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This spell is worded somewhat confusingly.
I get that normal light becomes darkness, and that dim light or dakness becomes supernatural darkness. What I'm not sure about is the sentence that reads "This functions like darkness, but even creatures with
darkvision cannot see within the spell’s confines." Does this sentence refer to darkness created by the spell or does it describe the effects of "supernatural darkness."
I guess, what I'm asking is: does darkvision work in darkness created by this spell? I know it doesn't work in supernatural darkness, but I'm able to read the spell description two different ways with regard to regular darkness.
Thanks!
It means that the darkness created is like normal darkness, except that creatures with darkvision cannot see within its radius.
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The darkvision ability is negated by the spell, in other words. All creatures in the radius are treated as if they just have normal sight, like humans. If normal human sight would allow you to see in whatever level of light results from the spell, then you can see. Feats like blindsense and blind fighting still work; not sure about low-light vision.
Creative Director
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Awesome! So, if the light condition is "normal light" and I cast deeper darkness to reduce it to "dark," darkvision just fails to work even though we haven't hit "supernaturally dark" yet? What is the difference between "darkness" and "supernatural darkness" then?
Thanks again, guys!
Supernaturally dark is where darkvision turns off, basically.
If you cast deeper darkness on a sunny day out under the sky, the area of effect drops two steps from bright light to dim light. Cast it on normal light, and it puts the area into regular darkness that darkvision can see through.
Darkvision is only blocked if you cast deeper darkness in areas of dim light or darkness.
(Sorry the previous explanation was too brief... I spat it out too quickly without having a PFRPG handy to look at, and was too lazy to look the spell up online.)
Okay, now I have a question about it. Most of the creatures that have the Deeper Darkness spell as a SLA or otherwise don't have any way of seeing through it. My specific example is the Drow Noble (which has lost regular darkness) and the Shadow Demon. This spell will nerf both just as much as it will nerf the party, right? Am I missing something?
Okay, now I have a question about it. Most of the creatures that have the Deeper Darkness spell as a SLA or otherwise don't have any way of seeing through it. My specific example is the Drow Noble (which has lost regular darkness) and the Shadow Demon. This spell will nerf both just as much as it will nerf the party, right? Am I missing something?
Likely they won't be using it as a blinding effect to walk into, but as battle field control like Sleet Storm (holding enemy at bay while you do something else).
Okay, now I have a question about it. Most of the creatures that have the Deeper Darkness spell as a SLA or otherwise don't have any way of seeing through it. My specific example is the Drow Noble (which has lost regular darkness) and the Shadow Demon. This spell will nerf both just as much as it will nerf the party, right? Am I missing something?Likely they won't be using it as a blinding effect to walk into, but as battle field control like Sleet Storm (holding enemy at bay while you do something else).
Shadow Demons have a few fun things they can do with their Darkness. One is to use their Shadow Evocations to AoE from cover of darkness. Another, though more dangerous if the party can get rid of their Darkness spell, is to make an area of normal light into regular darkness, which they can see through with their Darkvision, thus blinding all PCs who don't have Darkvision available.
Shadow Demons have a few fun things they can do with their Darkness. One is to use their Shadow Evocations to AoE from cover of darkness. Another, though more dangerous if the party can get rid of their Darkness spell, is to make an area of normal light into regular darkness, which they can see through with their Darkvision, thus blinding all PCs who don't have Darkvision available.
Likely they won't be using it as a blinding effect to walk into, but as battle field control like Sleet Storm (holding enemy at bay while you do something else).
Alright. So I guess I wasn't missing anything. Thanks guys.
| 2 people marked this as FAQ candidate. |
Supernaturally dark is where darkvision turns off, basically.
If you cast deeper darkness on a sunny day out under the sky, the area of effect drops two steps from bright light to dim light. Cast it on normal light, and it puts the area into regular darkness that darkvision can see through.
Thanks James - this makes a lot of sense.
I do have another question though related to Darkness (& Deeper). It might be a bit tricky. They include this line, "Nonmagical sources of light, such as torches and lanterns, do not increase the light level in an area of darkness."
Does this refer to:
The big question mark is if you have an "area of normal light", how is it lit? If it is lit only (but well) by torches and lanterns, and those do not increase the light level in an area of darkness, does that mean instead of dim light you have total darkness? What if you then light a sunrod in the area? Outside the area? Taken to an extreme, does the sun count as a nonmagical source of light?
How I run it right now is that whatever light *exists* is dimmed (or darkened). Fresh light sources in, or brought into, the darkness will not increase the illumination. Light sources without do. This gets more complicated since an area of darkness can *move*.
I really like the Pathfinder system of Darkness, but I just need a bit of clarification.