Hello, I have been lurking on a few threads that try to explain how things like mundane light, and magical light interact with darkness and deeper darkness, and right before my head exploded I thought that it would be a good idea to ACTUALLY read what the spells say. So I started simple with the 0-level spell Light:
This spell causes a touched object to glow like a torch, shedding normal light in a 20-foot radius, and increasing the light level for an additional 20 feet by one step, up to normal light (darkness becomes dim light, and dim light becomes normal light). In an area of normal or bright light, this spell has no effect. The effect is immobile, but it can be cast on a movable object.
You can only have one light spell active at any one time. If you cast this spell while another casting is still in effect, the previous casting is dispelled. If you make this spell permanent (through permanency or a similar effect), it does not count against this limit. Light can be used to counter or dispel any darkness spell of equal or lower spell level.
I have bolded 2 sentences that seem confusing.
The first sentence seems to be missing some text. Specifically, it should have the words "..on the light level" tacked on to the end.
RAW, it appears that if I am in an area of normal light, and cast Light on a rock, and then move into an area of dim-light or darkness, then the rock will not give off light, since it says that the spell has no effect.
The second bolded sentence confused me because, since Light is a zero level spell. There are no darkness spells of equal level, and there are NO spells at all of lower level (any -1 level spells? lol). maybe the authors meant to use the term 'caster level' instead of 'spell level'?
Am I over-complicating my reading of this spell?
RPG Superstar 2012 Top 32
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For the first one, I imagine that the "effect" in the phrase "has no effect" refers to the effect described up to that point: increasing the light level. It does not mean that the spell has not been successfully cast or whatever.
For the second question, Heighten Spell exists.
The second bolded sentence confused me because, since Light is a zero level spell. There are no darkness spells of equal level, and there are NO spells at all of lower level (any -1 level spells? lol). maybe the authors meant to use the term 'caster level' instead of 'spell level'?
Am I over-complicating my reading of this spell?
No, it means spell level, not caster level. Its the same for every other spell that can counter or dispel this way (such as Daylight or Continual Flame).
Just because there isn't an appropriate spell for it to counter or dispel in the current rules doesn't mean there won't ever be one. If one is ever printed, then Light can dispel or counter it. And as Jiggly said, Heighten Spell can raise its level high enough to use this way.
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I agree that the first bolded area should read as you have stated for better clarification. The spell doesn't fail, it just doesn't improve the lighting.
The second one is trickier. I don't think it belongs within the confines of the 0 level light spell. It should be set apart and reworded to say "Any spell with the Light descriptor...".
For example, Daylight has the [Light] descriptor and dispells Darkness since it is a higher level spell.
I think it actually says that somewhere in the rulebook but I don't know where.
Edit: Ninja'd. I forgot about Heighten Spell.
For the first one, I imagine that the "effect" in the phrase "has no effect" refers to the effect described up to that point: increasing the light level. It does not mean that the spell has not been successfully cast or whatever.
For the second question, Heighten Spell exists.
Makes sense, I forgot about Metamagically altering spell level