I'm running a campaign using Maps in D&D Beyond. So, for example, when the PCs enter a dark area such as a cave or dungeon, I start the map completely covered with the fog of war. And when the PCs move through a dark area I erase the areas that the PCs can see based on their vision. Now here's the problem: there's a variety of vision capabilities with the PCs: PC1 is an elf with Darkvision up to 60 ft; PC2 has Devil's Sight, so can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 120 ft; and the other PCs in the party don't have any special vision capabilities, so they can just see the same distance using torches. So my question is: when the PCs move together in darkness, how would you as DM erase the fog of war? If I erase the fog up to 120 ft to represent what the PC with Devil's Sight can see, everyone else in the party (who doesn't have Devil's Sight) immediately can see the areas that I erase, which isn't accurate. TIA
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Started playing AD&D in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in 2023
I erase as far as anyone can see, but vision is still based on each PC individually so those who can't see that far in darkness, it can't use abilities on a target you can see, and is subject to Unseen Attackers and Targets rules.
Cool, thanks. That’s what I did but didn’t have time to think about it in advance. I wish there was a way in Maps for vision to vary by a PC’s abilities but I don’t think that will be coming for a while.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Started playing AD&D in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in 2023
What you're looking to do can be handled by the service Owlbear.rodeo with the Smoke & Spectre extension. It's free on it's basic tier and works very well. It does of course require using a different website, but something to consider.
I'm running a campaign using Maps in D&D Beyond. So, for example, when the PCs enter a dark area such as a cave or dungeon, I start the map completely covered with the fog of war. And when the PCs move through a dark area I erase the areas that the PCs can see based on their vision. Now here's the problem: there's a variety of vision capabilities with the PCs: PC1 is an elf with Darkvision up to 60 ft; PC2 has Devil's Sight, so can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 120 ft; and the other PCs in the party don't have any special vision capabilities, so they can just see the same distance using torches. So my question is: when the PCs move together in darkness, how would you as DM erase the fog of war? If I erase the fog up to 120 ft to represent what the PC with Devil's Sight can see, everyone else in the party (who doesn't have Devil's Sight) immediately can see the areas that I erase, which isn't accurate. TIA
Started playing AD&D in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in 2023
I erase as far as anyone can see, but vision is still based on each PC individually so those who can't see that far in darkness, it can't use abilities on a target you can see, and is subject to Unseen Attackers and Targets rules.
Cool, thanks. That’s what I did but didn’t have time to think about it in advance. I wish there was a way in Maps for vision to vary by a PC’s abilities but I don’t think that will be coming for a while.
Started playing AD&D in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in 2023
What you're looking to do can be handled by the service Owlbear.rodeo with the Smoke & Spectre extension. It's free on it's basic tier and works very well. It does of course require using a different website, but something to consider.
DM session planning template - My version of maps for 'Lost Mine of Phandelver' - Send your party to The Circus - Other DM Resources - Maps, Tokens, Quests - 'Better' Player Character Injury Tables?
Actor, Writer, Director & Teacher by day - GM/DM in my off hours.
Roll20 also handled it called Dynamic Light
Cool, thanks for the replies. Maybe Maps will have a feature to account for the variation in vision capabilities sooner than expected.
Started playing AD&D in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in 2023