D&D General Darkvision, Dim Light, and Disadvantage

[pukunui]

On a semi-related note, how do you guys run shadow creatures that can hide in areas of dim light or darkness vs an opponent with darkvision? Do you rule that darkvision enables them to see the hiding creature automatically? Or does the hiding creature essentially become invisible?

I tend to go with the latter, with the shadow creature blending in with the shadows and the person with darkvision just seeing through them as if they weren’t there. (EDIT: Hey, if a gloom stalker can do it, then creatures made of actual shadow should definitely be able to do it too!)

 

[Reynard]

I don't have a problem with attacking while blinded. The target isn't hidden, so you can still make a guess as to where they are by sound, even for a ranged attack. Disadvantage seems about right to express the "swinging/shooting wildly at a general area and hoping you connect" aspect.

Have you ever tried to do anything physically active while blindfolded, let alone fight? It's essentially impossible.

I know PCs are supposed to be super heroic, but there is still a limit to my suspension of disbelief. At the very least require "blindfighting" as a feat or trait.

 

[DEFCON 1]

To me... if the players at the table ALL choose species with Darkvision... that tells me they don't WANT to deal with light and light sources and penalties and all that junk. And thus as the DM... I would just NOT use that stuff as something for the players to interact with.

There are so many other ways to challenge players and their PCs, so what point is there in forcing the players to interact with the light issue when they don't want to? It just seems like a massive waste of time.

 

[Reynard]

To me... if the players at the table ALL choose species with Darkvision... that tells me they don't WANT to deal with light and light sources and penalties and all that junk. And thus as the DM... I would just NOT use that stuff as something for the players to interact with.

There are so many other ways to challenge players and their PCs, so what point is there in forcing the players to interact with the light issue when they don't want to? It just seems like a massive waste of time.

There's nothing wrong with that if that is what the table wants to do, but I wouldn't even both with dungeons if that was the group's attitude. they obviously want to do some different kind of fantasy adventure. I would ask them what it was.

 

[DEFCON 1]

There's nothing wrong with that if that is what the table wants to do, but I wouldn't even both with dungeons if that was the group's attitude. they obviously want to do some different kind of fantasy adventure. I would ask them what it was.

I agree. Or at least run dungeons for all the other things that challenges players besides light.

 

[pukunui]

Next time I run Curse of Strahd, I am planning on either limiting available species to like humans and halflings (or maybe just all species that lack darkvision) or ruling that Barovia impedes the PCs’ darkvision so it only works out to 5 or 10 feet.

Last time I ran it (and when I played through it), having some PCs be able to see in the dark really messed with the gothic horror vibe.

PCs should be afraid of the dark in Barovia.

 

[Quickleaf]

I don't even know if this was ever actually a rule in any edition, but I have always ruled you cannot read typical text or see other fine detail with darkvision (one of the reasons dwarves carve runes, they can feel them with their hands to read, if need be).

Nice bit of flavor you’ve got there!

 

[Reynard]

So, most species that have darkvision have it out to 60 feet. Darkvision does not allow you to see color, and you have disadvantage on sight based perception checks.

With all that said, what does that imply about "darkvision races" and how they live. What do their fortresses and cities look like? What does their art look like? When do they employ light? And when they do, what do they use for light? Fire? Bioluminescent fungus?

 

[Xeviat]

On a semi-related note, how do you guys run shadow creatures that can hide in areas of dim light or darkness vs an opponent with darkvision? Do you rule that darkvision enables them to see the hiding creature automatically? Or does the hiding creature essentially become invisible?

I tend to go with the latter, with the shadow creature blending in with the shadows and the person with darkvision just seeing through them as if they weren’t there. (EDIT: Hey, if a gloom stalker can do it, then creatures made of actual shadow should definitely be able to do it too!)

Darkvision turns dim light into bright light, and turns darkness into dim light. So if a shadow can hide in areas of dim light, then they can hide in the range of your darkvision if they're in dim light to you. That's how I'd rule it at least.

 

[Xeviat]

Blindness already imposes disadvantage to attacks. If dim light imposes disadvantage, there's no additional level of penalty for fighting completely blind. Which you may be okay with, but just be aware that this will happen.

Yes there is; if you're completely blind, people can hide from you and then you don't even know what space they're in. Blinded also makes attacks against you have advantage. You also automatically fail visual perception checks, instead of just a disadvantage.