Tutorial 3

Tutorial 3: The Torchbearer (Lighting & Audio)

Goal: Let's create a "Holding a Torch" effect. We are going to create an Overlay that adds a flickering light source to the token and plays a continuous crackling fire sound. This tutorial introduces the Effects tab inside the Visage Editor and the powerful Sequencer integration.

Prerequisites

• Role: Player or Game Master
• Required Modules: Visage, Sequencer, and an audio library like PSFX (for the fire sound).

Concepts Covered

• Configuring the built-in Foundry Light Source via Visage
• Using the Effects Tab
• Adding an Audio Effect and adjusting volume
• Using Sequencer Database Keys

Step-by-Step Guide

Phase 1: Setting up the Light Source

1. Create a New Visage: Open either your Local Library or the Global Library and create a new Visage. Name it "Torch" and ensure the Mode is set to Overlay.

   Tip: We are using an Overlay as this is an effect and also to take advantage of the fact that once applied, the effect can be toggled on and off from the Selector HUD without needing to remove and re-apply the Visage.

2. Open the Effects Tab: In the Visage Editor, look to the right side of the live preview stage and click the Effects tab.

3. Enable the Light Source: You will see a card labelled Light Source. Click the Visibility toggle (the eye icon) on this card to turn the light on.

4. Configure the Light: Click anywhere on the Light Source card to open its Inspector panel.

   • Set the Dim Radius to 40 and the Bright Radius to 10.

   • Pick a warm orange or yellow Color.

     Tip: Pick a darker shade of the colour you want as Foundry's light engine can make lighter shades look too bright. Test what works for you.

   • Under the Animation Type dropdown, select Torch (*).

     Tip: You will instantly see the light source appear and flicker around your token in the Live Preview stage! Note that only animation types with an asterisk (*) after their name are fully animated in the Live Preview. All animation types will still apply their effects when the Visage is applied.

Phase 2: Adding the Audio Effect

1. Add an Audio Effect: Back on the main Effects tab, click the Add Audio button. A new effect card will appear under the Audio effects group.

2. Open the Audio Inspector: Click the new Audio card to open its settings.

3. Set the Audio Path: In the Path field, we need to provide a valid audio file. If you have the PSFX module installed, copy and paste this exact Sequencer Database Key into the box: psfx.ambient.firesources.fireplace.001

   Tip: To the side of the filepath input is a Sequencer Database Key picker icon. If you click this it will open Sequencer's database and you can search through any installed effects and copy the database key ready to paste into the filepath input.

   Tip: You can also enter a standard filepath for a file that is stored inside you "data" folder.

4. Adjust the Volume: Set the Volume slider to 0.5 (50%) so the fire crackle isn't too loud.

5. Ensure it Loops: Back out of the Inspector panel to return to the Effects tab. Look at the audio card itself. Ensure the Loop playback icon (the circular arrows) is toggled ON so the fire crackles continuously while the Visage is active.

6. Save: Click the Save Layer button.

Testing It Out

1. Apply the Visage: Select your token and apply your new "Torch" Visage from the Selector HUD or the Library.
2. See and Hear: The token will immediately begin casting a flickering light across the map, and you should hear the warm crackle of a fire.
3. Remove it: Open the Selector HUD and remove the "Torch" layer. The light will vanish, and the audio will automatically stop playing.

Pro-Tips & Creative Ideas

• Randomised Audio (Partial Keys): You don't have to link to one specific sound. Visage accepts partial Sequencer keys. Instead of psfx.ambient.firesources.fireplace.001, you could just enter psfx.ambient.firesources. Every time you apply the Torch, Visage will randomly pick a different fire sound from that folder (if they exist).
• Browser Audio Policies: Browsers strictly block audio from autoplaying until a user interacts with the webpage (the canvas). If you refresh the canvas (F5), you might not hear audio effects applied to tokens until you click somewhere on the canvas.
• Persistent Effects: Visage is smart enough to handle scene transitions. If you have a looping audio or visual effect applied to your token and the GM moves you to a new Scene (or you refresh the page), Visage will automatically resume playing your effects once the new scene finishes loading.