Can a warlock use the Ghostly Gaze eldritch invocation to see invisible objects or those within a Darkness...












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Can a warlock use the Ghostly Gaze eldritch invocation to see objects affected by the invisibility spell or those within the area of effect of the darkness spell?



More specifically, do the objects within a warlock's sight appear as ghostly, transparent images no matter whatever special effect may be on them?



Which specific overrides the general rule? Invisibility & magical darkness, or the Ghostly Gaze?










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    $begingroup$


    Can a warlock use the Ghostly Gaze eldritch invocation to see objects affected by the invisibility spell or those within the area of effect of the darkness spell?



    More specifically, do the objects within a warlock's sight appear as ghostly, transparent images no matter whatever special effect may be on them?



    Which specific overrides the general rule? Invisibility & magical darkness, or the Ghostly Gaze?










    share|improve this question











    $endgroup$















      3












      3








      3





      $begingroup$


      Can a warlock use the Ghostly Gaze eldritch invocation to see objects affected by the invisibility spell or those within the area of effect of the darkness spell?



      More specifically, do the objects within a warlock's sight appear as ghostly, transparent images no matter whatever special effect may be on them?



      Which specific overrides the general rule? Invisibility & magical darkness, or the Ghostly Gaze?










      share|improve this question











      $endgroup$




      Can a warlock use the Ghostly Gaze eldritch invocation to see objects affected by the invisibility spell or those within the area of effect of the darkness spell?



      More specifically, do the objects within a warlock's sight appear as ghostly, transparent images no matter whatever special effect may be on them?



      Which specific overrides the general rule? Invisibility & magical darkness, or the Ghostly Gaze?







      dnd-5e warlock vision-and-light invisibility eldritch-invocations






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      edited Dec 8 '18 at 6:53









      V2Blast

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      21.9k366139










      asked Dec 7 '18 at 19:45









      HenryWLee1066HenryWLee1066

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          3 Answers
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          13












          $begingroup$

          No, Ghostly Gaze does not work that way



          The Eldritch Invocation Ghostly Gaze from Xanathar's is explicit in how it works:




          As an action, you gain the ability to see through solid objects to a range of 30 feet. Within that range, you have darkvision if you don’t already have it. This special sight lasts for 1 minute or until your concentration ends (as if you were concentrating on a spell). During that time, you perceive objects as ghostly, transparent images.




          Nowhere in that description does it grant you the ability to see in Darkness or to see Invisible Objects.



          In fact, both of those already do have mechanical options available to do so: The Eldritch Invocation Devil's Sight is what allows you to see in magical darkness and the spell See Invisibility allows you to see invisible objects. The language in those mechanics specifically allows for those interactions while the language in Ghostly Gaze does not.



          There is no reason to think that such language is implicitly added. Without calling out explicitly that Ghostly Gaze grants vision in magical darkness or the ability to see invisible objects, you can not just add those mechanics to it.






          share|improve this answer









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          • $begingroup$
            That was my inclination. Thank you for verifying.
            $endgroup$
            – HenryWLee1066
            Dec 7 '18 at 20:34






          • 1




            $begingroup$
            It might also be worth clarifying what that last sentence is trying to say: that you're able to see through solid objects (that are visible to you with darkvision, at least), but you still know they're there by seeing the faded images of them (so you don't run into a solid door, for example).
            $endgroup$
            – V2Blast
            Dec 8 '18 at 6:55



















          1












          $begingroup$

          No.



          My gut says no for two reasons:




          1. Spells only do what they say they do. But then I thought: Ghostly Gaze is not a spell, however, so maybe it applies to all objects.


          2. But then the invocation specifically calls out darkvision, and that leads me to think that the designers thought it necessary to inform us that humans could use this to see in a normal-dark room behind a closed door. And since they were so specific, they probably didn't intend for us to interpret the invocation more broadly to include seeing invisible objects in that normal dark room or objects within a magically dark room.



          But I could be wrong. I have been once or twice.






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$





















            1












            $begingroup$

            RAW, No



            Ghostly gaze gives you the ability to see through solid objects, but darkness is not a solid object so no benefit is granted. You get darkvision, too, but as Darkness states, that is of no help to you, either.






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              3 Answers
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              3 Answers
              3






              active

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              active

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              active

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              13












              $begingroup$

              No, Ghostly Gaze does not work that way



              The Eldritch Invocation Ghostly Gaze from Xanathar's is explicit in how it works:




              As an action, you gain the ability to see through solid objects to a range of 30 feet. Within that range, you have darkvision if you don’t already have it. This special sight lasts for 1 minute or until your concentration ends (as if you were concentrating on a spell). During that time, you perceive objects as ghostly, transparent images.




              Nowhere in that description does it grant you the ability to see in Darkness or to see Invisible Objects.



              In fact, both of those already do have mechanical options available to do so: The Eldritch Invocation Devil's Sight is what allows you to see in magical darkness and the spell See Invisibility allows you to see invisible objects. The language in those mechanics specifically allows for those interactions while the language in Ghostly Gaze does not.



