Derro in the Dark

[spunky_mutters]

So how far can Derro see in the dark? In low light?

In 1e it was 30' Infra 120' Ultra, I don't have 2e books handy, and 3e seems to have been 30' Darkvision if I recall. But I can't find anything in the 3.5 entry. Erring on the RB side I guess I'll give them 120' Darkvision.

They almost got them fixed up for 3.5. If they had just put in Aklys and Hook-fauchard, as well as assigning them some kind of vision adjustment I would have been happy. If they'd described them as having beards again I would have been ecstatic.

Still, you'd think a race with Vulnerability to Sunlight would get Darkvision.

 

[Ranes]

In 3.5 they have Blind-Fight (and they are described as having moustaches). But in low light or total darkness they can see as far as a human.

 

[spunky_mutters]

In 3.5 they have Blind-Fight (and they are described as having moustaches). But in low light or total darkness they can see as far as a human.

I agree that's what MM says. I think it's got to be an error.

 

[Seravin]

Derro are Monstrous Humanoids.
According to the type description that means they get 60ft. Darkvision as a trait.

<edit: that comment didn't come out the way I wanted it too>

 

[spunky_mutters]

Thanks. I forgot they were monstrous and not just humanoids.

 

[jaldaen]

Thanks. I forgot they were monstrous and not just humanoids.

Actually I would say that derro under 3.5 technically do not have darkvision at all since the "rule" in 3.5 is that you list darkvision and low-light vision, etc... under the special qualities section. Just look at other Monstrous Humanoid entries and you'll see that they list darkvision 60 ft., whereas the derro does not.

In 3.0 you would be correct in the assumption that derro have darkvision b/c the old rule was to assume a monster had a creature type trait unless otherwise noted, but that has been changed in 3.5 for clarity purposes. Now if a creature has a trait it is listed under the appropriate section.

My 2 Cents,
Joseph Miller
Privateer Press Wordsmith (Monsternomicon)
Mongoose Freelancer (Slayer's Guide to Derro, etc...)

 

[Ranes]

Derro are Monstrous Humanoids.
According to the type description that means they get 60ft. Darkvision as a trait.

<edit: that comment didn't come out the way I wanted it too>

I don't know what I was thinking when I made my post. I haven't had a nanosecond's peace for days and I'm losing the plot, especially considering I've been writing a derro-based adventure lately.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[spunky_mutters]

In 3.0 you would be correct in the assumption that derro have darkvision b/c the old rule was to assume a monster had a creature type trait unless otherwise noted, but that has been changed in 3.5 for clarity purposes. Now if a creature has a trait it is listed under the appropriate section.

Hey, I thought it had all been cleared up! Actually, they only had 30' in 3.0, and they were Dwarves. This is a pretty big change for the race. Screw it, I'm giving them 120' Darkvision for my campaign. That's what they had when I designed this dungeon for 1e. Why should these players get off any easier.

 

[Marimmar]

Well, 120' Ultravision is equivalent to Low-Light Vision in 3E days. Ultravision relied on the emanations of distant stars to light up the night. It had no effect whatsoever underground.

What really annoyed me was that the race as a whole was declared mad. It just isn't possible to create a cleric when the race gets a -6 Wisdom penalty.

~Marimmar

 

[Ranes]

Actually I would say that derro under 3.5 technically do not have darkvision at all since the "rule" in 3.5 is that you list darkvision and low-light vision, etc... under the special qualities section. Just look at other Monstrous Humanoid entries and you'll see that they list darkvision 60 ft., whereas the derro does not.

In 3.0 you would be correct in the assumption that derro have darkvision b/c the old rule was to assume a monster had a creature type trait unless otherwise noted, but that has been changed in 3.5 for clarity purposes. Now if a creature has a trait it is listed under the appropriate section.

My 2 Cents,
Joseph Miller
Privateer Press Wordsmith (Monsternomicon)
Mongoose Freelancer (Slayer's Guide to Derro, etc...)

Jaldaen, I took a closer look at the 3.5 MM's monstrous humanoids entries after I read this. Most of the others have darkvision specifically mentioned under SQ but the doppleganger doesn't (and yet there is a reminder that the doppleganger does have 60' darkvision in the section on playing a doppleganger as a PC) and one of the hags (I forget which) doesn't have darkvision listed under her SQ. However, the glossary entry on monstrous humanoids says that 60' darkvision is a trait of the type, unless otherwise noted. It does not say that the creature does not have the trait unless it is specifically mentioned in the SQ listing. Therefore, I would go with the derro having 60' darkvision in 3.5 - but I'd be interested in references that further justify your assertion that the specific MM listing takes precedence over the glossary entry.