Looking for opinions. Below is an ability from a Kobold Press creature stat block.
Gaze of Shadows.When a creature that can see the dark eye’s eye starts its turn within 30 feet of the dark eye, the dark eye can force it to make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw if the dark eye isn’t incapacitated and can see the creature. On a failure, the creature takes 7 (2d6) psychic damage and is incapacitated until the start of its next turn. On a success, the creature takes half the damage and isn’t incapacitated.
Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can’t see the dark eye until the start of its next turn, when it can Dark Folk avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at the dark eye in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.
Question 1: Focusing on the "a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn." section of the text. I do not think a character averting their eyes would be considered having the Blind condition, but what would be the impact on the character who may try to attack the creature?
Question 2: Would this be a 360 effect, meaning no matter where the character is around the creature at the start of their turn, would they need to make the save? Is this a situation where facing the creature's direction would need to be tracked to ensure when and when not the character would need to make the save?
Looking for opinions. Below is an ability from a Kobold Press creature stat block.
Gaze of Shadows.When a creature that can see the dark eye’s eye starts its turn within 30 feet of the dark eye, the dark eye can force it to make a DC 13 Wisdom saving throw if the dark eye isn’t incapacitated and can see the creature. On a failure, the creature takes 7 (2d6) psychic damage and is incapacitated until the start of its next turn. On a success, the creature takes half the damage and isn’t incapacitated.
Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can’t see the dark eye until the start of its next turn, when it can Dark Folk avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at the dark eye in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.
Question 1: Focusing on the "a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn." section of the text. I do not think a character averting their eyes would be considered having the Blind condition, but what would be the impact on the character who may try to attack the creature?
They can't see the eye, so they'd have disadvantage on attacks against it.
Question 2: Would this be a 360 effect, meaning no matter where the character is around the creature at the start of their turn, would they need to make the save? Is this a situation where facing the creature's direction would need to be tracked to ensure when and when not the character would need to make the save?
Yep. Nope. There's no reason that the optional facing rule would suddenly become mandatory when this monster is introduced.
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Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny. Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
Focusing on the "a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn." section of the text. I do not think a character averting their eyes would be considered having the Blind condition, but what would be the impact on the character who may try to attack the creature?
They cannot be seen, and thus follow the rules for Unseen Attackers and Targets, and cannot use any mechanics (such as spells) that only apply to creatures you can see. It's basically equivalent to invisible but is not defeated by abilities that see invisible (it will, however, be defeated by blindsight).
It appears to me on first reading that this rule is very much written to thread the needle of you cannot see the creature but you can see your other surroundings. It gives some mechanics to the phrase “avert its eyes,” saying that creature can’t see the monster, giving all the benefits of blinding the creature against that monster.
It appears to me on first reading that this rule is very much written to thread the needle of you cannot see the creature but you can see your other surroundings. It gives some mechanics to the phrase “avert its eyes,” saying that creature can’t see the monster, giving all the benefits of blinding the creature against that monster.
5e Medusa has a similar text.
Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can’t see the medusa until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at the medusa in the meantime, it must immediately make the save.
This ability is copied from several creatures in the monster manual.
Basilisk: "A creature that isn't surprised can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If it does so, it can't see the basilisk until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If it looks at the basilisk in the meantime, it must immediately make the save."
Medusa: "Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can’t see the medusa until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at the medusa in the meantime, it must immediately make the save."
As mentioned above ... if you avert your gaze ... you won't be affected by the special attack but the rules for Unseen Attackers and Targets then apply. In this case, since the character can't see the monster but the monster can see the character, the character will have disadvantage on attacks against the monster while the monster will have advantage on attacks against the character.
Looking away is a trade off, avoid the risk of the special effect (usually a gaze attack) at the cost of making you more vulnerable to regular attacks and have more trouble hitting the monster.
Looking for opinions. Below is an ability from a Kobold Press creature stat block.
Question 1:
Focusing on the "a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn." section of the text. I do not think a character averting their eyes would be considered having the Blind condition, but what would be the impact on the character who may try to attack the creature?
Question 2:
Would this be a 360 effect, meaning no matter where the character is around the creature at the start of their turn, would they need to make the save? Is this a situation where facing the creature's direction would need to be tracked to ensure when and when not the character would need to make the save?
They can't see the eye, so they'd have disadvantage on attacks against it.
Yep. Nope. There's no reason that the optional facing rule would suddenly become mandatory when this monster is introduced.
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny.
Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
They cannot be seen, and thus follow the rules for Unseen Attackers and Targets, and cannot use any mechanics (such as spells) that only apply to creatures you can see. It's basically equivalent to invisible but is not defeated by abilities that see invisible (it will, however, be defeated by blindsight).
It appears to me on first reading that this rule is very much written to thread the needle of you cannot see the creature but you can see your other surroundings. It gives some mechanics to the phrase “avert its eyes,” saying that creature can’t see the monster, giving all the benefits of blinding the creature against that monster.
5e Medusa has a similar text.
This ability is copied from several creatures in the monster manual.
Basilisk: "A creature that isn't surprised can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If it does so, it can't see the basilisk until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If it looks at the basilisk in the meantime, it must immediately make the save."
Medusa: "Unless surprised, a creature can avert its eyes to avoid the saving throw at the start of its turn. If the creature does so, it can’t see the medusa until the start of its next turn, when it can avert its eyes again. If the creature looks at the medusa in the meantime, it must immediately make the save."
As mentioned above ... if you avert your gaze ... you won't be affected by the special attack but the rules for Unseen Attackers and Targets then apply. In this case, since the character can't see the monster but the monster can see the character, the character will have disadvantage on attacks against the monster while the monster will have advantage on attacks against the character.
Looking away is a trade off, avoid the risk of the special effect (usually a gaze attack) at the cost of making you more vulnerable to regular attacks and have more trouble hitting the monster.