D&D 5E Can a wood elf hide in dim light?

[ShadowSeeker]

RAW I'd say yes, as dim light is a natural phenomenon.

RAI I'm not sure.

 

[doctorhook]

I vote yes. If their schtick is supposed to be natural stealthiness, then why not let them blend into the walls/trees when light is waning?

 

[iserith]

RAW, RAI - basically irrelevant. It's up to the DM to say. I would say "Yes, they can try..." provided it made sense in the context of the situation, but others might rule differently.

 

[doctorhook]

RAW I'd say yes, as dim light is a natural phenomenon.

RAI I'm not sure.

PS: Just noticed this was your first post. Welcome to the boards!

...So your name is "ShadowSeeker", and you're asking a question about whether a wood elf can hide if he or she seeks some shadows, eh? Surely that's just a coincidence, am I right?

 

[steeldragons]

Yeah...RAW or RAI, it's situationally dependent/DM's call.

Dim light in some sparsely spaced trees? Absolutely.

Dim light in some tall grasses? Absolutely.

Dim light with some rocks formations or stones to crouch down behind? Sure.

Dim light pressed up/not moving against a natural cavern wall? Eh. Yeah, probably.

Dim light in a pasture/field of low (like less than 1 foot high) grasses or just some other flat/no cover/dirt/rocky/desert area? No.

Dim light standing in the middle of a creek? No.

They are stealthy and can..."attempt to hide" provided they are "lightly obscured" by natural phenomenon, such as foliage, "heavy rains", snow or mist. Things that will block/interfere with clear vision. Dim light, on it's own, doesn't do that.

Now, "dim light" is cited as being considered a "lightly obscured" area (whether it's raining, snowing or not) and, as such, imposes disadvantage on Perception checks that rely on sight.

So, there's that. Folks will have disadvantage on their rolls to see a wood elf if they are in dim light...whether they are trying to hide or not. But they can not use Mask of the Wild to hide "in" dim light...imho. No. DM's call to the environment/situation.

While it is not specifically called out in the light/obscurement stuff, it should be obvious that creatures with Darkvision would not suffer this penalty...as they see in dim light as if it were bright and, thus, dim light [alone] does not create a "lightly obscured area" to them.
They aren't chameleons or turn invisible out in the open. They're not going to just disappear because they're in dim light.

 

[ShadowSeeker]

While it is not specifically called out in the light/obscurement stuff, it should be obvious that creatures with Darkvision would not suffer this penalty...as they see in dim light as if it were bright and, thus, dim light [alone] does not create a "lightly obscured area" to them.
They aren't chameleons or turn invisible out in the open. They're not going to just disappear because they're in dim light.

I forgot about darkvision. But then again the question remains if a wood elf can hide from creatures with darkvision while standing in darkness.

 

[steeldragons]

I forgot about darkvision. But then again the question remains if a wood elf can hide from creatures with darkvision while standing in darkness.

Again, no.

Or, rather, it depends on the situation/surroundings/rest of the environment and the DM's call.

If [as I am surmising] your question is: "Can I just stand in the middle of a room or corridor or open field in dim light (or darkness), with nothing else around or "natural phenomenon" [other than light level] disrupting people's vision and hide/be considered hidden?" The answer, for/from me, is No.

Again, they aren't color- or shape-changing creatures, turn transparent or wearing personal cloaking devices. They're good at hiding/not move/get noticed when there is something to "hide" among/in/behind. It can be as "minor" as a "light snow" or "heavy rain", but it has to be something. Ambient light level is not "something", afaiac.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I forgot about darkvision. But then again the question remains if a wood elf can hide from creatures with darkvision while standing in darkness.

If you are ruling that Dim Light in of itself is considered "natural phenomenon" for the purposes of the Wood Elf's Mask of the Wild... then yes, a Wood Elf should be able to hide from a creature with darkvision, regardless of where the Wood Elf is standing. Theoretically, by your ruling the Wood Elf could be right in front of the person with darkvision and be allowed to hide, because everywhere within that creature's darkvision radius is Dim Light.

Which is exactly the reason why I personally do not consider Dim Light to be "natural phenomenon", and thus the Wood Elf can't use only that as their Lightly Obscuring terrain. Wood Elves are good at masking themselves behind trees, bushes, snow, rocks etc... but not just darkness on its own. That's the kind of ability a different kind of creature would have.

Speaking of which... when I created my 5E version of the Shade race... being able to attempt to hide when Lightly Obscured by Dim Light is in fact that very same ability I gave to them-- which I adapted from the 4E Shade's "One With Shadows" ability. To me it makes much more sense that this shadow-based race would have the ability to hide in Dim Light than it would for the Wood Elf to do the same (although by the same token, the Shade cannot attempt to hide when just behind Lightly Obscured cover like the Wood Elf can-- the two races each have different times they can do it.)

 

[ShadowSeeker]

Theoretically, by your ruling the Wood Elf could be right in front of the person with darkvision and be allowed to hide, because everywhere within that creature's darkvision radius is Dim Light.

That isn't what I had in mind, of course.

So after hearing the arguments I tend to agree that dim light alone is not enough to hide for a wood elf.

What about hiding behind another creature in dim light? Would that be too much like the halfling ability?

 

[Mistwell]

RAW I'd say yes, as dim light is a natural phenomenon.

RAI I'm not sure.

Yes. I think that's the intent in fact. Well, that and trees/bushes/rocks.