Lesson 2 - Video Settings for Combat

Introduction

In order to give yourself the best possible chance for success in battle, unburden, or "optimize" your computer's video card settings, so that it does only that which is necessary to support the graphics you need when you fight.

Combat settings are important because they decrease the load on your CPU and your video card, and thus increases the Frame Rate (measured in "Frames Per Second" or FPS), which is the rate at which your video card "paints the screen." The more FPS, the merrier!

You can see your Frame Rate by doing this:
On the menubar at the top of your screen"
Go to the View" Menu
Scroll down to "Statistics Bar"
Select "Statistics Bar"
Your Frame Rate will be displayed and will vary with activity.

The "average" FPS is what is important. As you make the settings and adjustments, below, note how the average FPS - the point around which the cursor jumps - changes. Experiment with different settings. The higher the Frame Rate, the less "drag" on your movement in combat and the greater your advantage.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

" Setting up for Combat "

Preparation and Tips

Turn off your AO, if you use one (notice the increase in your FPS? This should give you back about 5 FPS or so if you turn it off for combat).

Get into the habit of Clearing your Cache when you do your settings:
Go to the Preferences pane <Command - p>
Select the "Network" tab
Click the "Clear Cache" button

SL will warn you that cache will be cleared after restart, but just ignore that message and carry on.

Things to notice:
Most of the below settings are "volatile"; that is, they "go up in smoke" when you log off. You'll have to reset them each time you log on.

Note:
Once you get the hang of the settings below, It should take just about 2 seconds to get your settings ready for combat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

First,
Go to the Preferences pane <Command - p>
Select the Graphics tab
" to the right of the slider, check the "Custom" box
" set the Mesh Detail" sliders to "low" (all the way to the left - "Faster")
" set the lower sliders to "low" (all the way to the left)
" uncheck "Avatar Impostors"
" uncheck "Bump Map and Shiny"
" uncheck "Basic Shaders"

Things to notice:
Is the box in the upper left hand corner checked, called "Run Second Life in a Window?"
" Unchecking this box will cause SL to fill your screen, but it will also increase your Frame Rate by 10-15 FPS. It may also cause your SLwindow to be huge.
You can adjust it by playing with the "Window Size" pull down menu above the slider on the "Graphics" tab. If you have trouble, check the box again and just run SL in a window.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next,
On the menubar at the top of the SL window, go to the "Advanced" menu
Scroll down to "Advanced"
Right Scroll down to "Rendering"
Right Scroll down to "Types"
Now uncheck (turn off):
" Alpha
" Trees
" Water
" Grass
" Clouds
" Particles and
" Bump

Things to notice:
Each setting has a "command-key" equivalent, so you can make a little post-it note 'cheater' to make these settings quickly.

For Example:
to turn off/on "Trees" the command-keys are: < alt > < command > < shift > < 3 >
(on a Mac, < option > is < alt >)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next,
On the menubar at the top of the SL window, go to the "Advanced" menu
Scroll down to "Advanced"
Right Scroll down to "Rendering"
Right Scroll down to "Features"
Now uncheck (turn off):
" Foot shadows
" Fog
" Flexible objects

Things to notice:
Each setting has an "F-key" equivalent, so you can make a little post-it note 'cheater' to make these settings quickly.

For Example:
to turn off/on "Foot Shadows" the F-keys are: < alt > < command > < F5 >
(on a Mac, < option > is < alt >)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Congratulations on giving yourself the best possible chance for success in battle by managing your video settings!