Opinions, moon/cloud lighting SS's...

[WernherVonTrapp]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

Ruh roh, ...

At sea, there is no light from below. Clouds are not white, they are BLACK. The only way you know they are there is that they block the light from the stars. Black clouds plus black night equals black sky. When the moon shows through, it is a concentrated halo. The entire cloud does not light.

I'm afraid that TMO is by far the best representation of the night sky at sea. Your shots are realistic for urban areas of land only.

Sorry.

Actually, that makes sense. I don't know how many books I've read where the crews of various warships (Japanese and American) gave accounts of how dark it was during a battle. Often, it was described as being so dark, the individual couldn't see their own hand in front of their face, let alone locate the opposing ships. Sometimes the only evidence of a ship's presence was it's wake as it stirred up the phosphorescent waters.

[Rockin Robbins]

Originally Posted by WernherVonTrapp

Actually, that makes sense. I don't know how many books I've read where the crews of various warships (Japanese and American) gave accounts of how dark it was during a battle. Often, it was described as being so dark, the individual couldn't see their own hand in front of their face, let alone locate the opposing ships. Sometimes the only evidence of a ship's presence was it's wake as it stirred up the phosphorescent waters.

We've forgotten what darkness looks like in our over-lighted cities and suburbs. We're all hepped up on light to prevent crime, when total darkness is the best crime preventative and detection system known to man. If you can't see your hand an inch in front of your face you're not taking anything unless you're a blind person and are used to that.

And if you still want to steal something you have to take a source of light with you. The smallest point of light in complete darkness just screams out, "Somethings going on over here! You might want to check it out!" It's only in places where there is altogether too much light and we light the way for the thieves that crime can run rampant. And we show 'em where the good stuff is by lighting it up better. Smart us!

Yes, out to sea, or in the Australian outback where there just is no light on a moonless night is scary dark. I talked to astronomers who traveled to Ayers Rock to watch an eclipse and they swore that the Milky Way, something that most city folks have never seen, casts a shadow there! The Milky Way, the band of amorphous light brightest in the Sagittarius area is a collection of stars, all of them much more than a thousand light-years away. I told them they must be joking. They convinced me that they were not.

We complain that we can't see well enough to target decently at night. You should read the real action reports! Welcome to the war.

[WernherVonTrapp]

Originally Posted by Rockin Robbins

You should read the real action reports! Welcome to the war.

(chuckle) I have. Well, some of them. Enough to know that it could get dark enough for a surface attack (Japanese or German). Though I have a number of WWII documentaries about submarine warfare on DVD, I just haven't had the desire to purchase and read any books on the subject. I myself, find that a little curious, or odd. Especially since I've read an enormous number of books over the years on WWII in general, with special emphasis on the PTO. My only conclusion is that it's somehow connected to my father's WWII aircraft carrier days, where he served in the Pacific.

@MWolfe:
I think you're on the right track too. IMHO, I think you should make the night time colors much less pronounced. Given the game engine mechanics, you might just find the right balance there, between a natural night time lack of color, and total blackout.