              There is no reason to think that such language is implicitly added. Without calling out explicitly that Ghostly Gaze grants vision in magical darkness or the ability to see invisible objects, you can not just add those mechanics to it.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$













              • $begingroup$
                That was my inclination. Thank you for verifying.
                $endgroup$
                – HenryWLee1066
                Dec 7 '18 at 20:34






              • 1




                $begingroup$
                It might also be worth clarifying what that last sentence is trying to say: that you're able to see through solid objects (that are visible to you with darkvision, at least), but you still know they're there by seeing the faded images of them (so you don't run into a solid door, for example).
                $endgroup$
                – V2Blast
                Dec 8 '18 at 6:55
















              13












              $begingroup$

              No, Ghostly Gaze does not work that way



              The Eldritch Invocation Ghostly Gaze from Xanathar's is explicit in how it works:




              As an action, you gain the ability to see through solid objects to a range of 30 feet. Within that range, you have darkvision if you don’t already have it. This special sight lasts for 1 minute or until your concentration ends (as if you were concentrating on a spell). During that time, you perceive objects as ghostly, transparent images.




              Nowhere in that description does it grant you the ability to see in Darkness or to see Invisible Objects.



              In fact, both of those already do have mechanical options available to do so: The Eldritch Invocation Devil's Sight is what allows you to see in magical darkness and the spell See Invisibility allows you to see invisible objects. The language in those mechanics specifically allows for those interactions while the language in Ghostly Gaze does not.



              There is no reason to think that such language is implicitly added. Without calling out explicitly that Ghostly Gaze grants vision in magical darkness or the ability to see invisible objects, you can not just add those mechanics to it.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$













              • $begingroup$
                That was my inclination. Thank you for verifying.
                $endgroup$
                – HenryWLee1066
                Dec 7 '18 at 20:34






              • 1




                $begingroup$
                It might also be worth clarifying what that last sentence is trying to say: that you're able to see through solid objects (that are visible to you with darkvision, at least), but you still know they're there by seeing the faded images of them (so you don't run into a solid door, for example).
                $endgroup$
                – V2Blast
                Dec 8 '18 at 6:55














              13












              13








              13





              $begingroup$

              No, Ghostly Gaze does not work that way



              The Eldritch Invocation Ghostly Gaze from Xanathar's is explicit in how it works:




              As an action, you gain the ability to see through solid objects to a range of 30 feet. Within that range, you have darkvision if you don’t already have it. This special sight lasts for 1 minute or until your concentration ends (as if you were concentrating on a spell). During that time, you perceive objects as ghostly, transparent images.




              Nowhere in that description does it grant you the ability to see in Darkness or to see Invisible Objects.



              In fact, both of those already do have mechanical options available to do so: The Eldritch Invocation Devil's Sight is what allows you to see in magical darkness and the spell See Invisibility allows you to see invisible objects. The language in those mechanics specifically allows for those interactions while the language in Ghostly Gaze does not.



              There is no reason to think that such language is implicitly added. Without calling out explicitly that Ghostly Gaze grants vision in magical darkness or the ability to see invisible objects, you can not just add those mechanics to it.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$



              No, Ghostly Gaze does not work that way



              The Eldritch Invocation Ghostly Gaze from Xanathar's is explicit in how it works:




              As an action, you gain the ability to see through solid objects to a range of 30 feet. Within that range, you have darkvision if you don’t already have it. This special sight lasts for 1 minute or until your concentration ends (as if you were concentrating on a spell). During that time, you perceive objects as ghostly, transparent images.




              Nowhere in that description does it grant you the ability to see in Darkness or to see Invisible Objects.



              In fact, both of those already do have mechanical options available to do so: The Eldritch Invocation Devil's Sight is what allows you to see in magical darkness and the spell See Invisibility allows you to see invisible objects. The language in those mechanics specifically allows for those interactions while the language in Ghostly Gaze does not.



              There is no reason to think that such language is implicitly added. Without calling out explicitly that Ghostly Gaze grants vision in magical darkness or the ability to see invisible objects, you can not just add those mechanics to it.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered Dec 7 '18 at 20:26









              NautArchNautArch

              55.3k8194371




              55.3k8194371












              • $begingroup$
                That was my inclination. Thank you for verifying.
                $endgroup$
                – HenryWLee1066
                Dec 7 '18 at 20:34






              • 1




                $begingroup$
                It might also be worth clarifying what that last sentence is trying to say: that you're able to see through solid objects (that are visible to you with darkvision, at least), but you still know they're there by seeing the faded images of them (so you don't run into a solid door, for example).
                $endgroup$
                – V2Blast
                Dec 8 '18 at 6:55


















              • $begingroup$
                That was my inclination. Thank you for verifying.
                $endgroup$
                – HenryWLee1066
                Dec 7 '18 at 20:34






