Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Xauluss Aug 21, 2014 14:29:44	Hi!!   My GM and I are arguing over a rule in 5th edition.  Dark Elf can cast Darkness once per day at level 5.  Darkness spell description states that darkvision cannot see in the spell Darkness.  Drow, however, have superior darkvision.  Would this allow them to see there?   Thanks!
#2 Sea-Envy Aug 21, 2014 15:13:29	What do the rules for the "Superior Darkvision" say?
#3 Kalani Aug 21, 2014 16:01:13	Xauluss wrote:
#4 Jvance420 Aug 21, 2014 16:32:58	Had the same issue in 4E. It seems no one who develops these things can be bothered to simply state it. Especially 4E. It was a burst off you....so my power is I can blind myself? Awesome!
#5 Kalani Aug 21, 2014 16:39:30	I would however, have no problem with a houserule stating that a Drow is unaffected by their own racial darkness ability, or the racial darkness ability of another drow.    They would still be affected by an enemy spellcasters darkness spell however, as well as their own use of the darkness spell (assuming they are a spellcaster) - but would be unaffected by their racial ability.    With that being said, I believe the intent is for them to cast this in order to blind other subterranean foes, including rival drow.
#6 Timborama Aug 21, 2014 20:23:43	It's been a common houserule with groups I play(ed) with since 3.x to have the caster always be unaffected by his or her own Darkness spell. Especially the Drow racial one in 4E (since it specifically states it). I'd still say that Drow can use Darkness on other Drow, though...
(Reply to #6) Jvance420	Timborama wrote:
#8 Kentus Aug 22, 2014 0:29:04	It's a very old thing and of course no mistake. If we look into the literature, Drizzt used once his Darkness spell because his ranger mentor Montolio Debrouchee asked him to. The blind Montolio went with Drizzt into the Darkness and used the fact that even Drizzt can't see in it to fight him on even terms.   And looking at the fact, that in most settings Drow fights against each others more often than the overworldlers, it's not that strange to have it this way and Lolth (since 5e will start in the Forgotten Realms) is more than capable of to give her elves a flawed power.
(Reply to #7) Hailrobonia	Jvance420 wrote:
#10 Xauluss Aug 22, 2014 7:07:18	So taking all of these comments into consideration, it makes sense for a Drow to cast their Darkness while outside, in the sunlight, in order to not have disadvantage during attacks.  For example, I would think that it is perfectly within the rules to be outside, in the sun, and cast Darkness over the heads of their target....which would block the direct sunlight?   Does that make sense?  Since Drow are at a disadvantage if their target is in direct sunlight, just put darkness OVER the intended area of the fight and block it out.  It would be shady/dim underneath.
#11 Kalani Aug 22, 2014 9:12:45	Xauluss wrote:
#12 reddaemon Aug 22, 2014 9:26:09	Drow Darkness and Darkness in general becomes a non issue as soon as your Wizard or Cleric reaches level 5 and can cast a Level 3 Continual Flame.  Darkness only dispels light spells level 2 and lower.
#13 jaelis Aug 22, 2014 9:28:46	reddaemon wrote:
#14 reddaemon Aug 22, 2014 9:33:10	jaelis wrote:
(Reply to #10) Hailrobonia	Xauluss wrote:
#16 Kalani Aug 22, 2014 11:35:22	Luke-Lightning wrote:
(Reply to #16) Hailrobonia	Kalani wrote:
#18 Kalani Aug 22, 2014 11:46:49	Luke-Lightning wrote:
(Reply to #18) Hailrobonia	Kalani wrote:
#20 Kalani Aug 22, 2014 12:56:11	By laws of physics I would agree with you..... Your logic is sound.   However, magic does not follow the laws of physics, or more accurately - follows the laws of magical physics. As such, you can have a completely opaque magical effect which casts no shadows, or which teleports light from one side of its event horizon to the other (as if the space between was nonexistant).   Both of these are logically sound once you factor in magic into the equation. Choose whichever method you feel makes the most logical sense to you, or come up with a rationale of your own. The sphere is opaque, and by RAW does not cast shadows (as it does not indicate as such). You are free to houserule it casts shadows if you desire, but know that that is adding effects to the spell description beyond what is actually contained therein.   Yes it is illogical by our PoV.... I expect it is perfectly logical in-world however. As the adage goes:   A Wizard did it. That is all the justification you need for the seeming inconsistancy with the laws of physics. Anything beyond that is left to your imagination.   Wizards break the laws of physics every day, before breakfast. The laws of thermal dynamics for example are broken repeatedly each time they cast a cantrip, or a fireball.
(Reply to #3) dtanski	Kalani wrote:
#22 CahPahkah Nov 14, 2014 10:19:45	Hailrobonia wrote:
(Reply to #22) Bloodscythe	CahPahkah wrote:
#24 DeadlyTowers-0 Aug 12, 2015 0:14:23	Cast darkness on the friendly adventurers and send the Grimlocks in to do clean up. Let the slaves do the work.
#25 Noctaem Aug 12, 2015 4:06:47	Try not to necro a 9 month ~ thread for no reason please :p
#26 Quad_Hund Aug 12, 2015 11:11:18	Superior darkvision does not allow a drow to see in an area of darkness created by the darkness spell.     At first I was going to suggest that this is not a problem for drow because, if they at least work in pairs, one casts faerie fire and the other casts darkness (old salvatore description of drow fighting style).  Then they would have advantage+disadvantage while their opponents would just have disadvantage while both were in a heavily obscured magical darkness.     However, upon closer reading: "If any of this spell's area overlaps with an area of light created by a spell of 2nd level or lower, the spell that created the light is dispelled" pg. 230 of phb.  This means that faerie fire, continual flame, dancing lights, flame blade, flaming sphere, guiding bolt, possibly minor illusion, moonbeam, produce flame, and light are all dispelled by darkness.     So the alternative, is use darkness to eliminate low level magical lights, use druidcraft or prestidigitation to snuff out normal lights, and then you're opponents are either blinded (if you are in a heavily obscured dark area) or have the same status as you (if they have darkvision).     Now a magical item that gives off magical light may illuminate magical darkness ... huh...
#27 Glimjack Aug 13, 2015 5:30:17	Darkness is just a good a spell for drow as it is for anyone else.