Adventures take place in many different settings; and lighting, or the lack of it, can play a key role in how the adventure plays out.

Characters generally have one of three separate types of vision: Normal, Nightvision, and Darkvision. Each provides a character with the unique capability to see in environments where illumination is insufficient.

Normal Vision: With normal vision, characters can see clearly during the day. On a starlit night, a character can see up to 30’ clearly. With nothing more than the ambient light of a full moon, the character can see up to 150’. In an interior setting, using artificial illumination (such as a torch or lantern), a character can see clearly within the limits of the lighting, and is able to see dimly (-8 to Perception rolls) out to an additional distance equal to one half of the illuminated radius.

For instance, if a character is using a torch that illuminates a 20’ radius, the character can see clearly up to 20’ away. They also have the ability (with the -8 modifier) to see up to, but not beyond, 30’ away.

Nightvision: With Nightvision, characters can see clearly up to 100’ on a starlit night and up to 500’ by the light of a full moon. In an interior setting, with artificial illumination, the character can see clearly up to double (or triple, if they have Greater Nightvision) the normal radius of the lighting. Characters can also see dimly (-8 to Perception rolls) an additional distance equal to the illumination provided by the light source.

For instance, if a character is using a torch that illuminates a 20’ radius, the character can see clearly up to 40’ away and dimly (with the -8 modifier) from 40’ to 60’ away. If he had Greater Nightvision, he could see clearly up to 60’ and then an additional 20’ at a -8.

Darkvision: The character can see out to the full range of his Darkvision, which may vary from character to character, when in complete, non-magical darkness. With no illumination everything is seen in shades of grey, illumination allows them to see in color.

He can also see clearly up to twice the normal range of their Darkvision on a starlit night and up to 10x that range when they have the light of a full moon available. When using artificial illumination, the character can see clearly, up to a distance equal to the range of his Darkvision, past the normal area illuminated. He can also see dimly (-8 to Perception rolls) for the same distance as his Darkvision beyond what he can see clearly.

Thus, if a character is using a torch that illuminates a 20’ radius, and the character has Darkvision up to 30’, the character can see clearly up to 50’ and they would be able to see dimly (with the -8 modifier) up to, but not beyond, 80’ away.

Light Sources

The number of light sources available in a fantasy game can range widely from simple torches to several spells. Each light source, however, illuminates a certain radius.

The following list offers a few examples of light sources for easy reference:

Limited Visibility

When adventuring outdoors, there are certain weather conditions that can hamper and/or impede upon how far a character is able to effectively see.

In foggy conditions, characters will be limited to seeing no more 50’ if the fog is light, 30’ if it is a moderate amount of fog, and 10’ if the fog is heavy.

Light rain or snow will automatically reduce how far a character can see by half. If the rain or snow is moderate, then the maximum distance that a character can see will be 50’ and in heavy rain or snow, he will only be able to see a maximum distance of 30’

These distances do not take into account any lighting conditions or sources that might be in use. If the lighting conditions or light sources in use indicate a smaller sight distance, then that should be used instead of these distances.