Shade Template--"darkness" question

[adamenfuego]

The Shade template from the Forgotten Realms setting is a bit vague on its "darkness" powers.

I have read on some other post that unless the word "darkness" is in italics (as the spell) that the author is refering to normal darkness.

In addition, the Shade template also doesn't define what happens when a character uses a shade uses thier invisibility power indoors, then steps out into the light. I am ruling that the spirit of the rule intends that a shade's powers would be dispelled if in the presence of bright light.

Can someone please clarify?

 

[adamenfuego]

BUMP

 

[The Forsaken One]

in the dark means anything the DM sees as "dark". Heavy shadows would do or at night in my opinion.

And yes it all IMMEDIATLY stops when you hit any conditions other or different then I just summed up or that you find to your taste as the DM.

 

[Deadguy]

Yes, the definition of 'darkness' is left fairly vague. I guess that this is to allow the DM some wiggle room when deciding how appropriate it is for the Shade to have access to his powers. Reading it in its entirety, it gives me the impression that the definition of darkness is 'whenever he's not directly in the light'. So a Shade standing in a room which is lit only by afternoon sunlight streaming through the solitary window is fine to use his powers unless he stands in the shaft of light itself. Whereas if there are several windows, providing a general light level to the room, he might only be okay where the balcony above casts a deep shadow against the back wall of the room. I find that thinking like that seems to work okay. (Or maybe it's a legacy of playing the Vampire game, where it can be really important to think about where that sunlight falls! )

As for your question about walking out into the daylight, the rules specifically state that the powers of the Shade work only in darkness. So if you remove the condition then the power fails.

 

[Pax]

The template does, IIRC, SPECIFICALLY describe torchlight as being "sufficient" darkness for the Shade character to gain their template-based benefits. So the light of a torch or two, up to a moderate-sized campfire, or a small lamp or lantern or two, is "dark enough" for most Shades' preferences. Many lower-price taverns will qualify as well; bright lighting isn't high on the list of amenities offered by such establishments, after all.

Outdoors on a cloudy winter day is about the "darkest" it gets, where the Shade characetr will NOT get the benefit of their template abilities, IMO.

Note, that "well lit" indoor areas -- anywhere lit as well as you'd get from a "standard" amount of modern electric lighting -- are too bright for the Shade. That includes, for example, a scriptorium / library / other place where lots of reading/writing is the order of the day; a well-lit, hihger-price tavern; perhaps a lord's banquet hall during an evening feast, and so on. Anywhere with lots and lots of lamps or the like, such that there're no real "shadowed corners" and so on.