A blind Druid archer [Archive] - Wizards Community

A blind Druid archer [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Evadyn
12-12-04, 06:18 PM Background bellow

I am going to play a Blind Elf Druid in an upcoming FR campaign and would like to hear your ideas:

Str: 16
Dex: 18
Con:10
Int: 14
Wis: 18
Cha: 14

Skills: Max. ranks in Concentration, Craft(poisonmaking), Handel animal, Knowledge (nature), Listen and survival.

Feats:Blindness adaptation, Skill focus listen, Point blank shot and regional

He should be a archer and have at least 8 druid levels, he should be a wild shaper fighter(ex. Dire Bear) but more of a scout(ex. Eagle), PrCs are a must

I have the PHB, DMG, MM, MM3, Book of vile darkness, Defenders of the faith, Epic level handbook, Masters of the wild, Song and silence, Sword and fist, Tome and blood, Book of exalted deeds, FRCS, Unapproachable east, Unearthed Arcana and Deities and Demigods.

Please tell me your thoughts.
Evadyn
12-12-04, 06:19 PM Heres the Feat:
Blindness adaptation:
Prerequisite: You must be blind for at least 3 years, Wis 15+, skill focus listen.
Benefit: You get Listen as a class skill. Although blind you are not treated flatfooted (this does not grant the benefits of uncanny dodge), this means that you don’t lose your Dexterity bonus to AC, you can make attacks of opportunity, your opponent doesn’t have concealment, you can attack anyone you can locate, to locate a enemy you must beat the opponents Move silently check (the opponents makes this check regardless of the situation he is in) your ears have become your primary sense, you may always take 10 on listen check’s.
Normal: You are blind!!!

New use for the Listen skill:

1.Move blindly: To move blind you need something to make distinctive sounds, special shoes or at least a 2 ft. long stick (you can use a bow a longsword or anything of appropriate size instead of the stick) or you must have a guide animal (bird, dog or other animal or familiar trained for guiding a blind person)

Base DC 10

DC Modifiers
+5 obstacles
-5 some noise
+5 very loud noise (think of a rave party)
+10 perfect silence
Don’t count the noise you make for this DC's
So to move on a clear road with no help you would need to make a DC 20 listen check.

2.Locate a person: To locate a person you must beat his move silently check (same as PHB)

1. You are distracted by the fight around you add +5 to the DC.
2. You get a +1 stackable DC modifier for every 10ft. of distance between you and the person.

So to locate a 1st level rouge in a fight you would have to beat a DC of 20 (average10+4ranks+1dex+5ditracted) and many characters are far better, if he is 50 ft away from you that’s a DC 25 (take 10+4ranks+1dex+5distracted+5distance) and some common sense, a raging barbarian is so loud you wouldn’t even have to roll, but a quiet rouge is QUIET!
Evadyn
12-14-04, 12:45 PM Annyone!?
Gadodel
12-14-04, 08:33 PM Tell us the story behind it. That might get some ideas flowing.
InkBlot
12-14-04, 09:50 PM When he wildshapes into something that can normally see will he still be blind?
nihility
12-15-04, 12:00 AM When he wildshapes into something that can normally see will he still be blind?
By the rules, he would not be blind when in wildshape.
Evadyn
12-15-04, 09:24 AM OK this is the mising background.

Once upon a time…

When Eduron was young a Black Dragon (Wyrm) threatened his forest, he lived there with his family. One day the dragon came to destroy the forest, his father was called to fight and Eduron followed him, he saw him get killed by the Dragon. Poor Eduron ran into the woods but the Dragon spotted him. The Dragon tried to attack Eduron By his Acid Breath but the trees blocked the majority sadly a small Drop of acid flew right in his eyes and since then he was blind. He was all alone in the woods no food, no water, no nothing. He spent several months wandering blind through the woods when he came across a Druid, The kind man never said his name but helped Eduron he treated him like a son. For year and years they lived together he helped him adapt to his blindness and taught him to use the Bow. One day the kind Druid went to gather some food, Eduron stayed at their camp, he suddenly heard a Scream, he came to the place where he herd it, he couldn’t hear anyone, he started to feel the ground and found the corps of his Friend with his head bitten of, he also felt some acid and he knew who did this. Since that day he searched for the Dragon to revenge his Father and his Friend.

There, I this that is enough.
Evadyn
12-15-04, 09:27 AM THE CAMPAIGN IS 1st LEVEL
Evadyn
12-17-04, 04:51 PM :bump:
KikUSquaNtheNuts
12-21-04, 10:46 AM You should pick up R.A. Salvatore's Sojourn. Your character sounds a lot like Montolio, the guy who taught Drizzt about ranger stuff. Its a good read, and you might find some roleplaying stuff to help spice up your character.
Wrathamon
12-23-04, 10:33 PM so you would take 50% miss chance to hit with your bow? or the 100% miss chance if you didnt know which square your enemy is in.

