Pics i found on google:

http://photo.accuweather.com/photogallery/2007/5/500/e973857da.jpg
http://img.ezinemark.com/imagemanager2/files/30000560/2010/10/2010-10-15-11-58-10-3-lightning-over-table-mountain-and-lions-head-in.jpeg
http://nynerd.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/4-lightning-photograph.JPG
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_512VEbm7xB0/SYMGyCJ0uaI/AAAAAAAAUNE/1y4rjfnXxSE/s1600-h/a333_c4.jpg

Lighting/thunder would make for some epic in-game battles. place two warriors in a thunderstorm during an especially dark night and you got yourself an epic battle.

as for having lightning strike the landmass and the ocean in Skyrim, I think it would be a great idea:

-It'd be cool to see the lighting actually strike places.
-It'd make you think twice before going out in a thunderstorm.
-It'd be a cool, rarish occurrence to see it strike closeby
-I'd make the thunder more dynamic (close lightning has loud thunder during or right after the lightning-flash; distant lightning has quieter thunder sometime after the flash)

I think that if lightning strikes you (with a 1 in 1,000,000 chance) it shouldn't be a game-over, however. after-all you are Dovahkiin, it should just hurt you kinda bad.

This all sounds good to me.

Totally agree with Mr. Bei...I think that the weather systems in Skryim, particularly the rain and thunderstorms should be as intense as possible...And NPCs should definately be scared...

With the already confirmed dynamic wind, snow and rain this would be the the perfect addition to round out a fully dynamic weather system.

please, Mr. Bei was my father, call me Liu

FUNFACT: for the Chinese (like Liu Bei) The first name is the surname. In other words, Liu is the name that gets passed down to the children, not Bei.

very very frightening?

anyway, yes should be thunder and lightning, though considering that you're running around in a metal suit it probably would be for the best if it were just a background asthetic, and not actually striking anywhere (though if buildings and trees could show visible and lasting damage from lightning strikes it would be kinda neat, but would probably be too hard to implement).

AW, man. i was trying to think of something catchy/fun for the topic title (as i usually try to do). I didn't think of anything. I should of done "Thunderbolts and Lightning, Very, Very Frightening"

Ooh Great suggestion.
this would be great if it is in the game.

Other: don't care
Other: don't care

[realismfanatic] It'd be so awsome to have real lightning strikes with the appropriate delay! And we could have fused glass trails in the soil! (forgot name of such structures)Imagine having to ground your armor and weapons because your hair would be standing on end and then having to squat with your heels touching in the corner of the 45 degree safety zone! [/realismfanatic]

Really, I think talking about where and how lightning behaves is over the top and really has little overall bearing in a cRPG. :shrug:

Roger that Liu...

that wouldn't be awesome? i don't think i'd be too hard to implement either, especially because no one is asking for destructible environments.

Respectfully,

Nah, it wouldn't be awesome. It'd be something that I'd probably just notice once, go "hmm nice" and not care about it for the hundred of hours more that I'd play. :shrug:

Something to think about is the time delay. Would it be relative like far laightning's thunder takes longer to reach you than shorter, would it be realalistic with a 5 sec/mile ratio, would that ration be real time or game time (the latter would still be infitessimal delays), what is the land mass scale relative to making the distant thunder appreciable?

In the end, it's still just window dressing to me and not something to get excited over :shrug:

yeah, it is just window dressing. but it's the kind of window dressing that i think i want, kind of like changing weather in general, or non-hostile critters. I guess it all depends on what you're looking for in the game.

as for the delay, i bet they'd do something around that 5 seconds a mile rule.

realistic lightning and thunder would be epic!

.....and ask for in a game. If crazy idealists with silly ideas like glowing arms, delayed thender etc. didn't voice their opinions, I'd still be playing games like Zork or Wizardry

on topic:
It'd be hilarious if a dragon got nailed by a bolt before you could be that all mighty dragon slayer.
"A HA! I see, up there on your perch, you evil wyrm. Prepare to feel the wrath of my blade deep within yo...
*CRASH BANG BRIGHTNES, dragon falls from perch smoking like a burnded cartoon character
*......hmmm right then...guess I'll just claim that shot it with a steel arrow that acted like a lighning rod...ya! That's the ticket!

Hopefully they confirm thunder and lightning to even be in the game.

If these suggestions get implemented, they absolutely have to add a unique one-handed hammer that can summon lightning, or at least have it act as a lightning rod in the thunder storms.

Thunder and lightning would be good as a back ground give it that sense of a realistic feel.. I wouldn't mind lightning striking in the game around the town or land but not you.. I wouldn't want to restart a quest because I got struck by lightning.. It might get too repetitive / Frustrating after a while...

OP pics:

Most epic: # 1 & 4

How I'd like it to look in-game: #2

Not a fan of: #3 Iunno, just looks... bad.

In my mind, if you got struck by lightning, I'd only happen once, maybe twice, possibly thrice depending on how long you play. there'd be a good chance it doesn't happen at all, especially if you're not asking for it (running around in thunderstorms).

Those are some sweet pics. Yes please.

Would be funny to see a dragon coming your way through a thunderstorm claws out stretched ready to pounce.....


BAAAAAAAM!!!!!!

Lightening shoots it, and falls to Nirn. You decide to find the carcass to collect its soul.

Be hilarious and epic.

The only thing I hope for from the weather is less obnoxiously loud wind with even the slightest drop of rain.

Theres a great mod for Oblivion that adds just what you are asking for. I'm sure something like that will be modded into Skyrim.

I would like lightning to strike tall buildings and stuff, but never you. Getting randomly killed by lightning would just anger me, with the coolness factor of it only lasting maybe once.