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About this mod
Grants the player a configurable, dynamic Sneak modifier scaled with the amount of light they're crouching in.
- Requirements
- Permissions and credits
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I'm told light does affect detection New Vegas somewhat, but having played the old Thief games, I was always disappointed it didn't play a more decisive role in Bethesda RPGs. Only so much can be 'fixed in post,' so this is my attempt to simply factor light into stealth.
What it is:
With the help of Demorome and a function added by JIP LN NVSE Plugin, I've devised a dynamic Sneak skill modifier that scales with the amount of light on you. By default, the bonus ranges from -5 to +20 and is displayed with the detection tag at the top of the screen.
The Strength of the modifier as well as its positive/negative slant can be configured in the packaged INI file. There you can also decide during which Sneak states (Caution, Danger, Detected, Hidden) to display the bonus onscreen.
IMPORTANT: Unfortunately, New Vegas is only wired to update light calculations once every 3 seconds, so if you'd like more 'real time' updates to your Sneak modifier, you will have to also download IStewieAI's Tweaks and an associated INI file in which to enable its 'bMoreFrequentNPCLightUpdates' feature. You can even configure the precise timing via the 'fIntervalTimer' setting.
The mod still works fine without Stewie's Tweaks, but the modifier will lag a couple seconds behind you.
How it Works:
Every couple of frames, a script runs which adds a modifier to your sneak skill. The formula used is:
Each time, a 'reversal' subtracts the modifier from the last cycle before the new one is added, and so on, and so on. When a menu opens (dialogue, Pipboy, console, etc.), that reversal is force-applied; keeps the bonus from muddling dialogue skill checks or your level-up screen.
In vanilla FNV, this feature will work alright indoors, but outdoors it's a bit pointless, as vanilla nights are so bright they'll barely grant you a bonus. I recommend using a weather mod which includes Darker Nights (ideally darker interiors too).
At night, with Realistic HDR Lighting's Darker Nights and my pipboy light off, I get this:
Compatibility:
This mod is basically just the one script, so it shouldn't conflict with much. Plenty of mods do change light values though, and those changes will get factored into "PlayerLightAmount" in the equation above. That's usually a good thing.
Known Incompatibilities:
Optional Files: contains v1.1 which does none of this. It's just a static, hidden perk for +10 Sneak between 20:30 and 5:30 while outdoors. I figured I'd leave that up, but Version 3.0 is much more interesting.
Installation:
Recommendations:
Viva New Vegas: I sincerely recommend following this modding guide before adding any other mods. Your game will be much stabler.
IStewieAI's Tweaks: Included in VNV. Enable 'bMoreFrequentNPCLightUpdates' for much faster sneak modifier updates.
Realistic HDR Lighting: I recommend a Darker Nights mod; vanilla isn't dark enough to confer much bonus. RHL is my favorite (either esp).
Interior Lighting Overhaul: Vanilla indoor lighting's kinda flat too; ILO fixes that. Less ambient lighting, more contrast, among other things.
Do keep in mind that New Vegas' designers weren't expecting you to have a constant indicator for light values, so the modifier won't always be precisely what you expect from looking at the ground. It's always ballpark though; you'll never be baffled by the modifier.
Comment to let me know what you think, or if it breaks! And endorsements are appreciated!
Approaching a light source at Gun Runners w/Realistic HDR Lighting's Darker Nights. (Cover of Darkness was my mod's prior name)
I'm told light does affect detection New Vegas somewhat, but having played the old Thief games, I was always disappointed it didn't play a more decisive role in Bethesda RPGs. Only so much can be 'fixed in post,' so this is my attempt to simply factor light into stealth.
What it is:
With the help of Demorome and a function added by JIP LN NVSE Plugin, I've devised a dynamic Sneak skill modifier that scales with the amount of light on you. By default, the bonus ranges from -5 to +20 and is displayed with the detection tag at the top of the screen.
The Strength of the modifier as well as its positive/negative slant can be configured in the packaged INI file. There you can also decide during which Sneak states (Caution, Danger, Detected, Hidden) to display the bonus onscreen.
