Let's be honest, turning off lanterns doesn't really make you all that much more stealthier. Some people freak out about having a lantern turned on way more than they should. Even on the darkest nights of the game, it's still pretty easy to spot a sloop far off in the distance and even easier to see a galleon.
Stop kidding yourself about lanterns.
Yeah of course, if there is a fool moon, any ship is easily spotable at night. But with some clouds, a ship with its lanterns on really shine. It's the same if a ship is anchored by a high island : by night, with no lantern, it's possible not to see it, but with the lanterns out, it won't be missed.
So, I agree that it is not of the outmost importance to turn of the lanterns, but it could come handy at times.Exactly what I was complaining about in beta all the time.
https://www.seaofthieves.com/forum/topic/28326/ship-visibility-is-just-so-wrong
During a New Moon, it's almost pitch black … but those last maybe 3 Days before the Waxing and Waning Moons just make night relatively bright again., with the New Moon barely being brighter.
I'd prefer to see 28 different levels of light over the Month of Nights., as to provide a Monthly Tactical Advantage period … albeit at the cost of being able to see what you're doing.
Mind I'd also like to see Rolling Fog, Mist, etc. just different Weather elements that obscure the view providing a similar situation both at Night and Day.Heck I'd argue that "The Wildlands" should have an area … say around Shipwreck Bay, where there's just a permanent Mist., being a good place to escape pursuers (kind of like Nebulas in Star Trek) but it's at the risk of not being able to SEE the rocks and threats; with limited light penetration.
Still yeah, the Lights do somewhat easily showcase the Ships where-as without them... sure you're still noticeable but it isn't as guaranteed, is many of the Rocks and Towers are shaped somewhat deliberately to force you to use your Scope (which will light up any ship like a beacon to pursuers... keep telling my friend who insists on turning the Lanterns off all the time that constantly watching people through the Scope is 10x more obvious).
At least the Lanterns blend in with Island Lights.@crusaderjesus Yeah I don't get it. Maybe if you're just messing around and not paying attention, then seeing a ship with its lanterns on might be easier to spot. I'm always on the lookout though, and I've never had any problems spotting ships, even against dark islands and junk. A quick check with a scope will determine if something is a rock, tree, or skeleton fort.
@crusaderjesus said in Stop kidding yourself about lanterns.:
Exactly what I was complaining about in beta all the time.
https://www.seaofthieves.com/forum/topic/28326/ship-visibility-is-just-so-wrong
I'm with you on this, and have been since they made the change. Ships are actually sometimes harder to see when you're closer up because they then have the same visibility as the nearby objects. Aye, you can still be somewhat stealthy by utilising islands and rock formations to mask your presence, but only if they're bigger than your ship and you're behind them completely. Having a rock formation or island behind your ships is as good as being on a clear horizon at the moment...
Most of my time playing now there's 1-3 ships clearly visible in the distance, the only time there isn't the instance proves to be relatively quiet (and lag free!) then merges into another...
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