Say I have the See in Darkness ability and some other effects that capitalize on being unseen and in shadows.
I want to use this ability as an advantage, but know that it is a really rare ability. I'd like to gain an advantage over my enemies, but spells like deeper darkness have a radius effect that just takes over everything, and effectively blinds my allies too.
I was hoping to find some sort of magic item that either only puts the effect localized around my character, or simply a more feasible area (10 foot radius or whatever). Granting all allies the see in darkness ability doesn't seem to be feasible, and certainly not effective/efficient.
I see things like Eclipsed spell, but still, have nothing.
Get your allies some Truesight. I've made 3 Drow characters that focus around using Darkness/Deeper Darkness abuse, and persistently just make sure to either put them in a party where we can get some Truesight Permanency, or else delay the Deeper Darkness to around level 15 so that I can use the regular Darkness occassionally for what I need, and my allies have enough time to get their individual preps.
Edit: Permanency Heightened Spell Dancing Lights is also a fun workaround. Heightened to level 4 so it overlaps the Deeper Darkness and just give everyone some light balls to follow themselves around, and fly over to tag enemies in the dark.
Get your allies some Truesight. I've made 3 Drow characters that focus around using Darkness/Deeper Darkness abuse, and persistently just make sure to either put them in a party where we can get some Truesight Permanency, or else delay the Deeper Darkness to around level 15 so that I can use the regular Darkness occassionally for what I need, and my allies have enough time to get their individual preps.
That certainly sounds powerful, but It is more costly and resource intensive for the party's capabilities.
I'm a 8th level alchemist.
I was more so trying to see if there was a way to reduce the spell's radius. I've seen meta-magic do everything-but for some reason.
I'm wondering if a scroll of (Eclipsed) Unbearable Brightness works. Eclipsed doesn't raise the spell's level, so there's no increased spell level (for pricing). The radius is much more bearable at 30 feet, but I'm still aiming for more the 10-20 foot radius range. Since there aren't a ton of large maps that we use.
But Also if Eclipsed spell depletes light now, instead of creating it, does it even dazzle or blind?
I really wish. It would be nice. Alchemist throws an effective wrench in things, cause the smallest "Darkness" spell I know is Dancing Darkness (i.e. dancing lights but dark), with 20 ft radius, 4 points which need to be within 10 ft of one another. Not an alchemist spell though.
However, as a level 1 spell from the classes that get it, the UMD check on it would be pretty low. Some wand feat investment to use your CL instead if base so it lasts level×minutes could be an option.
There's also other magic items that do similar. I remember some specific shadow cloak that made the light around you Dim (more manageable).
You could always ask to research a new metamagic feat? Similar to Selective Spell and Widen Spell. Still increases the effective spell level but does the opposite of Widen Spell. Could call it Narrow Spell or Pinpoint Spell or something.
I honestly don't really know why you can't just shrink a spell area of your own accord though. Especially Light or Darkness spells. In the case of Light, what if you want to dim the light to avoid detection but not too much that you're left in the dark? Gas lamps can be turned up and down, why can't magic?
Do alchemists have something akin to spell research and could you create a new formula? I empathise with your situation as I had a similar problem playing an ifrit with Firesight and an Eversmoking bottle. Our storm druid has a similar issue with fog effects but since she's a ranged spellcaster she can stand away from the party and surround herself with fog.
A similar effect can be accomplished with Smoke Bomb and either a Goz Mask or Fogcutting Lenses.
There is a Darkness Bomb, but from the writeup it only seems to suppress light sources on the target, rather than actually generating darkness, so it'd only really be useful if you're already in a dark place and you want to ambush someone with a light source.