Gather uses spatial video chat. This means the audio and video of a person grows clearer as you walk closer to them and fades out as you walk away. You begin connecting with someone who is five tiles from you, and you are fully connected when you are within two tiles of each other. 

Exceptions

• Private Areas: In a private area, you connect to the a/v of everyone who is in the same private area as you. 
• Quiet Mode: In Quiet Mode, you only connect to someone's a/v who is within one tile of you. 
• Ghost Mode: In Ghost mode, you do not connect to anyone's a/v. 
• Do Not Disturb Mode: You will not connect to anyone's a/v, even if they walk up to you.