D&D 5E What level would you make this spell effect: Unlight

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The spell automatically extinguishes all light sources, mundane and magical, and prevents them from being re-lit during the effect's duration. Magical sources that have not used up all of their duration will automatically relight after the unlight duration ends or after the magical light source leaves the area of effect for the unlight effect.

Feedback, particularly of the extremely picky rules lawyer kind, greatly appreciated.

 

[Quickleaf]

It works like a light suppressant (for an hour?), so that's similar to prestidigitation as a baseline.

However, it's affecting an area of effect, some kind of radius probably, so that's a 1st level spell.

And it's affecting magical light sources. That's a big deal, because it's acting like a flawless dispel magic against spells like daylight and spells like dawn (5th level)... potentially negating the damage of dawn entirely? And this also applies to magic items like driftglobes.

Because of this, I'd consider it a 3rd level spell, but I might reduce the duration to 1 minute or 10 minutes...depending on other fators.

And I'd need to compile a list of all spells in 5e that create magical light, and craft my language so that I'm having the desired effect. For instance, do you WANT a spell that can counter all magical light, no roll needed?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

For instance, do you WANT a spell that can counter all magical light, no roll needed?

My clients, the grues of the Great Underground Empire, decline to comment at this time.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I think you should rename the spell 'Delight'.

It does the exact same thing... except people are happy to cast it.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

It works like a light suppressant (for an hour?), so that's similar to prestidigitation as a baseline.

However, it's affecting an area of effect, some kind of radius probably, so that's a 1st level spell.

And it's affecting magical light sources. That's a big deal, because it's acting like a flawless dispel magic against spells like daylight and spells like dawn (5th level)... potentially negating the damage of dawn entirely? And this also applies to magic items like driftglobes.

Because of this, I'd consider it a 3rd level spell, but I might reduce the duration to 1 minute or 10 minutes...depending on other fators.

And I'd need to compile a list of all spells in 5e that create magical light, and craft my language so that I'm having the desired effect. For instance, do you WANT a spell that can counter all magical light, no roll needed?

Agree and I would make it concentration

 

[J.Quondam]

Another way to look at it: the effect is comparable to a no-save multi-target blindness spell (2nd level, 1 target w/ Con save, for 1 minute w/ no concentration; upcast for more targets).
So yeah, seems like "unlight" in ??ft radius for one minute, probably with concentration, at 3rd level seems about right?

 

[Lanefan]

It works like a light suppressant (for an hour?), so that's similar to prestidigitation as a baseline.

However, it's affecting an area of effect, some kind of radius probably, so that's a 1st level spell.

And it's affecting magical light sources. That's a big deal, because it's acting like a flawless dispel magic against spells like daylight and spells like dawn (5th level)... potentially negating the damage of dawn entirely? And this also applies to magic items like driftglobes.

Picky note: it's not acting like Dispel Magic in that magical lights come back on if removed from the area or when the spell expires.

Picky question for the OP: what happens if a still-burning torch is taken out of the area - does it start emanating light again? And while still in the area, despite its lack of light is it still burning i.e. can set fire to things or burn someone's hand? If yes, this would allow for some hella good traps - light a bonfire, then when a threat approaches snuff its light with this spell and let the threat burn without knowing what's burning it...

Because of this, I'd consider it a 3rd level spell, but I might reduce the duration to 1 minute or 10 minutes...depending on other fators.

Without a long duration the spell becomes largely pointless. And for the love of all that's good, don't make it concentration!

And I'd need to compile a list of all spells in 5e that create magical light, and craft my language so that I'm having the desired effect. For instance, do you WANT a spell that can counter all magical light, no roll needed?

Perhaps a fix is that the spell always knocks out all mundane light sources within x-radius for y-time but has no effect on magical light sources of a higher base level than the level this spell is cast at. That's poorly worded, I know, but hear me out.

Let's say this becomes a 3rd-level spell (my own vote would be for 2nd, but whatever). If I cast it as a 3rd then it takes down all light sources of base 3rd-level and lower even if those sources were upcast at the time; thus for example it'll always get Light, but Dawn, Wall of Fire, and other higher-level effects remain unaffected. But, if I upcast Unlight using a 5th-level slot it then takes down sources of 5th-level and lower, meaning that now Dawn is vulnerable.

The tricky bits to rule on would be glowing weapons and the like; what level do those count as?

 

[Lanefan]

Another way to look at it: the effect is comparable to a no-save multi-target blindness spell (2nd level, 1 target w/ Con save, for 1 minute w/ no concentration; upcast for more targets).
So yeah, seems like "unlight" in ??ft radius for one minute, probably with concentration, at 3rd level seems about right?

Except it's not blindness in that it doesn't affect natural daylight or moonlight etc. (the light's source is just a bit too far away ). Casting this outdoors has no effect at all other than on nearby torches and fires.

I'd say an hour at no concentration as a 3rd level spell. Your version is fine for 1st level and could work there as a separate, different spell.

 

[J.Quondam]

Except it's not blindness in that it doesn't affect natural daylight or moonlight etc. (the light's source is just a bit too far away ). Casting this outdoors has no effect at all other than on nearby torches and fires.

I'd say an hour at no concentration as a 3rd level spell. Your version is fine for 1st level and could work there as a separate, different spell.

Ah, good catch. I missed the difference between "extinguishing the light sources" in the area and "suppressing any light" in the area.

 

[Lanefan]

Ah, good catch. I missed the difference between "extinguishing the light sources" in the area and "suppressing any light" in the area.

And I'd missed that it extinguishes the light sources outright. That's too powerful when it comes to fires; instead the spell should just prevent them from emitting light.

Question for the OP: what character class(es) is this spell intended for?