How do you see in the dark?

[Henry]

Only one problem with the "flaming" dull grey Ioun Stone -- it "takes up a circling orbit 1d3 feet from the user's head." Take an open light source (like one of those flashlights that shines in all directions) in a dark room and start spinning it in a circle over your head. Now THAT'S a disconcerting effect.

Preferably, it's better cast on something like a point on top of a helmet, or the tip of a staff in a back-mount.

 

[AntiStateQuixote]

how does your character see in the dark?
not everyone has darkvision, so what do you use?
is there illumination that doesnt require a hand to use?

Current party (11th level average)

Dwarf fighter/mage: darkvision racial ability
Tiefling wizard: darkvision racial ability
Human rogue: darkvision (permanency darkvision cast by 18th level wizard)
Human druid: darkvision or deeper darkvision cast by party wizards
Elf ranger: darkvision or deeper darkvision cast by party wizards

Everyone in the party has at least one magical light source (light spell, daylight spell, continual flame object) and at least two or three of us have non-magical light sources as back up (sunrod, torch, lantern).

At lower levels we used sunrods while on dungeon crawls.

 

[Steverooo]

how does your character see in the dark?

He's an Elf, so he can see well enough, outside. Everburning Torches handle most of the rest...

As I said in the Useful Items thread, a torch-bracket mounted on the front of the shield takes care of most fighter-types' needs.

not everyone has darkvision, so what do you use?

He's an Elf, so he can see well enough, outside. Everburning Torches handle most of the rest...

As I said in the Useful Items thread, a torch-bracket mounted on the front of the shield takes care of most fighter-types' needs.

is there illumination that doesnt require a hand to use?

Many. The torch-bracket, above. A spiked shield with a lantern mounted to the spikes. A spike screwed into armor/shield with Continual Flame cast upon it. 1D6 with Continual Flame cast upon it, mounted within a hinged metal box (providing full cover, when closed), which is mounted upon a ring, worn upon a finger... Open the box's hinged lid, and light shines forth. Close it, and the light stops streaming outward...

I'm sure you can think of your own ideas, by now...

One party used both marbles and cubes. The marbles they threw down stairs, etc., into dark places they wanted to check out before entering... They tend to roll, for a while, after being tossed!...

 

[Selenim]

I'm planning on playing a gloaming fighter so that's not an issue (they glow in the dark). One of my players has a candle mounted on his full plate armor and the others tend to use the lower lvl light spells. Don't forget to bring some non-magical light sources in case you bump into antimagic or dispelling effects.

 

[WayneLigon]

Torch or oil lantern in one hand, sword in the other.

 

[Thanee]

Easiest: Buy a buckler or light shield, you can carry a torch and still defend yourself.

Or even easier: Ask the mage to carry the torch, he/she only needs one hand to cast, anyways.

In our current PnP campaign, my sorceress has picked up Deeper Darkvision and just found another lesser metamagic rod of extend.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Hand of Evil]

How about a new shield type, the lantern shield: This shield has a latern built into the outside and has a reflective surface. You can make rules for damaging the shield's oil storage but I can see ways around it, cage the wick area.

 

[Steverooo]

Don't forget to bring some non-magical light sources in case you bump into antimagic or dispelling effects.

All too true... (my PC uses candles, for this). Anti-Magic Spheres are also one of only two or three good reasons to use a Sunrod (the other two being long treks through the Underdark, where the load of torches would be too heavy, and areas with explosive gases). Okay, there's one more... underwater, where fire won't work (but then, an Anti-Magic Sphere or a succesful Dispel Magic, there, will kill you, anyway). Okay, a few more... in outer space, or wherever else there's no oxygen...

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

The current gaming group uses judicious castings of the light spell. Other than that, if my characters don't have darkvision, I equip them with torches. Cheap, and if they're dropped, they don't shatter.

 

[Mr. T]

My magic users summon fire elementals and send them out in front of the party, using them as light and cannon fodder for the horrors that always seem to be there.