IMPORTANT: Unfortunately, New Vegas is only wired to update light calculations once every 3 seconds, so if you'd like more 'real time' updates to your Sneak modifier, you will have to also download IStewieAI's Tweaks and an associated INI file in which to enable its 'bMoreFrequentNPCLightUpdates' feature. You can even configure the precise timing via the 'fIntervalTimer' setting.
The mod still works fine without Stewie's Tweaks, but the modifier will lag a couple seconds behind you.
How it Works:
Every couple of frames, a script runs which adds a modifier to your sneak skill. The formula used is:
- SneakModifier = ((100 - PenaltyPercent) - PlayerLightAmount) / BonusDivider; (defaults: PenaltyPercent = 20, BonusDivider = 4)
Each time, a 'reversal' subtracts the modifier from the last cycle before the new one is added, and so on, and so on. When a menu opens (dialogue, Pipboy, console, etc.), that reversal is force-applied; keeps the bonus from muddling dialogue skill checks or your level-up screen.
In vanilla FNV, this feature will work alright indoors, but outdoors it's a bit pointless, as vanilla nights are so bright they'll barely grant you a bonus. I recommend using a weather mod which includes Darker Nights (ideally darker interiors too).
At night, with Realistic HDR Lighting's Darker Nights and my pipboy light off, I get this:
Compatibility:
This mod is basically just the one script, so it shouldn't conflict with much. Plenty of mods do change light values though, and those changes will get factored into "PlayerLightAmount" in the equation above. That's usually a good thing.
Known Incompatibilities:
- I'm not aware of a way to isolate the Pipboy light, so the vanilla perk Broad Daylight does not affect my calculations.
- A user mentioned this mod will break the Elder Scrolls-style leveler Practice Makes Perfect; haven't tested it myself.
- Simpler darker nights mods (ex: Clarity Dark Nights and Yellow Goodbye v1.1 Darker Nights) do not seem to affect whichever values inform the "GetActorLightAmount" function. So, you will still see vanilla sneak modifiers with these mods.
Optional Files: contains v1.1 which does none of this. It's just a static, hidden perk for +10 Sneak between 20:30 and 5:30 while outdoors. I figured I'd leave that up, but Version 3.0 is much more interesting.
Installation:
- Requires NVSE and JIP LN NVSE Plugin for v3.0 (Dynamic). No requirements for v1.1 (Static).
- Download the file, extract the .esp to your data folder, and enable it.
- Or, use Mod Organizer 2. This mod's simple, but dear lord I do not recommend running lots of mods without MO2.
- (Optional) Install IStewieAI's Tweaks and its INI, then enable 'bMoreFrequentNPCLightUpdates.'
- (Optional) Install your preferred mod(s) with Darker Nights and/or Darker Interiors to get the most out of this mod.
- Uninstallation is as simple as deleting the file. Could just disable it too.
Recommendations:
Viva New Vegas: I sincerely recommend following this modding guide before adding any other mods. Your game will be much stabler.
IStewieAI's Tweaks: Included in VNV. Enable 'bMoreFrequentNPCLightUpdates' for much faster sneak modifier updates.
Realistic HDR Lighting: I recommend a Darker Nights mod; vanilla isn't dark enough to confer much bonus. RHL is my favorite (either esp).
Interior Lighting Overhaul: Vanilla indoor lighting's kinda flat too; ILO fixes that. Less ambient lighting, more contrast, among other things.
- Note: ILO and RHDR work great together for me, but require conflict resolution in xEdit; bugs are possible. If you're struggling, Nevada Skies and Realistic Wasteland Lighting Redesigned provide their own interior and exterior lighting effects in single packages.
This mod pairs well with Interior Lighting Overhaul. Vanilla gave me a -5 modifier (max light value) in this spot
Do keep in mind that New Vegas' designers weren't expecting you to have a constant indicator for light values, so the modifier won't always be precisely what you expect from looking at the ground. It's always ballpark though; you'll never be baffled by the modifier.
Comment to let me know what you think, or if it breaks! And endorsements are appreciated!