Cosmetic Lights vs Deck Lanterns

Back in around Season 7 or 8 I had purchased the Royal Revenge cosmetic set for my ships. I had just started playing and didn’t think much of the little torches on the capstan or steering wheel, as I was only roughly aware of the “no deck lights” rule most players play by. I’ve continued to use this cosmetic on all my ships for hundreds of hours since then, and in that time encountered tons of other ships with the same cosmetic.

After a small break from the game, I had hopped back on with some new people, and upon getting onto the deck of the ship, one of the new players threw a fit over the fact that the cosmetic had lights, going as far as leaving the game and refusing to play until it was changed. Not a huge deal, it’s a cosmetic, not the end of the world. I tried explaining that the little torches didn’t not work mechanically the same as the deck lights, I had seen tons of other people with this same cosmetic and it never gave any sort of advantage or disadvantage (I assume if it did, that literally nobody would buy it or use it) but it got me wondering if in any capacity it worked the same way, since I had used it for so long and never truly tested it myself.

So I loaded up my sloop, sailed to thieves haven and waited until night time to send it off into the horizon. I checked 3 separate distances and as I suspected, they did not give off light the same way deck lanterns do.

I’m not sure with other cosmetics if it is the same way, but if anyone is wondering about the Royal Revenge cosmetics torches, here is some verification that you won’t be permanently broadcasting yourself to other players! It did make me curious if there have been other cosmetics that have caused this kind of confusion and if anyone has actually tested them to verify. I can’t imagine Rare would make a cosmetic that has lights that function the same as deck lights, but who knows! There’s tons of cosmetics I haven’t seen and even more that I don’t own to test for myself!