Bright Light Sources, Dim Light, Concealment?

[Smeelbo]

A torch illuminates the area of a close burst 5 with bright light (PHB262). Beyond that radius, I assume that the ambient illumination prevails. So in a dark room, a monster 6 squares away from a torch holding character is in darkness, and so the monster has total concealment (PHB281), except against characters with dark vision. However, the torch bearer has no concealment from the monster, even though the monster stands in the dark.

Suppose the room is dimly lit instead. The monster is in dim light, so has concealment, except against characters with low light vision.

Am I correct so far?

It seems odd that a bright light source drops off suddenly at its radius. Is this intended for simplicity only? Would having bright light sources extend dim light for half-again their radius have unfair consequences? So a torch would be bright out to 5 squares away, then dim light another 2 squares? It would mean that characters with low light vision would see farther in a dark room with torchs and so on, but that seems entirely reasonable. Is there something I'm not seeing?

Smeelbo

 

[Kordeth]

Yeah, it's purely for simplicity and ease of play. If you want more detail, you're unlikely to break anything.

 

[Mistwell]

A torch illuminates the area of a close burst 5 with bright light (PHB262). Beyond that radius, I assume that the ambient illumination prevails. So in a dark room, a monster 6 squares away from a torch holding character is in darkness, and so the monster has total concealment (PHB281), except against characters with dark vision. However, the torch bearer has no concealment from the monster, even though the monster stands in the dark.

Suppose the room is dimly lit instead. The monster is in dim light, so has concealment, except against characters with low light vision.

Am I correct so far?

It seems odd that a bright light source drops off suddenly at its radius. Is this intended for simplicity only? Would having bright light sources extend dim light for half-again their radius have unfair consequences? So a torch would be bright out to 5 squares away, then dim light another 2 squares? It would mean that characters with low light vision would see farther in a dark room with torchs and so on, but that seems entirely reasonable. Is there something I'm not seeing?

Smeelbo

I think we will see it in operation as soon as the Wizards of the Coast digital game table product is released. Which is probably next year.