D&D 5E What's the point of having Low-Light Vision

[GX.Sigma]

Indeed...


In the document "How to play", it is mentioned that some monsters and characters have special abilities to try to hide (Stealth) in areas that are only lightly obscured (Dim-light) as if they were in heavily obscured areas (Darkness).


But I did not find any example ... Can someone give me an example of monsters or characters?

Wood Elves, and characters who take the Stealthy feat. Rogues used to have it as a class feature, but not anymore. No "monsters" so far.

 

[Klaus]

Is this so? Where is the rule?

I think it would make sense that ranged attacks against someone in bad light would suffer some penalty, but I can not find the rule.

Obviously this is something worth considering, but RAW...

This is not true as far as I can tell. There is only one rule associated with low light: If you're in low light, you're lightly obscured. "Lightly obscured" has no mechanical meaning except that some creatures can hide if they're only lightly obscured.

You're both right. There's been so many iterations during the playtest that my faulty metal body is starting to fritz.

 

[Celebrim]

Low-Light Vision - Why?

So I'm an Elf. One of my friends is Human, and the other is a Dwarf.

We enter a cave room. It is pitch black. I cast my Light-cantrip.

So now we have light 20 feet into the cave, and dim-light for another 20.

The Dwarf doesn't care much. He can see 60' in total darkness, so unless we run into some nicely coloured paintings he doesn't need any light at all.

The human can see 40'. Okay, the last 20 is dim-lighted to him, but...? What does that matter? Where is the rule that makes this a problem? Does he suffer disadvantage on search and perception checks? Do targets have concealment? I can't find the rules.

I can't speak for D&D next, but how I've always ran low light vision in 3e is that in the above case, the elf with low light vision has good light out to 40' and dim light out to 80'. That is, that in conditions of dim light (such as the light of a torch) the creature with low light vision can see twice as far, thereby seeing the goblins that are 60' away and not being surprised when they fire their light crossbows.

I have a vague memory about old rules where I as an Elf would have bright light 40’ and dim-light for another 40’ thanks to my low-light vision. But in DD Next…

Yeah, that's my memory as well. If DDN is broken, and you want to use it, I suggest patching it.

 

[Stalker0]

Yup.

Vision rules are always clunky.

I agree, its one of those rules that always sounds neat but is more work than its worth imo.

Its enough that I explain an area twice, one for humans, one for dwarves. Explaining it 3 times for elves is just more work for not a lot of benefit.

 

[TarionzCousin]

You're both right. There's been so many iterations during the playtest that my faulty metal body is starting to fritz.

Oil can?

 

[The Human Target]

I agree, its one of those rules that always sounds neat but is more work than its worth imo.

Its enough that I explain an area twice, one for humans, one for dwarves. Explaining it 3 times for elves is just more work for not a lot of benefit.

Yeah that's my experience.

We basically just ignored it.

4es versions are okay.