time

[Rilar]

I don`t know whether this thread is counted as double post as I know that there is this thread with a similar off-topic discussion about it, and I also lack to find a thread with a similar topic so I post right away.

The thread I posted the link above and the weird feeling each time I has when I look at the IG clock made me think about this. In the calender thread there is the discussion about having a fixed ratio from RL-time to IG-time.
If this ratio is fixed into the server software the server has to restarted if one wanted to change this ratio (I think). Also with a fixed ratio noone would think about changing it, otherwise it wouldn`t be fixed ^^
So the problem of different day and night lengths would be shifted to the lighting system, not be solved with the time system, as it should be.

So my idea is following:
The server has to send each client a synchronisation packet (I think each 0 am and 0 pm in IG-time and at the login of a client are sufficient). Baring in mind that this system has not to be by far as precise as NTP. At login and each time when needed there also has to be send a packet with the \"velocity\" of the time. This packet says \"1 tick=0,5 seconds\" for example. So it is up to the client to figure out the rest. With that system the IG-time is completely independant of the RL-time (timezones, sunset, etc.). To change the length of the day and/or night the server only has to send another packet with a changed velocity. This system provides great flexibility with testing the daylengths to get the best ratio, with altering daylengths in summer/winter IG, even with \"godevents\" when a god wants to retard the day or night on the fly.

The other thing is to leave the \"figure-clock\" and to go to a \"crystal dial\". Sun dials just give approximate time measures, which is really more appropriate to a middle age setting.
I imagine a crystal dial as a small stone which shows simplified the brightness of the crystal, independant on the location, a bit like electrostatic induction.
In the night the same stone could illuminate (of course just a bit), at the beginning of the night bright, getting darker and darker till it is completely dark shortly before the morning.
To give the player a simple utility there could be points around the stone as \"guess\" by the char.
A very simply approach as svg, converted to png here:



Edit: the stone illuminates because it absorbed the radiation of the crystal at the daytime -> it is brighter at first and gets darker.

[stfrn]

Erm... ok, from reading the other thread  Ipresume you are talking about the lengths of a day changing as the day of the year changes? As far as I know, that is not planned, every day would have the same amount of light and darkness. And besides, we need clanaders implimented before we can do anything like this anyways

As for what you are requesting, the server already sends an update to each client telling them what time it currently is. So if the time of day were to change it could be done by a differnt system, say by a powerfull spell stopping the time of day or so. Not like that is going to happen however.

PS: it\'s good to be right to the point and offer suggestions, but could you please explain what you are tring to fix first?

[Ethan]

One good point is having a clock more appropriate to a middle age setting.
And maybe change the seeting description for that because the metal band on the sixth wall should be too far to be use to measure houres.
The only thing we can say against this idea of having a better designed clock is that the real world is still running. I mean it is good to have a clock in game to know what time it is, if you want to stop at a specific time.
So I don\'t know if this is really a good idea to \"force\" players to use such a desing, a switch normal/middle age design and/or alarms could be some solutions.

A IG time which ratio with RL time could change dynamically could be great for some event, but I thinks that it is not so easy to do and that is not the priority.
As far I have understand, what could be only changed is not really the IG time but more the background time, I mean your action will still have the same RL and IG duration, but the weather and day-night cycle could be slower or faster. (This would allow spell of day/night or event changing the time ratio... But I don\'t think It is a good idea to create such skill and I don\'t know how It would be tied with the current setting.)

[Nikodemus]

It would be nice to have day lenght dependent of the in-game months. I don\'t know if in yliakum we have clocks, but in medieval times there was no mechanic clock =P
What more, there wasn\'t twenty four hours. Only day was measured and it had always the same amount of hours if i remmeber well. Night wasn\'t measured, because there was no way to do so - there wasn\'t sun to look at. It was reason of many problems with timing, as the hour lenght was different at summer and at winter.
Later, when clocks was invented, some smart guy made all this what is now obvious for us and what wasn\'t ages before.
Making somethink similiar in ps at some point of development would be good idea.
You might tell that in PS day and night should be always same as long no matter what, but first you would have to explain somethink.
We have 10 months in PS and not all are same as warm. Dwanden, Novari and Yndoli are the coolest. Why are they?
Because a day on surface isn\'t always same as long. This means that amount of light which reach Azure Sun isn\'t always the same every 24 hours. This causes warmer and cooler months. Same as on our Earth.

