动态(Dynamic)照明是使Roll20 成为(Roll20 such an appealing platform)桌面游戏平台的原因之一。它允许游戏大师创建玩家无法通过的门和墙等边界——非常适合当您需要将玩家放入迷宫进行挑战时。
也就是说，动态照明并不总是很容易理解，尤其是当您看到Roll20提供的设置数量时。了解如何使用这些设置可以帮助您创建更具沉浸感和挑战性的游戏。
Roll20 中的动态照明是什么？(What Is Dynamic Lighting in Roll20?)
动态(Dynamic)照明长期以来一直是Roll20的一部分，但最近进行了重大更新。因此，Roll20平台内现在有两种动态照明类别。
Legacy Dynamic Lighting是旧系统。它包含一个名为Advanced Fog(Advanced Fog) of War的常用功能，但Legacy Dynamic Lighting ( LDL ) 和Advanced Fog of War ( AFoG ) 都将在 2021 年(AFoG)5 月 14(May 14)日消失。该系统将被更新的 Dynamic Lighting(Updated Dynamic Lighting)取代。
更新的动态照明 (UDL)(Updated Dynamic Lighting (UDL))目前可用，并且自2020 年5 月(May)以来一直可用，但它仍然包含开发人员正在解决的几个问题。它由三个主要元素组成：
- Explorer Mode是Advanced Fog of War的(War)UDL版本。地图在探索之前无法看到，之前探索的区域显示为灰色。
- 黑暗工具(Darkness Tool )用于显示和隐藏地图的特定区域。在桌面角色扮演游戏(RPGs)中，某些区域被“魔法黑暗”阻挡并不少见。用游戏术语来说，这意味着玩家无法看到这些区域，除非他们有特定的物品。黑暗工具(Darkness Tool)是实现这一目标的好方法。
- 最后，最后一个工具是转换光照。(Convert Lighting. ) 这是一个一次性工具，可让您将活动的动态照明从Legacy转换为Updated。Roll20建议在您的广告系列副本上执行此操作，因为它无法撤消。
您还应该考虑其他设置。当您想要照亮整个地图时使用日光模式(Daylight Mode)，例如阳光明媚的日子里光线充足的区域或只是一个大房间。当 DM 不想设置手电筒或其他光源时，它也很有用。
我应该使用动态照明吗？(Should I Use Dynamic Lighting?)
动态(Dynamic)照明是您不必使用的可选设置。虽然它可以提高沉浸感，但它也会增加页面加载时间并导致播放过程中的不稳定。如果您的玩家使用的是较旧的计算机(using older computers)，动态照明可能会使他们对游戏不那么愉快。
另一方面，如果您的玩家都使用相对现代的计算机，动态光照应该不会造成任何问题。如果您不确定是否启用它，请试运行它。如果您的玩家抱怨，您可以从设置菜单中禁用动态照明。
您还应该记住，动态照明是只有游戏主控制的选项。玩家无法单独控制设置。即将到来的动态照明更新应该会减少资源密集型。
使用动态照明的好处(The Benefits Of Using Dynamic Lighting)
如前所述，动态光照可以让游戏更加身临其境。当角色穿过一个区域时，只有他们周围的地图部分会被照亮。如果他们的标记移动得太远，他们就会看不到敌人、物体和其他角色。
这允许游戏大师更改玩家已经通过的部分。例如，游荡的怪物可以阻挡路径。如果玩家在游戏大师将怪物添加到场地时看不到，这会变得更加惊喜 - 也更加有趣。
除了在他们已经看过的区域中让玩家感到惊讶之外，动态照明还可以提前设置遭遇和场景。如果整个地图都被照亮并且他们可以看到等待的陷阱，玩家不会感到惊讶。为了捕捉到桌面游戏同样的惊喜和享受元素，玩家需要有限的视线范围。
(Dynamic)每个图标都可以更改和自定义动态照明。Roll20 API 非常广泛(Roll20 API is extensive)，因此具有编程知识的用户可以为他们的游戏设置自定义控件和命令。不过，使用API(API)并不需要专家- 即使是初学者也可以使用易于理解的命令来创建自定义设置。
如何设置动态照明(How to Set Up Dynamic Lighting)
动态(Dynamic)光照是通过Roll20中的贴图自定义的。单击(Click)屏幕顶部的页面工具栏(Page Toolbar)，突出显示要编辑的地图，然后单击设置(Settings)图标。
共有三个选项卡：页面详细信息(Page Details)、动态照明(Dynamic Lighting)和传统照明(Legacy Lighting)。如果您尚未将游戏更新到现代动态光照(Dynamic Lighting)，您将使用Legacy Lighting。否则(Otherwise)，中间选项卡就是您想要的选项卡。
除非您在其他地方更改了设置，否则动态照明(Dynamic Lighting)将设置为关闭。(Off. )单击(Click)切换开关以启用它。完成此操作后，您可以选择是否激活Explorer Mode、Daylight Mode和Update on Token Drop。
如果您的朋友的计算机难以处理照明，则激活令牌掉落时更新(Update on Token Drop)允许Roll20仅在移动令牌时进行更新，从而减少动态照明所需的资源。
您还可以修改隐藏区域的不透明度。虽然这不会影响玩家的视线，但它会让游戏大师更容易看到地图上发生的事情。
享受 Roll20 游戏(Enjoy a Roll20 Game More)
动态(Dynamic)光照是一项复杂的功能，但它提供了大量的好处，并允许游戏大师运行更复杂的游戏。得益于广泛的自定义，它值得在您运行的任何Roll20游戏中启用，除非它影响性能并降低玩家的乐趣。
What Is Roll20 Dynamic Lighting and How to Use It?
