Darkvision vs. Low-light Vision

[Tiberius]

I am curious how people handle the difference between darkvision and low-light vision. In my campaign, I have ruled that as darkvision is possessed by those races who traditionally dwell in subterranian locales (such as dwarves, orcs, half-orcs. drow, svirnefblin [seriously, who came up with that name?], etc.) it only functions in absolute, nonmagical "cave" darkness, and the presence of any ambient light, even starlight, spoils it. Low-light vision requires little interpretation.

On some other threads I have seen people referring to, for instance, half-drow recieving an "upgrade" to darkvision, as well as the general sense that darvision functions above ground. What are people's opinion on the matter? Thanks!

-Tiberius

 

[mikebr99]

From SRD:

DARKVISION
Darkvision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, to a range specified for the creature.
Darkvision is black and white only.
Darkvision does not allow characters to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and
illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, darkvision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally.
The presence of light does not spoil darkvision.

Low-light vision simply doubles the effectiveness of available light, if there isn't any light, then low-light vision doesn't help.

Dark vision helps you see (at whatever range specified) no matter what light source (or lack thereof) there is. But not through magical darkness (unless it says otherwise... ).

 

[James McMurray]

By the rules, the presence or absence of light does not affect darkvision. However, I have house ruled it to be slightly less effective than that.

For example, a face hidden in a hooded cloak can be seen easily with darkvision (this is used in Speaker in Dreams). I don't like that, as it means nobody can hide their face if there is a dwarf around.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

Actually, there is no interpretation needed. The DMG, on page 74 under Darkvision, explicitly says that the presence of light does not spoil darkvision. A dwarf can hold a torch and see 20 feet normally in all directions, and 40 more feet with his darkvision.

 

[mikebr99]

By the rules, the presence or absence of light does not affect darkvision. However, I have house ruled it to be slightly less effective than that.

For example, a face hidden in a hooded cloak can be seen easily with darkvision (this is used in Speaker in Dreams). I don't like that, as it means nobody can hide their face if there is a dwarf around.

Hey James.

Create a new magic item...

Hood of darkness: this item cloaks the user's head in magical darkness- which he can see through normally- at a radius sufficient to hide his features.

 

[James McMurray]

But ahood that shrouds your face in magical darkness is just as conspicuous outside on sunlit day as no hood with a big mind flayer head poking out. I prefera middle ground.

Granted, my house rue isn't exactly codified, but it hasn't come into play in a little under a year, so that's ok.

 

[Macbrea]

So, there is no moon out and your standing out there.


Suddenly a guy walks within 20ft of you holding a torch. And you can see. Then he walks 30ft away and your blind unable to even see the torch.

The lighting system of DnD is screwy.

 

[James McMurray]

Yeah, I guess its agood thing that it is supposed to work for a game system, and not mimic reality 100%.

 

[Dr. Zoom]

So, there is no moon out and your standing out there.


Suddenly a guy walks within 20ft of you holding a torch. And you can see. Then he walks 30ft away and your blind unable to even see the torch.

The lighting system of DnD is screwy.

You can still see the torch and its light radius 30 feet away. I am not sure what you are talking about.

 

[Macbrea]

According to the system if you are in total darkness you cannot see. Unless you have darkvision. A torch sheds 20ft of light then stops. There is no range at which its considered moderate darkness about the torch or light darkness. It just ends at 20ft.


Technically, I would fully except if they stated a torch works as follows.

Well lit to 10ft, Light darkness 10ft to 20ft, moderate darkness 20ft to 30ft.

That means someone holding a torch can kind of see whats going on at 30ft from them. That actually causes the torch light to actually dissipate.

::Shrug::