Sightlines and vistas

A sightline is "a trajectory of empty open space that offers a possible view of another space" (The Level Design Book: Composition). A vista is "an exceptionally deep scene composition that offers an overview of the next area", giving the player "an opportunity to formulate a strategy" (The Level Design Book: Composition). The Level Design Book calls a path with a vista an approach (The Level Design Book: Composition).

Both are tools for level designers and environment artists alike. Level designers use sightlines to balance combat and to reveal or hide what comes next. Artists decide what sits at the end of a sightline and how it is framed, lit and silhouetted. See composition, focal point and landmarks.

#Sightlines in combat

In combat spaces, The Level Design Book defines a sightline as "an imaginary uninterrupted line that connects the player's camera position to an important part of the level", within the player's field of view (The Level Design Book: Balance). Getting the amount right is a balance (The Level Design Book: Balance):

• Too many: "A large busy view with many deep sightlines will overwhelm the player about what is relevant."
• Too few: "only a few shallow sightlines will leave players ignorant and unable to plan movement."
• Mixed: "Sniper alleys offer very long sightlines for long range attacks or suppression, while close quarters areas offer shallow sightlines."

Geometry tunes them. "A rounded / beveled corner offers wider sightlines than a sharper corner", while "a sharp T-junction with blind corners lets someone easily break a sightline and escape" (The Level Design Book: Balance). Anything that blocks a sightline and hides a player "functions as cover" (The Level Design Book: Balance).

#Vistas and reveals

"In modern encounter design, it is very common to introduce an arena with a vista beforehand, especially if the arena layout is complicated" (The Level Design Book: Composition). Vistas also reward exploration and set up goals.

Blocking views is as much a part of the design as opening them. Steve Lee warns that very open layouts "can really undermine the player's ability to EXPLORE": if players can see everything, "there's no need to explore it to see more", and there are no "corners to turn around, to reveal new things" (80 Level: 8 Common Problems With Level Layouts…).

#Sightline and vista as terms for prospect

The Level Design Book suggests "sightline" and "vista" as the working terms for what architects call prospect in prospect and refuge theory: a sightline is a line of empty space between areas, a vista a vantage point with many distant sightlines (The Level Design Book: Prospect-refuge).

#Further reading and watching