Is this something to do with 4th edition? And does this mean that Darkness in $ Edn isn't dark, just like D&D isn't D&D anymore?
Well, it was real "darkness" (like in a cavern below ground with no illumination whatsoever) in AD&D and 3E, but (for some reason) 3.5E changed this to "shadowy illumination". In essence, visibility was simply reduced by 20%, so you could actually still see 80%. The only folk annoyed by that are rogues, who were denied their sneak attack, since people got "cover" from this 3.5E "darkness". The old dark darkness was re-introduced with blacklight (a special domain spell), but I had none of this garbage anyways. My darkness is the darkness of old, the famous "black blobs" e.g. Drizzt throws about.
Pathfinder changed that tune once more, so the spell actually reduces visibility ...
This spell causes an object to radiate darkness out to a 20-foot radius. This darkness causes the illumination level in the area to drop one step, from bright light to normal light, from normal light to dim light, or from dim light to darkness. This spell has no effect in an area that is already dark. Creatures with light vulnerability or sensitivity take no penalties in normal light. All creatures gain concealment (20% miss chance) in dim light. All creatures gain total concealment (50% miss chance) in darkness. Creatures with darkvision can see in an area of dim light or darkness without penalty. Nonmagical sources of light, such as torches and lanterns, do not increase the light level in an area of darkness. Magical light sources only increase the light level in an area if they are of a higher spell level than darkness.
PRD Darkness... not the non-plus-ultra, but better. Doesn't make up for the old black blobs though.
So if people throw darkness about in my games, they use the AD&D/3E version or, if required, the new one (essentially using a lesser version of this SLA or spell at their own risk).
