If an investigator has a Light Source, does he still make the checks caused by a Darkness effect first appearing, or only the subsequent static effects of being in adarkened area?

Sorry, I don't follow. What Darkness first appearing check? In any case:

- if an effect targets an investigator in Darkness and the investigator carries a Light source, the effect is ignored

- if an effect targets a space in Darkness where an investigator carrying a Light source stands, the effect is resolved

E.g: "this effect targets an investigator in Darkness. Cold invisible hands choke your troath. Test Will and". The investigator carries a Light source. Light ignores Darkness. The effect is not resolved because there's no selectable target

E.g: "this effects targets any space in Darkness. Place a fire token in said space". You start fire, because the investigator may ignore Darkness, but the room is still in Darkness

(or at least this is my reading of the rules)

Hope this helps

Exactly what you said. One of our players argued that "the effect of darkness" which light sources negate is just the inability to spend clues or work on puzzles, as described in the RRG, but that the effects that resolve when Darkness shows up are not listed, thus not negated.

Also, if darkness appears and thereby issues another effect (like test will to negate horror because you are startled), you would still resolve the additional effect as they are separate. A light source merely prevents the direct effects of darkness, and lets the investigator within the light source's range act as if they are not in a space with darkness. Light sources also let you set fires, but that's mostly unrelated.

That is exactly the question. When darkness appears and issues another effect, such as a Horror Check, does that count as part of the Darkness which is negated, or not? Clearly, Soakman has the same interpretation as my friend, but I'm unsure. I can't find a direct answer in the RRG.

Bump? Still unresolved.

Exactly what you said. One of our players argued that "the effect of darkness" which light sources negate is just the inability to spend clues or work on puzzles, as described in the RRG, but that the effects that resolve when Darkness shows up are not listed, thus not negated.

This is correct by RAW, as a Light Source only lets you ignore the normal effects of Darkness and not any addition event- or trigger-based effects.

That is exactly the question. When darkness appears and issues another effect, such as a Horror Check, does that count as part of the Darkness which is negated, or not? Clearly, Soakman has the same interpretation as my friend, but I'm unsure. I can't find a direct answer in the RRG.

I guess the point is that a light source does not remove darkness, it simply negates the one single effect listed in the rulebook under darkness for the player with/near the light source. I agree with Julia here. In the case you suggest here, the investigator would still have to make the Horror check, but he would be able to spend clues if he had them.