Darkness

[Murrdox]

I think I may have been using the "Darkness" spell incorrectly. Would others please share their insight?

I have been ruling the "Darkness" effect as a sort of dark, impenetrable fog. If you have "Darkness" cast on you, you are essentially blind (unless you have a means to see through it).

For example, if I cast "Darkness" on an enemy archer, he's surrounded by darkness, and won't be able to see to shoot out of the darkness at anything. Similarly, anyone looking at the archer just sees a bubble of shadow, and thus can't attack him.

HOWEVER, upon re-reading it, I think this is wrong.

First of all, I don't think darkness is a fog, I should be treating it as "reverse light". If you have a darkness spell on you, nothing prevents you from seeing light sources beyond the range of the Darkness spell. Just like if you are in a pitch black cave with a torch, you see the illuminated area, but cannot see beyond.... if you are in a well-illuminated area, and cast Darkness on yourself, you can see everything OUTSIDE the range of the spell.

Thus, with this in mind, if I cast Darkness on an archer...

The Archer can see clearly anything outside the range of the Darkness spell. He should be able to attack anything beyond the spell range without suffering any miss chance. Others outside the darkness effect can make out the archer, but he's covered in shadows, so anyone attacking him gets a 20% miss chance. If someone closes to melee with the archer, then they both suffer a 20% miss chance.

Let me know if you think I've got it right this time.


Darkness
Evocation [Darkness]
Level: Brd 2, Clr 2, Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Object touched
Duration: 10 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No
This spell causes an object to radiate shadowy illumination out to a 20-foot radius. All creatures in the area gain concealment (20% miss chance). Even creatures that can normally see in such conditions (such as with darkvision or low-light vision) have the miss chance in an area shrouded in magical darkness.
Normal lights (torches, candles, lanterns, and so forth) are incapable of brightening the area, as are light spells of lower level. Higher level light spells are not affected by darkness.
If darkness is cast on a small object that is then placed inside or under a lightproof covering, the spell’s effect is blocked until the covering is removed.
Darkness counters or dispels any light spell of equal or lower spell level.
Arcane Material Component: A bit of bat fur and either a drop of pitch or a piece of coal.

 

[frankthedm]

"darkness" in 3.5 is really "Dimness". It changes the illumination in an area to "shadowy". It does not work how most would picture a spall that makes 'Darkness". BTW, it can only be cast on objects at a range of touch. Not characters.

I have been ruling the "Darkness" effect as a sort of dark, impenetrable fog.

Then you should use this version i thought up....

Obscuring Darkness
Evocation [Darkness]
Level: Brd 2, Clr 2, Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, M/DF
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Object touched
Duration: 10 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No

This spell causes an object to radiate pitch darkness out to a 20-foot radius. This darkness obscures all sight, including darkvision. All creatures in the area gain total concealment (50% miss chance).

Those who possess normal lights brighter than a candle (torches, lanterns, light spells of lower level and so forth) have to their own square illuminated, and the adjacent squares have shadowy illumination. Thus a creature 5 feet away from a light source has concealment (attacks have a 20% miss chance). Creatures farther away have total concealment (50% miss chance, and the attacker cannot use sight to locate the target). A light as bright as a candle only provides shadowy illumination in the possessor’s square.

If a creature with a light source has more than one square as its face [large or bigger], it chooses one square to be the fully illuminated square {a candle would just provide the single shadowy square]. If the creature is a light source, however, then all of its squares are illuminated, with all adjacent squares receiving shadowy illumination.

Even creatures that can normally see in such conditions (such as with darkvision or low-light vision) have the miss chance in this area shrouded in magical darkness.

Higher level light spells are not affected by darkness.

If darkness is cast on a small object that is then placed inside or under a lightproof covering, the spell’s effect is blocked until the covering is removed.

Darkness counters or dispels any light spell of equal or lower spell level.

Arcane Material Component
A bit of bat fur and either a drop of pitch or a piece of coal.

A desperate minor demon uses its Obscuring Darkness spell like ability to confound the fire elemental and the Annis hag sorcerer who summoned it.

 

[Mistwell]

I think WOTC really should have changed the name of the spell, or the effect of the spell. I wouldn't describe a spell as blue if it made something green, and I wouldn't describe a spell as as darkness if it made something dim.

In one game, we use the 3.0 darkness and just deal with it. In another, it has yet to come up.

 

[werk]

I think I ...

So what's your question, directly?

 

[frankthedm]

So what's your question, directly?

I think his question was is he doing it the correct way now that he realized his previous mistake.

 

[werk]

I think his question was is he doing it the correct way now that he realized his previous mistake.

I thought that he may have some new, specific questions following your reply.

 

[Murrdox]

Essentially, yes. Wondering if I've got it right now.

On further consideration...

What if you have two archers that are on opposite sides of a "Darkness" effect. Neither one of them are within the spell's area of effect, but their lines of sight pass through the spell area.

Since they're looking "through" the darkness effect, do they still suffer the 20% miss chance? By the RAW I don't think they do... but intuition tells me they should.

Sorry, I'm playing a Tiefling and I'm constantly coming up with tactical methods of using my Darkness ability, and wondering if I have it right.

 

[werk]

I've heard it said before that the concealment bonus can only be applied to creatures INSIDE the area of effect, but I hold to the description of concealment.

"To determine whether your target has concealment from your ranged attack, choose a corner of your square. If any line from this corner to any corner of the target’s square passes through a square or border that provides concealment, the target has concealment."

In your example, the archers would have the area in-between them, so a line would pass through an area that provides concealment.

Tactically, darkness is rather lacking because if it protects you, it usually protects all of your enemies too.

 

[Murrdox]

I've heard it said before that the concealment bonus can only be applied to creatures INSIDE the area of effect, but I hold to the description of concealment.

"To determine whether your target has concealment from your ranged attack, choose a corner of your square. If any line from this corner to any corner of the target’s square passes through a square or border that provides concealment, the target has concealment."

In your example, the archers would have the area in-between them, so a line would pass through an area that provides concealment.

Excellent point. I figured it should work that way, but couldn't find the rules which say that. The Darkness spell doesn't mention it.

Tactically, darkness is rather lacking because if it protects you, it usually protects all of your enemies too.

Yeah, you're right. But as a Tiefling I have it constantly available for free, so I'm just thinking up creative ways to use it. I paid a +1 ECL to play a Tiefling, I want to get the most out of my tiefling abilities... slight though they might be.

As was said in a favorite Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode of mine...

"We paid for the van, we're gonna FILM the van dammit!" (comment during a completely useless and endless montage of a van driving around)

 

[werk]

The best tactical benefit of darkness as it exists now, it that it provides concealment so you could attempt to hide.

Throw up darkness
Hide
Run away (...or PROFIT!)