Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 5/3/83; site ukc.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!mcvax!ukc!tgm From: tgm@ukc.UUCP (T.Murphy) Newsgroups: net.games.frp Subject: Infravision from a physical point of view Message-ID: <4962@ukc.UUCP> Date: Sun, 10-Mar-85 07:24:58 EST Article-I.D.: ukc.4962 Posted: Sun Mar 10 07:24:58 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 12-Mar-85 09:00:09 EST Organization: Computing Laboratory, U of Kent at Canterbury, UK Lines: 31 I have had many arguments with my players as to the effect and use of infravision. I use the strict definition ``infravision is the ability to see into the infrared spec- trum.'' (Players Handbook 102). Sadly, given this defini- tion Gygax goes on and imposes all sorts of rules bearing no basis on this physical supposition. Effecively infravision is just another colour. The normal human eye can see in the electromagnetic spectrum from red to violet so extend this to from infra-red to (possibly ultra-) violet. Things like ``switching'' infravision on and off and ``concentrating on infravision'' and `letting your eyes adjust'' just don't make sense. Your eyes adjust to the dark because of the difference in brightness, not colour. (Just a minute, let my eyes adjust so that I can admire the blue wallpaper) Bear in mind that the human body with normal clothes on (which doesn't make much difference anyway) radiates as much infra-red light as a 80-watt lightbulb radiates normal light. You must make the distinction that it the heat and not the light of a torch that spoils infravision. So the old trick of casting continual light on a stone and hanging it in a lantern should work without spoiling infravision. Perhaps the most inconceived idea of infravision was in ``Vault of the Drow'' by the great Gygax where there existed clocks that ``glowed green in infravision''. Just a note: both invisibility and darkness cancel infravision. mcvax!ukc!tcdmath!jaymin Joe Jaquinta, c/o D.U. Mathematical Society, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland