Tutorial 8

Tutorial 8: Creatures of the Night (Event Triggers)

Goal: Let's create a monster that only reveals its true form when the sun goes down. We are going to create an Identity that automatically swaps a token's artwork to a Vampire whenever the scene's darkness level gets too high.

Prerequisites

• Role: Player or Game Master (We are making this a Local rule for a specific token)
• Required Modules: Visage

Concepts Covered

• Creating an Event automation condition
• Using the Darkness event trigger
• Understanding how Visage responds to environmental changes

Step-by-Step Guide

Phase 1: Creating the Vampire Identity

1. Create a New Visage: Open the Local Library and create a new Visage.
2. Set the Metadata: Name it "Vampire Form", set the Mode to Identity, and set sharing to Private.
3. Set the Appearance: Check the box for Image and use the file picker to select a terrifying vampire token. (If you want them to look bigger and scarier, you can also check the Scale box and set it to 120%).

Phase 2: The Event Condition

1. Open the Automation Tab: In the Visage Editor, click the Automation tab.

2. Enable Automation: Click the Enable Automation toggle at the top.

3. Add a Condition: Click the Add Event button. A new condition card will appear. Click it to open the Inspector.

4. Configure the Event:

   • Event ID: Click the dropdown and select Scene Darkness.
   • Operator: Change this to > (Greater than).
   • Value: Type 0.5.

   Tip: Foundry's scene darkness is measured on a scale of 0 (bright daylight) to 1 (pitch black). By setting the value to 0.5, this Visage will trigger as soon as the scene crosses into twilight/nighttime!

5. Limit the Target (Optional but Recommended): If you save this right now, every token on the map will turn into a vampire when it gets dark! To fix this:

   • Click the back arrow to exit the Event Inspector.
   • Click Add Attribute and open its Inspector.
   • Set the Data Path to name (the token's name), Operator to contains, Data Type to String, and Value to Strahd (or whatever your NPC is named).
   • Now, Visage will only apply the Vampire Form if the token is named Strahd AND it is dark out.

6. Save: Save your Visage.

Testing It Out

1. Check the Canvas: Make sure your target token (e.g., Strahd) is on the canvas.
2. Change the Sun: Open the core Foundry Lighting Controls (the lightbulb icon on the left toolbar) and click the Transition to Night button, or manually drag the Darkness Level slider past 0.5.
3. Watch the Canvas: As the map darkens, your NPC will instantly transform into their Vampire Form!
4. Bring the Dawn: Transition the scene back to daylight (Darkness < 0.5). The token will automatically revert to its human disguise.

Pro-Tips & Creative Ideas

• The Combat Event: You can use Event triggers for more than just the environment! If you set the Event ID to Combat and the Operator to Active, you can create a Visage that automatically gives a token a "weapons drawn" appearance the moment the GM rolls initiative for them.
• The Elevation Event: If you play in a system with lots of verticality, create an Overlay with the Event ID set to Elevation, Operator > (Greater than), and Value 0. Add a dark, semi-transparent circle as a background visual effect. Now, whenever a token flies up into the air, they automatically get a drop-shadow on the ground beneath them!