Question regarding lighting conditions and shadows.


Rules Questions


The level one synthesist wants to take the following two evolutions:

Shadow Blend (Su)*
In any condition of illumination other than bright light, the eidolon disappears into the shadows, giving it concealment (20% miss chance). If it has the shadow form evolution, it instead gains total concealment (50% miss chance). The eidolon can suspend or resume this ability as a free action. Source: Advanced Race Guide

Shadow Form (Su)*
The eidolon's body becomes shadowy and more indistinct. This shadow form grants the eidolon constant concealment (20% miss chance), and its melee attacks affect incorporeal creatures as if it had the ghost touch weapon property. The eidolon's melee attacks deal only half damage to corporeal creatures. Source: Advanced Race Guide

So I looked up lighting conditions and determined that next adventure he would be mostly in "normal" light. The Core book describes this as:

"Normal light functions just like bright light, but characters with light sensitivity and light blindness do not take penalties. Areas of normal light include underneath a forest canopy during the day, within 20 feet of a torch, and inside the area of a light spell."

So since normal light is described as just like bright light, with two exceptions, does this mean that under normal light the shadow blending in ineffective?

Scarab Sages

Technically, normal light is a condition other than bright light, even if they share similar mechanics. Just because normal light functions like bright light, doesn't make it equal to bright light. The ability would say "in any condition of illumination other than bright and normal light" if it meant that, I believe.

So the eidolon would have his 50% miss chance in normal light. You step outside into the sunlight, however, and it shoots down to 20%. I think the reasoning is that in bright light, shadows don't really exist, whereas in normal light they do.

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