Weather control

12-08-07, 09:29 AM

I reloaded SH3 to review the good old days but something strange has taken place - in every career mission the weather starts out typical harbor - wind 5 knots, clear skies - and then moves to a wind of 8 knots or so with cloudy skies but no rain - and then the sea becomes like glass with wind 0 knots and clear skies FOR THE REST OF THE GAME. Is my DVD screwed up or what? Has there been a reality shift? I have reloaded it twice and still the same results.

So where exactly is the weather data and how can I change it?

kenijaru · 12-08-07, 09:34 AM

i have sort of the same problem... but the other way around, lets say i couldn't man the deck gun for 35 days straight...

Subtype Zero · 12-08-07, 08:57 PM

There are currently two ways to make changes to the weather, manually or with Skweetis' SH3 Weather program. You can use Skweetis' program in port, just before starting a mission; you can set your own weather settings, or allow the program to make random changes. However, this only works at the beginning of your mission and is set until you start a new patrol. Most likely, your weather will change, but you will not have any control over it.

Personally, I like to change the weather myself. To make changes manually, and in the middle of a patrol, you need to edit a few text-files (easy to do). Open your Ubisoft/SilentHunterIII/data/Campaigns/Campaign folder and change the highlighted text in each of these files: Campaign_LND.mis, Campaign_RND.mis, and Campaign_SCR.mis :

[Mission]
Title=GWXR1.02FULL
MissionType=0
MissionDataType=1
Year=1939
Month=1
Day=1
Hour=12
Minute=0
Fog=1
FogRand=0
Clouds=1
CloudsRand=1
Precip=0
PrecipRand=1
WindHeading=192
WindSpeed=7
WindRand=1
WeatherRndInterval=2
SeaType=0
Briefing=

where Fog can be set to 0-3 (none, light, medium, heavy), Clouds 0-2 (none, medium, heavy), and Precip 0-2 (none, medium, heavy). The "xxxRand=" settings control the degree of change and can be set to 0-2 (none, minor, extreme). Finally, WeatherRndInterval (maybe the most important variable) controls how rapidly the program will check to "change" the weather. This value can range from 2 to 96, but I never set it above 7 or 8 because values higher than that makes the weather change too slowly for my tastes.

Finally, note that the frequency that you save seems to effect weather changes. When you save, the game resets its timer for weather changes to zero, with the result that the more saves you make, the more likely you are to have unchanging weather.

Subtype Zero · 12-08-07, 09:33 PM

Forgot to mention: to open the .mis files, click on the file, pick the "Select the program from a list" button, and then select Notepad or any other textfile program to edit the file. Be sure to uncheck the button which says "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file." (Stupid Microsloth)

12-09-07, 02:54 AM

I will try it. I did finally get my career weather to rain and how I did it was to build a simple mission called: rainlikehell - and in it made the wind 15 and rain total. I sailed around in that mission for about 30 minutes and then returned to my career. Understand that I had played all through 1939 and 40 with no rain at all. But in the next mission after playing the rain mission, I ran into a heck of a storm on the second day. For me it was great - if I could have been there in person I'd have been running around trying to catch the rain in my cap. I think somehow my rain mission kicked what ever it was blocking up my weather in my careers.

But I will try your fix too.

That could be my problem – I was playing my mod called Victory-Mod ( http://www.angelfire.com/crazy/redbr...mod_theory.htm ) in which I built a totally new Campaign_LND.mis, Campaign_RND.mis, and Campaign_SCR.mis. It always worked in the past – I built it back in early 2006. But I did alter many things in it last month and maybe I inadvertently screwed up the weather settings in one of those files. I’ll have to check. I used to be on here as Redbrow in 2005 but switched to Wave Skipper later. Glad to see so much stuff still being done to SH3.

Quagmire1975 · 12-09-07, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wave Skipper

I reloaded SH3 to review the good old days but something strange has taken place - in every career mission the weather starts out typical harbor - wind 5 knots, clear skies - and then moves to a wind of 8 knots or so with cloudy skies but no rain - and then the sea becomes like glass with wind 0 knots and clear skies FOR THE REST OF THE GAME. Is my DVD screwed up or what? Has there been a reality shift? I have reloaded it twice and still the same results.

So where exactly is the weather data and how can I change it?

I have the opposite problem.

In my game (stock + patch 1.4) the weather is fine when leaving harbour then turns crap further out and stays crap for most of the mission. I've been in storms that have lasted WEEKS!

Also, the later in the war, the worse the weather gets for some reason.

In 1939-40 the weather is superb most of the time, but from '43 onwards it turns really bad

Subtype Zero · 12-09-07, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quagmire1975

I have the opposite problem.

