Storms shrink/grow based on the season of the year. During the Winter and Spring seasons, weather conditions worsen. New storms are added to the map and existing storms have a chance of growing larger. Storms are measured by the "magnitude" of the storm. This indicates how large and powerful the storm is.

A magnitude of 1 indicates that the storm only occupies the single square. A magnitude of 2 indicates that it also affects all the squares adjacent to its focus. A magnitude of 3 will include the next squares out and so on. A storm gets stronger as you get closer to its focus.

In addition, terrain affects the effective magnitude of storms passing overhead and nearby. Generally, warm and/or wet terrain will increase the effective magnitude in that particular square, while cold and/or dry terrain will decrease the effective magnitude. For example, large areas of jungle will increase the EM of storms that pass over them and large areas of desert will likewise decrease the EM. The computer also keeps track of rainfall in all the squares on the map. If an area has been exceptionally wet, or dry, there is the possibility of the square changing to a different type of terrain. This will be a very rare event, so don't expect to see a whole lot of it going on. Sorry folks, the exact effects that terrain has on the storms is a trade secret (or could it be that I am too lazy to explain it?)

On your WCVIEW map, storms will be denoted by a light "rain" pattern over the affected squares.

Last edited on 4/19/95

The author, Bill Rapp, can be reached at: conquest@dnai.com