Retired
The Ultimate Spheres of Power version of Dark Sphere Drawbacks, since replaced by Diamond Recreational Studios’ Polished content. Not part of the current rules.
Black Spot
Your area of darkness is only a 5-foot radius, and cannot be increased in any way. You cannot select talents that change the area of your darkness (such as Greater Darkness, Shifting Shadows, or Wall Of Darkness). You must select a (darkness) talent as your bonus talent for this drawback.
Incompatible: Meld Into Dark, Penumbra, Shadow Master, Shadowed Brew
Cloaking Darkness
You are adept at turning a target’s own shadow against them, but your ability to craft areas of darkness from nothing is lacking. You must select Ranged Darkness as the bonus talent gained from this drawback. You may use (shadow) talents at this increased range, but you cannot form and maintain areas of darkness or blot unless you are standing within their area of effect.
Incompatible: Meld Into Dark, Penumbra, Shadow Master, Shadowed Brew
Crepuscular
Your magic draws on the interplay of darkness and light and the contrast of shadows rather than pure blackness. You may not use Dark sphere talents when you are positioned within lighting conditions of darkness or bright light, even if they were created by your own magic.
Meld Into Dark
You cannot create darkness, and cannot select (darkness) talents. You gain the Greater Meld talent as the bonus talent gained by this drawback.
Incompatible: Black Spot, Cloaking Darkness, Penumbra, Shadow Dependance, Shadow Master, Shadowed Brew, Subtle Shade
Penumbra
You cannot create darkness, and cannot select (darkness) talents. You must select the Dampen Light talent as your bonus talent for this drawback.
Incompatible: Black Spot, Cloaking Darkness, Meld Into Dark, Shadow Dependance, Shadow Master, Shadowed Brew, Subtle Shade
Personal Meld
You cannot grant a meld to another creature; you can only use them on yourself. You must select Quick Meld with the bonus talent gained by this drawback.
Shadow Aura
You must select Clinging Darkness with this drawback. When you create darkness, you must target yourself such that the darkness clings to you.
Incompatible: Cloaking Darkness, Meld Into Dark, Penumbra, Shadow Master, Shadowed Brew
Shadow Dependance
Rather than summon darkness from nothing, you draw upon your own shadow to produce your magic. You stretch and manipulate your shadow to create areas of darkness or blot, and may only have one active at any given time. When your darkness or blot is active you do not cast a shadow and cannot use or be the target of abilities or talents that depend on possessing a shadow. You may otherwise use (shadow) and (meld) talents normally.
Incompatible: Meld Into Dark, Penumbra, Shadow Master, Shadowed Brew
Shadow Master
You cannot create darkness, and cannot select (darkness) talents. You must select a (shadow) talent as your bonus talent for this drawback.
Incompatible: Black Spot, Cloaking Darkness, Meld Into Dark, Penumbra, Shadow Dependance, Subtle Shade
Shadowed Brew
You must select the Instill Dark talent with the bonus talent granted by this drawback, and you can only use your Dark sphere abilities through this talent. You must possess either the Meld Into Dark or Shadow Master drawback to select this drawback.
Incompatible: Black Spot, Cloaking Darkness, Crepuscular, Penumbra, Shadow Dependence.
Subtle Shade
You must select the Insinuate talent with the bonus talent granted by this drawback. You cannot create darkness except for blots, and must use the Insinuate talent when creating blots.
Incompatible: Meld Into Dark, Penumbra, Shadow Master, Shadowed Brew.