Last updated: 01.2025

The DSA5 system for Foundry VTT features a fully integrated Aventurian calendar. It manages not only the date and time but also calculates moon phases, holidays, and can even automatically control scene lighting.

On the user interface (by default at the top center), you'll find the calendar widget. It provides a quick overview and basic controls.

• Display: Shows the current date (e.g., "1st Praios 1040 BF") and time
• Moon Phase: An icon visualizes the current moon phase (e.g., full moon, new moon)
• Time Controls:
  • < / >: Jump one day back / forward
  • << / >>: Jump one month back / forward
  • Small arrows or clicking on the time allows finer adjustments
• Automatic Lighting (Sun/Moon Icon): Clicking this icon enables or disables automatic scene brightness adjustment (see below)
• Edit (Pencil/Gear): Opens the detailed calendar window

The main calendar window offers deeper insights and configuration options. It's divided into several tabs:

The classic month view.

• Here you see all days of the current month
• Moon phases are graphically displayed for each day
• Clicking on a day sets the date to that day

A list of all holidays stored in the system plus custom events.

• Custom Events: You can add new events via the + symbol. These are technically stored as journal entries
• Categories: Events can be categorized (e.g., Religious, Secular)

This tool serves for managing important personalities (NPCs) in your campaign.

• It allows creating profiles for important characters
• You can add descriptions, notes (public), and GM notes (secret)
• Relationships and contacts can be linked

Here the Game Master can adjust the calendar's behavior.

• Calendar Choice: Selection of the calendar system used (default: Aventurian Calendar)
• Moon: Settings for the moon cycle

One of the most powerful features is dynamic lighting (Auto Day Light).

• The system calculates the sun's position based on the current time
• Accordingly, the Darkness Level of the current scene is adjusted
• Time of Day: There are smooth transitions between dawn, day, dusk, and night
• Moonlight: In the settings, you can enable the moon to brighten the night (a full moon makes the night brighter than a new moon)

Note: For this to work, global illumination or appropriate light sources must be correctly configured in the scene settings for the Darkness Level to have a visible effect.

If the DSA5 Atlas module is installed and activated, the calendar becomes even more precise.

• Sunrise and sunset times are then calculated based on the geographical position of the hero group on the Aventuria map
• In the far north, days in winter are actually shorter than in the south

• Session Management: Use the calendar to track campaign time
• Weather Planning: Combine with weather effects for immersion
• Event Reminders: Add important campaign events to the calendar
• Player View: Players can see the current date but typically not all events

---

See also:

• Journal Pages
• Scene Settings
• Sight and Light