Lightstick

[kwong20287]

Why not tie it to a base or power transmitter and also use a battery? That way you can light a path or illuminate the area around a base or take it on the go.

[Lobo'ren]

Because it's portable. Most portable things use batteries and besides the battery recharge station is one of the easiest things to find.

[kwong20287]

Originally posted by MiddleAgedWerewolf:

Because it's portable. Most portable things use batteries and besides the battery recharge station is one of the easiest things to find.

But that way, you don't need to swap out a battery and recharge every time it runs out if around your base or down a path. I mean, can you place a floodlight down next to a power transmitter and work? The lightstick can stick to any surface, so why not also base power it? It could be like underwater street lights.

[kwong20287]

That thing drains battery fast, even with ion batteries. Placing a whole line of them and having to replace each one would be frustrating. Having it drain power from a base or a power transmitter would charge the battery.

[vindicar]

Originally posted by kwong20287:

That thing drains battery fast, even with ion batteries. Placing a whole line of them and having to replace each one would be frustrating. Having it drain power from a base or a power transmitter would charge the battery.

Better yet, it should drain from base or transmitter if available, and from a battery otherwise.
Because if you make it recharge it'd make the battery chargers kinda obsolete.

[Squeal Like a Pig]

Originally posted by kwong20287:

That thing drains battery fast, even with ion batteries. Placing a whole line of them and having to replace each one would be frustrating. Having it drain power from a base or a power transmitter would charge the battery.

Oddly, in the code it says that lightsticks are not supposed to drain any battery power. Need to check into this further.

[kwong20287]

Originally posted by Squeal Like a Pig:

Originally posted by kwong20287:

That thing drains battery fast, even with ion batteries. Placing a whole line of them and having to replace each one would be frustrating. Having it drain power from a base or a power transmitter would charge the battery.

Oddly, in the code it says that lightsticks are not supposed to drain any battery power. Need to check into this further.

The Lightsticks? It uses a battery.

[vindicar]

Originally posted by kwong20287:

Originally posted by Squeal Like a Pig:

Oddly, in the code it says that lightsticks are not supposed to drain any battery power. Need to check into this further.

The Lightsticks? It uses a battery.

Maybe they meant it shouldn't drain when you hold it in your hand, only when planted?

[kwong20287]

Originally posted by vindicar:

Originally posted by kwong20287:

The Lightsticks? It uses a battery.

Maybe they meant it shouldn't drain when you hold it in your hand, only when planted?

What? It drains whenever its out, planted or in your hand, right?

[ImHelping]

If lightsticks just straight up stayed lit, then people might have any reason at all to use them. As it stands they don't even rate for purely cosmetic reasons.

Though then you would have the draw distance concerns, it would at least improve them beyond "Light source that will be dead by the time you get back to where you put it."

[vindicar]

Originally posted by kwong20287:

Originally posted by vindicar:

Maybe they meant it shouldn't drain when you hold it in your hand, only when planted?

What? It drains whenever its out, planted or in your hand, right?

Well, that was just my guess. Maybe I'm wrong. Never used them, tho - seaglide is easier to find and is more useful in addition to being a light source.

[kwong20287]

Originally posted by ImHelping:

If lightsticks just straight up stayed lit, then people might have any reason at all to use them. As it stands they don't even rate for purely cosmetic reasons.

Though then you would have the draw distance concerns, it would at least improve them beyond "Light source that will be dead by the time you get back to where you put it."

So we can't use it like streetlights at night?

[Squeal Like a Pig]

I mean that, when we looked up the battery drain rate a little while back, with the intention of making the drain much less severe, it was showing in the code that it was classified as an item with no power drain.

Since it apparently is, in fact, draining batteries still, we'll need to dig into the issue further and see where the bug is. We figure it is probably fine to remove the power drain from those lights, to make them more useful.

[kwong20287]

Originally posted by Squeal Like a Pig:

I mean that, when we looked up the battery drain rate a little while back, with the intention of making the drain much less severe, it was showing in the code that it was classified as an item with no power drain.

Since it apparently is, in fact, draining batteries still, we'll need to dig into the issue further and see where the bug is. We figure it is probably fine to remove the power drain from those lights, to make them more useful.

That's weird.

[ImHelping]

I patched up Experimental, made myself some light sticks.

Yup, they drain. Ones with Regular batteries drain about the same rate as a flashlight with a regular battery. So, fairly quickly.

Ions also drain, though I guess if you only took a quick glance at it, their comparable rates could make someone go "Yup, not draining"and call it a day before *checks his watch* 33 seconds have passed to drop it below listing 100% on the hud.

My only half joking assmuption that power is being tested with Ions in mind rather than regulars grows. Given actually using a regular battery light stick would readily demonstrate they still indeed drain power.

I'm not so cynical as to expect the devs just changed the code and assumed it worked as intended. So something throwing off a quick check, feels more likely.

Also, they still drain power when placed on the ground. Just realized I probably have to clarify that or somebody will scream "I bet they don't drain when placed! You're just making things up!"

Originally posted by kwong20287:

So we can't use it like streetlights at night?

At least it was apparently the intension they were useful, so that's very pleasant to hear.

You still will have the issues with draw distance meaning you will have to rely on beacons to find your way home with or without lighting, but it will certainly make the place a lot more pleasant.

I know i'd want to make lightsticks just on principle if they were indeed 100% set and forget.

[vindicar]

Originally posted by ImHelping:

I know i'd want to make lightsticks just on principle if they were indeed 100% set and forget.

Ha, they'd actually be useful as waystones then!