Does darkvision include low-light vision?

[Ughbash]

No, they are two different abilities that each have their strengths and weaknesses.

[Kobold Catgirl]

*Was searching for answer on this*
waitwat

[Bob Bob Bob]

Congratulations on the three year necro! Not sure what was going on with this though, as it seems to ask and answer its own question. I agree with the answer (darkvision is not an improved form of low-light vision, I can find monsters with both explicitly listed and several with darkvision but not low-light) but I'm wondering if the original poster was banned or something as this doesn't appear on the first poster's started threads.

For a bit of historical context, they used to exist as "superior elf vision" and "infravision" (heat vision) and were very distinct. They became low-light and darkvision in 3.0, I believe.

[zanbato13]

So... what are the pros, cons, and differences of each anyway?

If I have darkvision, why would I want low-light vision?

[Gauss]

Kobold Cleave,

LOL, nice necro.

zanbato13,

Darkvision: 60' (usually)
Low-light vision: depending on light source, much much farther.

Moonlight: Low-light vision > Darkvision
30' light source: Low-light vision > 60' Darkvision

[zanbato13]

Gauss wrote:

Kobold Cleave,

LOL, nice necro.

zanbato13,

Darkvision: 60' (usually)
Low-light vision: depending on light source, much much farther.

Moonlight: Low-light vision > Darkvision
30' light source: Low-light vision > 60' Darkvision

Ah, I see what you mean. Though, low-light is still affected by dim light concealment.

[Lifat]

Darkvision:
Limited range of vision.
No colours.
No need for any light at all.

Low-light vision:
Potentially very long range of vision.
Full colour vision.
Needs light to function and the more light the longer range.

I'd say that darkvision is the better one, but only slightly. Even if you have one of the visions the other still holds value. Personally I would choose darkvision over low-light giving the choice.

[Oly]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in dim light someone with Darkvision 60' will see better (though in black and white) than someone with neither dark nor low-light vision, right? (Though in dim light, one with low-light vision will see the best of all.)

[Rastrum]

Worth noting that low-light vision doesn't counteract the concealment of creatures in dim light, it just doubles the effective radius for normal and dim light from light sources.

[Lifat]

Oly wrote:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but in dim light someone with Darkvision 60' will see better (though in black and white) than someone with neither dark nor low-light vision, right? (Though in dim light, one with low-light vision will see the best of all.)

In dim light someone with darkvision will see better than both normal human vision and low-light vision.

But in the case of a large/powerful enough light source the low-light vision race will see better and longer than one with darkvision.

[Gauss]

zanbato13 wrote:

Gauss wrote:

zanbato13,

Darkvision: 60' (usually)
Low-light vision: depending on light source, much much farther.

Moonlight: Low-light vision > Darkvision
30' light source: Low-light vision > 60' Darkvision

Ah, I see what you mean. Though, low-light is still affected by dim light concealment.

In Moonlight a creature with low-light vision sees as well as in the daylight (ie: no dim light concealment).

CRB p564 Low-Light Vision wrote:

Characters with low-light vision can see outdoors on a moonlit night as well as they can during the day.

The 30' light source combined with Low-light vision means 60' normal (the same as Darkvision) and up to 120' dim light. Thus, it is the same up to 60' and superior up to 120'.

[Melkiador]

And since you will almost always have someone in your party that needs a light source anyway, the low-light vision will probably see more use.

[JJ Jordan]

Kudos to Ughbash for answering this question way in advance.

[James Risner]

Ughbash wrote:

No, they are two different abilities that each have their strengths and weaknesses.

+1

[kinevon]

Gauss wrote:

zanbato13 wrote:

Gauss wrote:

zanbato13,

Darkvision: 60' (usually)
Low-light vision: depending on light source, much much farther.

Moonlight: Low-light vision > Darkvision
30' light source: Low-light vision > 60' Darkvision

Ah, I see what you mean. Though, low-light is still affected by dim light concealment.

In Moonlight a creature with low-light vision sees as well as in the daylight (ie: no dim light concealment).

CRB p564 Low-Light Vision wrote:

Characters with low-light vision can see outdoors on a moonlit night as well as they can during the day.

The 30' light source combined with Low-light vision means 60' normal (the same as Darkvision) and up to 120' dim light. Thus, it is the same up to 60' and superior up to 120'.

Note that there are a couple of feats available that can increase the range of darkvision to 120', and allow it to work in supernatural darkness...

[Gauss]

Yes, which is why I was specific in stating "60' Darkvision".

There are also light sources that trump 120' Darkvision. :)

[Matthew Downie]

Melkiador wrote:

And since you will almost always have someone in your party that needs a light source anyway, the low-light vision will probably see more use.

Though if the entire party has darkvision, darkness (magical or otherwise) suddenly becomes a really powerful weapon.

[Just a Guess]

Matthew Downie wrote:

Melkiador wrote:

And since you will almost always have someone in your party that needs a light source anyway, the low-light vision will probably see more use.

Though if the entire party has darkvision, darkness (magical or otherwise) suddenly becomes a really powerful weapon.

In one game where all but one have dark vision and the one uses spells to gain it my half-drow is still waiting for a fight vs foes without dark vision.