Fire! Any suggestions for mods that tweak it?

[An actual duck]

So I think everyone finds the rain when there is fire mechanic a tad silly, however without this then any boomrat that dies makes the entire map burn down. So what's a decent middle ground to solve this? If anyone know of a good mod, let me know

However, if there is no good mod, here is how I'd handle it. First, deactivate the auto rain, random weather feels more right. Next I would add a "damp" status to the map after a rainfall, making fire not spread if the map is damp. The damp status could last variably based on how hot it is. Then hot low rainfall areas would be most likely to have forest fires that spread, while cool high rainfall areas would have it less. This just feels more true to life and I'd really like to see this

[Malli]

Originally posted by An actual duck:

So I think everyone finds the rain when there is fire mechanic a tad silly, however without this then any boomrat that dies makes the entire map burn down. So what's a decent middle ground to solve this? If anyone know of a good mod, let me know

However, if there is no good mod, here is how I'd handle it. First, deactivate the auto rain, random weather feels more right. Next I would add a "damp" status to the map after a rainfall, making fire not spread if the map is damp. The damp status could last variably based on how hot it is. Then hot low rainfall areas would be most likely to have forest fires that spread, while cool high rainfall areas would have it less. This just feels more true to life and I'd really like to see this

I've played in a rain forest and haven't had it rain after a fire started. The whole map turnt into a chrisp

[Morkonan]

Originally posted by An actual duck:

...This just feels more true to life and I'd really like to see this

There isn't a problem with the current fire mechanics. The problem is one of "scale."

The map you play on is _ x _ size. (Whatever it is.) That's a relatively small area in terms of "Everything Else."

Fire in Rimworld spreads and does so pretty "realistically." The thing with that somewhat "realistic" spread is that... it's a small area. There is no realistic reason why a fire that starts in an area like that wouldn't burn everything down. It is, after all, a relatively small area.

So, there's a necessary balance with Fire and the area of play that's needed, right? You don't want a random Fire to end the player's game through what's really not the fault of the player. But, you also want some kind of realistic danger of fire. Rimworld throws enough challenges at the player and irrepressible fires destroying everything as the player watches, helpless, aren't "fun." That's why there's a rescue mechanic in terms of Rain - Fire is still a big threat, can do a ton of damage, spreads and acts realistically, but can't destroy the entire map on its own. It can, however, still destroy most if not all of a colony's buildings, depending on construction.

Rain is also necessary to remove fire because very large fires can turn the game into a slideshow... Each tile on fire, all surrounding tiles calculating spread/temp, more fire, more calcs, etc... runaway condition.

I do like the idea of "damp" though. I wouldn't key it to rainfall activity simply because the game already has enough to do. (Rain would mean everything "outside" now has a temporary modifier with a timer...) But, for that bonus against fires there'd still have to be a mechanic to offset it. Like a swamp biome, an increase in disease would seem to be called for.

BUT, I don't know how deep "Fire" in Rimworld can be touched... For instance, if it can be touched directly and Fire as a variable can be changed depending on Biome, that'd be great. (Swamps wouldn't burn so terribly.) If it can't be touched directly, forcing someone to edit "everything" to add a biome-dependent variable, then absolutely not... That's too much touching. :)

Fire can be switched off, I think. I don't know if it's in the starting conditions or a toggle that needs to be edited. There's probably a mod for that. :)

Note: "Realistically" while "damp things" are less likely to catch fire, a large fire creates a swath of "no longer damp things" all around it, ready to be set afire. It makes small fires less likely to spread, but large fires are very robust.

Originally posted by Leani & Red:

I've had a fire threaten to end my colony and, to my relief, had "Rain" come to my rescue! Only to end a few minutes later and the rest of the fire to continue burning what was left... IOW - The rain didn't put out all the fires and/or other ones started up. Yay? :)

[corisai]

Boom-animals are more like living napalm bomb (don't forget - we're on xeno world, so animals actually alien beasts).

I can't say they aren't scare - some campfires had started a massive fires in forest on our planet. And walking napalm bomb is sounds much more scarier then campfire!

Build some firebreakers. In warm climates it's a must (in cold biomes you will rarely see enough tree & grass for large fires after several winters).

[An actual duck]

Yikes so far it seems people didn't get what I'm talking about. First the rain chance increasing to deal with fire is a confirmed mechanic, to anyone who thinks it isn't. Second, my base is fine, I just think it's a weird choice to have to make; convenient rain every time there is a big fire, or entire forest burns down every time even the smallest fire is started (not my base, everything outside).

The current mechanic is fine, I just think there could be something better. If fire is spreading in a dry climate in real life rain isn't suddenly more likely to come along and conveniently put it out. Similarly, in real life if a fire is started in a damp climate it's not as likely to spread but rather burn itself out due to healthy vegetation.

[corisai]

Originally posted by An actual duck:

Second, my base is fine, I just think it's a weird choice to have to make; convenient rain every time there is a big fire, or entire forest burns down every time even the smallest fire is started (not my base, everything outside).

From a programmer side - it's MUCH better to use existing code doing +/- things you need (=rain) then creating new code from a scratch.

[Legion]

There was a mod lingering around to disable the rain upon fires (which is a mechanic contrary to what some people believe), but I forgot what the name of it was. For the most part, there aren't any mods that cause fires to fizzle out depending on your base location, so it's pretty much either you set a home zone to combat the fire yourself, or deal with the rain mechanic/mod it out.

