D&D 5E Darkness and Disengage

[Ziolupo]

Hello, we just started a 5e campaign in the Mad Wizard Dungeon, after a very long hiatus from D&D, and we are not so fresh anymore on all the rules. We only use official ruleset, no homebrew, no playtest.

I made an Hexblade with Devil's Sight Invocation, Darkness spell and Warcaster feat, I usually cast darkness on an small obsidian shard trinket that I carry as a necklace.

Question 1:

In my turn, I cast darkness, I use my bonus action to cast Hexblade Curse and then I move close to my target. Having used all of my actions, my turn end. Now it's the enemy turn, he is blinded by the darkness and he has a relative knowledge that someone might be close (I wear half-plate, so I'm not exactly stealthy). DM states that the enemy just takes the Disengage action and move out of the darkness area.

My question is, how can you disengage from something you can't see? If you cannot see the menace, how can you effectively avoid it?

I couldn't find an effective rule for the Disengage action when you're somehow impaired and I wanted to ask for advice.

Question 2:

Having cast my darkness spell on the small obsidian shard, by spell rule I can cover the shard to block the darkness from spreading. Since the shard is small, I could technically clasp it with a gloved hand to fully cover it? If true, it would be possible to do it as a reaction ouside my turn? I would like to understand how can benefit from Darkness+Devil's Sight combo without impairing too much my companions...

 

[jayoungr]

In my turn, I cast darkness, I use my bonus action to cast Hexblade Curse and then I move close to my target. Having used all of my actions, my turn end. Now it's the enemy turn, he is blinded by the darkness and he has a relative knowledge that someone might be close (I wear half-plate, so I'm not exactly stealthy). DM states that the enemy just takes the Disengage action and move out of the darkness area.

My question is, how can you disengage from something you can't see? If you cannot see the menace, how can you effectively avoid it?

So, when you're in darkness (or invisible), your enemy still knows where you are unless you also hide. Think of disappearing as a two-stage process: darkness or invisibility means your enemy knows where you are but can't attack you effectively, thus getting disadvantage on attacks against you. If you are also hidden, your enemy no longer knows where you are.

It seemed awfully weak to me when I first started playing 5E, but I've come to like it.

 

[Li Shenron]

My question is, how can you disengage from something you can't see?

You just can.

 

[Li Shenron]

Having cast my darkness spell on the small obsidian shard, by spell rule I can cover the shard to block the darkness from spreading. Since the shard is small, I could technically clasp it with a gloved hand to fully cover it? If true, it would be possible to do it as a reaction ouside my turn?

No. You cannot make up a reaction, you generally only use as a reaction something the game tells you that is a reaction.

You could use Ready to essentially turn any action into a reaction, but you are effectively giving up your action for that.

Then, the action of covering it up might count as interacting with one object during your round which is in addition to your action. Unless the DM decides that the benefit is significant enough to require to use the Use An Object action instead.

 

[Iry]

Unless you take the Hide action, the enemy can still hear and smell you to know your location. It just can't see you, and gets disadvantage on relevant checks. Ask a blind person - they generally know where you are unless you're being especially sneaky.

 

[Charlaquin]

Question 1:

In my turn, I cast darkness, I use my bonus action to cast Hexblade Curse and then I move close to my target. Having used all of my actions, my turn end. Now it's the enemy turn, he is blinded by the darkness and he has a relative knowledge that someone might be close (I wear half-plate, so I'm not exactly stealthy). DM states that the enemy just takes the Disengage action and move out of the darkness area.

My question is, how can you disengage from something you can't see? If you cannot see the menace, how can you effectively avoid it?

I couldn't find an effective rule for the Disengage action when you're somehow impaired and I wanted to ask for advice.

First of all, if your DM says the enemy can Disengage in the darkness, they can. The DM has final say over all rules, so nothing anyone here might say will overturn your DM’s ruling. Second of all, your DM’s ruling is consistent with the rules in the book in this instance. There is no restriction against Disengaging while blinded, in darkness, or otherwise unable to see. Note also that when you disengage, you don’t have to disengage from a specific opponent. You just take the Disengage action, and your movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks that turn. Think of it less like disengaging from an opponent you’re engaged with, and more like generally keeping your guard up while you move.

Question 2:

Having cast my darkness spell on the small obsidian shard, by spell rule I can cover the shard to block the darkness from spreading. Since the shard is small, I could technically clasp it with a gloved hand to fully cover it? If true, it would be possible to do it as a reaction ouside my turn? I would like to understand how can benefit from Darkness+Devil's Sight combo without impairing too much my companions...

Ask your DM. By the book, this isn’t possible, but the DM having final say can work to your advantage too. Make your case and see if your DM allows it.

 

[Charlaquin]

So, when you're in darkness (or invisible), your enemy still knows where you are unless you also hide. Think of disappearing as a two-stage process: darkness or invisibility means your enemy knows where you are but can't attack you effectively, thus getting disadvantage on attacks against you. If you are also hidden, your enemy no longer knows where you are.

It seemed awfully weak to me when I first started playing 5E, but I've come to like it.

Yeah, this too. Just because you can’t be seen doesn’t mean you can’t be detected - you can still be heard, and incidental signs of your presence like footprints can still be observed. But, being invisible does make it much easier to hide, because being unseen is a prerequisite to hiding.

 

[Stoutstien]

NPC taken the disengage action is a net win for the party.

 

[Umbran]

(I wear half-plate, so I'm not exactly stealthy).

My question is, how can you disengage from something you can't see? If you cannot see the menace, how can you effectively avoid it?

Emphasis mine.

"Clank clank! You don't know where I am! Clank clank!"

 

[cmad1977]

NPC taken the disengage action is a net win for the party.

Correct.
The power of Darkness and other spells isn’t in their ‘blinding’ effect or what have you. It’s in the battlefield and opponent control.