Ridding Elves and Half-Elves of Darkvision

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[doctorbadwolf]

How the heck did we get from Elves and Darkvision to Gnomish Paladins in bright, gaudy colors, sitting nobly astride Utah raptors charging from their outpost in the Genesis Cave to right the wrongs of the world???

IT'S D AND D!!!!!!

 

[clearstream]

How the heck did we get from Elves and Darkvision to Gnomish Paladins in bright, gaudy colors, sitting nobly astride Utah raptors charging from their outpost in the Genesis Cave to right the wrongs of the world???

Take off and nuke them from space. It's the only way to be sure.

I don't mind paladins, but gnomes... there's some kind of American whimsy going on with them that I really struggle with.

 

[CapnZapp]

Everything and its dog has Darkvision in 5th Edition - it's ridiculous - a very foolish design decision.

Agreed!

It was a simplification gone too far, Low Light Vision is easy to run - you see in dim light like bright light... there... done.

I couldn't say it better myself

In my games none but Underdark races and the right sorts of Monsters have Darkvision, and all relevant PC races etc. have had it replaced with Low Light Vision.

It works much better and takes nothing from the game or the players.

I recommend you replace it too, and enjoy running night ambushes that actually work as intended again.

Not to mention how it helps humans.

If everybody and their dog can see in the dark, and the Dungeon Master runs Darkvision correctly by having such creatures turn off their light, not having Darkvision makes for a significant handicap that adds nothing to the fun of the game.

With Elves back to low-light vision, Darkvision regains its correct status of a minor boon.

 

[Satyrn]

How the heck did we get from Elves and Darkvision to Gnomish Paladins in bright, gaudy colors, sitting nobly astride Utah raptors charging from their outpost in the Genesis Cave to right the wrongs of the world???

Welcome to EnWorld.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Take off and nuke them from space. It's the only way to be sure.

I don't mind paladins, but gnomes... there's some kind of American whimsy going on with them that I really struggle with.

Whimsical gnomes are a European thing, as much as American. See; David The Gnome. DND Gnomes aren’t any more whimsical than any other race.

Unless I’m annoying [MENTION=6799753]lowkey13[/MENTION] with the things they hate, of course.

Not to mention how it helps humans.

If everybody and their dog can see in the dark, and the Dungeon Master runs Darkvision correctly by having such creatures turn off their light, not having Darkvision makes for a significant handicap that adds nothing to the fun of the game.

With Elves back to low-light vision, Darkvision regains its correct status of a minor boon.

Elves need light sources now. They still see poorly in darkness. In dim light, they’re just a bit better off than humans (as they should be).

 

[CapnZapp]

Elves need light sources now. They still see poorly in darkness. In dim light, they’re just a bit better off than humans (as they should be).

Since I'm not sure why you felt you had to qualify or comment my statement, let's take this one step at a time.

Yes, they need light. They no longer have darkvision.

In total darkness I wouldn't say they see "poorly" - they see jack squat. In more unspecified levels of darkness they do have excellent vision, just like a cat or an owl. For instance, they see perfectly in moonlight.

Not sure what you mean - Elves follow the exact same rules for dim light as humans. They just treat a light source as having twice the range. So, yes, at 30 ft from a torch, they see better than a human (bright vs dim light). But when in conditions that for them is dim light (50 ft from a torch, say), they suffer the exact same penalties as anyone else in dim light (such a human twenty feet closer to that torch).

Does this mean you agreed or objected..?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Since I'm not sure why you felt you had to qualify or comment my statement, let's take this one step at a time.

Yes, they need light. They no longer have darkvision.

In total darkness I wouldn't say they see "poorly" - they see jack squat. In more unspecified levels of darkness they do have excellent vision, just like a cat or an owl. For instance, they see perfectly in moonlight.

Not sure what you mean - Elves follow the exact same rules for dim light as humans. They just treat a light source as having twice the range. So, yes, at 30 ft from a torch, they see better than a human (bright vs dim light). But when in conditions that for them is dim light (50 ft from a torch, say), they suffer the exact same penalties as anyone else in dim light (such a human twenty feet closer to that torch).

Does this mean you agreed or objected..?

Dude, seriously?

We both know elves have Darkvision, what are you even doing?

 

[CapnZapp]

Dude, seriously?

We both know elves have Darkvision, what are you even doing?

?

Maybe you need to read the thread title?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

?

Maybe you need to read the thread title?

You might want to reread my comment, instead.

I made an argument against what you were proposing as necessary to have elves have the “correct” sort of vision.

Elves already do what you were talking about in the post to which I replied. They already see poorly in darkness, and are blind to things outside a fairly short radius.

What else would “now” have been referring to?