Thanks, I think I'm understanding the light/dark interaction now. So, you can't use a darkness/deeper darkness SLA to prevent someone from casting a light spell, because that would be counterspelling, which you can't do with a SLA. But, once they have cast their light spell, you can dispel it with your darkness SLA (would this dispelling require a dispel check (1d20+caster level vs DC 11+ caster level) or does it auto-succeed because it is a higher-level darkness spell?)
Q 114: When using a darkness spell to dispel a light spell, do you have to cast it so as to target the other spell? (I'm assuming yes) Or can you cast it so it dispels the light spell
and it goes into effect, darkening the area? ie - does the area of the darkness spell merely overlapping the source of the light cantrip cause it to be dispelled? (I'm going with no, rather it is merely suppressed)
Q 113: One last question on light/dark. Darkness (2nd level) says Normal lights (torches, candles, lanterns, and so forth) are incapable of brightening the area, as are light spells of lower level. Higher level light spells are not affected by darkness.
A continual flame cast as a second level wizard spell would fall in that "higher level [those higher than "lower level," ie- equal level or higher] light spells are not affected by darkness" category. Since there is no mention of these two spells temporarily negating each other, does that mean that a continual flame brought into a darkness effect would still function, and there would be a 20 ft radius of bright illumination?
Hmm? Darkness will dispel a continual flame cast by a Sorcerer or Wizard, but will not affect (and in turn be dispelled by) a continual flame cast by a Cleric. Clerics are just better at making light, apparently.
I'm not actually asking about dispelling here. Assuming the answer to Q 114 is "yes," you can have two second level spells, one light, one dark, coexisting with overlapping areas, neither of which is dispelling the other. Unlike deeper darkness, neither darkness nor continual flame state that their overlapping areas are negated (resulting in the prevailing light conditions being present). Rather, you have magical darkness AND clear illumination coexisting... a paradox.