Dazzling

A flash is a sudden increase in local light levels, the Intensity of a flash is equal to the increase in Illumination (remember that Illumination drops off by 1 point for every 5m from the source) plus one per point of Darkness Penalty that is cancelled by this increase. Anyone affected by a flash with Intensity greater than 10 takes a -1 Dazzling Penalty for every point in excess. A -10 Dazzling Penalty indicates that they have been flash blinded, and can't see a thing until they recover. Dazzling Penalties fade at a rate of 1 point every thirty seconds (10 Turns). Further flashes only have an effect if they apply a greater penalty than that currently suffered, otherwise they are non-cumulative.

When exposed to a flash of bright light characters may choose to cover their eyes in response. This counts as a defensive action and requires an Awareness skill check equal to the Intensity of the flash to succeed. Successfully covering your eyes halves the flash's effective Intensity (round down) – thus reducing or entirely eliminating its effect on you. However this also applies a -3 penalty to any visual Awareness checks made between now and the start of your next turn, since you've had your eyes covered for part of that time.

Characters can also be dazzled or blinded by ongoing exposure to bright background light levels, if the total level of Illumination minus Darkness Penalty is 5 or more for an extended period (three turns or more) then this is painfully bright, applying a -1 Brightness Penalty for every point in excess. Again if this reaches a -10 penalty then the character is effectively blind. Such penalties are much easier to recover from than dazzling however – fading at 1 point per turn once the light level falls.