exclude the extremes (for example, if the possible values are 0 to 10 with 0 being calm and 10 being the extreme, perhaps varying between 0 and 7 may be appropriate - testing would then provide the best "arbitrary" value to use).

The language it is written in is irrelevant - I simply translate and integrate into SH3Cmdr. Generally I avoid VB, using only when clients' demand it. Thus SH3Cmdr has been developed in my tool of choice - Delphi. But I don't mind translating VB to Delphi - 50 lines in VB is about 20 in Delphi. ;)

Alrighty then! I know squat about Delphi... Ill copy the code into a text file if you like, or if you have access to VB ill just send the source.... its well commented so it shouldnt be hard to decipher.

Im not a proper programmer, I just work as tech support for a small software company, so I use what I have on hand and dabble.

As for the high windspeed in port, Ill limit it to around 10 kts...

If your worried about impact in the med (since it typically has better weather I assume, just IF around the problem by bypassing my code if they are starting in the med.)

Let me know how you would like it sent to you.

Cheers,

Jamie

Just the .vbp file will be fine. You can send to jonesoft at iinet dot net dot au. Although you may like to keep pursuing, as I'm close to locking down the next release (actually, only data file changes are permitted now). The release after this one won't be until April or May.

That's not the issue - I just don't know if I should be worried, if you know what I mean. If I simulate something, I like it to be based on supporting analysis and data (it's just who I am). Unfortunately, unlike nearly everything else related to SH3, with weather it's simply not as easy as firing up uboat.net and searching for the answer!

Basically, we spend so much time tweaking boats and everything else for accuracy, I don't want to distract with unrealistic weather patterns (just like my concerns with the "Seasonal" wave height option) - I want it as good as we can get it. Hopefully, someone will know the answer to your question around how rough is too rough to start and we'll then be sweet.

I have another question to add though: does the game actually model extreme weather in the Med, or are the extreme values lessened? (I've never been to the Med...although I plan to transfer to the 29th in about 6 months time).

Latest rub and 15m/s winds and the schnellboats are still damaged/on fire from rough seas .
15m/s is too rough .

Ive done some basic balancing (I've been an avid flightsimmer for over a decade, and understanding weather is part of the hobby ;) , and I have some limited sailing experience)

For example, fog will not be generated above a set amount of windspeed, rain will not appear if there are no clouds present, and the random generation formulas are based on percentages to determine values that will be created for SH3.

Unfortunately, the weather system in SH3 is overly simplified, and is limited in what can be done with it. There are three types of fog (from mild to peasoup), only two cloud types (partial and overcast), two levels of rain (but I have only seen heavy work, might be my vid card though) and up to 15kts of wind speed. the rates of change available are only none, mild and heavy. It doesnt leave much to work with, but does get the job done.

It would be nice to have the dynamic real world weather available to flightsims, but it is a bit of overkill for powered seafaring (sailing would be a different story however.)

Frankly once the initial settings are input, it is out of our hands and in the hardcode. Open a .mis file, and under the [MISSION] section are all the weather values we can play with, and only at the outset of a mission. And these weather patterns are global (though if the program itself adjusts for the medditeranean is unknown to me, but I assume it is doubtful)

The only power we have once the mission is started, is affecting the rate of change, and weather check (to see if weather changes) interval set at the start of a mission from the .mis files.

However, these are only my findings from the limited testing I have done in the last few days, your mileage may vary. :)

That said, I will do my best to balance the weather as realistically as possible at the outset of a mission, as I am a stickeler for the finer details, outside of that, it is in SH3's hands.

I hope that sheds some light on the subject, and I wouldnt have even got this far if it weren't for Hartmann's input (see the other Random weather Generation thread for the fruit of his research.)

Ill send the files to you tonight. If you have any questions at all, let me know!

Cheers all,

Jamie

And as an aside, weather patterns are much more stable over large bodies of water than they are over/near land. Since it is the oceans itself that fuel weather, it is not uncommon to see a certain weather pattern remain for extended periods over open bodies of water.

Just look at any hurricane and how it maintains its ferocity over the ocean, and is reasonably predictable until it approaches land, then you have a whole other can of worms to factor in.