D&D 5E Light VS Dancing Lights

[Oofta]

Well, I can't speak for AL because I don't play it. But nothing says an area that is "bright light" overpowers/cancels out/etc. an area of dim light. When I have the lights on, and light a candle, the light from the candle is still there.

Shadow Blade says, "In addition, when you use the sword to attack a target that is in dim light or darkness, you make the attack roll with advantage."

If it had said, "In addition, when you use the sword to attack a target that is in dim light or darkness, but not in bright light, you make the attack roll with advantage." I would agree with you.

It is like the weirdness of the invocation *Devil's Sight". It turns darkness into bright light, but doesn't affect dim light at all!

Such strange things happen in a world of magic and fantasy.

All I can say is that I wouldn't allow it in my games. Basic logic indicates that you can't counter bright light with dim light unless there's magic involved. The book can't and doesn't try to spell out every contingency.

But if you and your group enjoy playing that way, more power to you!

 

[DND_Reborn]

All I can say is that I wouldn't allow it in my games. Basic logic indicates that you can't counter bright light with dim light unless there's magic involved. The book can't and doesn't try to spell out every contingency.

But if you and your group enjoy playing that way, more power to you!

That's cool. But...

You aren't countering it, you are creating it, either through the dimmed hooded lantern or a spell, such as Dancing Lights, which of course is magic.

Also considering you have to come up with a viable way of getting the dim light (not hard, but not always easy either), it doesn't come up all the time. I certainly wouldn't care either way if another DM said, "Umm... no, not happening in my game."

 

[Oofta]

That's cool. But...

You aren't countering it, you are creating it, either through the dimmed hooded lantern or a spell, such as Dancing Lights, which of course is magic.

Also considering you have to come up with a viable way of getting the dim light (not hard, but not always easy either), it doesn't come up all the time. I certainly wouldn't care either way if another DM said, "Umm... no, not happening in my game."

But a hooded lantern is not magic and light is additive ... you can't turn down the sun's light by using a lantern that sheds less light. Sunlight is around 90 lumens ... you can't reduce the lumens in the areato 40 by lighting a candle.

In any case, not my game, not my concern.

 

[DND_Reborn]

But a hooded lantern is not magic and light is additive ... you can't turn down the sun's light by using a lantern that sheds less light. Sunlight is around 90 lumens ... you can't reduce the lumens in the areato 40 by lighting a candle.

In any case, not my game, not my concern.

Yep, I know the physics of it, but that isn't the issue. The hooded lantern sheds dim light in 5 feet. The target is "in dim light" if my PC is next to it.

But, I won't trouble you further with it. Thanks for your views.

 

[billd91]

This is probably why my table doesn’t play pure RAW.

Well, there's RAW and then there's lawyering up abusive interpretations of RAW. There's a difference.

 

[auburn2]

In my experience light works better as a light source, dancing lights is more versatile. Given the choice between the two for a party with characters without darkvision I would choose light.

There are two main problems with dancing lights being the partys light source during combat. First it uses concentration, meaning you can't concentrate on something else. The second and bigger problem is if the person concentrating on dancing lights gets hit and fails his save the party is plunged into complete darkness which is a severe disadvantage for characters without darkvision.

 

[Lucas Blackstone]

I think Dancing Lights has its place in exploring. But I would want a non concentration light source on hand too which is easy enough to do.

 

[Ancalagon]

Well, I can't speak for AL because I don't play it. But nothing says an area that is "bright light" overpowers/cancels out/etc. an area of dim light. When I have the lights on, and light a candle, the light from the candle is still there.

Shadow Blade says, "In addition, when you use the sword to attack a target that is in dim light or darkness, you make the attack roll with advantage."

If it had said, "In addition, when you use the sword to attack a target that is in dim light or darkness, but not in bright light, you make the attack roll with advantage." I would agree with you.

It is like the weirdness of the invocation *Devil's Sight". It turns darkness into bright light, but doesn't affect dim light at all!

Such strange things happen in a world of magic and fantasy.

So the planet, the moon and the sun are cubes right? I mean, that's what RAW says right?

gettoutahere

 

[DND_Reborn]

So the planet, the moon and the sun are cubes right? I mean, that's what RAW says right?

gettoutahere

It's D&D and magic, so sure they could be?

There are games where the "world" is flat or hollow even, so yeah, if you want to... getoutahere, no one's keepin' ya.

 

[auburn2]

DIM LIGHT ONLY + Shadow Blade = Rogue always getting advantage on attacks.

I did not read the description of that spell closely enough .... thank you. I have a rogue 4/warlok 2 about to level up and get 2nd level spells and this was not on my list until I read your reply.