As a drow, you have darkvision, and you can cast Darkness once a day (after reaching 5th level).
I'm having trouble visualizing exactly how that spell affects combat.
The spell description says:
First of all, bummer that darkvision doesn't work. So much for hiding in the darkness and striking unseen.
The description of vision and light says:
The description of the blinded condition says:
OK, so based on this, I take it that the sphere of darkness is essentially inky black. Inside it, you can see literally nothing until your eyes break the surface. From outside, you can't see anyone inside or on the other side of the sphere.
That brings us to Unseen Attackers and Targets:
OK, so whether you're inside the sphere, your enemy is, or it's just between you & your enemy, the effect is the same. You are both equally affected and can't see each other. Which gives the attacker both advantage (because the target can't see you) and disadvantage (because you can't see the target), canceling each other out.
So the darkness has no effect on any attack rolls for anyone inside or outside of it, except everyone has to guess where their targets are? Is that right? Kind of lame, if so.
I didn't get into the rules for cover, because I interpreted "cover" to mean an obstacle that actually physically blocks attacks, not just the line of sight. If you considered the darkness as providing total cover, then nobody could attack anybody.
I also didn't get into the rules for hiding… I guess that would just affect whether people could accurately target you unseen?
I'm having trouble visualizing exactly how that spell affects combat.
The spell description says:
Magical darkness spreads from a point you choose within range to fill a 15-foot-radius sphere for the duration. The darkness spreads around corners. A creature with darkvision can't see through this darkness, and nonmagical light can't illuminate it.
First of all, bummer that darkvision doesn't work. So much for hiding in the darkness and striking unseen.
The description of vision and light says:
A heavily obscured area—such as darkness, opaque fog, or dense foliage—blocks vision entirely. A creature in a heavily obscured area effectively suffers from the blinded condition… Darkness creates a heavily obscured area.
The description of the blinded condition says:
• A blinded creature can't see and automatically fails any ability check that requires sight.
• Attack rolls against the creature have advantage, and the creature's attack rolls have disadvantage.
OK, so based on this, I take it that the sphere of darkness is essentially inky black. Inside it, you can see literally nothing until your eyes break the surface. From outside, you can't see anyone inside or on the other side of the sphere.
That brings us to Unseen Attackers and Targets:
When you attack a target you can't see, you have disadvantage on the attack roll. This is true whether you're guessing the target's location or you're targeting a creature you can hear but not see. If the target isn't in the location you targeted, you automatically miss, but the DM typically just says that the attack missed, not whether you guessed the target's location correctly.
When a creature can't see you, you have advantage on attack rolls against it.
If you are hidden—both unseen and unheard—when you make an attack, you give away your location when the attack hits or misses.
OK, so whether you're inside the sphere, your enemy is, or it's just between you & your enemy, the effect is the same. You are both equally affected and can't see each other. Which gives the attacker both advantage (because the target can't see you) and disadvantage (because you can't see the target), canceling each other out.
So the darkness has no effect on any attack rolls for anyone inside or outside of it, except everyone has to guess where their targets are? Is that right? Kind of lame, if so.
I didn't get into the rules for cover, because I interpreted "cover" to mean an obstacle that actually physically blocks attacks, not just the line of sight. If you considered the darkness as providing total cover, then nobody could attack anybody.
I also didn't get into the rules for hiding… I guess that would just affect whether people could accurately target you unseen?
Last edited: