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

As the title says: Turn off the light!

To the best of my knowledge, all of the races who can start in the Underdark possess either Dark Vision or Low-light Vision. Not only is it not necessary for any Underdark character to cast a Light spell on themselves, it's also highly lore and immersion-breaking. If you give away your position in the tunnels and caves of the Underdark like a lighthouse on the surface, you're asking for trouble.

If Phar sees many more of this, he's going to start killing off people soon (with PvP Consent only).

---- Edit ----

Acceptable sources of light

• Bioluminescent
• Faerie Fire
• Low-intensity candle light
• Dancing Lights (RP'ed from Drow Racial Light spell)

Sources of light that cause discomfort

• Light (self)*
• Torchlight
• Lantern
• Natural sunlight (with Daylight Adaption)

Sources of light that cause pain

• Light (others)*
• Sunbeam
• Sunburst
• Natural sunlight (without Daylight Adaption)
• Lightning spells (Lightning Bolt, Chain Lightning, Electric Loop, etc)

*: Since the light is emenating from you, you do not get the full effects, only what is reflected from your surroundings. Others who look at you are not so fortunate.

Special:
Light in the UD is a big no-no, except when it is one of the acceptable sources. Casting the Light spell on another character, without prior consent, should be consent to PvP, since you're intentionally causing the other character discomfort or pain, as well as making them a visible target in the UD.

Where im totally there with you, from my understanding... its because the light-spell is more pleasent to look at. I know for myself, too long time in the darkness, with that sort-of-shallow Darkvision can give a headace.

Still, thats an ooc-concern, Ic'ly.. your right

You're welcome to try. Ain't gonna turn off his plate's jewel for you!

..He actually likes to give off his position, to see who's crazy enough to attack him!

mireigi wrote: If Phar sees many more of this, he's going to start killing off people soon (with PvP Consent only).

Spoken like a true Drow

The lighting down there is way too dark. I myself will cast light OOCly just so I can see where I'm going. It's completely immersion breaking for me to think that Drow do not have the knowledge of fairyfire or torch / magical lighting. They should be just as civilized as the surface when it comes to lighting in an area. Dark vision in it's grey tones hurts my eyes. And in some areas does absolutely nothing to help see where you're going. Not to mention being in the utter blackness for long periods of time is completely depressing.

This is just my oppinion and I think to run what few players there are in the UD off because of it, is a very bad idea as well as giving the impression that it's your way or else just because you can.

"Civilized" places in the underdark have artificial or magical lighting because even though all underdark races can "see" in the dark, Darkvision doesn't actually let you read in the dark unless it's engravings, if I recall correctly. You will only see shapes and such.

Besides 60ft isn't all that far to see. Cities are lit up because they have a larger radius than 60 ft.

Just assume it is dancing lights, instead of the light spell.

BTW shouldnt drow have dancing lights instead of the light spell?

LISA100595 wrote:The lighting down there is way too dark.

Well, it's called the Underdark for a reason

On a more serious note, natural lights are acceptable, as is Faerie Fire. The most common source of light found in the Underdark is from bioluminescent (glowing) fungi. Other than that, however, there are no natural sources of light in the tunnels and caves of the Underdark, it really IS supposed to be pitch-black, absent any source of light, natural or otherwise.

If someone were to find or create a mod that made Darkvision turn the 60' radius into "surface-light", then that's something I'd suggest those who do not enjoy the dark, for whatever reason, to use. I puts less stress on their eyes while keeping the immersion for the rest of us who enjoy the dark because it's so dark.

I'd actualy like to see low vision/ dark vision/ and blindsight (for us surfacers crazy enough to go down there) be put in as more natural looking. I'm sorry but those caverns down there are so super dark that even when you can technicaly see, it makes navigation so darn difficult you just say, "the hell with it," and cast light. I know exactly what the posters above are saying. Its an OOC problem and not an IC problem. If you can see in the dark perfectly than you wouldn't need the mechanical use of the light spell to see much better.

I don't know what you lot are talking about. I have no problems seeing in that environment, without flashing a torch at the screen.

You could try and adjust gamma setting for better visuals. Not that I did anyway...

Servin wrote:I don't know what you lot are talking about. I have no problems seeing in that environment, without flashing a torch at the screen.

You could try and adjust gamma setting for better visuals. Not that I did anyway...

Tried that, brightness was on 100% and tried other settings but it never worked. If people didnt have problems seeing (even with inate abilities) they wouldn't cast light. Some caverns are much better than others. The worst cavern by far is Varralla's passage, its soooooooooooooooo dark!

I don't know what you guys are talking about infra-vision doesn't hurt my eyes.

ohboy007 wrote:

Servin wrote:I don't know what you lot are talking about. I have no problems seeing in that environment, without flashing a torch at the screen.

You could try and adjust gamma setting for better visuals. Not that I did anyway...

Tried that, brightness was on 100% and tried other settings but it never worked. If people didnt have problems seeing (even with inate abilities) they wouldn't cast light. Some caverns are much better than others. The worst cavern by far is Varralla's passage, its soooooooooooooooo dark!

Non-UD races are expected to have problems seeing. Darkvision works ok for my drow chars. I also have it switched off and bear a couple of items adding light illumination - also no problems. You might not see as far as you would on the surface, but it's enough.

On the other hand, don't you just love the surrounding darkness, with no certainty where the next dagger is going to come from?

It's not a bug, it's a feature

Servin wrote:

ohboy007 wrote:

Servin wrote:I don't know what you lot are talking about. I have no problems seeing in that environment, without flashing a torch at the screen.

You could try and adjust gamma setting for better visuals. Not that I did anyway...

Tried that, brightness was on 100% and tried other settings but it never worked. If people didnt have problems seeing (even with inate abilities) they wouldn't cast light. Some caverns are much better than others. The worst cavern by far is Varralla's passage, its soooooooooooooooo dark!

Non-UD races are expected to have problems seeing. Darkvision works ok for my drow chars. I also have it switched off and bear a couple of items adding light illumination - also no problems. You might not see as far as you would on the surface, but it's enough.

On the other hand, don't you just love the surrounding darkness, with no certainty where the next dagger is going to come from?

It's not a bug, it's a feature

Yep, blindsight gives you low light abilites so you can see "somewhat" in the dark. SDers also have the feat. I suppose some love it and some don't. I was just refering to how the "see in the dark" abilities are displayed on the screen; which makes the terrain less visable than having a light spell on. Also, if you have HIPS, unless you are spotted no one can see the light eminating from you FYI.

But all that darkness makes me a sad panda after a few hours ...

Anyone else in favor of asking the builders to darken all the surface maps?
The brightness is killing me.

*sarcasm detected*


That said some UD maps really are darker than others and perhaps more than to be expected.
Varalla's passage undoubtedly being one of them.

As for the OP I can only agree, unless in a secure position where the light can be screened away those using light sources in the tunnels of the udnerdark should be hounded by any and all of the monsters.
As for the sshamathan residents id say it wouldnt be unfeasable to treat any torchbearer/light caster as a possible surface spy or a seriously weakened local to be dealt with.
A script that caused all monsters with a line of sight to a foreign light source to come investigating would be awesome (though undoubtedly abused for AoE spell casting and cleavage).