Shade Queries [Archive] - Wizards Community

Shade Queries [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
benosmash
07-01-07, 12:55 AM Shades (from Races of Faerun) are my favorite race/template to play. So I have some questions regarding their abilities.

First, I know the book says that their darkvision sees through any darkness effects. Does this mean that if a person casts a spell that gives anyone attacking them 20% miss chance to hit due to a darkness effect, then the shades aren't affected by that and they can attack normally?

I was also wondering if the Shade's Lessen Light ability mixed with, say Shadow Canopy (same sourcebook) could prevent normal darkvision users from being able to see clearly. I ask this because the text in the book says that for each 25% the light is lowered to a max of 100%, characters get +1 to hide. If this is so, does that mean that it impedes normal Darkvision?

I've also seen stances (Child of Shadow Stance, for example), where from I don't know, that use shadow in their name. I haven't seen the text for these, but how would one go about ruling for that? I understand if they don't use shadows, then the shade has no benefit, but what if they do?

Thanks for your help in advance!
~Beno
Drew1369r
07-01-07, 02:24 AM They can see thru darkness but not illusion magic... even shadow illusion, so the 20% miss chance is still the same UNLESS of course they have true seeing.

If in a darkness affect where everyone is fighting blind THEN the shade can hit just fine.

Shadow canopy IIRC already drops the lights 100% so I would say that they couldn't stack UNLESS someone sends a daylight spell OR light spell under the canopy. And it wouldn't impede darkvision.

I have no idea about your feat question tho.
benosmash
07-01-07, 03:06 AM What does IIRC stand for? I'm new to some of the abbreviations.
Drew1369r
07-01-07, 05:22 PM If I Recall Correctly
Xinthros
07-12-07, 04:07 PM Does anyone know the Level Adjustment of Shades?
benosmash
07-12-07, 04:33 PM The Level Adjustment is +4. If you're using the race as a monster or encounter, I think the CR is 2+ character levels.
Muddman
07-17-07, 04:08 PM I think that The Child of Shadow Stance is from Tome of Battle.

If the user of the stance moves more than 10 feet during a round then he gets 20% concealment as shadows wrap around him.

Would this effect a Shade? Depends who is DMing you. Stance work on everyone, so I'd probably lean towards yes, but I'm not sure about that.

Ya +4 level is tough on anyone, no matter what level game you are playing. Even epic would be hard to give up 4 levels, but the template is wildly powerful especially since ythey can MAKE their own area of darkness.
benosmash
07-17-07, 07:08 PM I'll have to confirm with my DM about the stance, thanks for telling me where it comes from!

I agree that the +4 is tough. Expecially since everyone else has 4 HD more than you. But I fully agree that the +4 is worth it with everything the Shade gets.

Out of personal prefference, I think that a Monk/Thief would be a decent combo for the shade. Assassin would just add to the deadliness of the combo if you were playing an evil character.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
benosmash 07-01-07, 12:55 AM	Shades (from Races of Faerun) are my favorite race/template to play. So I have some questions regarding their abilities. First, I know the book says that their darkvision sees through any darkness effects. Does this mean that if a person casts a spell that gives anyone attacking them 20% miss chance to hit due to a darkness effect, then the shades aren't affected by that and they can attack normally? I was also wondering if the Shade's Lessen Light ability mixed with, say Shadow Canopy (same sourcebook) could prevent normal darkvision users from being able to see clearly. I ask this because the text in the book says that for each 25% the light is lowered to a max of 100%, characters get +1 to hide. If this is so, does that mean that it impedes normal Darkvision? I've also seen stances (Child of Shadow Stance, for example), where from I don't know, that use shadow in their name. I haven't seen the text for these, but how would one go about ruling for that? I understand if they don't use shadows, then the shade has no benefit, but what if they do? Thanks for your help in advance! ~Beno
Drew1369r 07-01-07, 02:24 AM	They can see thru darkness but not illusion magic... even shadow illusion, so the 20% miss chance is still the same UNLESS of course they have true seeing. If in a darkness affect where everyone is fighting blind THEN the shade can hit just fine. Shadow canopy IIRC already drops the lights 100% so I would say that they couldn't stack UNLESS someone sends a daylight spell OR light spell under the canopy. And it wouldn't impede darkvision. I have no idea about your feat question tho.
benosmash 07-01-07, 03:06 AM	What does IIRC stand for? I'm new to some of the abbreviations.
Drew1369r 07-01-07, 05:22 PM	If I Recall Correctly
Xinthros 07-12-07, 04:07 PM	Does anyone know the Level Adjustment of Shades?
benosmash 07-12-07, 04:33 PM	The Level Adjustment is +4. If you're using the race as a monster or encounter, I think the CR is 2+ character levels.
Muddman 07-17-07, 04:08 PM	I think that The Child of Shadow Stance is from Tome of Battle. If the user of the stance moves more than 10 feet during a round then he gets 20% concealment as shadows wrap around him. Would this effect a Shade? Depends who is DMing you. Stance work on everyone, so I'd probably lean towards yes, but I'm not sure about that. Ya +4 level is tough on anyone, no matter what level game you are playing. Even epic would be hard to give up 4 levels, but the template is wildly powerful especially since ythey can MAKE their own area of darkness.
benosmash 07-17-07, 07:08 PM	I'll have to confirm with my DM about the stance, thanks for telling me where it comes from! I agree that the +4 is tough. Expecially since everyone else has 4 HD more than you. But I fully agree that the +4 is worth it with everything the Shade gets. Out of personal prefference, I think that a Monk/Thief would be a decent combo for the shade. Assassin would just add to the deadliness of the combo if you were playing an evil character.