Author Topic: Darkness  (Read 3555 times)

Offline Hero

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Darkness
« on: August 08, 2012, 09:46:35 PM »
Anyone ever notice that the "Darkness" spell and its cousin "Deeper Darkness" don't actually create real darkness but rather "shadowy illumination"?

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/darkness.htm

Shadowy illumination is that "dimly lit" area just outside an area of bright light but not quite pitch black. So that means "darkness" only reduces ambient light but doesn't eliminate it. It grants concealment (20% miss) instead of total concealment (creatures have to guess what square you're in and still have a 50% miss chance if they guess right).

And the way the description reads, if you cast "darkness" in an area of natural darkness you would actually be able to see because the spell creates shadowy illumination.

That's kind of weird, and I don't think that's how we've played it historically. Was this a 3.5 change, or has it always been like that and we just never noticed?

Should we change this so it makes sense?


Offline whitesword

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Re: Darkness
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2012, 10:16:06 PM »
Is there a higher level spell that creates true darkness?

Offline Asinjin

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Re: Darkness
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2012, 10:21:02 PM »
I didn't find a higher level spell that officially creates total darkness.
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Offline Zunder

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Re: Darkness
« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2012, 10:51:47 PM »
I didn't find a higher level spell that officially creates total darkness.


So the Drow abiltiy doesn't creat darkness.  I'm gonna re-read some Drizzit's books

Offline Hero

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Re: Darkness
« Reply #4 on: August 09, 2012, 11:11:10 PM »
I think it was actually darkness in earlier editions.

Should be called "dimness" in 3.5.

Offline Hero

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Re: Darkness
« Reply #5 on: August 14, 2012, 10:35:30 PM »
Found one in Complete Scoundrel. Sadly Assassin only though.

Assassin’s darkness
Evocation (Darkness)
Level: Assassin 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium (100 ft . + 10 ft ./level)
Area: 40-ft .-radius spherical emanation
Duration: 1 minute/level (D)
Saving Throw: No
Spell Resistance: No

Covering your eyes and spitting a harsh whisper, you conjure a globe of absolute blackness before you. As you step forward, your sight alone pierces the darkness, showing you your disoriented victims within.

You call a globe of absolute dark- ness into being, which only you can see through . All other creatures within or who enter this spell’s area are blinded while they remain in the area . Even creatures that have darkvision cannot see through this magical obscurement, although creatures capable of seeing in magi- cal darkness (such as devils) are not affected by it .

While you are outside the sphere, you can see nothing within, and every creature within has total con- cealment . Upon entering the spell’s area, however, you can see as if the area were illuminated by bright light and can interact with those within as normal, even though they cannot see you

Offline Malchia

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Re: Darkness
« Reply #6 on: August 15, 2012, 10:36:22 AM »
This is the same spell used in the 4th level slot for the Darkness Domain, right?

Offline Asinjin

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Re: Darkness
« Reply #7 on: August 17, 2012, 11:12:51 PM »
Yes, that is the same spell.
The hand that rolls the Dice rules the world.