# Craftable utility lights

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750>\
**Category:** The Drawing Board\
**Created:** [December 5, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750 "2018-12-05T21:18:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Erk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/erk/32/3871_2.png) [@Erk](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Erk)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/1 "2018-12-05T21:18:31Z")

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I’m thinking about how annoying light becomes by mid game. Once you can build turrets, it’s pretty easy to get light sources. Why can’t we build utility lights as seen in the refugee center? It seems ridiculous that I have to keep some of my defense turrets down in my base just because I don’t feel like wasting batteries or flammables to read.

I suggest making a craftable utility light. Was originally going to make this the same terrain as seen in the refugee center, but in the GitHub thread it was suggested that it instead be foldable placeable terrain like the butcher rack and I think that’s reasonable (the ones in the refugee center are presumably attached to a central power grid, so wouldn’t have the same components anyway)

I’m thinking a recipe along the lines of, 6 plutonium cells, 1 steel frame, 1 floodlight, 2 electronic scrap, 2 copper wires, 5 amplifier circuits, 20 solder. This should be hard to get many of until around the same time of game as you’re getting turrets, where you really aren’t set back by the lack of light except to be slightly annoyed. Folded it will still be very large and heavy, something you might move around the base or keep in your car, but not something you’re going to haul around in your inventory.

Thoughts?

Related GitHub discussion:

> <https://github.com/CleverRaven/Cataclysm-DDA/issues/26955>

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**Author:** ![Mantar](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/mantar/32/42_2.png) [@Mantar](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Mantar)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/2 "2018-12-05T21:46:08Z")

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Wouldn’t that just flat-out render the atomic lamp obsolete?

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**Author:** ![nameless\_survivor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/nameless_survivor/32/4476_2.png) [@nameless\_survivor](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/nameless_survivor)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 9:48pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/3 "2018-12-05T21:48:43Z")

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> [@Mantar](#):
>
> Wouldn’t that just flat-out render the atomic lamp obsolete?

No. The atomic lamp is good for mounting inside vehicles, or carrying around, or setting up in the wilderness to craft by. This would be useful for building to light up a base or something. It would be too heavy to carry around on you. The atomic lamp is too weak to use to light up a base, and has other disadvantages, like being vulnerable to theft/pickup by NPCs.

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**Author:** ![DrakeDragon8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DrakeDragon8](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DrakeDragon8)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 9:54pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/4 "2018-12-05T21:54:00Z")

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I think they would be great for static bases, but they would be nice if you could mount them on a vehicle with a larger angle of effect than a normal floodlight, but either increased power requirement or a shorter length area.

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**Author:** ![nameless\_survivor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/nameless_survivor/32/4476_2.png) [@nameless\_survivor](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/nameless_survivor)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/5 "2018-12-05T21:56:02Z")

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> [@Mantar](#):
>
> Wouldn’t that just flat-out render the atomic lamp obsolete?

Plus, who wants to build a shitload of frames with a floodlight and engines+alternators/solar panels/storage batteries that make tons of noise & smoke, and need to be regularly refueled or micromanaged.

> [@DrakeDragon8](#):
>
> I think they would be great for static bases, but they would be nice if you could mount them on a vehicle with a larger angle of effect than a normal floodlight

Floodlights already light up an area 360 degrees around them I believe, they are just limited by obstructions, like boards. Quarterpanels let light through though. Their power draw is also RIDICULOUSLY huge already.

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**Author:** ![DrakeDragon8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DrakeDragon8](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DrakeDragon8)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/6 "2018-12-05T21:58:51Z")

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You know that would explain things \>.\> I was wondering why they weren’t lighting up areas behind my vehicle well… I had to have like 6 installed for total coverage but my base car is an RV soo hmm

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**Author:** ![nameless\_survivor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/nameless_survivor/32/4476_2.png) [@nameless\_survivor](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/nameless_survivor)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:00pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/7 "2018-12-05T22:00:04Z")

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> [@DrakeDragon8](#):
>
> I had to have like 6 installed for total coverage

Oh god, and I thought I had power consumption problems with just three of the damn things. How do you keep that beast running?

