[4E; Any Edition] Light Sources?

[jensun]

If exploration is something you are interested in and want to promote then tracking light sources is probably a good idea. If it isnt that important to you then its not liksly to be comething you bother to track.

Exploration is something I and my group are pretty much disinterested in so it goes into the pile along with tracking rations and ammo of things we dont bother doing.

 

[Hella_Tellah]

I've had a fairly even split among my players between those that care about such things as lighting and those that really don't. Here's what you do: start using the rules, or at least the ones you think are fun and interesting. If your players sit forward in their seats and look interested and excited, keep doing it. If they look bored, scrap it.

 

[Jack99]

I went the other way. I nuked Sun rods. I hate them with a fiery passion.

IME; it adds a lot to the experience both in and out of combat, if you use the light rules.

Last time, my players were ambushed by undead in the narrow streets of a underground ruined city. Between the light which kept moving as the wizard tried to stay alive, and the wraith and ghost creeping in and out of the shadows, we had a great encounter. Then when the earthquake hit, things started to get fun. Because while some could move significantly quicker than the wizard, negociating the maze-like ruins, it would be impossible without his light.

It was fun!

 

[malraux]

When exploring an evil tomb, why not have an effect that cuts the radius of all light sources in half, almost as if the darkness were alive and closing in on the party. Going from a 5 square burst to 2 square burst will make a huge difference.

Also, IIRC there's an item in AV that kills all light sources.

 

[Nebulous]

I went the other way. I nuked Sun rods. I hate them with a fiery passion.

IME; it adds a lot to the experience both in and out of combat, if you use the light rules.

Last time, my players were ambushed by undead in the narrow streets of a underground ruined city. Between the light which kept moving as the wizard tried to stay alive, and the wraith and ghost creeping in and out of the shadows, we had a great encounter. Then when the earthquake hit, things started to get fun. Because while some could move significantly quicker than the wizard, negociating the maze-like ruins, it would be impossible without his light.

It was fun!

It never occured to me to disallow sunrods. They haven't been a problem persay, and have been useful to the party on occasion, but i can see how they would obliterate fear in many cases. They're actually creeping through narrow tunnels now in a goblin complex with very limited light, and fear of ambush at every turn.

 

[cjais]

When exploring an evil tomb, why not have an effect that cuts the radius of all light sources in half, almost as if the darkness were alive and closing in on the party. Going from a 5 square burst to 2 square burst will make a huge difference.

Also, IIRC there's an item in AV that kills all light sources.

Thanks for the suggestions, all! I particularily like this one, and am considering using it (at least in some rooms).

EDIT: Forgot to mention that the dungeon will be filled to the brim with darkvision-using undead (primarily lots of melee ones), and the only one in the party that uses ranged attacks is the wizard, and occasionally the rogue.

 

[Korgoth]

The Underworld is supposed to be dark and scary! I think light source rules are a must... they add a lot to the game.

 

[Rabbitbait]

When the gametable eventuates (hopefully), I'm looking forward to a real graphic representation of how light effects a battle. I'm guessing it will change some peoples tabletop games when they see how it adds to the tactics needed.

 

[Ed_Laprade]

I tend to be pretty lax about it. Just keeping in mind about where the light radius ends. As others have mentioned, keeping track of number of torches, amount of oil, etc. is just a pain.

One thing, though, keep in mind that although the party can't see very far the other guys can see them from forever! (LOS)

 

[Baumi]

I think the sunrods huge range is important since battles are much larger now and no player race has darkvision. So they have to give the players something to fight this huge disadvantage (monsters see them but not the other way around), especially for the ranged characters since they cannot see most of their targets in a non-lit dungeon.