I'm most likely going to tweak my character to be a Dark Elf / Drow
Before we start debating on what does the wording Direct Sunlight means as i'm sure it will come up, i'd figure i'd ask here.
To me direct sunlight is like when i play goalkeeper at a soccer game. Now i play late and the sun is already down but before i used to play at 19h or during the afternoon and of course winning the coin toss and choosing not to have the sun straight in your face was prized. And by the time, it becomes half time, you'd hope that the sun has moved or went down enought not to be of a nuisance. That to me is direct sunlight...having that sun in your peripherical vision in front of you and irritating you. (Or looking at 360 degrees arround your character, it would be like 90 degrees centered on the sun direction)
Another way to put it is when you drive your car at night and another car is crossing you coming from the opposite direction and they have those ultra hid lights where at some point, you cant see anything in front of you...worse if you just got off the swimming pool with hight level of chlorure... ...and of course, you're unaffected if its a car behind you or when its next to you....
It would be base on your peripherical vision because it is affecting your eyes....it is not having the sunlight touching you from the back, left right or top of you....
Am i correct in assuming this
Side question, what if i cast darkness in my line of sight to the sun, would that help me negate this....i'm sure that a big black ball in the air 60 feets from me would look funny, but figured i'd ask ....anf of course moving from my position would imply that my line of sight with the sun may me to reconsider
I'm a gloom stalker, we use hardmode rules which is kind of a pain in the ass due to night vision being greatly affected
Know how the Frightened condition applies "while within line of sight to the source of fear"? Think of The Sun the same way - if it's within line of sight, you get disadvantage on perception & attack rolls.
But wouldnt that be like vampirism...like oh no the sun is touching me, i will burst in a ball of fire (or shine like diamond...for some movies...)..... But in this you get disadvantage.... Why use the wording "direct" and not "in line of sight" cause the way you describe it mean that if the sun is lighting the back of my head, then i am affected....like if my skin had a weakness....while it would or should be my eyes due to the end result; my perception skill weaken and ability to hit a target
So, if an object has an unobstructed path from it to the Sun, it's in direct sunlight. If you're in a cabin or a cave where sunlight is entering in, it's largely from the reflections from the ground and surroundings (which is why it tends to be gentler and less harsh) and therefore is not direct sunlight. If the Sun is behind a cloud (or rather, for DM's sanity, if it's overcast), then that is not direct sunlight either.
That's the basics. Now, how harshly I'd play on it depends on the campaign. The Sunlight Sensitivity is given because the Drow have some seriously powerful boons, multiple spells with free castings aren't to be sniffed at, nevermind Superior Darkvision. This is meant to counterbalance that. Unfortunately, if you are playing pretty much all outside in the day, the Drow are crippled. If you're playing all underground or in overcast conditions then they end up being overpowered with no downsides. If it's the former, then I'd have them play in a conveniently overcast time of year. The Sun would come, but it won't be sunny every day. If it's the latter, then I might have torches count or something so that there's some drawback.
Regardless, you don't want to nerf Sunlight Sensitivity too much or too easy to avoid. It's there to help balance the character with the others in the party.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Thank you to the both of you and for the detailed explaination Linklite.
Yeah so far, it is a new campaign and it is pretty much just outdoor but i'll have the DM look at your answer to properly understand what is to be. We picked our characters from a previous campaign and did one fight thus far. We are lvl9 but i'm allowed to switch a few things to put my character to my liking for this new campaign. We play some hard mode rules which implies that we can't see in total darkness regardless of dark vision or eldritch eye...although it is transfered to dim light distance....so not much for that bonus.... Although the Drow spells are nice.
By the way, what if i cast darkness above me...would that consequently cancel out that direct sunlight?
If i succesfully cast that Faerie Spell to grant myself advantage on a target, would that consequently negate the disadvantage ?
Direct sunlight means that no obstruction prevent the sunrays from fully getting to you. Clouds or or material like roof or cloth, like Jarlaxle Baenre's warships Icingdeath and Twinkle in the adventure Divine Contention can block enought can be sunshield
Sunshield. The decorative cloth hanging from the masts of each ship can be unfurled to create a sunshield, shading the deck of the ship in dim light and allowing the drow to avoid the penalties from their Sunlight Sensitivity feature. It takes one creature 1 minute to unfurl all the cloths on a ship. Multiple creatures working together can reduce the time proportionately.