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**Author:** ![DrakeDragon8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DrakeDragon8](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DrakeDragon8)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:00pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/8 "2018-12-05T22:00:39Z")

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Hehehe I have no problems for power… MWAHAHAHAHAHA

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrakeDragon8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DrakeDragon8](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DrakeDragon8)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:01pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/9 "2018-12-05T22:01:27Z")

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CHEESE LOTS OF CHEESE. Thank you Cata++

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**Author:** ![Erk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/erk/32/3871_2.png) [@Erk](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Erk)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/10 "2018-12-05T22:06:23Z")

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The atomic lamp, and the other option of making a floodlight powered by a generator, just illustrate why I think this is a good idea. Both of those options are pretty trivial by midgame, but have annoying drawbacks that I don’t think add to gameplay. The atomic light has a tiny radius and is stealable. The actual availability of light is not a challenge, but to get it you have to deal with keeping your generator fueled up and dumping fumes out, or you have to carry around your atomic lamp while crafting. These don’t add to gameplay, imo, they just make it annoying.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrakeDragon8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DrakeDragon8](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DrakeDragon8)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:09pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/11 "2018-12-05T22:09:11Z")

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Hmm maybe add different variants to them ranging from the normal electrical powered to diesel and gasoline using ones… maybe one that can use coal or charcoal would be cool?

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**Author:** ![nameless\_survivor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/nameless_survivor/32/4476_2.png) [@nameless\_survivor](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/nameless_survivor)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/12 "2018-12-05T22:12:59Z")

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The entire point is so that you don’t have to micromanage them with fuel and such.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrakeDragon8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DrakeDragon8](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DrakeDragon8)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:17pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/13 "2018-12-05T22:17:37Z")

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Hmm so a free very bright unlimited light source seems… a bit… futuristicky if going in the same vain as normal worklights BUT If it can be made using rare materials like I dunno an eyebot corpse or some such then it might be a little more believable.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nameless\_survivor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/nameless_survivor/32/4476_2.png) [@nameless\_survivor](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/nameless_survivor)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:23pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/14 "2018-12-05T22:23:02Z")

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In the base game plutonium cells aren’t very common like they are with the jury rigged robots mod.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrakeDragon8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DrakeDragon8](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DrakeDragon8)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/15 "2018-12-05T22:26:05Z")

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True though just 1 might be a little low for something expected to light a significant chunk of area

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nameless\_survivor](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/nameless_survivor/32/4476_2.png) [@nameless\_survivor](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/nameless_survivor)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/16 "2018-12-05T22:34:49Z")

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Yeah, I was kind of thinking that too. I play with jury rigged robots so I’m not 100% sure how often you find them normally. One is enough to power an atomic coffee maker or lamp forever, so maybe five?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Erk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/erk/32/3871_2.png) [@Erk](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Erk)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:40pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/17 "2018-12-05T22:40:01Z")

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Yeah, looking at the atomic lamp recipe, that uses two, so five to ten would be more reasonable for this.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrakeDragon8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DrakeDragon8](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DrakeDragon8)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:44pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/18 "2018-12-05T22:44:49Z")

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I agree much better though the “foldable” aspect of it. Is it going to be akin to furniture placement like the metal butchering rack or like folding a vehicle?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Erk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/erk/32/3871_2.png) [@Erk](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Erk)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:51pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/19 "2018-12-05T22:51:46Z")

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I’d make it like a folding butcher rack. You carry around an item and activate it to deploy it. Once deployed it’s furniture and can be dragged about.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrakeDragon8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@DrakeDragon8](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/DrakeDragon8)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/craftable-utility-lights/17750/20 "2018-12-05T22:52:48Z")

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Any ideas on radius?

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