So how does the Tricksy version of the Summon Fey spell work?
The Fey's spell stat block says:
Tricksy. The fey can fill a 5-foot cube within 5 feet of it with magical darkness, which lasts until the end of its next turn.
Now Sage Advice says this:
Does all magical darkness block darkvision? Magical darkness blocks darkvision only if the rules text for a particular instance of darkness says it does. For example, the darkness spell specifies that it produces a magical darkness that obstructs darkvision. That obstruction is a feature of the spell, not of magical darkness in general.
So obviously the Fey's magical darkness does not block darkvision. So a creature with darkvision could still see into the space, and a creature with darkvision could see out of the space. This is pretty awesome since the Fey itself has darkvision, making this extremely useful against creatures lacking darkvision.
Here's my question, though: Could a creature without darkvision still see out of the space? Because, sure, it's dark in the five-foot cube, but it's not dark outside of the five-foot cube. Or does magical darkness just completely block normal sight through it as well as in it?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
I'd rule it block vision entirely as opposed to nonmagical darkness.
Darkness creates a heavily obscured area. Characters face darkness outdoors at night (even most moonlit nights), within the confines of an unlit dungeon or a subterranean vault, or in an area of magical darkness.
A heavily obscured area—such as darkness, opaque fog, or dense foliage—blocks vision entirely. A creature effectively suffers from the blinded condition (see appendix A) when trying to see something in that area.
I would treat it as magical darkness (which it is) even though it is not identical to the darkness spell. But because it is magical darkness, as opposed to simply the absence of light, I would rule that a creature in the area of darkness without darkvision would not be able to see out. I also believe that if they could, the feature would be completely useless rather than just mostly useless.
Now that I reread the feature, it doesn't even say that the magical darkness cannot be illuminated by nonmagical light, as compared to the darkness spell. So does it even beat a torch? I mean, I assume it is meant to, but does it as written?
Magical darkness is not really defined. But i feel if it could be illuminated by any light it would be no different than nonmagical darkness. So at least by keeping this distinction i have different results;
Nonmagical darkness: Doesn't block vision or light
Magical darkness: Block normal vision and nonmagical light
Darkness: Block normal vision; darkvision, nonmagical light and dispel any light spell of 2nd level or lower.
I would treat it as magical darkness (which it is) even though it is not identical to the darkness spell. But because it is magical darkness, as opposed to simply the absence of light, I would rule that a creature in the area of darkness without darkvision would not be able to see out. I also believe that if they could, the feature would be completely useless rather than just mostly useless.
Not really. You'd put the Fey's magical darkness on the Fey, an ally, or yourself. Then you could shoot out from being unseen. So your attacks would have advantage, and enemy attacks would have disadvantage unless they had darkvision.
Now that I reread the feature, it doesn't even say that the magical darkness cannot be illuminated by nonmagical light, as compared to the darkness spell. So does it even beat a torch? I mean, I assume it is meant to, but does it as written?
Yes, as written. It's still a patch of darkness. It's not dispelled by light.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
Now that I reread the feature, it doesn't even say that the magical darkness cannot be illuminated by nonmagical light, as compared to the darkness spell. So does it even beat a torch? I mean, I assume it is meant to, but does it as written?
If it didn't then that giant ball of fire in the sky would also illuminate it. It would only be useful in places that already had no light. A darkness effect that only works in the dark.. Unless you're playing some super angsty goth version of D&D, I don't see "making the darkness even darker" being a thing worth writing down as a ability.
So how does the Tricksy version of the Summon Fey spell work?
The Fey's spell stat block says:
Tricksy. The fey can fill a 5-foot cube within 5 feet of it with magical darkness, which lasts until the end of its next turn.
Now Sage Advice says this:
Does all magical darkness block darkvision? Magical darkness blocks darkvision only if the rules text for a particular instance of darkness says it does. For example, the darkness spell specifies that it produces a magical darkness that obstructs darkvision. That obstruction is a feature of the spell, not of magical darkness in general.
So obviously the Fey's magical darkness does not block darkvision. So a creature with darkvision could still see into the space, and a creature with darkvision could see out of the space. This is pretty awesome since the Fey itself has darkvision, making this extremely useful against creatures lacking darkvision.
