Hide in Plain Sight and Darkvision

[Sejs]

Darkvision is also a supernatural ability

No, it's not. Walking into an antimagic area doesn't switch off someone's Darkvision. DMG, p74 - Darkvision is an extraordinary ability.

The whole descriptive content of HIPS is that you can hide in (or near) a shadow, no matter how small as long as its not your own, but shadows DO NOT exsist for PC/NPCs with Darkvision.

Irrelavant. Just because someone can see through the shadows, doesn't mean they don't exist. Do you also say that anyone with Darkvision can't Hide in Plain Sight ever, because they can see through darkness, therefor there are no shadows to them? Darkvision isn't a switch you toggle on or off - you can't stop seeing with Darkvision when you want to... that's just how you see the world. All the time.

No, Darkvision does not negate hiding, but if a Rogue was hiding in the shadowy corner of a room, Darkvision would spot him. If the Rogue was hiding BEHIND something in the same shadowy corner of the room, he would not.

Yup, you need something that grants cover or concealment to use the hide skill. Since Darkvision lets you see through darkness, just standing in a shadowy coner wouldn't let you hide normally. - however:

Hide in Plain Sight: Shadowdancers can use the Hide skill even while being observed. As long as they are within 10 feet of some sort of shadow, shadowdancers can hide themselves from view in the open without anything to hide behind. They cannot, however, hide in their own shadows. Hide in Plain Sight is a supernatural ability.

if they can meet the criteria to use HiPS - they don't need anything to hide behind. At all. A person using hide in plain sight doesn't need any cover or concealment to attempt a hide check, and can do so even while being observed.

IE you are in a cave, the light of the sun is blocked by the rocks above. Its just a very very very dark shadow. Which is why the problem arises. You can see in total shadow with darkvison err

Again - just because you can see through them, doesn't mean they're not there. For instance, if there was no darkness - Jonny Darkvision would be seeing color, rather than black and white.

Basically put does darkvision negate Hide in plain sight.

In my oppinion, nope it doesn't - the ability doesn't read "as long as you're within 10' of a shadow the person you're hiding from can't see through" - it just says shadow.

If Darkvision precluded the use of HiPS becaues you can see through darkness - then anyone who had more than 1 level of shadowdancer would NEVER be able to use their own abilities. Shadowdancers get Darkvision at 2nd level. Which is just silly.

 

[Magac]

excellent Thank you

The DM has ruled that shadows exist therefore I can hide.

Really appreciate the concise answers.




MUHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHA Evil mustachoed dwarves beware.