Valuable input Plaguescared, so i get that darkness among many other possiblities could be use to negate direct sunlight....
What about?
If i succesfully cast that Faerie Spell to grant myself advantage on a target, would that consequently negate the disadvantage ? (Reason why i am asking is i read a post somewhere that nothing would negate the flaw...)
By the way, what if i cast darkness above me...would that consequently cancel out that direct sunlight?
I'd rule that it would no longer be direct sunlight. Illumination would be coming from reflections, a la being in a building. Especially since you're investing a spell slot/your single free use for the day, I think that's more than fair.
If i succesfully cast that Faerie Spell to grant myself advantage on a target, would that consequently negate the disadvantage ?
Yes. You get Disadvantage due to Sunlight Sensitivity and Advantage due to Faerie Fire, which by RAW cancel each other out. Since they don't stack, you can't get Advantage or Disadvantage from anything else either.
You mention playing "hard mode", which means that your DM may very well rule differently to me or RAW. However, normally, both would be strong cases for countering Sunlight Sensitivity.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Valuable input Plaguescared, so i get that darkness among many other possiblities could be use to negate direct sunlight....
What about?
If i succesfully cast that Faerie Spell to grant myself advantage on a target, would that consequently negate the disadvantage ? (Reason why i am asking is i read a post somewhere that nothing would negate the flaw...)
Yes magical darkness block light and having both advantage and disadvantage means you roll only one d20 .
One of my friend pointed out as well that my target would also have to not be in direct sunlight which is ok, could make for an interesting game
I was searching for a feat Subtle spell casting but apparently that was a "custom feat" someone made up but then one of my friend pointed out about "metamagic adept" which looks really nice
Could sound like a fun way to play a Drow, subtle cast stuff like Silence, Darkness, Faerie Fire , pass without a trace..... keep my sneaking on-going and get rid of Hunter's mark forcing me to be at 90 feets range and using my concentration
I wonder which one that i can cast without declaring a fight...would someone who aren't actively making any noise would realize there is a silence casted....etc Faerie Fire having people wonder why they are glowing suddently...
Of course i could just keep my Half-Elf and variant it to be Drow, gain the spells without the drawback..but lose 2 profeciancies or then pick a drow lineage...but not have the magics... but then without the magics doesn't make it as fun and the first option doesn't really make me a drow...i'll think about it
Hi,
I'm most likely going to tweak my character to be a Dark Elf / Drow
Before we start debating on what does the wording Direct Sunlight means as i'm sure it will come up, i'd figure i'd ask here.
To me direct sunlight is like when i play goalkeeper at a soccer game. Now i play late and the sun is already down but before i used to play at 19h or during the afternoon and of course winning the coin toss and choosing not to have the sun straight in your face was prized. And by the time, it becomes half time, you'd hope that the sun has moved or went down enought not to be of a nuisance. That to me is direct sunlight...having that sun in your peripherical vision in front of you and irritating you. (Or looking at 360 degrees arround your character, it would be like 90 degrees centered on the sun direction)
Another way to put it is when you drive your car at night and another car is crossing you coming from the opposite direction and they have those ultra hid lights where at some point, you cant see anything in front of you...worse if you just got off the swimming pool with hight level of chlorure... ...and of course, you're unaffected if its a car behind you or when its next to you....
It would be base on your peripherical vision because it is affecting your eyes....it is not having the sunlight touching you from the back, left right or top of you....
Am i correct in assuming this
Side question, what if i cast darkness in my line of sight to the sun, would that help me negate this....i'm sure that a big black ball in the air 60 feets from me would look funny, but figured i'd ask ....anf of course moving from my position would imply that my line of sight with the sun may me to reconsider
I'm a gloom stalker, we use hardmode rules which is kind of a pain in the ass due to night vision being greatly affected
Thank you for your input
Know how the Frightened condition applies "while within line of sight to the source of fear"? Think of The Sun the same way - if it's within line of sight, you get disadvantage on perception & attack rolls.
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But wouldnt that be like vampirism...like oh no the sun is touching me, i will burst in a ball of fire (or shine like diamond...for some movies...)..... But in this you get disadvantage.... Why use the wording "direct" and not "in line of sight" cause the way you describe it mean that if the sun is lighting the back of my head, then i am affected....like if my skin had a weakness....while it would or should be my eyes due to the end result; my perception skill weaken and ability to hit a target
It means directly in sunlight.
