Deeper Darkvision vs Deeper Darkvision

[Max Caysey]

Hey...

I was hoping that someone here could help me find out, whether or not both spells gives sight in magical darkness (like deeper darkness or blacklight).



Deeper Darkvision
Transmutation
Level: Ranger 4, sorcerer/wizard 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: Will negates
(harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes
(harmless)
You toss the powdered dried carrot into the air as you cast this spell, and it vanishes. You choose yourself as the spell’s recipient and your eyes begin to glow with an alien purple luster.

The subject gains the ability to see 90 feet in total darkness and ignores the 20% miss chance normally present in shadowy illumination (such as might be created by a darkness spell). Deeper darkvision is black and white only but otherwise similar to normal sight.
Material Component: A pinch of dried carrot or an agate.



Deeper Darkvision
Transmutation
Level: Prime Underdark guide 4, ranger 4, sorcerer/wizard 3
Components: V, S, M
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Touch
Target: Creature touched
Duration: 1 hour/level
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
The subject gains the ability to see 60 feet in total darkness and even magical darkness (such as might be created by a blacklight or deeper darkness spell). Deeper darkvision is black and white only but otherwise similar to normal sight.
Material Component: A pinch of dried carrot or an agate.


Im guessing they are supposed to be the same, but the one in SC does not specifically say magical darkness... What to do?

[Troacctid]

The Spell Compendium version is more recent, so it supersedes Underdark.

Edit: It still lets you see through deeper darkness and blacklight as the former creates shadowy illumination and the latter is only impenetrable to normal vision and darkvision.

[Max Caysey]

The Spell Compendium version is more recent, so it supersedes Underdark.

Edit: It still lets you see through deeper darkness and blacklight as the former creates shadowy illumination and the latter is only impenetrable to normal vision and darkvision.

But does the SC version not just grant the darkvion special ability at a longer range than the darkvision spell. The texts are identical except for the clause that the darkvision spell darkvision does not grant the ability to see in magical darkness. But are we not normally under the rule that things have to "specifically allow" before possible, instead of "unless stated"? The underdark version seems to be the only safe bet. What am I missing?

[Pilo]

Spell compendium sometimes simplify too much, I had the same kind of issue with Light of Lumia, which is introduced in Planar Handbook and included in Spell Compendium.

Light of lumia gives you two ray attacks. In the Planar handbook, it is specified you can fire more than one ray only if your bab allows you a second attack. But it is not reported in SC and the wording lets you assume you can fire two ray the same round without penality.

[tomandtish]

Normal darkness actually has more severe impact than the magical spell Darkness, and the description in the SC version specifically indicates it cancels out the effects of the Darkness spell (20% miss chance is from the Darkness spell, since it is 50% in normal darkness). Therefore, it will take care of magical Darkness.

What it may not do is take care of other spells that create a stronger magical darkness effect like the ones you describe. It doesn’t specifically address them. So they might not be that contradictory. One gives further distance but isn't as versatile, while one is more versatile, but only has 2/3rds the range.

[Max Caysey]

Thanks guys...

As always this place is the place to be, when in need for rules...