[Rilar]

And besides, we need clanaders implimented before we can do anything like this anyways

Don`t think we need calendars before. Calendars just modify the velocity (in my approach),

what you are tring to fix first?

 so at first we need a system with which we can change the velocity of time on the fly.
Of course \"velocity of time\" just refers here to how fast the day passes. Maybe, if there is the need, the same system but modified could be used with IG animations, but here I am really unsure how that could work.
To come back to the calendar-thing: Now we have a static ratio, afaik. To get where I suggested, the system to change velocity on the fly could be implemented but the velocity could be kept static as it is now. So there wont be any differences to the user at first, but from there you will know how to do the calendar as \"plugin\" for the \"timemachine\"

And maybe change the seeting description for that because the metal band on the sixth wall should be too far to be use to measure houres.

I don`t quite get what you mean, sorry?

The only thing we can say against this idea of having a better designed clock is that the real world is still running. I mean it is good to have a clock in game to know what time it is, if you want to stop at a specific time.

So I rather ask \"what time is it for you?\" and \"in how many hours will you be back?\" than looking at the IG (server) time and calculate the things twice and triple ^^

[steuben]

silly question time. why do you want to modify the rate that time moves at?

[Rilar]

silly question time. why do you want to modify the rate that time moves at?

I thought it would be obvious by reading the thread.. alright:
Because in winter the time at daytime could be moving faster than in the night and the other way round in summer. At certain events days/nights could be longer (not only in the literal meaning), also \"godevents\" or very powerful spells could alter the global velocity of the time. If I guess right, the server has to be restarted when changing the ratio of RL-time to IG-time. For testing purposes this could be done then on the fly without restarting.
If that system works properly and it is appropriate one could think about combining it with the IG animations. Then the speed of the animations globally or for specific clients could be affected. I think about a local slow-motion or fast-motion spell.

[Ethan]

And maybe change the seeting description for that because the metal band on the sixth wall should be too far to be use to measure houres.

I don`t quite get what you mean, sorry?

That is normal. :p

Well... Quote from planeshift.it

The Crystal draws its light from the surface and thus Yliakum is subjected to times of \"day\" and \"night\". However, even at night, it is not completely dark. The level of the lake, which rises and falls in an extremely consistent manner, measures hours. A wide band of the metal Orichalc was put on a section of the sixth wall and was used not only because it is the only metal that doesn\'t deteriorate whatsoever, but also because underwater flora cannot take root in it.

So we could measure time even night but I don\'t understand how you can precisely see the metal band in fact. During the day, it could be a kind of twins, optical system, and during the night night-twins ? Does it even exist in PS?

(This post is about how could PS-people know the time, there is nothing really related to the implementation and how player would see it.)

[zozeer]

I don?t see why we don?t just use a 1:1 ratio for IG and RL time.  Help me out here, if I ask you your time of return and you have to do math to figure IG time from RL time isn?t that a waste?  If it was set up to a 1:1 then you would say 20 min IG and mean 20 min RL, and as for day length it?s the same all year round.  As well I think that the \"watch\" could be an item that is hard to find/ and or can be sold in a pinch to get weapons, etc...., I don?t know but to me an item that tells time in the middle ages should be something of a commodity, like a way to hide wealth from pickpocketer?s or to condense money,  but I guess in this game system that?s not a problem, (in D&D its not uncommon to trade 1000gp for a 1000gp gem to cut down on weight loads.)

[Karyuu]

Originally posted by zozeer
I don?t see why we don?t just use a 1:1 ratio for IG and RL time.  Help me out here, if I ask you your time of return and you have to do math to figure IG time from RL time isn?t that a waste?  If it was set up to a 1:1 then you would say 20 min IG and mean 20 min RL, and as for day length it?s the same all year round.

I wish you would\'ve done more reading on the subject ;) How would this be fair to players located in different time zones? One person may only be able to log on during the night, and see nothing but a dark-blue/black sky every single time, while another would see nothing but day. It\'s silly, and unfair, and not going to be implemented.

If you\'re asking someone IC when they are going to return, you\'d never get an exact answer such as \"In twenty minutes,\" because time not only moves differently, there is no way to measure said time in a medieval fantasy world. And if you\'re asking someone OOC for the length of time before their return, there is no issue.

[zozeer]

well I did think of the time zone thing and, if the offical relese PS world is as large as it looks like its going to be, then its not an issue if in game time zones.

[Karyuu]

Originally posted by zozeer
well I did think of the time zone thing and, if the offical relese PS world is as large as it looks like its going to be, then its not an issue if in game time zones.

I might need a larger explanation from your side.. :)

[zozeer]

well think about it,  the time is 1:1, and if you travel enough then you switch IG time zones and then its all good.  On top of that I didint say that the time would be the same IG as RL just the time ratio.