Does darkness help you stay hidden?

[Zara]

title says it all

[Sticky Wicket]

Most of the time, yes. There are exceptions of course.

[Zara]

Originally posted by Ready for Round 2:

Most of the time, yes. There are exceptions of course.

Thanks

[Francisè von Spitroast]

Just to confirm, it's a little known fact that it does, yes. But this is still more of a line of sight type of stealth, so don't try playing it like Thief, and you can't get anywhere near as close to them when in total darkness before being caught like in Thief either.

[Adarynin]

Do NPCs react to me switching on my light when I'm in the dark? I was above them in a (partially transparent) vent, and they started running in circles and shouting pig below me. They didn't look up but it played the 'danger' music, so they definitely spotted me. But was it because of the light or did they see me without looking up...?

[BadMojo]

Yes, sticking to the shadows does work. You are practically invisible in pitch black areas, but it all depends on how close the enemy is, weather you move or not, their alert level, how dark it is... I've stayed hidden in plain sight, pitch black, while the enemy was looking for me when they were about 2 to 3 meters in front of me.. if you stay still you'll be fine most of the time if it's dark enough.

[BadMojo]

Originally posted by Adarynin:

Do NPCs react to me switching on my light when I'm in the dark? I was above them in a (partially transparent) vent, and they started running in circles and shouting pig below me. They didn't look up but it played the 'danger' music, so they definitely spotted me. But was it because of the light or did they see me without looking up...?

They can see you if you turn on your light.... The tech goggles would have been a great solution for that sort of thing.. If they actually coded in some proper night vision, rather than just a green overlay as it has always been.

[Francisè von Spitroast]

Originally posted by Adarynin:

Do NPCs react to me switching on my light when I'm in the dark? I was above them in a (partially transparent) vent, and they started running in circles and shouting pig below me. They didn't look up but it played the 'danger' music, so they definitely spotted me. But was it because of the light or did they see me without looking up...?

Yes, just to confirm what Bad said, it was most certainly because of the light. They see where that comes from. Their vertical visual range is quite limited.

[talgaby]

It is a rendering issue in the old UE1 engine, but the light is a solid beam from your eyes. So NPCs can trace it back easily. It can also be an easy way to break up a pair of enemies as long as they are not facing you, although throwing a can of soda is usually safer.

[BadMojo]

Originally posted by talgaby:

It is a rendering issue in the old UE1 engine, but the light is a solid beam from your eyes. So NPCs can trace it back easily. It can also be an easy way to break up a pair of enemies as long as they are not facing you, although throwing a can of soda is usually safer.

Speaking of rendering, Ive found that the enhanced renderers show off the "dark spots" alot better than the original renderers. It definately helps to know where those, what I call "pitch black" areas are... Texpert before said about the stealth system not being like Thief, and although I do agree with that to some extent, I think thats mostly because deus ex has alot more lighting than thief does.. And if you want to think about it realistically, thiefs lighting is almost always torches and candles, not meerly as much lighting as what electricity can do... Think about it, if the room your sitting is is lit entirely by a few candles layed about, Im sure Id have an easier time finding shadows than the single ceiling light powered by electricity... not that im saying either of those games are realistic at all though :P