Darkness

[Dross]

Wasn't there a debate (or maybe argument ) about how by RAW Darkness actually lightens an area of complete darkness?

 

[Musrum]

Wasn't there a debate (or maybe argument ) about how by RAW Darkness actually lightens an area of complete darkness?

No. No there wasn't...

 

[Hypersmurf]

Wasn't there a debate (or maybe argument ) about how by RAW Darkness actually lightens an area of complete darkness?

The spell radiates shadowy illumination... much as a candle radiates shadowy illumination.

The difference is that Darkness prevents mundane light sources from lightening an area.

If you have a candle outside at noon, the candle is radiating shadowy illumination, while the sun is radiating full daylight; in the area of overlap, we have full daylight.

If you have a Darkness spell outside at noon, we have an area that the sun (a mundane light source) cannot brighten; it would be pitch black in this area, were it not for the fact that the Darkness spell itself (a non-mundane light source) is radiating shadowy illumination. Within the area of the spell, it's as bright as candlelight underground would be.

If you have a candle underground (with no other light available), it radiates shadowy illumination.

If you have a Darkness spell underground (with no other light available), it radiates shadowy illumination.

Apart from the differing radii (5' for the candle, 20' for the Darkness spell), the light level in both cases is the same - shadowy illumination.

-Hyp.

 

[the_redbeard]

darkness and concealment?

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.

Question on concealment:
So, if I am said tiefling on the edge of the darkness, would I be able to make ranged attacks on non-concealed targets while receiving the concealment since I am within it?


*

Darkness Spell vs Darkness Environment:
They don't compare or relate to each other at all, do they?

Darkness Environment:
Creatures without darkvision are blinded, with all kinds of penalties, like 50% miss chance, no dex bonus to AC, etc., but those with darkvision act normally.

Darkness Spell:
Those with and without darkvision are equally affected but only for a 20% miss chance.

So the Darkness spell is not as dark as Darkness, but can't be seen through with darkvision.

Sheesh. What the tiefling needs is a spell to extinguish opponent's torches and lanterns - not Darkness.

 

[werk]

Question on concealment:
So, if I am said tiefling on the edge of the darkness, would I be able to make ranged attacks on non-concealed targets while receiving the concealment since I am within it?

"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."

All or nothing. If that big shadowy mass is in between you and your opponent, even a millimeter of it, you are both concealed from one another...unless it is a uni-directional shadowy mass <shoots self in head>

 

[Raspen]

i dont agree with that at all

if im on a street looking down a dark alley that is darken since the sun isnt coming from that direction to the street on the other side that is running adjacent i sould have no problem picking out a target from the other street but anything in the alley would be harder to pick out.

i didnt read anywhere that darkness is fog

 

[RigaMortus2]

i dont agree with that at all

if im on a street looking down a dark alley that is darken since the sun isnt coming from that direction to the street on the other side that is running adjacent i sould have no problem picking out a target from the other street but anything in the alley would be harder to pick out.

i didnt read anywhere that darkness is fog

Pick your rebuttal:

1) You are comparing what would happen in the real world vs what happens in-game using D&D mechanics. Your analogy doesn't match up. Can't compare real world physics with that of game mechanics.

OR

2) You are comparing normal darkness/shade with the MAGIC SPELL Darkness. Magic has different properties, and you have to follow what the spell says (and the rules for line of effect/sight).

 

[Dheran]

if im on a street looking down a dark alley that is darken since the sun isnt coming from that direction to the street on the other side that is running adjacent i sould have no problem picking out a target from the other street but anything in the alley would be harder to pick out.

Your analogy doesn't include the magical properties of Dimness Darkness. Think of adding big dark-tinted sheets of glass at the boundaries between the shadowy alley and the brighter streets. This magical dimming means that the bright light entering the area of Darkness gets dimmed down to shadowy level before it's transmitted out the other side.