So, if an object has an unobstructed path from it to the Sun, it's in direct sunlight. If you're in a cabin or a cave where sunlight is entering in, it's largely from the reflections from the ground and surroundings (which is why it tends to be gentler and less harsh) and therefore is not direct sunlight. If the Sun is behind a cloud (or rather, for DM's sanity, if it's overcast), then that is not direct sunlight either.
That's the basics. Now, how harshly I'd play on it depends on the campaign. The Sunlight Sensitivity is given because the Drow have some seriously powerful boons, multiple spells with free castings aren't to be sniffed at, nevermind Superior Darkvision. This is meant to counterbalance that. Unfortunately, if you are playing pretty much all outside in the day, the Drow are crippled. If you're playing all underground or in overcast conditions then they end up being overpowered with no downsides. If it's the former, then I'd have them play in a conveniently overcast time of year. The Sun would come, but it won't be sunny every day. If it's the latter, then I might have torches count or something so that there's some drawback.
Regardless, you don't want to nerf Sunlight Sensitivity too much or too easy to avoid. It's there to help balance the character with the others in the party.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Thank you to the both of you and for the detailed explaination Linklite.
Yeah so far, it is a new campaign and it is pretty much just outdoor but i'll have the DM look at your answer to properly understand what is to be. We picked our characters from a previous campaign and did one fight thus far. We are lvl9 but i'm allowed to switch a few things to put my character to my liking for this new campaign. We play some hard mode rules which implies that we can't see in total darkness regardless of dark vision or eldritch eye...although it is transfered to dim light distance....so not much for that bonus.... Although the Drow spells are nice.
By the way, what if i cast darkness above me...would that consequently cancel out that direct sunlight?
If i succesfully cast that Faerie Spell to grant myself advantage on a target, would that consequently negate the disadvantage ?
Direct sunlight means that no obstruction prevent the sunrays from fully getting to you. Clouds or or material like roof or cloth, like Jarlaxle Baenre's warships Icingdeath and Twinkle in the adventure Divine Contention can block enought can be sunshield
Valuable input Plaguescared, so i get that darkness among many other possiblities could be use to negate direct sunlight....
What about?
If i succesfully cast that Faerie Spell to grant myself advantage on a target, would that consequently negate the disadvantage ? (Reason why i am asking is i read a post somewhere that nothing would negate the flaw...)
I'd rule that it would no longer be direct sunlight. Illumination would be coming from reflections, a la being in a building. Especially since you're investing a spell slot/your single free use for the day, I think that's more than fair.
Yes. You get Disadvantage due to Sunlight Sensitivity and Advantage due to Faerie Fire, which by RAW cancel each other out. Since they don't stack, you can't get Advantage or Disadvantage from anything else either.
You mention playing "hard mode", which means that your DM may very well rule differently to me or RAW. However, normally, both would be strong cases for countering Sunlight Sensitivity.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Yes magical darkness block light and having both advantage and disadvantage means you roll only one d20 .
If you want to be unaffected by the Sunlight Sensitivity trait, you should consider getting a Knave's Eye Patch
One of my friend pointed out as well that my target would also have to not be in direct sunlight which is ok, could make for an interesting game
I was searching for a feat Subtle spell casting but apparently that was a "custom feat" someone made up but then one of my friend pointed out about "metamagic adept" which looks really nice
Could sound like a fun way to play a Drow, subtle cast stuff like Silence, Darkness, Faerie Fire , pass without a trace..... keep my sneaking on-going and get rid of Hunter's mark forcing me to be at 90 feets range and using my concentration
I wonder which one that i can cast without declaring a fight...would someone who aren't actively making any noise would realize there is a silence casted....etc Faerie Fire having people wonder why they are glowing suddently...
Of course i could just keep my Half-Elf and variant it to be Drow, gain the spells without the drawback..but lose 2 profeciancies or then pick a drow lineage...but not have the magics... but then without the magics doesn't make it as fun and the first option doesn't really make me a drow...i'll think about it
"A" Knave's Eye Patch, lol. The only one that exists belongs to Jarlaxle.
I definitely did put him in my game when I had a kobold player though. Why not? He seems fun.