low light vision [Archive] - Wizards Community

low light vision [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Fineous
04-01-07, 02:06 PM How far can a chatacter with low light vision see on a starlit, moonless night?
tos_shai_hulud
04-01-07, 08:37 PM That depends. If it is earth-like with a lot of stars that could provide light, perhaps one would rule that would provide half the lumens of a moonlit sky, so 15 ft. for a human and 30 ft. for a creature with low-light vision. It is really up to you to set the base distance a creature could see. Whatever that base distance is, double it for someone with low-light vision.
Marcus Majarra
04-02-07, 05:11 PM It can see twice as far as a character without low-light vision can. If it were a moonlit night, it could see as well as it could in broad daylight.
Fineous
04-02-07, 07:46 PM I thought I saw in one of the core books an exact distance that a low light vision character could see on a starlit, moonless night. Judging from the answers I've received, I guess not. Does it seem reasonable then that starlight only has the same illumination as a candle? I am running a campaign that is predominantly outdoors and the characters are about to engage in a massive fight on a clear moonless night. The party and antagonists are a mix of low light, normal, and darkvision. Having a hard time figuring out how far they can see by using only starlight.
jaspercrey
04-03-07, 12:06 AM I thought I saw in one of the core books an exact distance that a low light vision character could see on a starlit, moonless night. Judging from the answers I've received, I guess not. Does it seem reasonable then that starlight only has the same illumination as a candle? I am running a campaign that is predominantly outdoors and the characters are about to engage in a massive fight on a clear moonless night. The party and antagonists are a mix of low light, normal, and darkvision. Having a hard time figuring out how far they can see by using only starlight.

3.0 used SPOT modifiers, +5 for moonlight and +10 for starlight, which creatures with low-light vision ignored (If I remember correctely).

3.5 introduced shadowly illumination (but forget to update the glossary definitions of low-light vision to match the new mechanics).

Techinically, the glossary definiton states that a creature with low-light vision can see in areas of dim illumination as if it were bright as daylight. I cannot seem to find where the 3.5 ruleset makes any distinction between starlight and moonlight, so essentially they are both "shadowy illumination" in terms of game mechanics.

Furthermore, in situations where the prevailing condition is starlight or moonlight (and not total darkness, as it may be in a dungeon), I believe the only limitation on spot distance for a creature without low-light vision are the environment itself and any physical barriers or obstructions that might block the line of sight.

So to answer your question, I would follow the maximum spot distance listed in the DM guide for the given terrain (see Wilderness Adventures. pg. 86) as a starting point.

Once that is determined, a human could see just as far as a elf. The only difference in this situation is that the elf ingores the penalties assooiated with shadowy illumination (20% concealment miss chance).

Hope this helps.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Fineous 04-01-07, 02:06 PM	How far can a chatacter with low light vision see on a starlit, moonless night?
tos_shai_hulud 04-01-07, 08:37 PM	That depends. If it is earth-like with a lot of stars that could provide light, perhaps one would rule that would provide half the lumens of a moonlit sky, so 15 ft. for a human and 30 ft. for a creature with low-light vision. It is really up to you to set the base distance a creature could see. Whatever that base distance is, double it for someone with low-light vision.
Marcus Majarra 04-02-07, 05:11 PM	It can see twice as far as a character without low-light vision can. If it were a moonlit night, it could see as well as it could in broad daylight.
Fineous 04-02-07, 07:46 PM	I thought I saw in one of the core books an exact distance that a low light vision character could see on a starlit, moonless night. Judging from the answers I've received, I guess not. Does it seem reasonable then that starlight only has the same illumination as a candle? I am running a campaign that is predominantly outdoors and the characters are about to engage in a massive fight on a clear moonless night. The party and antagonists are a mix of low light, normal, and darkvision. Having a hard time figuring out how far they can see by using only starlight.
jaspercrey 04-03-07, 12:06 AM	I thought I saw in one of the core books an exact distance that a low light vision character could see on a starlit, moonless night. Judging from the answers I've received, I guess not. Does it seem reasonable then that starlight only has the same illumination as a candle? I am running a campaign that is predominantly outdoors and the characters are about to engage in a massive fight on a clear moonless night. The party and antagonists are a mix of low light, normal, and darkvision. Having a hard time figuring out how far they can see by using only starlight. 3.0 used SPOT modifiers, +5 for moonlight and +10 for starlight, which creatures with low-light vision ignored (If I remember correctely). 3.5 introduced shadowly illumination (but forget to update the glossary definitions of low-light vision to match the new mechanics). Techinically, the glossary definiton states that a creature with low-light vision can see in areas of dim illumination as if it were bright as daylight. I cannot seem to find where the 3.5 ruleset makes any distinction between starlight and moonlight, so essentially they are both "shadowy illumination" in terms of game mechanics. Furthermore, in situations where the prevailing condition is starlight or moonlight (and not total darkness, as it may be in a dungeon), I believe the only limitation on spot distance for a creature without low-light vision are the environment itself and any physical barriers or obstructions that might block the line of sight. So to answer your question, I would follow the maximum spot distance listed in the DM guide for the given terrain (see Wilderness Adventures. pg. 86) as a starting point. Once that is determined, a human could see just as far as a elf. The only difference in this situation is that the elf ingores the penalties assooiated with shadowy illumination (20% concealment miss chance). Hope this helps.