Keeping lighthouses lit

[*Wiro]

In the past half year I started to keep track of places that keep their lighthouse lit, and noticed there's practically no one that does it for an extended amount of time any more. I'm wondering why that is. The fuel cost is practically non-existent and the benefit is great. Do people not know how this works, do they not care or are they too lazy to set up the project once every four years?

For those unaware, the lighthouse gives off a very dim light without fuel. It generally falls out of view within a day's sailing. A lit lighthouse can easily stay in view for several days. (I'm not sure about the specific numbers, but they're probably out there somewhere.)

[sherman]

Does this apply to all fuels? I once fueled one with dried dung for max time though usage of that lighthouse is nonexistent

[*Wiro]

Fuel consumption per day:

Wood 15 g
Propane 2 g
Charcoal 10 g
Coal 25 g
Petrol 15 g
Biodiesel 2 g
Dried dung 100 g

It takes something like 2 dow worth of wood petrol or propane to fuel it for 80 days. I'm not familiar with the other fuels.

[sherman]

Well, dried dung is sure effective and cheap. Plus.. takes no work (though it might smell! )

[Tiamo]

I think people just forget because from the town you don't see whether a lighthouse is lit. If its status would be more visible, maybe on the building page, more towns would probably use them.

On the other hand, sailors usually have maps and know where they go, so they don't really need lighthouses, and sometimes small remote villages don't really want to be too visible.

[Kyriel]

I think people just forget because from the town you don't see whether a lighthouse is lit. If its status would be more visible, maybe on the building page, more towns would probably use them.

Yeah, a note about it like there is for open windows and such would probably help with letting the residents know if it's lit or not or even that it can be lit. I imagine at least some people forget that they can do that.

[Friar Briar]

I'm wondering why that is [...] Do people not know how this works, do they not care or are they too lazy to set up the project once every four years?

Some characters are the ornery type who don't like having visitors or wanting to attract attention. You know how neighbors can be like, jumping on the radio or visiting a town if so much as a bonfire goes off? So for all practical purposes, some lighthouses will just have to stay unlit.

For those unaware, the lighthouse gives off a very dim light without fuel. It generally falls out of view within a day's sailing. A lit lighthouse can easily stay in view for several days. (I'm not sure about the specific numbers, but they're probably out there somewhere.)

I did not know this, now that is pretty cool.

[Snowdrop]

I think people just forget because from the town you don't see whether a lighthouse is lit. If its status would be more visible, maybe on the building page, more towns would probably use them.

Yeah, for me personally, it is just a matter of forgetting to go and relight it. The idea of some kind of note on the buildings page like for open windows would be a great way to remind people.

[*Wiro]

I don't think it would be very noticeable on the building list. The location menu would be better. An event could also work, and it makes sense. "You see the lighthouse become less bright."

[AshBee]

I know for me I have a few towns that intend on keeping their's lit, but unless I make a conscious effort to go into the lighthouse and see if it's lit and so it gets ignored. I just never know if it's on or not and so forget to check.

[*Wiro]

You could put a note outside with the date the lighthouse is scheduled to go out. That's a pretty nice idea, think I'll do that from now on.

I played a character a while ago that gave away lighthouse fuel to towns that benefitted from trade, and therefore weren't too shy to receive sailors. When I visited again I noticed all the lighthouses were still unlit. It seemed like even the effort of entering a building was too much for the local elderly home.

[Swingerzetta]

For my town, I tend to not remember when it was lit, nor how long it is expected to be lit for, so an event when it goes out would be helpful. But lately there have been less in-context motivations, anyway, and there's a fear (in context and out) of attracting the wrong sort of attention, too.

[SumBum]

Excuse my ignorance on this.... Is it possible to "extinguish" the lighthouse once it's lit? If not, I think it should be an option. Say your town keeps theirs lit but hear about a pirate ship cruising around - they'd probably want to shut down the light immediately. I don't have any chars around lighthouses that they could fiddle with right now to try it out.

I'd guess that a lot of players don't pay that close of attention to the lighthouse's fuel. Keeping mental track of checking on it every 80 days is ridiculous to expect people to do. If it's really that important to them then the note idea is good. Those players are probably just making a conscious effort to check it on a semi-regular basis. Having some way to easily see if it's lit from town would be better.

[*Wiro]

It should be possible to be cancelled instantly by the person who started it, like any other project (except lockbreaking for certain good reasons). I haven't tried, so maybe someone else can confirm they've done this before.

[Marian]

It should be possible to be cancelled instantly by the person who started it, like any other project (except lockbreaking for certain good reasons). I haven't tried, so maybe someone else can confirm they've done this before.

What is the reasoning on this? I had an issue with this while using my phone awhile back and was surprised I couldn't cancel it.