EvilKingCaliban
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So. I'm running a Way of the Wicked campaign, and my PCs (all of whom have darkvision) have been making good use of darkness and deeper darkness against the good guys. And hey. It's a great tactic, and they're the bad guys, so I've had zero problems with it thus far. However, as the campaign progresses, I want to avoid allowing the party becoming a one-trick pony, so I'm setting out to improve my understanding of how the spells work and what methods can be used to counter them. For reference:
Darkness:
School evocation [darkness]; Level antipaladin 2, bard 2, cleric/oracle 2, inquisitor 2, magus 2, shaman 2, sorcerer/wizard 2
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, M/DF (bat fur and a piece of coal)
EFFECT
Range touch
Target object touched
Duration 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
DESCRIPTION
This spell causes an object to radiate darkness out to a 20-foot radius. This darkness causes the illumination level in the area to drop one step, from bright light to normal light, from normal light to dim light, or from dim light to darkness. This spell has no effect in an area that is already dark. Creatures with light vulnerability or sensitivity take no penalties in normal light. All creatures gain concealment (20% miss chance) in dim light. All creatures gain total concealment (50% miss chance) in darkness. Creatures with darkvision can see in an area of dim light or darkness without penalty. Nonmagical sources of light, such as torches and lanterns, do not increase the light level in an area of darkness. Magical light sources only increase the light level in an area if they are of a higher spell level than darkness.
If darkness is cast on a small object that is then placed inside or under a lightproof covering, the spell's effect is blocked until the covering is removed.
This spell does not stack with itself. Darkness can be used to counter or dispel any light spell of equal or lower spell level.
Deeper Darkness:
School evocation [darkness]; Level antipaladin 3, cleric/oracle 3, inquisitor 3, shaman 3; Domain darkness 3
EFFECT
Duration 10 min./level (D)
[This content was created for the Pathfinder rules by Paizo Publishing LLC and is part of the Pathfinder RPG product line.]
DESCRIPTION
This spell functions as darkness, except that objects radiate darkness in a 60-foot radius and the light level is lowered by two steps. Bright light becomes dim light and normal light becomes darkness. Areas of dim light and darkness become supernaturally dark. This functions like darkness, but even creatures with darkvision cannot see within the spell's confines.
This spell does not stack with itself. Deeper darkness can be used to counter or dispel any light spell of equal or lower spell level.
Two main points I'd like to clarify.
One:
Nonmagical sources of light, such as torches and lanterns, do not increase the light level in an area of darkness.
That leads me to think that in any sort of indoor situation, no matter how well it's mundanely lit with torches, braziers, or walls of falling lava, when you cast darkness, poof, it's instantly dark within the spell's area. Any light that isn't coming from a higher-spell-level magic effect doesn't do ANYTHING to provide illumination within the spell's area, meaning zero illumination, meaning darkness (or supernatural darkness, in Deeper's case). As far as I can tell, the only time when you won't get instant darkness is if you're outside and there's sunlight of some flavor. (I'm not even going to get into the discussion of whether or not the sun is a 'nonmagical source of light')
Does that seem to mesh with other peoples' understanding of the spells?
Two:
Would spells that give off light but don't actually have the light descriptor have the potential to illuminate within an area of darkness? For instance, a Wall of Fire. It's a fifth level spell, and it conjures a big wall of fire, which ostensibly should shed light. I'd imagine that would provide illumination within the area of even a Deeper Darkness spell, right?
Thoughts/comments are appreciated. In addition, if anyone has some other ideas for creative ways to circumvent or get rid of Darkness spells, I'd love to hear them. The old heightened Continual Flame trick is great and all, but finding other innovative ways to do it would be awesome.