Light sources in darkness

[Neumannium]

Hello all,

I've been trying to find this by combing the SRD (don't have my books at work ) and can't find an answer.

I know that a light source gives out a certain radius of light...let's use a torch, so it's bright illumination for 20ft and shadowy illumination for 40ft. OK, that's easy enough. I know what the person holding the torch can see.

My question, however, deals with the monster down the hall... Let's say there's a human rogue in the darkness up ahead (no darkvision or low-light vision), how far away can he see the glow of the torchlight coming down the hall? Also, does he take any concealment penalties (20% or 50% miss chance) for firing a bow down the hallway at the character carrying the torch, or can he see him just fine?

I would assume 'NO' on the concealment issue, so the big question remains: How far away can someone in darkness (not magical) see a light source approaching?

Thanks!

 

[Thanee]

Several hundred feat probably.

I'd just consider the illuminated area to be visible as normal, regardless of how much "darkness" is in between, especially in a dungeon, where distances rarely are that huge that they would make any difference here.

Bye
Thanee

 

[sledged]

So long as there's nothing obstructing your line of sight between you and the light source, there is no limit. There are no miss %s for hitting the light source.

Along the same line of thought, at what distance from an intersection or turn in corridor can the light that is shed upon the wall/floor/ceiling be seen?

 

[jinx crossbow]

In the Forgotten Realms book Underdark your questions are answered.
I dont have the book here to say it exactly, but I thing you can be seen a distance of minimum times the light area by someone with normal vision.

 

[ARandomGod]

Several hundred feat probably.

I'd just consider the illuminated area to be visible as normal, regardless of how much "darkness" is in between, especially in a dungeon, where distances rarely are that huge that they would make any difference here.

Bye
Thanee

Yea, the rogue would be able to see up to the limits of natural sight, but would only be able to see into the area of illumination, not anything around him. And so the rogue could indeed attack into the light without problem.

 

[sledged]

In the Forgotten Realms book Underdark your questions are answered.
I dont have the book here to say it exactly, but I thing you can be seen a distance of minimum times the light area by someone with normal vision.

Yup, there it is on page 106, in the side bar. In complete darkness, it is immediately spotted at a distance equal to the light radius x 10. Beyond that, it requires a spot check (DC 20) at a distance equal to the light radius x 20. Half the distances for starlight/moonlight conditions.

 

[Neumannium]

Thanks

Thanks everyone...

I don't have the Underdark book for FR, so I really appreciate the info.

 

[sledged]

For those of you who want a dynamic equation for figuring out the spot DC:

DC in Complete darkness = [(12 x distance) / (5 x illumination radius)] - 28

DC in starlight/moonlight = [(24 x distance) / (5 x illumination radius)] - 28