Rules q's

[CCamfield]

These came up in my session last night:

- How far can humans see at night? If it's cloudy, if there's a partial moon, if there's a full moon? I failed to find anything about this during the session, and just assumed it was "dark" with the exception of the light cast by the enemy's campfire (which I ruled as the same as a lantern, 30')

- Can a wizard hold a loaded light crossbow in his off-hand and cast a spell with his free main hand? (Would you require a Strength check for that? The wizard in question is a gnome with Str 6 )

 

[AuraSeer]

- Can a wizard hold a loaded light crossbow in his off-hand and cast a spell with his free main hand? (Would you require a Strength check for that? The wizard in question is a gnome with Str 6 )

Yes. To cast a spell with somatic components, you only need one hand free. Your other hand can hold an object, even a weapon, without causing problems. (The exception is if you strap a shield onto that arm, because shields have an arcane failure chance.)

A Str 6 gnome can carry 15 pounds (light load) without half noticing, or lift 45 pounds above his head. He wouldn't need a Str check just to hold a six-pound crossbow.

 

[CCamfield]

Thanks, AuraSeer!

Now if I just had an answer to the night sight question...

 

[Kamard]

Thanks, AuraSeer!

Now if I just had an answer to the night sight question...

It really depends. Some people can see a match being struck at fifty miles on a clear night(!). Others can't see a few feet from their faces. I would say the average (having spent a good deal of nights larping) on a normal night (kinda overcast, etc) to see something's silhouette is 150' at most.

 

[ShadowMaster]

Human don't see anything in the dark. With moon they can see in their square (5') and that's it.

 

[CCamfield]

Human don't see anything in the dark. With moon they can see in their square (5') and that's it.

In absolute darkness, sure, they can't see anything in a cave...

But I can't really accept that moonlight only lets you see 2 1/2 feet. It certainly doesn't match my experience up at the cottage (no natural light, and some brightly moonlit nights)

Is that actually the rule?

 

[ShadowMaster]

you, as a DM, could always rule 0 that one. But, under a moonlike, myself being human, I cannot see everything and which path would be the best to take in the forest. Snake and all small animal can come next to me without being seen.

You can always give them a spot check, but you should try it your self and go away, very very far from a town and wait till it's dark, to see that human su*** to see in the dark.

 

[AuraSeer]

The rules on seeing are on this SRD page, near the bottom. In short, darkness does not impose a specific limit on sight distance. It just makes Spot checks harder.

A cloudy night effectively counts as Total Darkness, which makes Spot checks impossible. If there's any light at all, characters can still see as far as the terrain allows, but it becomes harder to spot things. Under moonlight, all Spot checks have their DC increased by 5; with only starlight, an additional 5.

Note that the modifier doesn't apply to lit areas. Regardless of the prevailing light, enemies near their campfire are well lit and can be spotted normally. The PCs, standing outside the light, remain harder to see; the darkness works to their advantage. (It sounds like you made the correct ruling here.)

If any actual fighting goes on in a dark area, targets gain the benefit of Concealment. The different levels are specified in the Combat modifiers section.

 

[CCamfield]

Thanks everyone!

Is that SRD sighting stuff in the PHB or DMG?

Chris

Edit: I know the table with light sources is in the PHB; did I just miss the rest of the text following, or is it elsewhere?

 

[Stalker0]

Thanks everyone!

Is that SRD sighting stuff in the PHB or DMG?

Chris

Edit: I know the table with light sources is in the PHB; did I just miss the rest of the text following, or is it elsewhere?

pg. 60 of the DMG has encounter dist. I agree with what's said above, just go with those numbers, and increase the DC for spot checks (remember that lowlight may not have these penalties)

And humans should suffer 10% miss chance for concealment during moonlight.