# Differentiate the size of creatures while you have infared vision

**URL:** <https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863>\
**Category:** The Drawing Board\
**Created:** [June 22, 2013, 7:07am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863 "2013-06-22T07:07:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 13\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Senrain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/senrain/32/11388_2.png) [@Senrain](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Senrain)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 7:07am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863/1 "2013-06-22T07:07:58Z")

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After two encounters with Jabberwocks that occurred in a very short span of time, two harmless looking ?'s that turned out to be something to run away from very quickly, I wondered…

Why can’t we differentiate the size of a creature from it’s thermal signature? Here’s my suggestion.

. = Small creature, such as a squirrel, a rabbit, certain spiders, fungaloid spores perhaps?

? = Medium sized creatures such as your run of the mill zombies, deer, moose, other creatures about that size.

! = Large creatures to run away from very quickly, such as bears, JABBERWOCKS, stuff like that.

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**Author:** ![Narc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/narc/32/2705_2.png) [@Narc](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Narc)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 7:12am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863/2 "2013-06-22T07:12:23Z")

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It wouldn’t hurt if it gave you a textual size description when you ';'looked at it, either.

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**Author:** ![Xommers](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/xommers/32/109_2.png) [@Xommers](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Xommers)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 7:15am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863/3 "2013-06-22T07:15:38Z")

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I wholly agree with this idea. Perhaps the same for sound volume?

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**Author:** ![Senrain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/senrain/32/11388_2.png) [@Senrain](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Senrain)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 7:16am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863/4 "2013-06-22T07:16:58Z")

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> [@Narc](#):
>
> It wouldn’t hurt if it gave you a textual size description when you ';'looked at it, either.

Well, it would be a bit tedious to examine every thermal signature you see. You can probably tell at a glance whether something is huge or tiny, which is why I’m suggesting this.

Also @ Xommers that would be an awesome idea, brilliant really.

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**Author:** ![i2amroy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/i2amroy/32/909_2.png) [@i2amroy](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/i2amroy)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 7:31am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863/5 "2013-06-22T07:31:10Z")

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> [@Xommers](#):
>
> I wholly agree with this idea. Perhaps the same for sound volume?

Sound does seem like it would be based off of volume rather then creature size though, and I can imagine a particularly dangerous creature with light steps, so that it appears to be something smaller until you actually see it.

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**Author:** ![Senrain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/senrain/32/11388_2.png) [@Senrain](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Senrain)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 7:35am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863/6 "2013-06-22T07:35:23Z")

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> [@i2amroy](#):
>
> [quote=“Xommers, post:3, topic:1863”]I wholly agree with this idea. Perhaps the same for sound volume?

Sound does seem like it would be based off of volume rather then creature size though, and I can imagine a particularly dangerous creature with light steps, so that it appears to be something smaller until you actually see it.[/quote]

Well, I imagine a loud, alarming sound such as glass breaking would appear differently to say… the shambling footsteps of a zombie.

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**Author:** ![Narc](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/narc/32/2705_2.png) [@Narc](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Narc)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 8:03am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863/7 "2013-06-22T08:03:01Z")

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[quote=“Senrain, post:4, topic:1863”][quote=“Narc, post:2, topic:1863”]It wouldn’t hurt if it gave you a textual size description when you ';'looked at it, either.[/quote]Well, it would be a bit tedious to examine every thermal signature you see. You can probably tell at a glance whether something is huge or tiny, which is why I’m suggesting this.[/quote]I’m not suggesting being able to ';'examine them instead of this, I’m suggesting it’s a useful addition to this. At the very least, it would make it possible to understand what the ./?/! mean without having to go out of game for it.

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**Author:** ![Senrain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/senrain/32/11388_2.png) [@Senrain](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Senrain)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 8:12am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863/8 "2013-06-22T08:12:56Z")

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> [@Narc](#):
>
> [quote=“Senrain, post:4, topic:1863”][quote=“Narc, post:2, topic:1863”]It wouldn’t hurt if it gave you a textual size description when you ';'looked at it, either.[/quote]Well, it would be a bit tedious to examine every thermal signature you see. You can probably tell at a glance whether something is huge or tiny, which is why I’m suggesting this.[/quote]I’m not suggesting being able to ';'examine them instead of this, I’m suggesting it’s a useful addition to this. At the very least, it would make it possible to understand what the ./?/! mean without having to go out of game for it.

Aha. I figure the .?! system would be enough to get the information you need to tell whether you should approach a heat signature with caution. Perhaps examining the signature would give a slightly more detailed description.

- This heat signature is the size of your fist.
- This heat signature is the size of a basketball.
- This heat signature is the size of a easy chair.
- This heat signature is the size of a person.
- This heat signature is the size of a small automobile.
- This heat signature is enormous!

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**Author:** ![Xommers](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/xommers/32/109_2.png) [@Xommers](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Xommers)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 9:09am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863/9 "2013-06-22T09:09:46Z")

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I think we need a fridge/couch size category before moving on to cars.

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**Author:** ![Senrain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/senrain/32/11388_2.png) [@Senrain](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Senrain)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863/10 "2013-06-24T00:01:32Z")

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> [@Xommers](#):
>
> I think we need a fridge/couch size category before moving on to cars.

Well, yeah. Just giving a quick example.

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**Author:** ![jumjummju](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/jumjummju/32/13281_2.png) [@jumjummju](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/jumjummju)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 2:41am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863/11 "2013-06-24T02:41:29Z")

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> [@Senrain](#):
>
> [quote=“Xommers, post:9, topic:1863”]I think we need a fridge/couch size category before moving on to cars.

Well, yeah. Just giving a quick example.[/quote]

I always figured fridges were vaguely the size of a dude, just slightly more square. They’re especially similar if you’re in Minecraft. Sofa is a bit bigger though, so that does kinda make sense.

Perhaps some other descriptors, like “it moves on all fours” for things like cougars and zombie dogs, and “it’s obviously bi-pedal” or “It’s flying in the air” for other animals? Also, “It’s in the ground, under your feet” for worms.

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**Author:** ![Senrain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/senrain/32/11388_2.png) [@Senrain](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Senrain)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863/12 "2013-06-24T02:42:50Z")

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> [@jumjummju](#):
>
> [quote=“Senrain, post:10, topic:1863”][quote=“Xommers, post:9, topic:1863”]I think we need a fridge/couch size category before moving on to cars.

Well, yeah. Just giving a quick example.[/quote]

I always figured fridges were vaguely the size of a dude, just slightly more square. They’re especially similar if you’re in Minecraft. Sofa is a bit bigger though, so that does kinda make sense.

Perhaps some other descriptors, like “it moves on all fours” for things like cougars and zombie dogs, and “it’s obviously bi-pedal” or “It’s flying in the air” for other animals? Also, “It’s in the ground, under your feet” for worms.[/quote]

That would be good as well. Hope we can actually see some of this implemented.

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**Author:** ![Xommers](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discourse.cataclysmdda.org/xommers/32/109_2.png) [@Xommers](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/u/Xommers)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 9:48am UTC](https://discourse.cataclysmdda.org/t/differentiate-the-size-of-creatures-while-you-have-infared-vision/1863/13 "2013-06-24T09:48:34Z")

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Other things infrared should detect: recently used vehicles, fires, recently ejected ammo cases, powered consoles, generators.