In my game (stock + patch 1.4) the weather is fine when leaving harbour then turns crap further out and stays crap for most of the mission. I've been in storms that have lasted WEEKS!

He, he. Yes, that is the usual complaint about SH weather. As I understand it, the game is set up so that the weather around your port is ALWAYS relatively calm. Some kind of design decision, perhaps to avoid excessive crashing and swamping of harbor ships, I believe. The weather usually changes to crap and stays that way after you have been to sea for 2 or 3 days.

Are you up for an experiment? If so, go out on a patrol. Just after leaving port, save your game and check one of the Campaign.mis files. Look for the WeatherRndInterval value. Write down or remember the number. Reload the game and continue your patrol. When the weather changes to stormy, save and exit again and recheck one of the Campaign.mis files. Has the WeatherRndInterval number changed or is it the same? If the number has changed, what number did it change to? If it is a low number (2 or 3), your weather will probably change relatively quickly. If it is a high number (anything over 7 or 8), I bet your bad weather will last a very long time. I'm curious to know what happens, so post your results if you are able.

The reason I am curious is because I'm not sure if the game changes the weather dynamically or if all weather changes are decided by the game engine and set at the beginning of each patrol. If it is the latter, then I don't know if there is much we can do to change the weather behavior of the game, even with programs like SH3Weather or user edits like mine and others. I'm not a modder, so I don't know the answer to this question.

Are there any modders out there who are willing to look at the game files to see if they can figure out how weather changes are implemented by the game? I would really appreciate any insight I can get into this, ahem, interesting

problem.

Subtype Zero · 12-09-07, 09:15 PM

I just thought of another possible experiment. After you dock in base, but before you go out on a new patrol, change the WeatherRndInterval value in the three Campaign.mis files to a very high number, preferably between 72 and 96. Reload the game and note how long it takes for your weather to change from nice to crappy. If player editing makes any difference, it should take at least 3-4 days before your weather changes (and maybe even longer than that). On the other hand, if your weather changes in less than 3 days, then we are probably safe to assume that the WeatherRndInterval number is set in the executable and that user input is irrelevant.

I think I will create a new career myself and check this out. Anyone else who wishes to test my theory are more than welcome to do so! Post your results (and any results from the experiment mentioned in my previous post) to this thread. Thanks!

Subtype Zero · 12-11-07, 02:26 AM

Mumble, mumble...hello? I think I must be having a conversation with myself!

....

If anyone is interested, I am still in the middle of several experiments, but I have a few early observations: 1) modifying the .mis files does have some effect. For instance, it will take your initial settings for cloud cover, precip, fog, and wind. 2) Not sure if changes to the xxxRand= do anything, still checking.

3) Changes to the WeatherRndInterval= setting seems to have little effect on the rate of change for the clouds, rain, and fog settings. Has its biggest effect on the wind direction but not the wind speed.

Even with WeatherRndInterval=2, one of my patrols had almost 4 1/2 consecutive days of 15m/sec wind. However, the wind direction changed constantly!

4) Trying to conduct weather experiments in 1942 is a bad idea! Constantly diving to avoid air attacks. My next experiments will be in 1939 only!

My next step is to set WindRand=0 and see what effect that has...

Stiebler · 12-12-07, 05:59 AM

This has all been discussed before:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...hlight=weather

May I draw specifically to your attention my discovery given on page 4 of the above thread?

12-08-07, 09:29 AM	#1
Wave Skipper Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Weather control I reloaded SH3 to review the good old days but something strange has taken place - in every career mission the weather starts out typical harbor - wind 5 knots, clear skies - and then moves to a wind of 8 knots or so with cloudy skies but no rain - and then the sea becomes like glass with wind 0 knots and clear skies FOR THE REST OF THE GAME. Is my DVD screwed up or what? Has there been a reality shift? I have reloaded it twice and still the same results. So where exactly is the weather data and how can I change it?