Dynamic lighting is one of the aspects that makes Roll20 such an appealing platform for tabletop games. It allows game masters to create boundaries like doors and walls that players cannot pass through–perfect for when you need to drop players into a labyrinth for a challenge.
That said, dynamic lighting isn’t always easy to understand, especially when you see the number of settings Roll20 offers. Understanding how to use these settings can help you create a more immersive and challenging game.
What Is Dynamic Lighting in Roll20?
Dynamic lighting has been part of Roll20 for a long time, but recently underwent a major update. As a result, there are now two categories for dynamic lighting within the Roll20 platform.
Legacy Dynamic Lighting is the old system. It contains a commonly-used feature called Advanced Fog of War, but both Legacy Dynamic Lighting (LDL) and Advanced Fog of War (AFoG) will disappear on May 14, 2021. The system will be replaced with Updated Dynamic Lighting.
Updated Dynamic Lighting (UDL) is currently available and has been since May of 2020, but it still contains several issues that developers are working through. It consists of three main elements:
- Explorer Mode is the UDL version of Advanced Fog of War. The map cannot be seen until it has been explored, and previously explored areas are greyed out.
- The Darkness Tool is used to both reveal and hide specific areas of the map. In tabletop RPGs, it isn’t uncommon for certain areas to be blocked by “magical darkness.” In game terms, this means players cannot see those areas unless they have a specific item. The Darkness Tool is a great way to make this happen.
- Finally, the last tool is Convert Lighting. This is a one-time tool that allows you to convert a campaign’s dynamic lighting from Legacy to Updated. Roll20 suggests performing this on a copy of your campaign, since it cannot be reversed.
There are also other settings you should consider. Daylight Mode is used when you want to illuminate the entire map, such as a well-lit area on a sunny day or just a large room. It’s also useful when the DM doesn’t want to set up torches or other light sources.
Should I Use Dynamic Lighting?
Dynamic lighting is an optional setting that you don’t have to use. While it can improve immersion, it can also increase page load times and cause instability during play. If your players are using older computers, dynamic lighting might make the game less pleasant for them.
On the other hand, if your players are all using relatively modern computers, dynamic lighting shouldn’t cause any problems. If you aren’t sure whether or not to enable it, give it a trial run. If your players complain, you can disable dynamic lighting from the settings menu.
You should also keep in mind that dynamic lighting is an option only the game master controls. Players do not have individual control over the setting. The coming updates to dynamic lighting should make it less resource-intensive.
The Benefits Of Using Dynamic Lighting
As mentioned before, dynamic lighting can make a game much more immersive. As characters move through an area, only the sections of the map around them are illuminated. If their tokens move too far away, they lose sight of enemies, objects, and other characters.
This allows the game master to change sections players have already been through. For example, wandering monsters can block the path. If the players can’t see while the game master adds the monsters to the field, it becomes more of a surprise–and more fun.
Aside from surprising players in areas they have already seen, dynamic lighting makes it possible to set up encounters and scenarios ahead of time. A player won’t be surprised if the entire map is illuminated and they can see the traps that lie in wait. In order to capture the same elements of surprise and enjoyment of tabletop games, players need a limited range of sight.
Dynamic lighting can be changed and customized per icon. The Roll20 API is extensive, so users with programming knowledge can set up custom controls and commands for their game. It doesn’t take an expert to make use of the API, though–even beginners can use the easy-to-understand commands to create custom settings.
How to Set Up Dynamic Lighting
Dynamic lighting is customized by map in Roll20. Click the Page Toolbar at the top of the screen, highlight the map you want to edit, and then click the Settings icon.
There are three tabs: Page Details, Dynamic Lighting, and Legacy Lighting. If you have not yet updated your game to the modern Dynamic Lighting, you will use Legacy Lighting. Otherwise, the middle tab is the one you want.
Unless you have changed the settings elsewhere, Dynamic Lighting will be set to Off. Click the toggle to enable it. Once you have done this, you can choose whether to activate Explorer Mode, Daylight Mode, and Update on Token Drop.
If you have friends whose computers struggle to handle the lighting, activating Update on Token Drop allows Roll20 to only make updates when tokens are moved, which reduces the resources needed for dynamic lighting.
You can also modify the opacity of hidden areas. While this won’t affect the players’ sight, it will make it easier for the game master to see what is happening on the map.
Enjoy a Roll20 Game More
Dynamic lighting is a complex feature, but it provides a huge number of benefits and allows game masters to run more complicated games. Thanks to the wide range of customization, it is worth enabling in any Roll20 game you run unless it affects performance and reduces the enjoyment of the players.