Here's my question, though: Could a creature without darkvision still see out of the space? Because, sure, it's dark in the five-foot cube, but it's not dark outside of the five-foot cube. Or does magical darkness just completely block normal sight through it as well as in it?
This means darkness and fog work the same way in D&D 5E, RAW. Assuming the rules work like either of them in the real world, this means either darkness acts life real-world fog or fog acts like real-world darkness. Since they don't act like each other in the real world, at least one of them must be fundamentally unrealistic.
Because it "blocks vision entirely", the answer turns out to be that darkness works like real-world fog.
So a creature without darkvision, truesight, blindsight, or some other solution to darkness can't see out of the space, which has nothing to do with the darkness being magical and everything to do with the darkness being darkness. However, I will add it is common and typical for DMs to house-rule this.
Now that I reread the feature, it doesn't even say that the magical darkness cannot be illuminated by nonmagical light, as compared to the darkness spell. So does it even beat a torch? I mean, I assume it is meant to, but does it as written?
If it didn't then that giant ball of fire in the sky would also illuminate it. It would only be useful in places that already had no light. A darkness effect that only works in the dark.. Unless you're playing some super angsty goth version of D&D, I don't see "making the darkness even darker" being a thing worth writing down as a ability.
Exactly. Needless to say, it could use an edit :)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"Not all those who wander are lost"
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
So how does the Tricksy version of the Summon Fey spell work?
The Fey's spell stat block says:
Tricksy. The fey can fill a 5-foot cube within 5 feet of it with magical darkness, which lasts until the end of its next turn.
Now Sage Advice says this:
Does all magical darkness block darkvision? Magical darkness blocks darkvision only if the rules text for a particular instance of darkness says it does. For example, the darkness spell specifies that it produces a magical darkness that obstructs darkvision. That obstruction is a feature of the spell, not of magical darkness in general.
So obviously the Fey's magical darkness does not block darkvision. So a creature with darkvision could still see into the space, and a creature with darkvision could see out of the space. This is pretty awesome since the Fey itself has darkvision, making this extremely useful against creatures lacking darkvision.
Here's my question, though: Could a creature without darkvision still see out of the space? Because, sure, it's dark in the five-foot cube, but it's not dark outside of the five-foot cube. Or does magical darkness just completely block normal sight through it as well as in it?
Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
I'd rule it block vision entirely as opposed to nonmagical darkness.
I would treat it as magical darkness (which it is) even though it is not identical to the darkness spell. But because it is magical darkness, as opposed to simply the absence of light, I would rule that a creature in the area of darkness without darkvision would not be able to see out. I also believe that if they could, the feature would be completely useless rather than just mostly useless.
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Now that I reread the feature, it doesn't even say that the magical darkness cannot be illuminated by nonmagical light, as compared to the darkness spell. So does it even beat a torch? I mean, I assume it is meant to, but does it as written?
"Not all those who wander are lost"
Magical darkness is not really defined. But i feel if it could be illuminated by any light it would be no different than nonmagical darkness. So at least by keeping this distinction i have different results;
Nonmagical darkness: Doesn't block vision or light
Magical darkness: Block normal vision and nonmagical light
Darkness: Block normal vision; darkvision, nonmagical light and dispel any light spell of 2nd level or lower.
Not really. You'd put the Fey's magical darkness on the Fey, an ally, or yourself. Then you could shoot out from being unseen. So your attacks would have advantage, and enemy attacks would have disadvantage unless they had darkvision.
Yes, as written. It's still a patch of darkness. It's not dispelled by light.
Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
If it didn't then that giant ball of fire in the sky would also illuminate it. It would only be useful in places that already had no light. A darkness effect that only works in the dark.. Unless you're playing some super angsty goth version of D&D, I don't see "making the darkness even darker" being a thing worth writing down as a ability.
A heavily obscured area--such as darkness, opaque fog, or dense foliage--blocks vision entirely.
So a creature without darkvision, truesight, blindsight, or some other solution to darkness can't see out of the space, which has nothing to do with the darkness being magical and everything to do with the darkness being darkness. However, I will add it is common and typical for DMs to house-rule this.
Exactly. Needless to say, it could use an edit :)
"Not all those who wander are lost"