[Myth] Does flashlight make AI see better?

[daman3 19]

Hello,

when I am playing through missions with the searchlights I notice that they don't spot

me even if it directly points on me.

Is that a myth or proven fact?

[PeterC 10]

From my experience it seems like spotlights improves the visibility for AI who do not have NVGs. Keep in mind though ARMA works in a very realistic way, which I will try to explain. If you keep a low profile and are prone you will be less likely to be detected. Also you need to take into account terrain and environment and several other factors. Imagine someone over your shoulder with a clipboard constantly rating how stealthy you are. The higher this magical number the more likely you are to be spotted.

To sum up: various factors come into play with spotlight detection.

[Tonci87 163]

Hmm does the AI see the players flashlight?

[Blackfox34 14]

Always wondered this myself. Today I actuallyed tested it.

I plumped an player who had a weapon with a flashlight down in front on an AI with medium skill. Made it pitch dark. If you stand still the AI does not notice you at all, even when activating a flash light. As soon as you make some noise by walking the AI zeroes in on your location.

[maddogx 13]

AI cannot see the person casting the light, but they can see people better who are in the light cone.

[kylania 568]

Fixed in 1.54:

Fixed: AI vision was not affected by light sources.

Range still matters though. From 100m as soon as you turn on a light the AI went into danger mode targeting the light source. From 50m or so he would shoot at a light source or at a unit illuminated by a flashlight.

[Blackfox34 14]

eh, i just did it this morning and it's not fixed. can post a video if needed.

[maddogx 13]

eh, i just did it this morning and it's not fixed. can post a video if needed.

Could be a regression. If you can repro it, make ticket. :)

[kylania 568]

eh, i just did it this morning and it's not fixed. can post a video if needed.

Tested it myself this morning as well, so I can show a video of it working. Now, it's not perfect, and won't happen at all ranges, but it does happen. But if you feel it's not good enough ticket it again and see if it helps.

[maturin 12]

On a pitch black night I can shine a flashlight in their eyes and they will be unable to ID me as enemy.

[khaki 10]

Well...shoving a light in someone's eye's kind of makes it hard to identify the other person. So I find it okay, so long as they're detected in the cone area

[maturin 12]

I know; it's an ideal result. However, it may have had nothing to with the flashlight at all, since the AI can always detect units by sound and sight in the dark, yet be unable to ID them until they open fire.

[Blackfox34 14]

As you can see in the video, standing within 5m of an enemy and flashing him with a flashlight he goes into a Danger state but can not recognize where I am. As soon as I take a step, regardless of light on/off, I get killed. I'm also able to walk up behind him and flash the light around him and he basically has no clue.

The same goes for other ranges where I move my player back and shine my flashlight and walk around. The AI tracks me, but does not engage.

All done with latest patch and ACR lite.

[Laqueesha 474]

As you can see in the video, standing within 5m of an enemy and flashing him with a flashlight he goes into a Danger state but can not recognize where I am. As soon as I take a step, regardless of light on/off, I get killed. I'm also able to walk up behind him and flash the light around him and he basically has no clue.

The same goes for other ranges where I move my player back and shine my flashlight and walk around. The AI tracks me, but does not engage.

All done with latest patch and ACR lite.

I get the exact same results even with AI mods like ZeusAI. Latest beta patch, ACR Lite.

[Tjohnson0221 1]

I think it could, I mean they get light to see around.