Vision Rules [Archive] - Wizards Community

Vision Rules [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
helroy
04-02-07, 03:42 PM Hi all

Can anyone help me with a question on the rules over vision. What is the normal range of vision of a character in feet?
Vegepygmy
04-02-07, 03:53 PM I can see the moon and stars with my naked eyes.

What are you really trying to ask?
jaelis
04-02-07, 04:40 PM As a guess, what you want is the spot penalty for distance, which is -1 per 10 feet. So if something is so obvious that you could just possibly miss it when it is close to you (DC 1), you would have a 50% chance to notice it at 100 ft, and you aren't going to notice it at 200 ft.
BW0222
04-02-07, 04:46 PM jaelis,

As a guess, what you want is the spot penalty for distance, which is -1 per 10 feet. So if something is so obvious that you could just possibly miss it when it is close to you (DC 1), you would have a 50% chance to notice it at 100 ft, and you aren't going to notice it at 200 ft.

Actually, the -1/10' rule is specifically for when spot checks are used to determine encounter distance. i.e. Two groups are closing, at what distance will they first notice each other?

A football stadium is thousands of feet across. You can still see the players on the field if you know where to look.
jaelis
04-02-07, 04:57 PM I know what you're getting at, and agree that you shouldn't apply that rule blindly. But I do believe it also applies to Spot vs Hide checks as well, so that's the two main uses for spot.

But your point is that if an object is in plain sight and you know to look for it, you don't need a spot check, and I agree. Spot checks are needed to notice something, not to make out something you know is there. So like Vegepygmy asked, it depends what the OP really is asking... like I said, I was just guessing.
Cartigan
04-02-07, 05:03 PM Actually, the -1/10' rule is specifically for when spot checks are used to determine encounter distance. i.e. Two groups are closing, at what distance will they first notice each other?
Did I ever mention that I hate math word problems?

Doesn't each race list its normal range and limitation of vision?
Vegepygmy
04-02-07, 06:42 PM Doesn't each race list its normal range and limitation of vision?Not that I'm aware of, unless you mean for darkvision.
Cartigan
04-02-07, 07:00 PM Well, how about 200feet in good light. That should be more than enough I'd think.
SALDAR
04-02-07, 08:26 PM You can see for miles under the right conditions but what you notice is based upon a spot check. For instance, you could see the forest on the opposite side of a mile wide canyon. But in order to see an orc sitting under a tree in that forest you would need a spot check and at 1 mile you would have a -527 to the check. The distance at which you can make a spot check is in a section calles Stealth and Detection under the various terrain types in the DMG (pgs 87-93). In a dungeon it is dependant upon how far your light sources allow you to see or other types of visual or sensory detection (low light vision, darkvision, blindsight, blindsense, tremorsense). The Underdark book for Forgotten Realms has some further rules for visual detection underground, such as how far away you can see a light source (but not necessarily what is using that light source), which may be of some use during the night above ground.
helroy
04-05-07, 02:06 PM Hi guys

Thanks for the great input, I appreciate the input (except maybe Vegypygmy)

Saldar - thank you your comment
" The distance at which you can make a spot check is in a section calles Stealth and Detection under the various terrain types in the DMG (pgs 87-93)"

was exactly what I needed.!!!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
helroy 04-02-07, 03:42 PM	Hi all Can anyone help me with a question on the rules over vision. What is the normal range of vision of a character in feet?
Vegepygmy 04-02-07, 03:53 PM	I can see the moon and stars with my naked eyes. What are you really trying to ask?
jaelis 04-02-07, 04:40 PM	As a guess, what you want is the spot penalty for distance, which is -1 per 10 feet. So if something is so obvious that you could just possibly miss it when it is close to you (DC 1), you would have a 50% chance to notice it at 100 ft, and you aren't going to notice it at 200 ft.
BW0222 04-02-07, 04:46 PM	jaelis, As a guess, what you want is the spot penalty for distance, which is -1 per 10 feet. So if something is so obvious that you could just possibly miss it when it is close to you (DC 1), you would have a 50% chance to notice it at 100 ft, and you aren't going to notice it at 200 ft. Actually, the -1/10' rule is specifically for when spot checks are used to determine encounter distance. i.e. Two groups are closing, at what distance will they first notice each other? A football stadium is thousands of feet across. You can still see the players on the field if you know where to look.
jaelis 04-02-07, 04:57 PM	I know what you're getting at, and agree that you shouldn't apply that rule blindly. But I do believe it also applies to Spot vs Hide checks as well, so that's the two main uses for spot. But your point is that if an object is in plain sight and you know to look for it, you don't need a spot check, and I agree. Spot checks are needed to notice something, not to make out something you know is there. So like Vegepygmy asked, it depends what the OP really is asking... like I said, I was just guessing.
Cartigan 04-02-07, 05:03 PM	Actually, the -1/10' rule is specifically for when spot checks are used to determine encounter distance. i.e. Two groups are closing, at what distance will they first notice each other? Did I ever mention that I hate math word problems? Doesn't each race list its normal range and limitation of vision?
Vegepygmy 04-02-07, 06:42 PM	Doesn't each race list its normal range and limitation of vision?Not that I'm aware of, unless you mean for darkvision.
Cartigan 04-02-07, 07:00 PM	Well, how about 200feet in good light. That should be more than enough I'd think.
SALDAR 04-02-07, 08:26 PM	You can see for miles under the right conditions but what you notice is based upon a spot check. For instance, you could see the forest on the opposite side of a mile wide canyon. But in order to see an orc sitting under a tree in that forest you would need a spot check and at 1 mile you would have a -527 to the check. The distance at which you can make a spot check is in a section calles Stealth and Detection under the various terrain types in the DMG (pgs 87-93). In a dungeon it is dependant upon how far your light sources allow you to see or other types of visual or sensory detection (low light vision, darkvision, blindsight, blindsense, tremorsense). The Underdark book for Forgotten Realms has some further rules for visual detection underground, such as how far away you can see a light source (but not necessarily what is using that light source), which may be of some use during the night above ground.
helroy 04-05-07, 02:06 PM	Hi guys Thanks for the great input, I appreciate the input (except maybe Vegypygmy) Saldar - thank you your comment " The distance at which you can make a spot check is in a section calles Stealth and Detection under the various terrain types in the DMG (pgs 87-93)" was exactly what I needed.!!!