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<blockquote data-quote="Thornir Alekeg" data-source="post: 3676503" data-attributes="member: 15651">Darkvision doesn't give enough description to really understand how it works.&nbsp; The only way to see something is to be able to detect emitted or reflected radiation of come kind.&nbsp; The way I envision it working is that beings with Darkvision emit some kind of radiation from their eyes (in the UV range, perhaps) which gets reflected back and detected.&nbsp; The emission is weak such that for most creatures it won't go more than 60 feet.&nbsp; Since it is a line of sight emission, there are no shadows to hide in, but cover works (as opposed to infravision where a warm body behind a cold stone pillar would be noticeable by its radiant heat).&nbsp; Objects closer to the viewer reflect more intensely than distant ones, giving depth perception, and emissions scatter less off of smooth objects than rough ones.&nbsp; The key to hiding in the Underdark, where Darkvision is common, is to be able to either scatter or absorb the emissions.&nbsp; Since something that could absorb emissions would be able to hide in plain sight in an open space, that seems highly unlikely.&nbsp; Some Underdark creatures with a hide bonus may have skin or hide that scatter the emissions to the point where it becomes difficult to discern the difference between the creature and the background, as long as they are standing near a wall or object with a similar scatter pattern.&nbsp; A creature may be well adapted to a rough granite wall, but be more obvious near a water-smoothed one.&nbsp; Other creatures might be able to adjust their skin or hide in different environments.&nbsp; In an open cavern they would be obvious but perhaps a bit blurred.&nbsp; I handwave the idea that a creature with Darkvision who is hiding from another creature with Darkvision would be seen by the emissions from his own eyes by saying each being emits a unique radiation which cannot be detected by others.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Thornir Alekeg, post: 3676503, member: 15651"] Darkvision doesn't give enough description to really understand how it works. The only way to see something is to be able to detect emitted or reflected radiation of come kind. The way I envision it working is that beings with Darkvision emit some kind of radiation from their eyes (in the UV range, perhaps) which gets reflected back and detected. The emission is weak such that for most creatures it won't go more than 60 feet. Since it is a line of sight emission, there are no shadows to hide in, but cover works (as opposed to infravision where a warm body behind a cold stone pillar would be noticeable by its radiant heat). Objects closer to the viewer reflect more intensely than distant ones, giving depth perception, and emissions scatter less off of smooth objects than rough ones. The key to hiding in the Underdark, where Darkvision is common, is to be able to either scatter or absorb the emissions. Since something that could absorb emissions would be able to hide in plain sight in an open space, that seems highly unlikely. Some Underdark creatures with a hide bonus may have skin or hide that scatter the emissions to the point where it becomes difficult to discern the difference between the creature and the background, as long as they are standing near a wall or object with a similar scatter pattern. A creature may be well adapted to a rough granite wall, but be more obvious near a water-smoothed one. Other creatures might be able to adjust their skin or hide in different environments. In an open cavern they would be obvious but perhaps a bit blurred. I handwave the idea that a creature with Darkvision who is hiding from another creature with Darkvision would be seen by the emissions from his own eyes by saying each being emits a unique radiation which cannot be detected by others. [/QUOTE]

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