Is this “Superior Darkvision” spell balanced?
The spell would read as follows:
Superior Darkvision
2nd-level transmutation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: 1 hour
You touch a willing creature to grant it the ability to see in the dark. For the duration, that creature can see as if the area was brightly lit out to a range of 30 feet, treating areas beyond that as usual
The reason I want this spell is that, as discussed in the link below, most base races have darkvision, which makes the typical darkvision spell not as useful. The idea with this spell is that it would replace the normal darkvision spell.
What can or should be changed to make this a balanced spell? (Changing spell level, changing duration, adding concentration, etc.)
Ideally I'd want to keep the spell level as is.
See also: This answer to "What would happen if I removed darkvision?"
dnd-5e spells homebrew balance vision-and-light
edited 4 hours ago
V2Blast
19.7k356121
asked 4 hours ago
L0neGamer
1,206317
add a comment |
The spell would read as follows:
Superior Darkvision
2nd-level transmutation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: 1 hour
You touch a willing creature to grant it the ability to see in the dark. For the duration, that creature can see as if the area was brightly lit out to a range of 30 feet, treating areas beyond that as usual
The reason I want this spell is that, as discussed in the link below, most base races have darkvision, which makes the typical darkvision spell not as useful. The idea with this spell is that it would replace the normal darkvision spell.
What can or should be changed to make this a balanced spell? (Changing spell level, changing duration, adding concentration, etc.)
Ideally I'd want to keep the spell level as is.
See also: This answer to "What would happen if I removed darkvision?"
dnd-5e spells homebrew balance vision-and-light
edited 4 hours ago
V2Blast
19.7k356121
asked 4 hours ago
L0neGamer
1,206317
add a comment |
The spell would read as follows:
Superior Darkvision
2nd-level transmutation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: 1 hour
You touch a willing creature to grant it the ability to see in the dark. For the duration, that creature can see as if the area was brightly lit out to a range of 30 feet, treating areas beyond that as usual
The reason I want this spell is that, as discussed in the link below, most base races have darkvision, which makes the typical darkvision spell not as useful. The idea with this spell is that it would replace the normal darkvision spell.
What can or should be changed to make this a balanced spell? (Changing spell level, changing duration, adding concentration, etc.)
Ideally I'd want to keep the spell level as is.
See also: This answer to "What would happen if I removed darkvision?"
dnd-5e spells homebrew balance vision-and-light
edited 4 hours ago
V2Blast
19.7k356121
asked 4 hours ago
L0neGamer
1,206317
The spell would read as follows:
Superior Darkvision
2nd-level transmutation
Casting Time: 1 action
Range: Touch
Components: V, S
Duration: 1 hour
You touch a willing creature to grant it the ability to see in the dark. For the duration, that creature can see as if the area was brightly lit out to a range of 30 feet, treating areas beyond that as usual
The reason I want this spell is that, as discussed in the link below, most base races have darkvision, which makes the typical darkvision spell not as useful. The idea with this spell is that it would replace the normal darkvision spell.
What can or should be changed to make this a balanced spell? (Changing spell level, changing duration, adding concentration, etc.)
Ideally I'd want to keep the spell level as is.
See also: This answer to "What would happen if I removed darkvision?"
dnd-5e spells homebrew balance vision-and-light
dnd-5e spells homebrew balance vision-and-light
edited 4 hours ago
V2Blast
19.7k356121
asked 4 hours ago
L0neGamer
1,206317
edited 4 hours ago
V2Blast
19.7k356121
asked 4 hours ago
L0neGamer
1,206317
edited 4 hours ago
V2Blast
19.7k356121
edited 4 hours ago
V2Blast
19.7k356121
edited 4 hours ago
V2Blast
19.7k356121
19.7k356121
asked 4 hours ago
L0neGamer
1,206317
asked 4 hours ago
L0neGamer
1,206317
asked 4 hours ago
L0neGamer
1,206317
1,206317
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
This spell should probably be 3rd level, not 2nd level
The issue right now is that as-written, this spell is strictly better than the Darkvision spell in every respect except for its range and duration, which is not consequential enough to keep the spell as a 2nd level spell.
It's not quite as powerful as a 6th level spell, though, like Truesight, which has a longer range and detects lots of other things than just allowing vision in darkness. So that puts a firm upper bound on the power level this spell should target.
