Shade Questions

[Shin Okada]

Shade template in "Races of Farune" puzzles me.

It says,

All shades have the following powers when within shadows or darkness. In well-lit surroundings (daylight or the radius of a daylight spell) none of these powers function.

Then it has the following ability,

Control Light (Sp): The shade can decrease the levels of light within a 100-foot radius by a factor of 10% per level. For characters and creatures dependent on light to see, this decreases the effective range of vision for them by the same percentage. For each 25% decrease in light, anyone within the area gains a +1 circumstance bonus on Hide checks.

Assume a shade was dark or dim-lit area at the start and then used this ability, now a 10+ level shade can automatically diminish all the light within 100 ft. by 100% and can become a "moving sphere of darkness 100-foot radius"?

Does any of the light descriptor spells can counter this? (By the way, as this is a SP ability, dispelling may work.)

Does this ability affect the range of Dark Vision?

 

[Random Bystander]

The least game-breaking interpretation is that the ability can only be used in low-light and dim light conditions. Exposing the ability to daylight or the Daylight spell causes it to cease to function.

Darkvision is not affected by light levels.

However, you should take into account the relative power of the template, compared to the Hit Dice and/or Level Adjustment of the template. If that particular interpretation makes the template too weak compared to its ECL increase, then a more generous interpretation can be indicated.

 

[Greenfield]

I'd disagree.

Presume that the Shade starts out in a dim area, within 100 ft (with Line of Effect unobstructed), they could then move into the (formerly) sunlit area and effectively shield themselves from the sunlight that strips their powers.

My reasoning is that it isn't the power that fades when exposed to sunlight (or a magical light source of similar intensity), it's the Shade themselves.

Also note that, while a Daylight spell doesn't normally impair sunlight-sensitive undead, this case is different. It isn't any mystical quality of "sunlight" that causes the problems, it's illumination of that level, whether from a natural source (the sun) or a magical one.

As for Darkvision: Magical Darkness (which acts more like weakly luminous fog) does shut down Darkvision. Whether this acts like magical Darkness or not may be a DM's call. Off hand I'd say no, since the mechanics don't operate in any way like the spell, and it's described differently. But I think we all have to accept that there are other perfectly reasonable DMs who may disagree with us on rules interpretations when the descriptions aren't consistent with normal game mechanics.

Over all I'm unhappy with this whole scene for exactly that reason: Both the light limitation and the dimming effect are described in ways that don't conform very well with the standard rules. It makes it hard to apply precedent from any other rules source, and it fails to provide enough clarity to rule on these questions with anything resembling confidence in the rules as they stand.

 

[Random Bystander]

I'd disagree.

Since I only offered general advice and stated no firm conclusion, I find it hard to see how. There is not much to my post to disagree with.

 

[Greenfield]

You said it would only work in dim light.

I disagreed, and explained why. What's the confusion?

 

[Random Bystander]

You said it would only work in dim light.

I disagreed, and explained why. What's the confusion?

I said that was the least game-breaking interpretation, and that the GM should probably make a judgement call based on how much ECL the template adds. I never stated that it would only work in dim light, only that that interpretation had the least potential for breaking the game.

Edit: You may have read my estimation as a definitive statement on what the ability was. It is not. It only addresses what the ability may be, and is not intended to be definitive by any means.

 

[Shin Okada]

After several days of thinking, I came up with another interpretation of this rule.

It says "light", not "illumination". And the rule is not using usual rule term regarding illumination (either of 3.0e nor 3.5e). So, in this case, "light" may mean "light source".

I mean, this SP ability (need a standard action) can decrease the effectiveness of light sources within 100-foot radius when used (need a standard action). But after that, anyone can bring in, or make, some new light sources (including spells) and they work as usual until a shade uses another Control Light ability. Also, this ability does not work against natural day light because the Sun is more than 100-foot away from a shade (usually).

Basically, this interpretation takes Control Light as a target type ability which targets indefinite number of multiple light sources within 100-foot radius, not an area-effect type which centers on a shade.

Do you think this is a reasonable interpretation?

 

[Random Bystander]

After several days of thinking, I came up with another interpretation of this rule.

It says "light", not "illumination". And the rule is not using usual rule term regarding illumination (either of 3.0e nor 3.5e). So, in this case, "light" may mean "light source".

I mean, this SP ability (need a standard action) can decrease the effectiveness of light sources within 100-foot radius when used (need a standard action). But after that, anyone can bring in, or make, some new light sources (including spells) and they work as usual until a shade uses another Control Light ability. Also, this ability does not work against natural day light because the Sun is more than 100-foot away from a shade (usually).

Basically, this interpretation takes Control Light as a target type ability which targets indefinite number of multiple light sources within 100-foot radius, not an area-effect type which centers on a shade.

Do you think this is a reasonable interpretation?

There is nothing in the description given that would make this unreasonable. If you feel that interpretation provides a best fit solution, and your player does not object to it, then using that interpretation would seem to make sense in at least your specific case.