light sensitivity - deep dwarf and such

[Zzyl_tsw]

Hello,

I am not sure to see what "light sensitivity" brings to the party
I got a malus when there is daylight, but i do not what it brings when i am in dungeon or such ? (can i see farther ?)
Perhaps when snipping with a longbow, but my dwarf is more of a tank so not sure

[Jim]

I think that the only thing light sensitivity does is give you the character (race) a penalty when exposed to direct sunlight. This can happen in two ways. The first, as you already noted, is being outside when the sun is up. The second is exposure to a daylight spell.

I get the feeling that the developers want to do more with various lighting conditions. Right now, everyone has a lantern, so lighting isn't much of a problem. However, it comes up now and then in tabletop dungeons and dragons when characters run out of torches or lamp oil or need to keep things dark to avoid attracting attention. It is very dependent on the situation.

[Universal Gamer]

When creating a higher CR creature, certain positive and negative traits will be available in it's design, much like +STR and -DEX bonuses that you are used to.

The 'Light Sensitivity' attribute is primarily a negative trait option, which there are feats and attributes that can be taken to reduce the negative effects.
With really only subterranean or darkness dwelling races affected with this, it also has various levels of severity.
The following is from memory
Light Sensitivity
- Dazzled (-1), overall reduced sight range in light areas
Light Aversion
- Dazed (-2), halved sight range in light areas
Sunlight Sensitivity
- Dazed (-4), can not see beyond 30 ft in daylight
Sunlight Aversion
- Blinded (-6), can not see beyond 10 ft in daylight

The above were standard in our games, now I can not find where the information was in any book or SRD, so I will say it is a House Rule.

-Universal Gamer

[𒆜Nurse☩With☩Wound𒆜]

The question is it just ' fluff '.. or actually a negative with a positive.. I mean I ran into an aquatic ELF.. who apparently only lives on land for 1 hour per point of CON.. which seems pretty funny as hes been resting in the bar for the last 5 days.. I wonder how many things are actually fully put in.. an are just added lore fluff..

[Universal Gamer]

Again it all comes down to what system your playing.

Up to 3.5 and Pathfinder, all CR+1 and up tried to be balanced with a slight tilt on the negative, and this was to reflect the greater threat that the race presented.
With the odd exception, everything was fairly balanced and 'believable'.

Now with the 4th and 5th ed, well, there has been some major crap... not fluff but crap introduced.
One of the examples is the Aarakocra, with a number of bonuses including flight and the negative is that it only lives several years, and doesn't carry any ageing penalties.
I would go further and explain how ridiculous the concept and design is and how it can be power-played with most hostile ECL at +3 above its level.
Don't want the headache!

There is a huge chapter in one of the source books about traits and flaws, and an unbelievably huge list of them as well, general, race specific, class specific, and that is to add more immersion to your character(s).
With the race traits and flaws (much like light sensitivity), it is used to off-set (or rather was used) certain bonuses, in this case the racial trait of Darkvision comes with the flaw of light sensitivity.

-Universal Gamer

[𒆜Nurse☩With☩Wound𒆜]

I will assume the ' system ' in question is the one thats in this game.. I think it was a GAME related question not an overall dnd one.. its hard to tell whats actually ' affecting ' game play.. an what is just ' lore fluff '.. in respect to LAM

[Universal Gamer]

Sorry, sometimes I ramble.

The 'Light Sensitivity' is actually incorporated in the game, so dark dwelling creatures that have the 'Dark Vision' trait will have the 'Light Sensitivity' flaw and receive the negatives associated with it (sunlight, both outdoors and/or spell).

-Universal Gamer

[Zzyl_tsw]

Universal Gamer answer was interesting from a general point of view, and I do understand races have bonus and malus (boni/mali ?) to get a relative balance.
I also get only some rules are really implemented in game.

i got a "deep dwarf" in the first town where you can recruit 5 heroes, at the same time there was a quest to get a 6 people party (meaning : recruit 5 heroes)

The question was indeed to know if "light sensitivity" that comes from a "better darkvision" brings some advantage in a "dark environment" somewhere in the game.
Or if it was mainly a malus coming from the global race balance but that did not bring any bonus in game

[Universal Gamer]

There are three (3) most commonly used sights, these are based on light sources, not outdoor daylight;
Normal Sight - 30ft range in light + 30ft of shadow beyond
Low-Light Vision - 60ft range in light + 60ft of shadow beyond
Dark Vision - 120ft with no light source, vision is in black, white and grey colours

The full mechanics of this in LMA are not yet operational from what I can tell.

-Universal Gamer