[RPG] Is someone in an area of darkness vulnerable to sneak attacks

pathfinder-1eroguesneak-attack

I was recently faced with the following scenario:

A rogue activates darkness (as the spell) in an area of dim light. The rogue has darkvision, whereas the target does not.
Therefore, the target cannot see the rogue, but the rogue isn't technically invisible, and the target isn't technically blinded, because nothing specifies that you cannot see through darkness into an area of light.

Is there some rule by which the rogue could add sneak attack damage when hitting the target in these circumstances?

A similar scenario would be activating deeper darkness in an area of normal light, or merely standing in an area that is naturally dark, with sources of light visible in the distance, such as torches 100ft away – the point is, the victim can see SOMETHING and either way, as far as I can tell, isn't technically "blind".

Best Answer

Vision and Light covers this

  • In bright light a creature that's visible or lacking cover can't make Stealth checks.
  • In normal light a creature that's visible or lacking cover can't make Stealth checks.
  • In dim light a creature can make Stealth checks.
    • Creatures have concealment (20% miss chance) against creatures lacking either darkvision or low-light vision.
  • In darkness a creature can make Stealth checks.
    • Creatures have total concealment (50% miss chance) against creatures lacking darkvision.
    • Creatures lacking darkvision are, essentially, blinded.
      • Blinded creatures, in addition to other effects, lose their Dexterity bonuses to Armor Class, making such creature vulnerable to sneak attack damage.

Light sources beyond an area with a different light level

A light source whose effect falls outside an area with a differing light level has no effect on the area with a differing light level. Bringing the light source into an area with a differing light level can change the light level. For example, assuming mundane darkness, a lit candle 100 ft. away doesn't help a creature see in darkness, but were the creature to acquire the lit candle and bring it into the darkness, the lit candle would change the light level around the lit candle (and the creature carrying it).

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