| Many role playing game systems talk about low light | | | | electromagnetic spectrum. Creatures that possess an |
| vision or seeing in near total darkness which can be | | | | ability to see in total darkness must possess the |
| thought of as similar to using modern night vision | | | | means to see beyond the normal visible spectrum and |
| glasses. Basically characters or creatures with this | | | | may be able to perceive things like UV, IR, or even |
| ability see in much more detail in areas or at times of | | | | X-ray emissions. |
| day when light is very limited. This could be expressed | | | | In the case of creature being able to perceive |
| by making relative statements so players understand | | | | electromagnetic radiation outside of visible light they |
| the ability such as: X creature can see as well by the | | | | may also be able to see things like dangerous radiation |
| light of a full moon as a normal human sees on a bright | | | | and quasi invisible things like gasses in lighted areas. |
| sunny day. Statements like this by GM's or in game | | | | This is an obvious possible innate ability if one thinks of |
| system texts help players relate a sometimes abstract | | | | "dark vision" in real world terms. This is something |
| game concept to real life understanding. | | | | many game systems simply don't address specifically |
| Another method is simply to give a range of vision in | | | | but something game masters may want to keep in |
| feet or yards in darkened conditions. This requires | | | | mind. For some examples of how this process may |
| GM's to be specific when stating the levels of light by | | | | work one can refer to many Hubble Telescope |
| relating them to real life lighting conditions that all in | | | | pictures on NASA's websites that were taken with |
| attendance can relate to. I generally like to do this by | | | | cameras sensitive to EM other than visible light. Game |
| saying that X creature can see as well by the light of | | | | Masters may have to be imaginative and fudge things |
| one candle as normal humans can using a powerful | | | | just a bit unless you have a degree in radio |
| flashlight or that the single candle gives of XY number | | | | spectrography and know what ranges of the EM |
| of feet radios of light for this low light capable creature. | | | | spectrum things may show up best in. However one |
| In the RPG Percentile system both types of | | | | can make general assumptions for some obvious |
| descriptions are used where either a comparative low | | | | things such as hot steam that would be highly visible to |
| light visibility is used for many creatures and a range in | | | | creatures sensitive to Infrared radiation. Whereas |
| feet is used for devices such as cameras or night | | | | things like dangerous radiation sources or leaky nuclear |
| vision goggles. In either case low light vision is different | | | | batteries might be high visible to creatures that see into |
| from seeing in total darkness. Some species may | | | | the X-ray or Gama ray spectrum. This ability can be |
| possess the ability to see in total darkness; however | | | | expressed as a die roll to perceive an object made by |
| one must understand what total darkness actually | | | | the GM to see if the character or creature in question |
| means. In terms of vision for creatures who see like | | | | notices the phenomenon or if they are actively looking |
| normal terrestrial humans or animals it means total | | | | can be made by the player. |
| absence of radiation in the visible part of the | | | | |