So, suppose I have a shadow demon with at-will Deeper Darkness and Sunlight Powerlessness (less at-will, than, "Ow!").
So, the shadow demon casts Deeper Darkness into an area of bright sunlight, lowering it to dim light.
Question: Does the shadow demon still suffer from Sunlight Powerlessness because it's still "sunlight", or does Deeper Darkness protect the shadow demon?
I would say yes personally but that's only because my group still runs darkness as if it was still a 3.5 spell.
Rules wise I would also say yes due to the fact that the spell mentions areas of dim light and darkness become supernaturally dark and it might make the shadow demons life a little easier before nasty murder hobos kill it for no doubt good reasons.
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Just came back to this post to realise how dumb my response read... guess its what I get after posting it around midnight without enough sleep as is.
So I'll follow up with yes deeper Darkness would protect the shadow demon mainly because the wording of the spell deeper darkness makes dim light and greater levels of darkness supernaturally dark. It's probably not the correct answer just because protective penumbra exist to specifically counter light based weakness.
Again sorry for my poorly written reply to this question earlier.
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Protective Penumbra works by keeping the target in shadows... ergo any effect which creates a dimly lit (or darker) area should work.
The sunlight powerlessness says it is powerless in bright light or direct sunlight. If deeper darkness makes an area less than bright, the shadow demon would not be powerless. The Sunlight spell specifies when it overlaps with any darkness spell it cancels both the darkness and the light, so that would also protect it, at least until a second Daylight spell is cast.
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The sunlight powerlessness says it is powerless in bright light or direct sunlight.
Not exactly.
Sunlight Powerlessness (Ex) A shadow demon is utterly powerless in bright light or natural sunlight and flees from it.
"Direct" is never used, it says "natural". The darkness line of spells reduces the level of illumination but doesn't remove the existence of the natural sunlight.
It was modified in the later books (Bestiary 2 and beyond). But that change doesn't automatically apply to the shadow demon.
Sunlight Powerlessness (Ex)
Source Bestiary 5 pg. 300, Bestiary 2 pg. 302, Bestiary 3 pg. 300, Bestiary 4 pg. 300
If the creature is in sunlight (but not in an area of daylight or similar spells), it cannot attack and is staggered.Format: sunlight powerlessness
This spell functions as darkness, except that objects radiate darkness in a 60-foot radius and the light level is lowered by two steps.
This spell keeps the target slightly in shadow. A target with light blindness, light sensitivity, or vulnerability to sunlight (such as vampires and wraiths) may ignore penalties from those qualities. The spell gives the target a +2 bonus on saving throws against nonmagical hazards related to bright light, such as glare or sunburn.
Note the different effects.
Deeper darkness reduces the illumination level but doesn't change the fact that you are in sunlight. Even if there isn't enough light to see, you still are in a zone of sunlight.
Protective penumbra instead puts you in a shadow that protects you from sunlight.