FitzTheRuke
Legend
I'm pretty sure you can't read anything written on a flat surface (paper, parchment, blood on walls, etc) with darkvision. You sure as heck couldn't with the old-school "infravision" (unless it was fresh enough to be warm!)
Hey, sounds neat!Basically D&D 4e's take was . . .
This will totally lead to the DM cutting back details. And that's intentional. PCs who seek shall find. PCs who don't, well, they get ambushed. I'll describe about the same amount of detail in lit or non-lit environs. The difference: how close to the observer those details are.. . . Imagine a 100ft cubic room. In a completely bright setting; the DM has to describe the the scale of the room, all of the outstanding features, the relevant furnishing like chests, and everything else all at once. For players, this can be overwhelming information and for DM's, it can be difficult listing absolutely everything of relevance all at once. This might lead a DM to cutting back on the details of a room knowing that the room will be seen all at once.
Actually, yes you can. It's in black and white, but, you certainly can read it.I'm pretty sure you can't read anything written on a flat surface (paper, parchment, blood on walls, etc) with darkvision. You sure as heck couldn't with the old-school "infravision" (unless it was fresh enough to be warm!)
What I mean is that DM's will tend to make the room less detailed from an objective view during the adventure creation process. Where a room might have a chest, a bookcase with an ominous book, and an illusory wall that leads into a different room may be reduced to only having a chest and a locked door, simply because describing the entire room might be cumbersome during play.This will totally lead to the DM cutting back details. And that's intentional. PCs who seek shall find. PCs who don't, well, they get ambushed. I'll describe about the same amount of detail in lit or non-lit environs. The difference: how close to the observer those details are.
Actually, yes you can. It's in black and white, but, you certainly can read it.
Why are they getting advantage?This really is where VTT play absolutely gleams. When you realize just how small a light that Light spell actually is and suddenly, you just painted a huge target on that character's chest with everything attacking him or her with advantage.
I agree, and it's really unfortunate.Exactly. It basically removes resource management re: light sources as a concern. Same problem with Outlander background, goodberry, purify food & water, create food & water, etc for resource management re: food and water. Same problem with Rangers ribbon abilities for resource management re: time and getting lost, etc. Same problem with bags of holding, portable holes, etc for resource management re: weight carried. As a player and referee who likes a bit of resource management, it makes for an unfun game when that entire part of the game is handwaved away.
Because they would be in light, aka visible, while the enemies from behind would be in darkness aka unseen.Why are they getting advantage
Ah, I see. I was thrown by the "everything attacking... with advantage" - of course it would apply to ranged attacks only.Because they would be in light, aka visible, while the enemies from behind would be in darkness aka unseen.
Sorry, yes, I should have mentioned the ranged attacks thing. My bad.Why are they getting advantage?
Only if the spellbook has color illustrations. And maybe it does!I think that's up to interpretation. I mean, you have disadvantage on perception checks, so in the very least, I'd think you'd have trouble reading. I suspect that a Drow arachnomancer is gonna want a few glowing mushrooms to read her spellbook.
Imo the old infravision rules worked far better. If darkvision is heat based vision then undead, fungi, and elementals except fire and ice can't be seen in a dark dungeon. Make true darkvision a monster only ability.If so many races didn’t have Darkvision, and it wasn’t so burdensome to implement in game I might agree on the use of more darkness in the game. As it is, it’s just an annoyance to the point all my dungeons are essentially prelit these days.
With the disadvantage to Perception in dim light, there's some incentive there for even creatures with darkvision living in a dark environment to have some light here and there. It would make some tactical sense to have light set up defensively so as to have a better chance of avoiding surprise.Imo the old infravision rules worked far better. If darkvision is heat based vision then undead, fungi, and elementals except fire and ice can't be seen in a dark dungeon. Make true darkvision a monster only ability.
But to other comments it would s a pain running blind people through a dungeon. That's probably why dark vision was made so easy to obtain. Of course in an environment with darkvision, creatures still have stealth, and would develop natural and magical camouflage.
Yes, or put bright light on one side of a bridge where enemies would presumably be coming from and keep your side with all the archers in the darkness. Bonus points if the light sources are not easy to reach and out of range of a prestidigitation spell. Bullseye lanterns on the monsters' side of the bridge could outrange control flames spells too (though the PCs would be in dim light meaning monster Perception is at disadvantage if there are no light sources near PCs).Or even to use bright light offensively. Imagine you're creeping down a dark, dimly lit tunnel. You're sure the enemy has detect you, but they haven't made an appearance yet.
Suddenly, the room is filled by dazzling bright light, reflected off of polished shields and mirrors, momentarily blinding your eyes, which had up until now been straining to notice any details in the gloom, and then you hear the shouts of the Hobgoblins attacking...