Test Channel lighting notes from players and GM 3/18/2021

[Blackwolfe]

These are notes compiled from two full days of comparing Test Channel and lighting to Live Channel on several PC’s in same room and over net. (GM and 2 players live together, 2 players in other cities)

Notes: Play test: FGU: Test Channel: 5E.
• Line Of Sight “Fog of War” too dark. Players cannot see where they’ve been while DM barely does- (Relates to: LOS -Fog of war in Live version allows players to see shadowed areas already uncovered.)
• Ambient Lighting reads “none” regardless of what preset is selected. Seemed like sometimes multiple Ambient Light presets were running at same time (?)
• Fx “Time of Day” severely darkens map in Test channel, sometimes. Not consistent. “Time of Day” works very well in Live channel.
• Noted that about 50% of the time all fx, los and Lighting settings were darkening the map to a high degree.
• Token vision “Darkvision” has no ‘dim’. Darkvision only works for first “bright” range and “dim” range is black and pixelated. Found using a "lantern" and customizing a "darkvision" was almost preferred by players.
• All issues with lighting and maps would come and go, approximately 50% of the time, starting out well and growing more persistent as time passed.

That’s all we have for you. Seeing all the comments already we’ll wait and see what happens next. --Please note WE LOVE THE CONCEPT and when it’s working it’s a game changer. GOOD WORK AND THANK YOU!

[Ludd_G]

I must agree with the note about LoS "Fog of War" still being far too dark. In fact I was tootling about on a map for a good few minutes before I even realised there were previously revealed areas showing. Not sure what the intent is with the way it is at present?

But, as always, loving what your doing and very excited to see where we go!

Cheers,

Simon

[Ludd_G]

Also, once I've placed a light on the map, I'd love it if selecting that light re-set the options in the light field to match, so that I could then place more matching lights. Sometime I need to work on maps over several sessions and I'd love the new lighting to be an instant match to the already placed lighting, if that makes sense? (if it already works like that I'm doing something wrong, but it wouldn't be the first time! :) )

Cheers,

Simon

[Moon Wizard]

Thanks for reporting.

* We've heard other reports that FoW is too dark in the current beta build. The next build will have the value adjusted.

* I've filed internal tickets for @cpinder to review for the ambient lighting preset, and FX darkening issues. He may have additional questions once he has a chance to look.

* All the visions we've set up to be included (darkvision, blindsight, truesight) do not use the dim vision setting; so how are you setting this up?
(Remember, that you must use effects to set vision on CT linked tokens per the beta notes.)
Also, why do you feel that vision needs a "dim" region"? And why do your players not like the darkvision?

Regards,
JPG

[esmdev]

In 5E if you are using a torch it is 20' bright then 20' of dim. So having a dim area would be helpful to represent that. Plus some light sources might provide dim only, for instance a glow stick in a modern game or such.

[kevininrussia]

Thanks for reporting.

* We've heard other reports that FoW is too dark in the current beta build. The next build will have the value adjusted.

Regards,
JPG

Would it be possible to have an Option to toggle FoW for previously revealed areas on/off? I'll make a wish list item for it if I don't find an entry for it on idea.informer.

[Blackwolfe]

1- Cool Thanks. :)
2- Groovy, If Mr. Pinder would like screen shots of the map darkening I could take some, or if he'd like further info ala machine specs/whathave you - let Me know. :) (going to try to make the live stream this eve)
3- Got it. It doesn't "need" a dim range per se, We were using manual settings to set homebrew bright / dim ranges for elven darkvision. (not RAW). So N/P. *EDIT: Sorry wrong terminology, used the "Token Vision" / "Vision Range" / "Near - Far" settings for homebrew on "Presets" / "Darkvision"

again, great work so far and really really looking forward to this all being LIVE. - T

[Weissrolf]

Just turning on LoS already darkens maps. Looks as if maps have some alpha channel which was then affected by the LoS background turning black.

https://i.imgur.com/ifo7NOU.gif

[Blackwolfe]

Right Weissrolf, that's what we were seeing too.
(thanks for posting the example screen shot!) :)

[Weissrolf]

On a side-note: This side-by-side shot also demonstrates the latency between server and client (and vice-versa), despite both communicating over latency-free localhost (same PC). It's not much (est. 30-50 ms), but it demonstrates a possible communication bottleneck that might be improvable.