Darkness

Post by **Flailer** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 5:02 pm

Hi there -
A suggestion I may end up regretting: darkness is a bit overpowered for all that can use it. Mages in general using darkness are mostly undefeatable by NPCs: you cast darkness, ultravision, and stand inside of it and cast away at enemies (who ignore you) until they're dead. This is especially effective once you can cast IGMS - you're like a cloaked missleboat that goes unmolested. A drow that I'm leveling now has actually been extremely easy to level using her darkness feat. This might be by design in order to offset the ECL of +3, but I've gone for about 15 levels fighting impossible creatures routinely and have only died a couple of times due to my ultravision running out too soon or being careless.

That's probably not by design.

So, my suggestion that I might regret would be to either have NPCs be able to cast Ultravision (from spells, scrolls, silver frogs) if they detect darkness or be able to disspell darkness a bit more easily. I would hate to lose this easy method of leveling, but it would probably be for the best and might force me to seek out partying more than I usually do.

JesterOI · Post by **JesterOI** » Sun Apr 24, 2005 8:26 pm

Could make the monsters run away out of range...

imom411 · Post by **imom411** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 11:04 am

I know that Ice Walkers, at least, do dispel darkness. Don't know about other mages, but I assume that any of them with dispel will do it (balors and such).

imom411 · Post by **imom411** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 2:12 pm

Some PW's include ultravision in their true-seeing package. See invis + bonus (+20?) to spot + ultravision sounds pretty cool.

Post by **TheBestDeception** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 2:20 pm

Perhaps, but that's not exactly the point he's trying to make ... as it is, very few creatures use those spells in the first place. This makes sense, though, as normal guards probably shouldnt have magic.

Its more of an AI problem. What if the guards charged into the darkness, or simply walked near it to investigate. "Hmm. Wonder why its night on this side of the gate..." Running away is also a possible action, but just doesnt seem right to make the city's best run away because of their confusion.

JesterOI · Post by **JesterOI** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 2:37 pm

Darkness should be useless with Hands Of Light around...
Dispels.

Post by **Flailer** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 4:47 pm

What if the guards charged into the darkness, or simply walked near it to investigate. "Hmm. Wonder why its night on this side of the gate..."

That sounds like a balanced option. Make it so!

Does Light do anything in magical darkness as well? That might be something....

Zhorn · Post by **Zhorn** » Mon Apr 25, 2005 9:08 pm

I like being able to stand in a room FULL of monsters and leisurely nuke them down while they just stand there and take it.