Pros:
- Allows normal Perception checks in pure Darkness
- Has no Material Component (can be cast without a focus)
Cons:
- Lower Range (normal Darkvision has a range of 60', this has 30')
- Shorter Duration (normal Darkvision has a duration of 8 hours, this lasts 1 hour)
The heightened perception check range is very significant though. Normally, when detecting a hidden creature or object, having disadvantage on Perception would confer a flat -5 penalty to their passive checks, meaning a whole lot of hidden creatures, traps, etc. would be suddenly easy to spot with this spell. Normally, to gain that kind of perception, you'd need to use the regular Darkvision spell and use a torch or some other kind of light effect to at least bring the light level up to Dim. This spell negates the need for any secondary light source, which makes it superior.
answered 4 hours ago
Xirema
16k24697
how exactly normal darkvision doesn't allow for perception check ?
– Franck
3 hours ago
@Franck It doesn't disallow normal perception checks, but even with Darkvision, pure darkness is still treated as Dim light, i.e. Disadvantage on Perception checks. The spell the OP is proposing doesn't have that issue.
– Xirema
3 hours ago
I completely overlooked that detail in the original spell. I always assumed it was only for 60' and up that the disadvantage applied to.
– Franck
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ifUsing("editor", function () {
return StackExchange.using("mathjaxEditing", function () {
StackExchange.MarkdownEditor.creationCallbacks.add(function (editor, postfix) {
StackExchange.mathjaxEditing.prepareWmdForMathJax(editor, postfix, [["\$", "\$"]]);
});
});
}, "mathjax-editing");
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "122"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f138395%2fis-this-superior-darkvision-spell-balanced%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
This spell should probably be 3rd level, not 2nd level
The issue right now is that as-written, this spell is strictly better than the Darkvision spell in every respect except for its range and duration, which is not consequential enough to keep the spell as a 2nd level spell.
It's not quite as powerful as a 6th level spell, though, like Truesight, which has a longer range and detects lots of other things than just allowing vision in darkness. So that puts a firm upper bound on the power level this spell should target.
Pros:
- Allows normal Perception checks in pure Darkness
- Has no Material Component (can be cast without a focus)
Cons:
- Lower Range (normal Darkvision has a range of 60', this has 30')
- Shorter Duration (normal Darkvision has a duration of 8 hours, this lasts 1 hour)
The heightened perception check range is very significant though. Normally, when detecting a hidden creature or object, having disadvantage on Perception would confer a flat -5 penalty to their passive checks, meaning a whole lot of hidden creatures, traps, etc. would be suddenly easy to spot with this spell. Normally, to gain that kind of perception, you'd need to use the regular Darkvision spell and use a torch or some other kind of light effect to at least bring the light level up to Dim. This spell negates the need for any secondary light source, which makes it superior.
answered 4 hours ago
Xirema
16k24697
how exactly normal darkvision doesn't allow for perception check ?
– Franck
3 hours ago
@Franck It doesn't disallow normal perception checks, but even with Darkvision, pure darkness is still treated as Dim light, i.e. Disadvantage on Perception checks. The spell the OP is proposing doesn't have that issue.
– Xirema
3 hours ago
I completely overlooked that detail in the original spell. I always assumed it was only for 60' and up that the disadvantage applied to.
– Franck
3 hours ago
add a comment |
This spell should probably be 3rd level, not 2nd level
The issue right now is that as-written, this spell is strictly better than the Darkvision spell in every respect except for its range and duration, which is not consequential enough to keep the spell as a 2nd level spell.
It's not quite as powerful as a 6th level spell, though, like Truesight, which has a longer range and detects lots of other things than just allowing vision in darkness. So that puts a firm upper bound on the power level this spell should target.
Pros:
- Allows normal Perception checks in pure Darkness
- Has no Material Component (can be cast without a focus)
Cons:
- Lower Range (normal Darkvision has a range of 60', this has 30')
- Shorter Duration (normal Darkvision has a duration of 8 hours, this lasts 1 hour)
The heightened perception check range is very significant though. Normally, when detecting a hidden creature or object, having disadvantage on Perception would confer a flat -5 penalty to their passive checks, meaning a whole lot of hidden creatures, traps, etc. would be suddenly easy to spot with this spell. Normally, to gain that kind of perception, you'd need to use the regular Darkvision spell and use a torch or some other kind of light effect to at least bring the light level up to Dim. This spell negates the need for any secondary light source, which makes it superior.
answered 4 hours ago
Xirema
16k24697
how exactly normal darkvision doesn't allow for perception check ?
– Franck
3 hours ago
@Franck It doesn't disallow normal perception checks, but even with Darkvision, pure darkness is still treated as Dim light, i.e. Disadvantage on Perception checks. The spell the OP is proposing doesn't have that issue.
– Xirema
3 hours ago
I completely overlooked that detail in the original spell. I always assumed it was only for 60' and up that the disadvantage applied to.
