[Spell Compendium] Ebon Eyes

[ClemLOR]

Hi.

This spell drives me crazy: Ebon Eyes - ass 1, cle 1, sor/wiz 1:

The subject of this spell gains the ability to see normally in natural and magical darkness, although it does not otherwise improve the subject's ability to see in natural dark or shadowy conditions.

wtf?!?!? You see normally and you get no improvement to see in natural dark? So you don't see anything at all, although you use Ebon Eyes that should make you see normally?!?!?!

The subject ignores the miss chance due to lack of illumination other than total darkness.

And What about the other mali like loss of Dex bonus, half Speed, -2 on AC etc.blabla???

While the spell is in effect, a jet-black film covers the subject's eyes, a visueal effect that gives the spell its name.

Cool trick not to be seen by those which you face in total darkness. Pimp your eyes!

Thanks for any help on this matter: What exactly does this spell? And how does it relate to the spell Darkvision?

Greetings
ClemLOR

 

[aboyd]

The spell description is broken, and there isn't enough there to glean what the intentions were. It may be that they intended it to counter partial darkness but not total (hence the text about "other than total darkness"). But the text as-is does say it counters darkness in general. As-is, it is also better than Darkvision, in that it counters magical darkness as well. However, it lasts for a shorter period.

Personally, because the text is so horrible, I'm ruling it out of my games until someone clarifies it in a way that makes good sense.

 

[CsonTep]

We had a problem with this spell also, but we were able to find the original printed version (can't remeber if it was in a Dragon or one of the Complete books) which only eliminated the miss chance for concealment from darkness.

 

[frankthedm]

wtf?!?!? You see normally and you get no improvement to see in natural dark? So you don't see anything at all, although you use Ebon Eyes that should make you see normally?!?!?!

Relax, the wording is peculiar, but the text is just making sure it was clear the spell did not add it's range or otherwise improve a creature's preexisting darkvision or see in darkness ability.

 

[ClemLOR]

Relax, the wording is peculiar, but the text is just making sure it was clear the spell did not add it's range or otherwise improve a creature's preexisting darkvision or see in darkness ability.

RELAX?!?!? WOULD YOU SAY THAT I AM NOT RELAXED?!?!?!?

No, this spell killed my nerves a couple of days ago. I had a major discussion with one of my players about it ... He thought this spell would enhance the ability to see in nat/mag darkness like there were none ... It was an exhausting and time-consuming discussion. In the end I won and was able to partially convince my player.

Yes, I understand this 4$$-spell as you guys and others on other forums tell me it would be ... It only eliminates this miss-chance in total darkness and my nerves - nothing else.

Thank you for your help.

Greetings
ClemLOR

 

[calighis]

We had a problem with this spell also, but we were able to find the original printed version (can't remeber if it was in a Dragon or one of the Complete books) which only eliminated the miss chance for concealment from darkness.

Ok but so no miss chance from concealment. What about having to guess which space the opponent is in?

 

[aboyd]

We had a problem with this spell also, but we were able to find the original printed version (can't remeber if it was in a Dragon or one of the Complete books) which only eliminated the miss chance for concealment from darkness.

Dragon Magazine #322. I don't have a copy, so I'm not sure what the original wording looked like. I'm starting to get the feeling that all this spell was intended to do was to give bad guys the ability to sneak attack from the shadows (per RAW, you cannot sneak attack if someone has even partial miss chance, thus killing off the standard thugs-in-a-dark-alley concept, and thus restored by this spell, maybe).

 

[calighis]

This is just some of the worst and most contradictory wording I have ever seen in a spell.

 

[Starbuck_II]

Hi.

This spell drives me crazy: Ebon Eyes - ass 1, cle 1, sor/wiz 1:

wtf?!?!? You see normally and you get no improvement to see in natural dark? So you don't see anything at all, although you use Ebon Eyes that should make you see normally?!?!?!And What about the other mali like loss of Dex bonus, half Speed, -2 on AC etc.blabla???Cool trick not to be seen by those which you face in total darkness. Pimp your eyes!

Thanks for any help on this matter: What exactly does this spell? And how does it relate to the spell Darkvision?

Greetings
ClemLOR

What does it do?
It lets you see in magical darkness as if there wasn't magical darkness.

Example, I'm in a Dark room holding a torch (to see). A Drow cast Darkness of a rock and throws it at my feet.

Normally, I'd be unable to see much (other than shadowy illumination) but I see just as well as if I had a torch due to Ebon Eyes.

If you cast Darkvision: you see perfectly in the dark. Combined you see through Darkness spell and pretend it wasn't there.

You don't have the 20% miss chance Shadowy illumination normally applies to your attacks (magocal or otherwise).

So the Drow is having trouble hitting you, but hoping you will too. You won't and he will regret that mistake.

So Pros:
no miss chance from Shadow illumination (Darkness spell ghives you this)
You can see as if Darkness spell not present (torches still give off their light but can't see it normally)

Cons:
Doesn't help if room still dark (if no have darkvision).

 

[ClemLOR]

Greetings.

Starbuck II, I tend to isagree. Your explanation sounds reasonable on first sight. But that would mean, too, that Ebon Eyes would be much more powerfull then the spell Darkvission. Directly compared:

- Ebon Eyes is a spell level 1 and Darkvision a spell level 2 spell;
- Ebon Eyes would neglect the effects on darkness (natural and magical) while Darkvision only bypasses natural darkness;
- the way you explain the spell Ebon Eyes it sounds as if Ebon Eyes would simply remove all negative effects due to darkness ...

This feels wrong; this cannot be. A first level spell being by far more effective then a second level spell ...

Correct me, when I got your words wrong.

Greetings
ClemLOR