Hide in Plain Sight

[Sejs]

Well this might be a silly question but, if Darkvision can see through darkness, does it also see through shadows? I know realistically there shouldn't be a difference between darkness and shadow, but this is D&D which has specific terms that have specific properties and meanings... So can someone with Darkvision see through shadows, or just darkness?

Personally, I'd say first off that the person with Darkvision can see the shadows no problem. He's aware of them just the same as anyone else. It's just that they don't hinder his vision at all - a shadowy area is still dim and washed of color, it's just that that same dimness doesn't conceal the outlines of things within the area like it does for someone who lacks darkvision.

 

[Space monkey]

OK I am, curious about the interpretation of Dark vission. I always thought of dark vission as seeing in a non light based spectrum. IE Heat vs cold rather then light and dark. Am I wrong? or is it just like seeing the tinyest amounts of light. like av cat? this is not a thread hijack it's a related question shadows are light based. Also yes there is a diference between a shadow and darkness. IMO shadows need light to egsist complete darkness has no shadows, neer complete darkness with light (humans) can't see by still has light. so it still has shadow.

 

[ThirdWizard]

AFAIK there is no rationale behind darkvision. It's purposeful, I think. Infravision was explained with science and look what happened with that mess. If they tried to explain Darkvision then armchair physicists would start interprieting in crazy ways that it was never intended to work. It just lets you see in the dark, and what you see is in black and white. Nothing more, nothing less. Even with that, there are lots of debates over ruling various situations with it, which I'm not going to be held responsible for bringing up, I already inadvertantly opened a can of worms in this thread once! *hits head against wall*

In any case, there is only one situation with Darkvision and HiPS which can hinder the character with HiPS. If you rule that you can't see shadows with Darkvision, then it becomes difficult for the dwarvish shadowdancer to know if he can use HiPS sometimes.

 

[Sejs]

In any case, there is only one situation with Darkvision and HiPS which can hinder the character with HiPS. If you rule that you can't see shadows with Darkvision, then it becomes difficult for the dwarvish shadowdancer to know if he can use HiPS sometimes.

Heh, or any shadowdancer over 2nd level.

 

[ThirdWizard]

Heh, or any shadowdancer over 2nd level.

D'oh! You can tell how many shadowdancers I've been around recently.

 

[Storyteller01]

Well this might be a silly question but, if Darkvision can see through darkness, does it also see through shadows? I know realistically there shouldn't be a difference between darkness and shadow, but this is D&D which has specific terms that have specific properties and meanings... So can someone with Darkvision see through shadows, or just darkness?

My intrepretation: darkvision can see through normal shadows, but may have 'shadows' or blindspots of it own, depending on how you base it. If you have darkvision or the appropriate Knowledge skills, yo can utilize these instead.

Question: Suppose your a character with HiPS fighting a member of the same race, and both of you have darkvision? Using dwarves as an example (work with me on this), can said shadow dancer say "Okay, I'm the same race. I know his sight limitations. I get 50 ft away from him, then use HiPS." ? Let's say the SD is 20 to 30ft away, using ranged attacks.

You technically end the movement within 10 feet of the shadows...