– Franck
3 hours ago
add a comment |
This spell should probably be 3rd level, not 2nd level
The issue right now is that as-written, this spell is strictly better than the Darkvision spell in every respect except for its range and duration, which is not consequential enough to keep the spell as a 2nd level spell.
It's not quite as powerful as a 6th level spell, though, like Truesight, which has a longer range and detects lots of other things than just allowing vision in darkness. So that puts a firm upper bound on the power level this spell should target.
Pros:
- Allows normal Perception checks in pure Darkness
- Has no Material Component (can be cast without a focus)
Cons:
- Lower Range (normal Darkvision has a range of 60', this has 30')
- Shorter Duration (normal Darkvision has a duration of 8 hours, this lasts 1 hour)
The heightened perception check range is very significant though. Normally, when detecting a hidden creature or object, having disadvantage on Perception would confer a flat -5 penalty to their passive checks, meaning a whole lot of hidden creatures, traps, etc. would be suddenly easy to spot with this spell. Normally, to gain that kind of perception, you'd need to use the regular Darkvision spell and use a torch or some other kind of light effect to at least bring the light level up to Dim. This spell negates the need for any secondary light source, which makes it superior.
answered 4 hours ago
Xirema
16k24697
This spell should probably be 3rd level, not 2nd level
The issue right now is that as-written, this spell is strictly better than the Darkvision spell in every respect except for its range and duration, which is not consequential enough to keep the spell as a 2nd level spell.
It's not quite as powerful as a 6th level spell, though, like Truesight, which has a longer range and detects lots of other things than just allowing vision in darkness. So that puts a firm upper bound on the power level this spell should target.
Pros:
- Allows normal Perception checks in pure Darkness
- Has no Material Component (can be cast without a focus)
Cons:
- Lower Range (normal Darkvision has a range of 60', this has 30')
- Shorter Duration (normal Darkvision has a duration of 8 hours, this lasts 1 hour)
The heightened perception check range is very significant though. Normally, when detecting a hidden creature or object, having disadvantage on Perception would confer a flat -5 penalty to their passive checks, meaning a whole lot of hidden creatures, traps, etc. would be suddenly easy to spot with this spell. Normally, to gain that kind of perception, you'd need to use the regular Darkvision spell and use a torch or some other kind of light effect to at least bring the light level up to Dim. This spell negates the need for any secondary light source, which makes it superior.
answered 4 hours ago
Xirema
16k24697
answered 4 hours ago
Xirema
16k24697
answered 4 hours ago
Xirema
16k24697
answered 4 hours ago
Xirema
16k24697
16k24697
how exactly normal darkvision doesn't allow for perception check ?
– Franck
3 hours ago
@Franck It doesn't disallow normal perception checks, but even with Darkvision, pure darkness is still treated as Dim light, i.e. Disadvantage on Perception checks. The spell the OP is proposing doesn't have that issue.
– Xirema
3 hours ago
I completely overlooked that detail in the original spell. I always assumed it was only for 60' and up that the disadvantage applied to.
– Franck
3 hours ago
add a comment |
how exactly normal darkvision doesn't allow for perception check ?
– Franck
3 hours ago
@Franck It doesn't disallow normal perception checks, but even with Darkvision, pure darkness is still treated as Dim light, i.e. Disadvantage on Perception checks. The spell the OP is proposing doesn't have that issue.
– Xirema
3 hours ago
I completely overlooked that detail in the original spell. I always assumed it was only for 60' and up that the disadvantage applied to.
– Franck
3 hours ago
how exactly normal darkvision doesn't allow for perception check ?
– Franck
3 hours ago
how exactly normal darkvision doesn't allow for perception check ?
– Franck
3 hours ago
@Franck It doesn't disallow normal perception checks, but even with Darkvision, pure darkness is still treated as Dim light, i.e. Disadvantage on Perception checks. The spell the OP is proposing doesn't have that issue.
– Xirema
3 hours ago
@Franck It doesn't disallow normal perception checks, but even with Darkvision, pure darkness is still treated as Dim light, i.e. Disadvantage on Perception checks. The spell the OP is proposing doesn't have that issue.
– Xirema
3 hours ago
I completely overlooked that detail in the original spell. I always assumed it was only for 60' and up that the disadvantage applied to.
– Franck
3 hours ago
I completely overlooked that detail in the original spell. I always assumed it was only for 60' and up that the disadvantage applied to.
– Franck
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Role-playing Games Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
Use MathJax to format equations. MathJax reference.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2frpg.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f138395%2fis-this-superior-darkvision-spell-balanced%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
