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Description of feature request

The Issue

Currently in the mod, there is a lack of transitions between different cloud regions. This can be fine for some cases, but it seems odd when it comes to cases such as these:

With nimbostratus clouds following cumulonimbus clouds like that, it'd make more sense for there to be a gradual transition between the thunderstorm and the rainstorm, instead of there being a clearing between the two storms.

Another example is when cumulus clouds border a front of thunderstorms:

There's a really awkward spacing between the two cloud regions, instead of what would make more sense; having the cumulus clouds appear to get taller and more ominous the closer they are to the storm clouds.

How could this be done?

Now, I think it'd make sense for there to be spacing between certain cloud regions, it really does just depend upon context. I'm assuming that most likely there would have to be a way to specify cloud regions that are compatible with one another, and through some means of detecting the proximity of cloud regions from one another, having their parameters be interpolated between the two systems:

E.g. having cumulus grow taller near thundershowers, or cumulonimbus grow flatter and shorter near more steady rainstorms.

To be honest, I don't even know if this would even be possible with the current system - as I don't know exactly how cloud regions are defined, but for the possibility that this is even remotely possible, I'll be posting this feature request.

As for any notable exceptions to the rule, I believe that any neighboring thunderstorm complexes should not be interpolated into each other. Thunderstorms tend to be quite localized, and it's normal to have breaks between storms. Hell, there's often really dramatic cloud scenes in the mod I found on the boundaries of two thunderstorms:

This could be tricky to do mostly with how cloud regions are defined, a given position can only have one cloud type associated with it and so I'd have to figure out a way to have two that can interpolated somehow. Though I do like the idea!

This could be tricky to do mostly with how cloud regions are defined, a given position can only have one cloud type associated with it and so I'd have to figure out a way to have two that can interpolated somehow. Though I do like the idea!

maybe don't make them change, but rather add types that can appear beside one another, so you don't just have a raincloud (idk what their proper name is in english), but it should be surrounded by just grey clouds, so you have just cloudy weather that transitions to rain. Idk how to explain better, but basically something like priority? so certain clouds are much more likely to generate around/next to the other specific type

Then you probably wouldn't have to make them interpolate and it'd be nicer in general, clear skies won't just jump to thunderstorm in one second

I've been thinking about this, and I believe I know how we could overhaul the way clouds generate.

Currently, everything is done based on a voronoi grid, yeah? Well, I'd say we should scrap that all together. Instead:

• There should be some sort of n-dimensional noise grid that's implanted throughout the world. It can contain parameters for humidity, stability, inversion, etc.
• Each cloud region should have a target set of paramters (cumulonimbus: high humidity, low stability and inversion; stratocumulus: mid humidity, high stability and high inversion, etc).
• When generating clouds, sample from the noise map, find the two best fitting cloud regions, and then interpolate between the cloud regions based on the distance from the optimal targets.

This would allow for less predictability (cloud regions are repetitive currently), and more of a gradual change (no harsh borders because the voronoi grid was replaced).