12-08-07, 08:57 PM	#3
Subtype Zero Lieutenant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 19,998 Leagues under the sea Posts: 262 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	There are currently two ways to make changes to the weather, manually or with Skweetis' SH3 Weather program. You can use Skweetis' program in port, just before starting a mission; you can set your own weather settings, or allow the program to make random changes. However, this only works at the beginning of your mission and is set until you start a new patrol. Most likely, your weather will change, but you will not have any control over it. Personally, I like to change the weather myself. To make changes manually, and in the middle of a patrol, you need to edit a few text-files (easy to do). Open your Ubisoft/SilentHunterIII/data/Campaigns/Campaign folder and change the highlighted text in each of these files: Campaign_LND.mis, Campaign_RND.mis, and Campaign_SCR.mis : [Mission] Title=GWXR1.02FULL MissionType=0 MissionDataType=1 Year=1939 Month=1 Day=1 Hour=12 Minute=0 Fog=1 FogRand=0 Clouds=1 CloudsRand=1 Precip=0 PrecipRand=1 WindHeading=192 WindSpeed=7 WindRand=1 WeatherRndInterval=2 SeaType=0 Briefing= where Fog can be set to 0-3 (none, light, medium, heavy), Clouds 0-2 (none, medium, heavy), and Precip 0-2 (none, medium, heavy). The "xxxRand=" settings control the degree of change and can be set to 0-2 (none, minor, extreme). Finally, WeatherRndInterval (maybe the most important variable) controls how rapidly the program will check to "change" the weather. This value can range from 2 to 96, but I never set it above 7 or 8 because values higher than that makes the weather change too slowly for my tastes. Finally, note that the frequency that you save seems to effect weather changes. When you save, the game resets its timer for weather changes to zero, with the result that the more saves you make, the more likely you are to have unchanging weather. __________________ Last edited by Subtype Zero; 12-08-07 at 09:20 PM.

12-08-07, 09:33 PM	#4
Subtype Zero Lieutenant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 19,998 Leagues under the sea Posts: 262 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	Forgot to mention: to open the .mis files, click on the file, pick the "Select the program from a list" button, and then select Notepad or any other textfile program to edit the file. Be sure to uncheck the button which says "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file." (Stupid Microsloth) __________________

12-09-07, 02:54 AM	#5
Wave Skipper Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	Thanx Zero I will try it. I did finally get my career weather to rain and how I did it was to build a simple mission called: rainlikehell - and in it made the wind 15 and rain total. I sailed around in that mission for about 30 minutes and then returned to my career. Understand that I had played all through 1939 and 40 with no rain at all. But in the next mission after playing the rain mission, I ran into a heck of a storm on the second day. For me it was great - if I could have been there in person I'd have been running around trying to catch the rain in my cap. I think somehow my rain mission kicked what ever it was blocking up my weather in my careers. But I will try your fix too. That could be my problem – I was playing my mod called Victory-Mod ( http://www.angelfire.com/crazy/redbr...mod_theory.htm ) in which I built a totally new Campaign_LND.mis, Campaign_RND.mis, and Campaign_SCR.mis. It always worked in the past – I built it back in early 2006. But I did alter many things in it last month and maybe I inadvertently screwed up the weather settings in one of those files. I’ll have to check. I used to be on here as Redbrow in 2005 but switched to Wave Skipper later. Glad to see so much stuff still being done to SH3. Last edited by Wave Skipper; 12-09-07 at 03:29 AM.

12-09-07, 09:15 PM	#8
Subtype Zero Lieutenant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 19,998 Leagues under the sea Posts: 262 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	Another possible experiment I just thought of another possible experiment. After you dock in base, but before you go out on a new patrol, change the WeatherRndInterval value in the three Campaign.mis files to a very high number, preferably between 72 and 96. Reload the game and note how long it takes for your weather to change from nice to crappy. If player editing makes any difference, it should take at least 3-4 days before your weather changes (and maybe even longer than that). On the other hand, if your weather changes in less than 3 days, then we are probably safe to assume that the WeatherRndInterval number is set in the executable and that user input is irrelevant. I think I will create a new career myself and check this out. Anyone else who wishes to test my theory are more than welcome to do so! Post your results (and any results from the experiment mentioned in my previous post) to this thread. Thanks! __________________

12-11-07, 02:26 AM	#9
Subtype Zero Lieutenant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 19,998 Leagues under the sea Posts: 262 Downloads: 7 Uploads: 0	Mumble, mumble...hello? I think I must be having a conversation with myself! .... If anyone is interested, I am still in the middle of several experiments, but I have a few early observations: 1) modifying the .mis files does have some effect. For instance, it will take your initial settings for cloud cover, precip, fog, and wind. 2) Not sure if changes to the xxxRand= do anything, still checking. 3) Changes to the WeatherRndInterval= setting seems to have little effect on the rate of change for the clouds, rain, and fog settings. Has its biggest effect on the wind direction but not the wind speed. Even with WeatherRndInterval=2, one of my patrols had almost 4 1/2 consecutive days of 15m/sec wind. However, the wind direction changed constantly! 4) Trying to conduct weather experiments in 1942 is a bad idea! Constantly diving to avoid air attacks. My next experiments will be in 1939 only! My next step is to set WindRand=0 and see what effect that has... __________________

12-12-07, 05:59 AM	#10
Stiebler Fuel Supplier Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,237 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 4	This has all been discussed before: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/show...hlight=weather May I draw specifically to your attention my discovery given on page 4 of the above thread? __________________ NYGM Tonnage War Mod - More than a mod: it's an experience!