Stacking Darkvision

Lord Pendragon · Sep 11, 2004

If you make a magical beast (which has Darkvision 60') into a celestial creature (which grants Darkvision 60'), do the two Darkvision abilities overlap, or is the range of Darkvision extended?

I know the general rule is that like abilities overlap, but I could have sworn I've seen Darkvision treated as strengthening if provided by multiple sources...

shilsen · Sep 11, 2004

I'd say it only stacks if there's a specific reference saying that they do (I've usually seen that in PrCs). Where creature types are concerned, I think overlapping is more appropriate.

Lord Pendragon · Sep 11, 2004

shilsen said:
I'd say it only stacks if there's a specific reference saying that they do (I've usually seen that in PrCs).

Hrm. Perhaps so. I guess I've just seen it extended so many times, it seems like more of a general trend, rather than a few unique exceptions.

Where creature types are concerned, I think overlapping is more appropriate.

If we're talking about appropriate in a flavor sense and without rules considerations, I'm not sure I agree with you. If a magical beast can see so far without light, it makes sense that a celestial version of the same creature can see farther under the same circumstances. And indeed, it works this way with creatures who don't already have Darkvision, such as humanoids. Their vision gets better.

shilsen · Sep 12, 2004

Lord Pendragon said:
If we're talking about appropriate in a flavor sense and without rules considerations, I'm not sure I agree with you. If a magical beast can see so far without light, it makes sense that a celestial version of the same creature can see farther under the same circumstances. And indeed, it works this way with creatures who don't already have Darkvision, such as humanoids. Their vision gets better.

No, I did mean it with respect to rules considerations. I rarely, if ever, express opinions about flavor. If there's one thing ENWorld teaches you, it's that there's no accounting for taste

Lord Pendragon · Sep 12, 2004

shilsen said:
No, I did mean it with respect to rules considerations. I rarely, if ever, express opinions about flavor. If there's one thing ENWorld teaches you, it's that there's no accounting for taste

HA. Very true.

Rules-wise, I can see how it'd be appropriate, since 3.x has a "no-stacking" policy in general. Ah, well. Guess my celestial griffon will have to be satisfied with 60' Darkvision.