All kobold PCs "physically challenged?"

[BASHMAN]

I noticed that the monster entry for kobolds says they have darkvision, but the playable race entry says that they have "normal vision". Not even lowlight.

So are all kobold PCs those who were cruelly banished because of their dark-blindness or is this a typo?

 

[chaotix42]

Now I want to make a kobold PC named Squinty.

 

[Henry]

I would imagine it's intentional; notice that there are NO races in the PHB with darkvision; only monsters get it. If there IS a typo, I'd say it was under "Drow," as they're the only ones in that "Racial Traits" section that get Darkvision.

If a DM wanted to be charitable, they could give them low-light vision, same as most of the rest of the races.

 

[Rith the Wanderer]

Thats actually pretty funny. Now I'm sure its on purpose, for the reasons Henry stated. I don't really see why Darkvision is so game breaking, I think both vision types are too poorly defined to do much in combat.

 

[Ximenes088]

A party that has some people with darkvision and some people without is a party that is strongly, strongly encouraged to split up in a lot of situations. If a PC can get effective invisibility just by keeping away from his teammates, he's liable to do that- especially if he's a ranged attacker type.

 

[Danceofmasks]

Darkvision in an item is worth 21,000gp ... stealth orientated PCs may consider it a good investment.

 

[BASHMAN]

I wouldn't mind so much if they just downgraded them to lowlight vision-- but to normal vision-- when all the lowlight vision monsters got to keep it-- is just dumb.

 

[Dalzig]

I wouldn't mind so much if they just downgraded them to lowlight vision-- but to normal vision-- when all the lowlight vision monsters got to keep it-- is just dumb.

The MM entries are not complete by any imagination. They're considered guidelines for creating PCs and NPCs. If it really irks you, just give it lowlight vision. Hell, give it darkvision if you agree not to bug the DM with it.

 

[MadMaligor]

Low light as suggested would be a good DM call as an alteration to the MM ability list. Darkvision, especially for scout type classes like the rogue, in my opinion will tip the balance significantly enough that it can cause problems in many ways. If you did decide to give it to a PC you might want to counterbalance it in some way.

MM

 

[Jhaelen]

The MM entries are not complete by any imagination. They're considered guidelines for creating PCs and NPCs. If it really irks you, just give it lowlight vision. Hell, give it darkvision if you agree not to bug the DM with it.

Isn't this what racial feats are for?