Vision
The ability to see in dungeons and in the outdoors is an important attribute to adventuring. Different races have different visual abilities and certain factors can affect the visual ability of a character or non-player character. The sections below will help to explain the different types of vision, their practical effects on the game, and what affects vision in game play.
Modes of Vision
Dark Vision
Dark Vision is the extraordinary ability to see with no light source at all, out to a range specified for the creature. Dwarves, Svirneblin, Droe, Goblinoids, and Skaven are just a few of the races that benefit from having this ability. Dark Vision is black and white only (colors cannot be discerned) and the effect is much like viewing a negative. It does not allow characters to see anything that they could not see otherwise—invisible objects are still invisible, and illusions are still visible as what they seem to be. Likewise, Dark Vision subjects a creature to gaze attacks normally. The presence of light does not spoil Dark Vision. Characters with Dark Vision suffer no penalties in attacks or defense in dim light or in complete darkness.
Elven Vision
Elves cannot see in complete darkness and are as blind as anyone else in these circumstances save for one exception. Elves perceive beings that touch the Ethereal and the Negative Material planes. This is referred to as Elven Vision or sometimes as Second Sight, and there are some other beings that also have this ability. Whether in day light, dim light or complete darkness Elves see a white aura around creatures touching the Ethereal plane and perceive a red aura around those creatures touching the Negative Material Plane.
Heightened Vision
Heightened Vision is any modification to standard vision that acts to enhance the normal modes of vision. For instance Elves, Kenku, and Lisshe all have a variation of Heightened Vision. Elves and Kenku see clearly for greater distances than standard, while Lisshe see clearly under water.
Low-Light Vision
This ability is shared by all faerie folk including Elves, Half-Elves, and Gnomes. There are several nocturnal creatures as well as numerous monsters that have Low-Light vision. Characters with low-light vision have eyes that absorb enough light that they can see just as well as normal in dim light. Low-light vision is color vision. A spell caster with low-light vision can read a scroll as long as even the tiniest candle flame is next to him as a source of light. Characters with low-light vision can see outdoors on a moonlit night as well as they can during the day. Characters with Low-Light Vision suffer no penalties in attacks or defense in dim light but do suffer standard penalties in complete darkness.
Standard Vision
Standard vision is what Humans, Orks, and Taurentine have and what a majority of humanoids in the game posses as well. This is essentially twenty-twenty vision that sees effectively during daylight hours and reduces in efficacy as light diminishes or in darkness. Characters with Standard Vision suffer a -2 penalty to all missile attacks in dim light and a -4 penalty to all attack rolls and gain no dexterity adjustments to armor class at night (when no substantial light source is present) or in complete darkness.