The rain initiating when fire gets so large is because of the impact fire has on most PCs. It's a safety mechanic not for your base, but for your PC. It's not a weird choice.

[Silky Rough]

Originally posted by An actual duck:

The current mechanic is fine, I just think there could be something better. If fire is spreading in a dry climate in real life rain isn't suddenly more likely to come along and conveniently put it out. Similarly, in real life if a fire is started in a damp climate it's not as likely to spread but rather burn itself out due to healthy vegetation.

As a point of knowledge only, from a self-confessed know-it-all, rain is possible with a larger fire, they can actually create their own. No, not often, but it's certainly possible, I've seen it. (*)

Another small point is that many bushfires, certainly in Australia, precede a cold front that first brings unstable atmosphere and lightning - which start the fires - that then bring rain. It's the approach of the front, causing rising winds, along with the wind change that makes our fires get so big and dangerous.

At least, that's the "fire" logic I apply to Rimworld because it does and can happen - granted, not as often though.

(*) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumulonimbus_flammagenitus

Watch the video at the top.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-28/bushfire-storms-can-spark-fire-tornadoes-dry-lightning-and-more/10561832

[Legion]

Originally posted by Silky Rough:

Originally posted by An actual duck:

The current mechanic is fine, I just think there could be something better. If fire is spreading in a dry climate in real life rain isn't suddenly more likely to come along and conveniently put it out. Similarly, in real life if a fire is started in a damp climate it's not as likely to spread but rather burn itself out due to healthy vegetation.

As a point of knowledge only, from a self-confessed know-it-all, rain is possible with a larger fire, they can actually create their own. No, not often, but it's certainly possible, I've seen it. (*)

Another small point is that many bushfires, certainly in Australia, precede a cold front that first brings unstable atmosphere and lightning - which start the fires - that then bring rain. It's the approach of the front, causing rising winds, along with the wind change that makes our fires get so big and dangerous.

At least, that's the "fire" logic I apply to Rimworld because it does and can happen - granted, not as often though.

(*) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumulonimbus_flammagenitus

Watch the video at the top.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-28/bushfire-storms-can-spark-fire-tornadoes-dry-lightning-and-more/10561832

To those who don't get it, basically it's akin to a heat storm.

[Silky Rough]

Originally posted by Nomadic:

To those who don't get it, basically it's akin to a heat storm.

It's not a term I've ever heard, certainly not here in Oz. I've heard of firestorm but that's a different phenomena.

The more common cloud formation term used here is pyrocumulonimbus - which is almost self explanatory.

(ED: And the second type of rain event during fire is a natural event).

[Legion]

Originally posted by Silky Rough:

Originally posted by Nomadic:

To those who don't get it, basically it's akin to a heat storm.

It's not a term I've ever heard, certainly not here in Oz. I've heard of firestorm but that's a different phenomena.

The more common cloud formation term used here is pyrocumulonimbus - which is almost self explanatory.

(ED: And the second type of rain event during fire is a natural event).

Basically the heat/humidity in the air, when risen, causes a reaction that creates rain. It usually doesn't last long considering the rain cools things off. It's pretty common in areas that aren't acclimated to the hotter temperatures, which at least involves MD.

But, it's interesting to know that it's not a common term. I'll have to keep that in mind.

[crgzero]

Fire is a non issue. If you dislike it so much, turn on dev mode and throw down a firefoam bomb.

Personally, rain does it's job more often than not. If it's not raining and allowing fire to torch your home biome RNGeezus just hates you today.

Or download the fire extinguisher mod, or make firefoam mortar shells and take care of it.

[Legion]

Originally posted by crgzero:

Fire is a non issue.

That's not your place to determine what is, or is not, an issue to someone else.

[crgzero]

Originally posted by Nomadic:

Originally posted by crgzero:

Fire is a non issue.

That's not your place to determine what is, or is not, an issue to someone else.

Yes, yes it is. There are far to many ways to dealing with it instead of coming onto the forums and complaining about it.

Just like it's the right of everyone else to whine about how bad it is, it's my right to whine about how stupid they are, you are, for not putting some ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ thought into how to deal with it.

Hell mental breaks from eating without a table is more troublesome than fires are.

[Legion]

Originally posted by crgzero:

Originally posted by Nomadic:

That's not your place to determine what is, or is not, an issue to someone else.

Yes, yes it is. There are far to many ways to dealing with it instead of coming onto the forums and complaining about it.

Just like it's the right of everyone else to whine about how bad it is, it's my right to whine about how stupid they are, you are, for not putting some ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ thought into how to deal with it.

Hell mental breaks from eating without a table is more troublesome than fires are.

Since it appears that simple comprehension is escaping you, let me remind you once more that it is not your place, no matter how deluded you've made yourself. A simple request for a tweak was created along with an explanation of why, not for some self-righteous troll to come along thinking it's in their place to tell the OP how they should feel about the issue at hand.

I said it isn't your place, not that it isn't your right. That being said, you'll want to re-think your little idea of potting me into that group with not putting thought into how to deal with it when I very clearly stated both WHY the fire is a mechanic the way it is and a way to deal with it. Instead of thinking for yourself, how about you let people who are more competent do it for you, yeah? Since you obviously have a clear lack of both comprehension and the ability to put some "♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ thought" into a meaningful reply.

You don't get to determine what is or is not an issue to someone else. No matter how misguided you are, there's no way around that. Get over it.

[An actual duck]

Fun game, though.