How are GMs accounting for 'Time Passes' with regards torches and effects?

[Ludd_G]

Hi,

I'm just about to try my table out with Shadowdark and have been poking around the ruleset in prep. and have a question:

Is there any way to practically use the rules for 'Time Passes' by being able to increase the 'Elapsed Time', or decrease the 'Time Left (min)' of all lit torches by 10 minutes/one hour? Maybe a button on the Light Management panel? This for me would be preferable to Ctrl-Scroll on the 'Time Left' for each torch individually, or are people not finding this an issue at the table?

I suppose a similar question would relate to any effects with a length duration - how are GMs adjusting their duration length to account for 'Time Passes'? In 5e (my normal ruleset) I use the Clock Adjuster extension to move time forward with relation to effects durations etc. and was wondering what people were doing in SD.

Thanks for all your working bringing the ruleset and content to Fantasy Grounds, it's much appreciated.

Cheers,

Simon

[Zacchaeus]

I don't know if Shadowdark has this but if you right click over the button to the right of the round number at the bottom of the CT you can advance the rounds by various amounts.

[Ludd_G]

Blimey! I never knew that! Thanks for this, I learn something new with FG everyday!

Unfortunately the torch timers aren't tied to the number of rounds in SD as they run down in real-time, which is a great system but at the moment isn't accounting for time jumps in game ('Time Passes') due to this.

Cheers,

Simon

[superteddy57]

Blimey! I never knew that! Thanks for this, I learn something new with FG everyday!

Unfortunately the torch timers aren't tied to the number of rounds in SD as they run down in real-time, which is a great system but at the moment isn't accounting for time jumps in game ('Time Passes') due to this.

Cheers,

Simon

Well if the ruleset uses the standard effect system, you can set up an effect with a duration. When you hit the next round it will decrement the duration down till it removes the effect. So you can add a torch effect and just change the number of rounds for the duration.

[SilentRuin]

The effect duration tracking in CT breaks down when using higher times (HR,Day,etc)

[claedawg]

The Shadowdark Torch Timers are not attached to the CT as they use real time.

Most of the GMs I've played under so far do not allow multiple light sources at the same time, although It does not bother me when I run games. I like it because it entices the party to split ;)

[Zacchaeus]

When you say that torches use real time does that mean if you play for 2 hours your torch burns for two hours? Or do you mean that a torch burns for a number of hours in game time. If it’s the latter it should be possible to use effects on the CT to figure out how long the torch lasts if it becomes important enough to keep track of that.

[claedawg]

It is on a real timer. Default is 1 hour and it counts down in real time. It's part of the table top rules where you would use use a phone of watch to track the torch time. After that, the torch goes out.

[Ludd_G]

When you say that torches use real time does that mean if you play for 2 hours your torch burns for two hours? Or do you mean that a torch burns for a number of hours in game time. If it’s the latter it should be possible to use effects on the CT to figure out how long the torch lasts if it becomes important enough to keep track of that.

Hiya,

yes, the torches are on their own discrete timer that runs in actual real time. The only time it doesn't run locked to normal clock time, is when the party's 'Time Passes' - maybe searching a large room for 10 minutes, maybe crossing a body of water for an hour - only then does the game mechanics supersede the actual real time for torch-time.

So, whilst I can click and type or click and scroll in the 'Light Management' window 'Time Left' slot to put in the new time, it would be easier to have a -10/-60 minutes button to change any and all torches time left at once. It's just a QoL thing, but I would definitely appreciate it.

Maybe an extension? (wish I had the knowledge or skill to code one, but I would happily pay for an extension from someone else)

Cheers,

Simon

[bayne7400]

Let me look at it this weekend. Just to verify you are looking for a way to raise or manually lower the "elapsed time" field?

[Ludd_G]

Let me look at it this weekend. Just to verify you are looking for a way to raise or manually lower the "elapsed time" field?

Yes, just to make it easier to account for using 'Time Passes' in game. A "+10 minutes of elapsed time" button that affected all the lit torches together would be great for me.

Thanks for looking at this, it's appreciated.

Cheers,

Simon

[bayne7400]

Added 2 buttons. it should be in time for tomorrows update. Allows adjustments in +/- 1 min increments

[Ludd_G]

Excellent! Thank you. I'll give it a look later today.

Cheers,

Simon