              • 1




                $begingroup$
                It might also be worth clarifying what that last sentence is trying to say: that you're able to see through solid objects (that are visible to you with darkvision, at least), but you still know they're there by seeing the faded images of them (so you don't run into a solid door, for example).
                $endgroup$
                – V2Blast
                Dec 8 '18 at 6:55
















              $begingroup$
              That was my inclination. Thank you for verifying.
              $endgroup$
              – HenryWLee1066
              Dec 7 '18 at 20:34




              $begingroup$
              That was my inclination. Thank you for verifying.
              $endgroup$
              – HenryWLee1066
              Dec 7 '18 at 20:34




              1




              1




              $begingroup$
              It might also be worth clarifying what that last sentence is trying to say: that you're able to see through solid objects (that are visible to you with darkvision, at least), but you still know they're there by seeing the faded images of them (so you don't run into a solid door, for example).
              $endgroup$
              – V2Blast
              Dec 8 '18 at 6:55




              $begingroup$
              It might also be worth clarifying what that last sentence is trying to say: that you're able to see through solid objects (that are visible to you with darkvision, at least), but you still know they're there by seeing the faded images of them (so you don't run into a solid door, for example).
              $endgroup$
              – V2Blast
              Dec 8 '18 at 6:55













              1












              $begingroup$

              No.



              My gut says no for two reasons:




              1. Spells only do what they say they do. But then I thought: Ghostly Gaze is not a spell, however, so maybe it applies to all objects.


              2. But then the invocation specifically calls out darkvision, and that leads me to think that the designers thought it necessary to inform us that humans could use this to see in a normal-dark room behind a closed door. And since they were so specific, they probably didn't intend for us to interpret the invocation more broadly to include seeing invisible objects in that normal dark room or objects within a magically dark room.



              But I could be wrong. I have been once or twice.






              share|improve this answer









              $endgroup$


















                1












                $begingroup$

                No.



                My gut says no for two reasons:




                1. Spells only do what they say they do. But then I thought: Ghostly Gaze is not a spell, however, so maybe it applies to all objects.


                2. But then the invocation specifically calls out darkvision, and that leads me to think that the designers thought it necessary to inform us that humans could use this to see in a normal-dark room behind a closed door. And since they were so specific, they probably didn't intend for us to interpret the invocation more broadly to include seeing invisible objects in that normal dark room or objects within a magically dark room.



                But I could be wrong. I have been once or twice.






                share|improve this answer









                $endgroup$
















                  1












                  1








                  1





                  $begingroup$

                  No.



                  My gut says no for two reasons:




                  1. Spells only do what they say they do. But then I thought: Ghostly Gaze is not a spell, however, so maybe it applies to all objects.


                  2. But then the invocation specifically calls out darkvision, and that leads me to think that the designers thought it necessary to inform us that humans could use this to see in a normal-dark room behind a closed door. And since they were so specific, they probably didn't intend for us to interpret the invocation more broadly to include seeing invisible objects in that normal dark room or objects within a magically dark room.



                  But I could be wrong. I have been once or twice.






                  share|improve this answer









                  $endgroup$



                  No.



                  My gut says no for two reasons:




                  1. Spells only do what they say they do. But then I thought: Ghostly Gaze is not a spell, however, so maybe it applies to all objects.


                  2. But then the invocation specifically calls out darkvision, and that leads me to think that the designers thought it necessary to inform us that humans could use this to see in a normal-dark room behind a closed door. And since they were so specific, they probably didn't intend for us to interpret the invocation more broadly to include seeing invisible objects in that normal dark room or objects within a magically dark room.



                  But I could be wrong. I have been once or twice.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered Dec 7 '18 at 20:00









                  HenryWLee1066HenryWLee1066

                  65516




                  65516























                      1












                      $begingroup$

                      RAW, No



                      Ghostly gaze gives you the ability to see through solid objects, but darkness is not a solid object so no benefit is granted. You get darkvision, too, but as Darkness states, that is of no help to you, either.






                      share|improve this answer









                      $endgroup$


















                        1












                        $begingroup$

                        RAW, No



                        Ghostly gaze gives you the ability to see through solid objects, but darkness is not a solid object so no benefit is granted. You get darkvision, too, but as Darkness states, that is of no help to you, either.






                        share|improve this answer









                        $endgroup$
















                          1












                          1








                          1





                          $begingroup$

                          RAW, No



                          Ghostly gaze gives you the ability to see through solid objects, but darkness is not a solid object so no benefit is granted. You get darkvision, too, but as Darkness states, that is of no help to you, either.






                          share|improve this answer









                          $endgroup$



                          RAW, No



                          Ghostly gaze gives you the ability to see through solid objects, but darkness is not a solid object so no benefit is granted. You get darkvision, too, but as Darkness states, that is of no help to you, either.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered Dec 7 '18 at 20:16









                          RykaraRykara

                          3,361533




                          3,361533






























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