Would darkvision see through illusory darkness?

[Tiew]

Someone in another thread suggested casting an illision of darkness, that way you could disbelieve it and see through it while those who failed their willsaves would be effectively blinded. Just wondering this would work, and if darkvision would see though it?

 

[Sheng Long Gradilla]

I guess anyone with darkvision would see the darkened section in black and white, as if it were real darkness. Read the description for Darkvision.

 

[The Amazing Dingo]

For the first part, it might be possible by the raw. Looking at Minor Image it depends on if you consider darkness to be an "object, creature, or force" (from SRD for Minor Image) and I think that argument could be made.

However, I don't think I'd allow it. Let us compare Minor Image as a Wiz/Sor 1 versus Darkness, a level 2 Wiz/Sor spell.

Darkness
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Object touched
Duration: 10 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: No


Silent Image
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Effect: Visual figment that cannot extend beyond four 10-ft. cubes + one 10-ft. cube/level (S)
Duration: Concentration
Saving Throw: Will disbelief (if interacted with)
Spell Resistance: No

Casting Times are the same. No Biggie there. Look at the range though! For a first level spell, you'd be able to cast Darkness at a range of aleast 440 feet at first level (versus Touch). In the Effect area, Darkness still wins out and Darkness allows no Saving Throw. The other point is the duration, which I think Darkness wins out on. However, I think that the ability to cast Darkness at that range is using the rules in a way they were never meant to be used. For a higher level Illusion Spell, I could see it used in such a manner.

So while it might be allowed by the rules, I'd still disallow it.

Concerning seeing through it I'm not sure. It is considered "magical darkness" because, if so, I'd not allow it. I could see it going either way on that one.

 

[Arbiter of Wyrms]

Darkvision doesn't let a character see in magical darkness, through illusions, through fog, or anything else other than natural darkness.

I would say that if you can somehow create "illusory" darkness, a character with darkvision has no better a chance to see through it than one without.

 

[Staffan]

I don't allow illusion spells to create the lack of images/sounds/smells/etc. unless the spell is specifically designed to do so (e.g. invisibility). Darkness would fall under that umbrella.

 

[Sheng Long Gradilla]

Lets see, Darkness is an Evocation spell that makes an object "radiate" darkness. Illussion spells are those that alter percetions or create false images. If you rule that dwarves can't see through illusory darkness, then they will immediately notice the anomaly and know it's either an illussion or a darkness spell.
Will your illusion spell allow a save for disbelief?
If no, then what's the point of having it in addition to the Darkness spell?
If yes, for a dwarf, is the fact they can't see through it enough proof to automatically disbelieve?

My point is: Why mess with "illusory" darkness if there is already an evocation that creates darkness? It's more trouble than it's worth. Just use a Darkness spell.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Lets see, Darkness is an Evocation spell that makes an object "radiate" darkness.

Strictly, it radiates 'shadowy illumination'.

Like a candle.

-Hyp.

 

[nameless]

Lets see, Darkness is an Evocation spell that makes an object "radiate" darkness. Illussion spells are those that alter percetions or create false images. If you rule that dwarves can't see through illusory darkness, then they will immediately notice the anomaly and know it's either an illussion or a darkness spell.
Will your illusion spell allow a save for disbelief?
If no, then what's the point of having it in addition to the Darkness spell?
If yes, for a dwarf, is the fact they can't see through it enough proof to automatically disbelieve?

My point is: Why mess with "illusory" darkness if there is already an evocation that creates darkness? It's more trouble than it's worth. Just use a Darkness spell.

Like Hypersmurf said, the evocation version of Darkness doesn't produce enough darkness to actually hide anything, just to give things partial concealment.

As DM, I'd grant someone with Darkvision or a light source a save. The people in the illusion don't know why everything suddenly turned dark, but someone with darkvision would think it was odd since he can normally see in the dark. Likewise, someone with a torch would wonder why his torch isn't lighting up the darkness.

I think it's definitely within the power of illusion to make darkness in an area, if only by making the illusion of a opaque black box at the edge of the AOE that lets in no light (and making the subsequent shadow to finish the illusion).