D&D General How do you really handle illumination in your games?

[bloodtide]

I keep the world dark.

It's only bright and sunny sometimes. Mostly it is gray cloudy skies, or dark rain clouds. Or, of course, at night.

When playing most games, like D&D 2-3E or Old School games, I use the old 'light' rules. So some public places are lit by fires, but not all that many. It's a lot like any place 'off the grid'. Even darker in dungeons.

For any long term 5E D&D game I edit out all the dark vision and other easy button vision. Often with the agreement of the players. For the players that don't agree, they will simply find the world full of deep, dark magical shadow darkness that 100% blocks their whatever.

I love having action and adventure in partial or near total darkness. The fun of not being able to see things. I look for this type of player.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It's only bright and sunny sometimes. Mostly it is gray cloudy skies, or dark rain clouds. Or, of course, at night.

Seattle? Or Scotland?

 

[Peter BOSCO'S]

I am running an all Human party right now (because a second Origin Feat (usually Lucky or Tough), Heroic Inspiration every morning, and an extra skill (Perception unless they already had it), make human a great choice) and we normally have three sets of light going, the Wizard's 'Light', the Cleric's 'Light', and the 15' light from one of the Fighters Moon-Touched Glaive. So far, so good but they have been careful about marching order and not scouting too far ahead.

My only real surprise is that I have not been able to get them to bother to use Lanterns. I thought that 30' of bright and +30' of dim were so obviously superior to the 20' of bright and +20' of dim from a Light spell that they would have one going all the time, but they don't seem to care.

 

[GMMichael]

Seattle? Or Scotland?

Coffee or scotch?

My only real surprise is that I have not been able to get them to bother to use Lanterns. I thought that 30' of bright and +30' of dim were so obviously superior to the 20' of bright and +20' of dim from a Light spell that they would have one going all the time, but they don't seem to care.

Start placing triggers 30 feet away from traps. Or drop in a gorgon that petrifies within 20 feet.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Coffee or scotch?

 

[Lanefan]

Sounds like a challenging encounter for sure!

This does of course require dungeon rooms that are big enough for monsters to be able to attack from far enough away, of course. Probably came up more often in old-school dungeons which often had very long corridors. Probably less of a concern in the modern “Five Room” variety of dungeon.

Or just be outdoors at night...

 

[zakael19]

On the other hand I've spent a lot of time in remote areas and even starlight can give a decent amount of light if there are no clouds. Once your eyes adjust you don't need that much so I really think about the terrain and what people might be able to see. You may have disadvantage and not know exactly what that giant-shaped-and-sized creature is walking towards you from several hundred feet away while crossing the desert but you'll still know it's something.

I like how Dolmenwood provisions "dark vision" for the like two cases to get it, explicitly calling it "Moon Sight" where those characters can see as if by the light of a moderate moon. It's enough to do what you said, discern outlines and rough details enough to navigate well by, but you're not making out fine things like writing and such.

 

[AlViking]

I like how Dolmenwood provisions "dark vision" for the like two cases to get it, explicitly calling it "Moon Sight" where those characters can see as if by the light of a moderate moon. It's enough to do what you said, discern outlines and rough details enough to navigate well by, but you're not making out fine things like writing and such.

I have done things up where color matters because darkvision only gives you black and white but it's been a long time. I actually prefer the old version where some species like elves had low light vision (the ability to see normally in dim light and not at all in darkness) and only a few like dwarves had actual darkvision.

 

[Charlaquin]

Or just be outdoors at night...

Possibly. Depending on cloud cover, tree cover, and moon phase. And, cautious adventurers will generally try to avoid having to be outdoors at night if they can help it.

 

[Merlecory]

So... Ireland?