Darkness, Deeper Darkness -- No Not-So-Darkness?

[mmadsen]

I noticed that the 2nd-level Darkness spell cloaks an area in darkness impenetrable even to darkvision. The 3rd-level Deeper Darkness is even darker. Isn't there a Not-So-Darkness spell that goblins and intelligent undead might use on humans, one that blocks normal vision but not darkvision?

(Also, why is Deeper Darkness solely a Cleric spell?)

 

[kreynolds]

Isn't there a Not-So-Darkness spell that goblins and intelligent undead might use on humans, one that blocks normal vision but not darkvision?

Not that I know of, though making one shouldn't be too difficult.

(Also, why is Deeper Darkness solely a Cleric spell?)

For no particular reason, as far as I can tell. It hasn't been asked for in my games yet (I only run one game with a spellcaster right now and a psion doesn't count ) but if it were, I wouldn't have a problem house ruling it into a Sor/Wiz spell as well.

 

[mikebr99]

I don't know if this helps... but I'm sure there is a drow spell in FR that allows the caster to see normally, but everyone else is subject to the darkness.

 

[Umbran]

Starting to sound like the variant of the White Wolf game universe - "The World of Insufficient Light"...

 

[mmadsen]

I agree, kreynolds, that's it's trivial to make up a Twilight spell and to allow Deeper Darkness as a Wizard/Sorcerer spell. I'm surprised that these "problems" require house rules though.

So should Twilight be 1st level? It is a weaker Darkness -- but it's just as useful, if only in a slightly different way.

On the topic of spell lists and their arbitrary lines between classes, how is it that Faerie Fire is a 1st-level Druid spell, but Glitterdust is a 2nd-level Wizard/Sorcerer spell? Shouldn't they both be on both lists?

 

[Moon_Goddess]

I would make it a 2nd level spell also, it's not weaker, It is in fact more usefull as some characters can see through it while others can't.

 

[Shard O'Glase]

I don't see why not I'd make it the same level as darkness though since it has just as many uses as standard darkness.

As for why not on wiz/sor list, well because they were too rigidly and blindly following the 2nd edition lists in some areas. Heck if anything I'd put it on the wiz/sor list and take it off the clerics list. It isn't negative energy and it is much more like a dramatic flashy energy spell than a healing/div spell and fits the wiz/sor list many times better than the cleric.

 

[Crothian]

Shouldn't Darkness being answering this?

 

[Shard O'Glase]

now that's funny.

 

[Crothian]

now that's funny.

We need an emoticon for a rim shoot.