Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

Of particular note is the fact that Sshamath is alive with the faint, flickering light of continual faerie fire spells and their sorcerous equivalents. In an unending effort to outdo one another in magical artistry, Sshamath's sorcerers have created an oasis of vibrant color to rival the most brilliant sunset. While Sshamath's inhabitants are adapted to the relatively bright ambient light, representatives of other Underdark settlements are rarely so acclimated and thus are at somewhat of a disadvantage during trade negotiations.

The Drow do not need, nor like light in general. Sshamath's light is a showoff, and a weapon in its own right.

In particular, please God if you are Drow casters, do NOT use stuff like Sunburst...I've seen it happen in rare cases, and it really was one of those QQ moments...

Myhun sends Phar a threatening letter.

To PhAr

I hAvE a RiNg WiTh UnLiMiTeD lIgHt CaStInGs EaCh DaY. If YoU dOn'T wAnT mE bRiGhTeNiNg Up AlL oF sShAmAtH, SeNd Me TeN bAgS oF gOlD eAcH wEeK.

A sEcReT

Updated the original post with some additional info.

Don't drow use candle-light for their magical etc. studies though? I recall reading this somewhere but I dont remember the source. If its true, I think its one of the exceptions beside fungi-light and faerie fire.
One of the benefits of playing on the surface is that you get the pretty stuff with all the light.
You get other kinds of fun in the UD, and the trade-off is the greyish darkness?

By the way, there are otherwise good items with the light (red etc.) property in the auctions that "can't" be used by UD races, its a bit sad.
The few times I have had used such an item, I get "Ow, my eyes!!"

Yeah, you're right, it's low-intensity lighting, so it shouldn't be a problem for Drow eyes. Torchlight and lanterns on the other hand, often provide a strong light, too much for Drow eyes to handle.

Red, blue and purple light is not as big a concern for drow eyes as the green, orange and white light. I'd consider Red, blue and purple lights to be one grade less intense, thus making an item with a red light on it only cause discomfort to those looking at the wearer, rather than pain.

Yeah, you're right, it's low-intensity lighting, so it shouldn't be a problem for Drow eyes. Torchlight and lanterns on the other hand, often provide a strong light, too much for Drow eyes to handle.

Not really true. Its sudden exposure to sunlight or a daylight spell is what blinds a drow, lanterns and torchlight are not really the same as daylight.

Also even after the exposure drow can still function in daylight they just are not as good at it as they are in darkness, bit like a human would be in the night. Your not running around screaming "it burns!" like a vampire

Vekin wrote:

Yeah, you're right, it's low-intensity lighting, so it shouldn't be a problem for Drow eyes. Torchlight and lanterns on the other hand, often provide a strong light, too much for Drow eyes to handle.

Not really true. Its sudden exposure to sunlight or a daylight spell is what blinds a drow, lanterns and torchlight are not really the same as daylight.

Also even after the exposure drow can still function in daylight they just are not as good at it as they are in darkness, bit like a human would be in the night. Your not running around screaming "it burns!" like a vampire

Lanters and torchlight might be considered low-intensity light once the initial "light-shock" have passed from being suddenly exposed to it. Like someone flashing a flashlight in your face at 2am in the morning and then turning it away. It'll take some time to adjust.

Any source of constant harsh light, such as the Light spell, however, will cause pain. For how long it does this will wary from character to character, but should still be RP'ed.

The point of it all is that Drow sensitivity to harsh light should be RP'ed in the Underdark when encountering harsh light. Even without the light-blindness, running around like a beacon in the Underdark is like tying a bloody steak around your neck and running through the kennels; or purposefully cutting your own leg in shark waters - it's not something a sane person would do.

Problem solved.