Are various visions always on? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are various visions always on? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Unluckylukey
08-19-07, 10:12 AM help from the wise please,

If a PC or NPC has see invisible or dark vision etc. is it always on or do they have to state that they are using it? I think the latter?
Ryzak
08-19-07, 10:20 AM always on. it's as much a part of their nature as is non-low light vision is for humans
VulcanStormwrath
08-19-07, 10:26 AM Which btw can make for an interesting state of mind in magic and supernatural heavy areas. Someone who's always staring at thuings others can't see can lead to some interesting character interaction, and great roleplaying potential.
Unluckylukey
08-19-07, 12:31 PM So therefore under the above logic a thief can not hid in shadows around someone who has dark vision and an invisible person will always be seen by a psuedo dragon?

I think it should be like night vision goggles or a spell like ability that you choose to use it or not.
Incendius
08-19-07, 12:41 PM If you think thats how it should be in your game then, of course its your game.

However, thats not how it is in core D&D; if you want to implement this expect a lot of complaining and everyone stating "I turn on my vision for this turn" Every single round.
Sildatorak
08-19-07, 02:34 PM Why wouldn't people want their darkvision on 24/7? I can see the reasoning with rarely wanting see invisibility off (if someone is hiding behind an invisible creature or something), but I can't think of a reason to not want to see in darkness.
The_Gimp
08-19-07, 03:38 PM For me, Darkvision is always on, it's biologically part of your eye, same as Cats and Dogs seing better in darkness, you get more photo sensitive cells, that's it, you can't turn this on/off with the flick of a thought.

Infravision, that's another matter, it's not darkvision but it's being sensitive to the infrared spectrum, some animals see in this spectrum (snakes), normally you wouldn't be able to switch between the normal light spectrum and the infrared spectrum, but DnD being a fantasy setting with magic and every unusual creature imaginable, I say it can be switch on and off and Dark Elves in R.A. Salvatore's Books are able to do so, maybe they have films covering their eyeballs like some animals do when going underwater, I dunno.

Anyways, like someone said earlier, it's your Game, YOU get to decide.
Sildatorak
08-19-07, 03:46 PM In 2e infravision was like human night vision. As you spend a little bit of time in darkness, your eyes start to adjust.
NorEtoc
08-19-07, 04:11 PM Actually Darkvision is always on, but you are not always looking using darkvision. Darkvision you see only in black and white. You have to sind of shift to it. (Free action). Low light vision is different, always being there. If you are in darkness, than darkvision is what you would be using since normal vision is not available, but if it is day time and sunny, I cant imagine you would be walking around seeing all in black and white.

As for see invis, depends on how you have it. If it is natural, then it is always on. If it is from a spell, then only while the spell is active.
Sildatorak
08-19-07, 04:16 PM if it is day time and sunny, I cant imagine you would be walking around seeing all in black and white
I don't think you would be seeing all in black and white. If there is sufficient light to see using normal vision, that area would be color. If there is insufficient light, then it goes b/w.

Imagine you are standing 20' outside the mouth of a cave on a bright and sunny day. Everything outside the cave is lit well enough to see, so you get color for that. The interior of the cave is too dark, though, so for 40' into it (the limit of your darkvision) you can see if there is anything there, but those things will show up in b/w.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Unluckylukey 08-19-07, 10:12 AM	help from the wise please, If a PC or NPC has see invisible or dark vision etc. is it always on or do they have to state that they are using it? I think the latter?
Ryzak 08-19-07, 10:20 AM	always on. it's as much a part of their nature as is non-low light vision is for humans
VulcanStormwrath 08-19-07, 10:26 AM	Which btw can make for an interesting state of mind in magic and supernatural heavy areas. Someone who's always staring at thuings others can't see can lead to some interesting character interaction, and great roleplaying potential.
Unluckylukey 08-19-07, 12:31 PM	So therefore under the above logic a thief can not hid in shadows around someone who has dark vision and an invisible person will always be seen by a psuedo dragon? I think it should be like night vision goggles or a spell like ability that you choose to use it or not.
Incendius 08-19-07, 12:41 PM	If you think thats how it should be in your game then, of course its your game. However, thats not how it is in core D&D; if you want to implement this expect a lot of complaining and everyone stating "I turn on my vision for this turn" Every single round.
Sildatorak 08-19-07, 02:34 PM	Why wouldn't people want their darkvision on 24/7? I can see the reasoning with rarely wanting see invisibility off (if someone is hiding behind an invisible creature or something), but I can't think of a reason to not want to see in darkness.
The_Gimp 08-19-07, 03:38 PM	For me, Darkvision is always on, it's biologically part of your eye, same as Cats and Dogs seing better in darkness, you get more photo sensitive cells, that's it, you can't turn this on/off with the flick of a thought. Infravision, that's another matter, it's not darkvision but it's being sensitive to the infrared spectrum, some animals see in this spectrum (snakes), normally you wouldn't be able to switch between the normal light spectrum and the infrared spectrum, but DnD being a fantasy setting with magic and every unusual creature imaginable, I say it can be switch on and off and Dark Elves in R.A. Salvatore's Books are able to do so, maybe they have films covering their eyeballs like some animals do when going underwater, I dunno. Anyways, like someone said earlier, it's your Game, YOU get to decide.
Sildatorak 08-19-07, 03:46 PM	In 2e infravision was like human night vision. As you spend a little bit of time in darkness, your eyes start to adjust.
NorEtoc 08-19-07, 04:11 PM	Actually Darkvision is always on, but you are not always looking using darkvision. Darkvision you see only in black and white. You have to sind of shift to it. (Free action). Low light vision is different, always being there. If you are in darkness, than darkvision is what you would be using since normal vision is not available, but if it is day time and sunny, I cant imagine you would be walking around seeing all in black and white. As for see invis, depends on how you have it. If it is natural, then it is always on. If it is from a spell, then only while the spell is active.
Sildatorak 08-19-07, 04:16 PM	if it is day time and sunny, I cant imagine you would be walking around seeing all in black and white I don't think you would be seeing all in black and white. If there is sufficient light to see using normal vision, that area would be color. If there is insufficient light, then it goes b/w. Imagine you are standing 20' outside the mouth of a cave on a bright and sunny day. Everything outside the cave is lit well enough to see, so you get color for that. The interior of the cave is too dark, though, so for 40' into it (the limit of your darkvision) you can see if there is anything there, but those things will show up in b/w.