The light spell through the editions

[Mycanid]

I think the thing that "did it in" was limiting it to objects that the pc can TOUCH. Hard to touch the opponent's eyelashes or whatnot to blind them.

 

[Darth K'Trava]

Some clerics are known to cast light into a small metal box and cook lunch.

I'd rather be like Cadderly and have someone cast Continual Light into a tube.... and then try to mask the fact it was a simple "flashlight"....

Or whichever book that had a cleric cast it INTO someone's eyeballs..... ouch!

 

[TheNovaLord]

It should be noted, too, that light in D&D3 is a 0 level spell. And in BD&D, clerics don't get 1st level spells until 2nd character level.

Those were the days when no one played a cleric! In BD&D no spell bonus for wisdom either i recall so 1 spell at 2nd level was it. Compared to the lucky old magic user whose magic missile did d6+1 damage, enough to kill any 1st level pc....rambling off topic, sorry

I always used to play clerics in AD&D and the light spell to the eyes was always a winner.

John

 

[Geron Raveneye]

Exciting molecules? But still no heat. Yeah, I loves me flavour text. :\

Pure electronic excitation that produces a long-time phosphorescence in any object.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

Some additional detail:

The Basic D&D version of light in the OP is from the Moldvay/Cook Basic (1981) edition.

The Mentzer Basic (1983) version is:

This spell creates a large ball of light, as if a bright torch were lit. If the spell is cast on an object (such as the cleric's weapon), the light will move with the object. If cast at a creature's eyes, the creature must make a Saving Throw. If the Saving Throw is failed, the victim will be blinded by the light until the duration ends. A blinded creature may not attack.

The Rules Cyclopedia dropped the "blind can't attack" sentence, as follows:

This spell creates a large ball of light, as if cast by a bright torch or lamp. If this spell is cast on an object (such as the cleric's weapon), the light will move with the object. If the spell is cast at a creature's eyes, the victim must make a saving throw vs. spell. If he fails the saving throw, the victim will be blinded by the light for the duration of the spell, or until the spell effect is canceled.

Both the Mentzer and RC version list the radius in the "Effect" heading, rather than in the text description. The effect has a "Volume of 30' diameter."