Have you considered?
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Darkvision limited to 60ft. Nighttime navigation was based on stars.
You donβt need darkvision to see stars and that would be dim light, so darkvision is a boon
Then it doesnβt help navigation
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Saily saily ship
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Then it doesnβt help navigation
It still means they can see the area within 60β of the boat as bright light
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It still means they can see the area within 60β of the boat as bright light
How does that help with navigation?
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How does that help with navigation?
It helps them navigate around the ship. But seriously, it could be used as a strategy to navigate with lights off and not be seen by other ships.
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Yes, but before maybe the 15th century they didnβt really go on the really long voyages without frequent stops for resupply that lead to severe nutritional deficits. Maybe on accident or in unusual circumstances, but not as a standard modus operandi. Most of the time, people just sailed within sight of the coast.
And while 3000 years is definitely long enough to develop a sailing culture, itβs not long enough to change the physiological makeup. Though I guess the same could be said about dwarven miners, if we assume that they developed from a common ancestor with humans and werenβt just purpose-made as miners or general underground dwellers by the gods, which is often the lore about them.
Archaelogical digs in Oceania have uncovered evidence of deep sea fishing (tuna bone carved fishhooks) from 40,000 years ago. We have been at sea a long time.
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Darkvision limited to 60ft. Nighttime navigation was based on stars.
A ship can barely contain enough ale to last a dwarf a month, let alone an entire crewβ¦
Edit: deleted because I replied to the wrong person
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below decks in ships were notoriously dark
Gay darkroom vibes
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Off the turf, in the surf!
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βThe Boat Ramp of Durin, Lord of Mooria. Speak, matey, and enter. I, Narvi, made it.β
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Darkvision limited to 60ft. Nighttime navigation was based on stars.
A ship can barely contain enough ale to last a dwarf a month, let alone an entire crewβ¦
Tbh, thatβs a rule that makes sense in context and something where I as a GM would make a house rule.
Even the darkest night at sea is not nearly as dark as the mines, so Iβd totally allow for darkvision to be range-less (or long-range) on the sea.