light source on the ground?

[Magent]

So what happens if my party's carrying say sunrod (only light source) and a battle starts and said sunrod falls to the ground?

How much light does a light source - be it a sunrod or something else - shed if it's on the ground? is the radius reduced? does everything count as shadowy?

Thanks for any responses :)

[cibet44]

Dirk Firebrand wrote:

So what happens if my party's carrying say sunrod (only light source) and a battle starts and said sunrod falls to the ground?

How much light does a light source - be it a sunrod or something else - shed if it's on the ground? is the radius reduced? does everything count as shadowy?

Thanks for any responses :)

For me as GM, a light source on the ground produces the same exact light radius as in hand. The only difference is the one on the ground is immobile unless picked up again. Changing the radius of a light source based on whether it is in hand or not is over complicated and doesn't make anything more fun, IMHO.

[nosig]

this is a problem when fighting in a swamp... "plunk..." I'd call that dim light.

[Ambrus]

cibet44 wrote:

For me as GM, a light source on the ground produces the same exact light radius as in hand. The only difference is the one on the ground is immobile unless picked up again. Changing the radius of a light source based on whether it is in hand or not is over complicated and doesn't make anything more fun, IMHO.

+1

[Lincoln Hills]

I admit it's not realistic: I know darn well how much a torch reduces its illumination when it's lying on its side in the dirt. But, like the rest, I feel that rules to incorporate the possiblity would provide more work than the increased versimilitude is worth.

[Magent]

Ok then!

So far light sources stay the same, I just wanted to know what the general thoughts were, looks like there's no hindrances.

Thanks!

[jonnythm]

Dirk Firebrand wrote:

Ok then!

So far light sources stay the same, I just wanted to know what the general thoughts were, looks like there's no hindrances.

Thanks!

RAW say light source stays the same, if I was feeling mean I would reduce it's size by a little (10 feet?) for realism, but it's not really that important.

[Sekret_One]

Dropped into stuff that would obscure it, like waste high weeds, murky water, even wet mud, I'd reduce the light it produced by 1 level. Quick, easy, and thematic.

Just on the floor, or relatively clear ground, it stays the same, but everything gets this super cool under lighting effect.

[Raymond Lambert]

i like to kick the torch, sunrod or whatever item w/ light cast on it around the floor or maybe even on a wheeled chart to keep both hands free for sword and board, 2hw, spell casting from per day, regular wand, whatever.

miner helmets and slotless wayfinders are also good

[nosig]

reflecting on this a while I would say there is one effect. The light doesn't reach as far UP. Held overhead it would extend to the 25 foot ceiling above (or a little higher? say 30'), on the floor it would only reach 20' up - leaving the ceiling in dim light.