Moonlight

[ctph]

First of all thanks to Manticore for his (or her?) help so far. Anyway here's my problem.

I've recently submitted a map (http://nalicity.beyondunreal.com/map_hub.php?mid=8605) to NaliCity. In summary, it's an assault. The attackers initially spawn in a small crypt, have to make their way through a burning village and into a large rock which has several tunnels. It takes place at night.

I've had a couple of comments about how dark the screenshots are, which is true. However that's partially deliberate, because I want the outside to look moonlit. The thing I wanted to avoid was washing everything out - the moon isn't as bright as the sun for a start!

The map itself is perfectly playable (in my opinion) because even though overall it's dim there are plenty of strategically-placed fires.

So basically I'm looking for some advice, mainly about making moonlit maps, but also whether you think it's my monitor which is causing the problems. It would be great if some of you could try my map out and see what you think.

Here are the screenshots:

1) The teaser shot, not somewhere you can get in game, which definitely looks dark. This is not that important though.
http://nalicity.beyondunreal.com/images/maps/utassault/as-demonicrites/as-demonicrites_0.jpg

2) A shot of the village with the hill in the background - this gives the best view of the outside region.
http://nalicity.beyondunreal.com/images/maps/utassault/as-demonicrites/DRss4.jpg

3) One of the stone pentagrams. Note this is inside the rock and it looks quite washed out because there is fog.
http://nalicity.beyondunreal.com/images/maps/utassault/as-demonicrites/DRss2.jpg

Cheers

[Manticore]

First of all thanks to Manticore for his (or her?) help so far.
Thanks man....:D

Here's a link (http://forums.beyondunreal.com/showthread.php?t=160902) to a thread talking about a lighting tutorial a couple of threads down in this sub-forum. Perhaps it may help.

Cheers.;)

[RichyB]

The pictures dont seem dark to me.:lol:

[Hourences]

I expected far worse from judging of the screenshots but in game it was actually quite ok. But your screenshots themselves are definalty way too dark.
In game most of the time its doable, could use a bit more brightess but its doable. You can see where youre going.
Id add some zonelighting, ambientlight and yes that will wash it out a tiny bit but that will eliminate some pitch black areas where you dont see where youre going or where someone could hide in which is no fun for gameplay :)

And btw, fire should always be set to translucent and not masked like you have. Thats ugly

[ctph]

Some cool ideas. I'll get onto an update!

P.S. Anyone know any good "moonlit" maps? Not ones with loads of artificial light sources, just ambient light.

[MAATOHA]

I made a map wich I wanted to be moonlit. And i reached quite good moonlight by placing a soft blue light inside the skybox. If You have a sky texture with a moon on it, dont forget to place the light near to it so that the shadows look like being cast by the moon.