I searched the messageboards for a simple answer to, "Can drow nobility see through their own Deeper Darkness?", and the general consensus was that no, they couldn't, and Deeper Darkness was therefore a tactical control spell.
All well and good, *if* drow nobility got to keep Darkness as a spell-like ability.
Unfortunately, when drow graduate to Deeper Darkness, they lose Darkness, so they no longer have the ability to create darkness they can see through. That doesn't seem like a great 'upgrade'.
Is this an accidental or intentional loophole? How do other GMs handle it? I can always house-rule that drow keep Darkness but it comes out of the same uses-per-day as Deeper Darkness, but I'd like to see other's thoughts on the topic.
It's important to remember that the spell darkness does not actually cause darkness.
the spell darkness just drops the light level by 1 and deeper darkness by 2.
So in normal light to start, the darkness spell only gives you dim light, and deeper darkness simply gives you normal darkness that the drow CAN see in.
you have to start at dim or less to hit supernatural darkness with deeper darkness.
It's important to remember that the spell darkness does not actually cause darkness.
the spell darkness just drops the light level by 1 and deeper darkness by 2.
So in normal light to start, the darkness spell only gives you dim light, and deeper darkness simply gives you normal darkness that the drow CAN see in.
you have to start at dim or less to hit supernatural darkness with deeper darkness.
Right, but you still hit supernatural darkness quite easily when you're underground (where the drow normally hang out), so it still seems like quite a disadvantage that you suddenly can't use your darkness ability any more without risk of blinding yourself.
As you said, Drows usually live underground, where it's naturally dark and almost every creature has darkvision. Deeper Darkness blocks that darkvision. It blocks the Drow's too, yes, but you know, it's like casting Stone Wall between yourself and the enemy. No one can get to the opposite side, but you may use it to slow the enemy down, to run away, or to prepare some nice surprise while unseen. Similarly can Deeper Darkness do for a Drow.
Plus, it works "even better" on surface dwellers.
Well noble drow are supposedly smarter, more cunning and powerful. Does it surprise you that they would have some sort of tactic or plan for when they use the ability?
"I have an ability that I know will cause blindness what will I do when I use it....?"
I don't see why you can't use the lesser version. Seems silly.