What is the situation with nighttime lighting?

[Andrew]

Just wondering what considerations staff has given to the need for people to walk around and see at night? Light Primals would certainly be helpful for this, but everyone won't have that element and therefore won't have the ability to cast Lumos.

[staff_monica]

You'll absolutely be able to carry a small OoG flashlight for emergencies/walking back to your cabin in the middle of the night, but other that that you'll probably either need a tagged item in your utility slot or to have a light primal with you (or be one). Subject to change-- we might end up just allowing anyone to carry a source of light untagged-- but tagged item/light primal is more likely at this point.

[Staff_Cory]

It's also worth mentioning that we intend to provide some semblance of lighting along the main paths of the camp as well as, much more so, in town. Unless you are wandering deep into the woods in the middle of the night you should be able to find a path back to civilization with our trail lights.

[Brit]

Fantasy larps sometimes forget that lanterns and fire are things. There was one larp I went to where you had to buy a light spell to have a nighttime light.

Why couldn't my character just have a candle?

So I am happy we seem to not be falling prey to that!

[VoodooSpecter]

I am a big fan of halloween candles. I used to bring them to game so I always had a useful light source but people kept taking them and losing them. But it was nice for a while, I always had a minimum light source that was useful. For example:

http://www.spirithalloween.com/product/faux-ivory-candles-3-pack/62165.uts?keyword=candle&thumbnailIndex=14&Search=Find+It

I'm not really sure what staff is looking to achieve with light in the game. The fact that it is included as a mechanic (the way it was in Lacuna) makes me think that there is some exploration intended where the player's limited ability to harness light sources is important.

There are totally ways that most professions could create simple light sources. Glowing potions, bio-luminescent plants, candles, lanterns. If it won't ruin the exploration mechanic much, it might be nice to give professions a way of generating, not light, but a glow. Like the strength of a glow stick.

[staff_steve]

Torches/candles/lanterns are very much allowed for anyone to use. (I'd say, unofficially, that the main difference between them and the Light ability is that the Light ability allows for brighter, directional light like a flashlight gives).

We'll try to make that clear in a future rulebook.

[VoodooSpecter]

Speaking of lights for magical abilities, what is an appropriate physrep? We probably don't want to be carrying around flashlights but we also can't exactly shoot beams of light out of our palms.

One thought I had was recycling the concept for my lacuna physrep and using a flashlight base as a scepter of sorts with a focus for the light on the end. FOR EXAMPLE:

The light in this prop, for those unfamiliar with it, functions like a high powered blacklight. It hums when it's on but I can muffle it or change the sound byte.

Notice that I swapped the plastic lightbulb I used in Lacuna out for a crystal made of the same thing we use for salt in second dawn. You could easily build something like this around a flashlight (or blacklight flashlight) to create a similar prop.

But my question is: What does everyone else think about light physreps?

[Brit]

One of my favorite ways I did light at a fantasy larp was making fake bio luminescent plants.

I took a big plastic vial, and frosted it, then put glowsticks and fake plastic vines inside, then corked it.

I believe I gave them to Brian Misamore who wanted them for witchwood years later, but I could recreate them easily.

[Adele]

Considering light proficiency is build and only lets you cast light while the other elemental proficiencies get free ranged damage...I would hope the non-magical light would be very limited. If everyone can approximate a skill that costs build it feels a little useless, especially considering remedy covers healing.

[VoodooSpecter]

I would note a few things:
1.) It only costs 1 build, which when you're limited to 60 build ever isn't nothing - but it's not a lot.
2.) It is likely that Light and Dark are going to have some kind of impact on certain enemies / mods, for example "is afraid of light or dark" or "interact with this puzzle using light / darkness" where artificially created light or shadow won't do the trick.
3.) The purpose of the skill seems to be to gate access to more powerful light / dark based magic. Given that even the basic packets for dark and light damage cost valor or grace to use, I assume that these damage types are particularly useful in some situations and staff didn't want to just let you spam them as much as you want. I think it's almost by design that the first tier ability is a little weak sauce - it's just holding you over until you can afford to unlock the packet throwing ability, which presumably is worth the wait. And if someone looks at that and says "I'd rather not, I want something more useful up front" then they'd probably be better off with a different element.

I also assume that other light sources are going to be inherently "Steady but Dim" or "Bright but Flickering" whereas the light granted by magic would be described as "Steady and brilliant".

I just noticed that Dark uses Grace which means it's disadvantageous to focus on daggers and dark magic since the advanced proficiencies use the same statistic.

[Brit]

Limiting non magical lighting seems silly though. Like, we figured fire out thousands of years ago.

[VoodooSpecter]

I would note that I still think the separation is primarily between "Light" and "light". One is magical, pure and brilliant, one is mundane, ordinary and flawed. And I think it's fine to distinguish so long as there's a reason to do so and the difference can be telegraphed easily to crunchies and players.

[Staff_Cory]

Considering light proficiency is build and only lets you cast light while the other elemental proficiencies get free ranged damage...I would hope the non-magical light would be very limited. If everyone can approximate a skill that costs build it feels a little useless, especially considering remedy covers healing.

Non-magical light is not very limited. The use of fire to provide lighting is very simple and still used throughout the world of Aukana. It is, however, less concentrated, requires more maintenance, and larger phys-reps to accomplish the same amount of luminescence (just purely physically, a tiny flashlight can provide far more light than a lantern).

All that being said, what makes you think that the utility of having actual light to see with is the only use of magical light?

[Adele]

Hey, if Light has more to it, sure. But I'll stress again that casting light is a cantrip while other magical proficiencies have unlimited damage.

[Drubenstein]

(just purely physically, a tiny flashlight can provide far more light than a lantern).

I have seen battery powered lanterns that can easily provide as much light as a small flashlight can.

[Last_Wishes]

I guess I'd also like to know how we go about using light primal spells, if white packets will be enough, or if glow fabric should be used. I was thinking of Light as a skill but I don't want to have to go crazy expensive trying to make something suitable for it.

[Drubenstein]

My guess is what the fabric used for making the packet doesn't really matter per the rules, while the call made while throwing it does. However I am not a staff member so what I say isn't gospel.

[VoodooSpecter]

I have seen battery powered lanterns that can easily provide as much light as a small flashlight can.

The point of what Cory was saying, I believe, is that an actual lantern that uses flame does not provide the same quality or quantity of light as a modern flashlight. Implication: Our physreps should also not do that.

Edit: Also I am really thinking it'd be fun to cram an LED into a ball of foam to throw, but i've got some experimenting to do.

[Erez]

I mean, I'm not sure we'll be allowed to carry actual fire for safety reasons.

[VoodooSpecter]

My point is that there are a lot of lights out there that are designed to immitate the look and color of fire, we're clearly not going to be allowed actual fire, but you can get a lantern prop and put a flickering light inside of it. I think I know what my first donation is going to be.