How would you be a good scout as an Eagle or hawk? you cant see?

Cool concept... don't get me wrong, blind characters that can fight are very superheroic... Daredevil for example.

It really depends on your DM... I would have a hard time with a blind archer for my campaign... but I can see the "cool" factor behind the concept. I hope your DM plays on your limitation and doesnt let you just "see".

You dont see a blind archer everyday...

since, your character is starting out at 1st level... you should think of him as a work in progress... you arent the amazing blind archer of legend, yet. So, I would play down that part of your character till higher level and work on the angry young druid who has vengeance on his mind.

I would talk to your DM about making "Blindsight" a feat... with several prereqs... one being alertness, Iron Will and Blindfighting... this should go a long ways into making your character more playable, also wildshaping into things with Scent.

As for you backstory... I am wondering if Ranger/barbarian seems more accurate with Favoured Enemy Dragon.

Druids do not get bows, but I suppose you picked it as an elf proficiency?

I would try and flesh out the backstory with the druid more... how did you get the blindness adaptation? Did the druid teach you this? Was that one of his lessons? Did he teach you that the Bat is almost blind but yet it still sees? Was he a skilled archer before he went blind? How about his family? what did they do? any siblings left (that he knows or does not know about)? Did he have any interests, ambitions or dreams before the accident? What is his motivation? If it is to defeat the Dragon who killed his friend, what then? Is his story done once this is accomplished? Why did the Dragon attack? Was it a Young Dragon, Old?
Why did the Dragon attack the Druid? Were they enemies? Is this dragon a campaign element that the DM will utilize? What happened to the Druid's animal companion? Did you take him as your own?

hope these questions and comments help...

good gaming.
Faustus von Kai
12-23-04, 11:43 PM Well, my character had his eyes burned out whilst paralyzed (here's a tip, if an assassin starts staring at you, grapple his a$$ to the ground!). Anyway. I went around blind for the session and we found someone to cast blindsight and permenance on me. I got my eyes back (As blue gemstones. Gotta love gods) later, though I retain the blindsight. I use my normal eyes if I have to read (I can't see anything with blindsight that doesn't have any depth) but otherwise I wear a helmet with no eyeslits. Imposing, wouldn't you say? Getting whipped by a paladin glowing with holy light but with no visor on his helm? That's a fun thing to do for effect. I'd work with the inexperienced ranger for now and then later, say around levels 5 to 7 look for a wizard to cast blindsight and permenance on you, then wrap an intricately designed cloth over your eyes (headband of intelligence +2 mayhaps?) and use a might composite shortbow. Blindsight has a range of 60 feet unless your DM gives you more, so a bow with 70 foot range isn't too terrible. Get it enhanced and you'll have some fun with the legendary archer thing.

[Edit] By the way. In the back of Complete Warrior is a section on magic item properties, one of which is a bow enhancement called "bloodseeking."
"Weapons with the bloodseeking ability often have strange sights on them. Ammunition fired from blood seeking weapons flies around cover if necessary to strike a living creature, negating any bonus to armor class the target might have due to intervening cover. The target can even fire at a target with full cover, but she must know the target is there, there must be an unobstructed path for the ammunition to reach the target, and the target still has total concealment (and thus a 50% miss chance). The blood seeking ability doesn't function against plants, constructs, oozes and undead." It's priced for a +1 bonus. This would be very handy for the image. Another I found that was interesting (and could be used in conjunction with blood seeking) is explosive (though it's +3 for ranged weapons). "Always slightly warm to the touch, weapons with the explosive ability deal extra damage to anyone near the intended target. Each successful hit with an explosive weapon deals 2d4 points of damage to all targets in a 5-foot burst (reflex DC 15 half), including the original target. The explosive ability can be applied to any melee weapon (though the wielder may be subject to the extra damage) or ranged weapon. Projective weapons so enhanced bestow the explosive ability on their ammunition." So. Once you get enough money for a +4 bow, you can essentially sit back and launch homing missles at your enemies. Just some things to think about; have fun with that character.

Faust
Evadyn
12-25-04, 05:43 PM Well first of...

1.The Ranger/Barbarian would be more apropriate but i'm playing the UA variant Druid (Monk armor bonus, Favored enemy)

2.The Dragon and the Druid are old "friends" some 200 years before they were both Druids that lived as in the forest, but one day the other one(Aka Dragon) was cursed by a god of death to destroy all that he loves for all eternity, the good Druid stayed in the forest so he can try to cure his friend one day.

3.And I allready said that the Black Dragon is a Wyrm.

3. Blindsight is allready a feat (MotW)
Evadyn
12-25-04, 05:45 PM forget it...
Nuntius128
12-26-04, 07:08 PM I might suggest(this is more for the DM) that a Listen check is made as a Move-Action(just for the sake of determining opponents' locations) each round. Take a look at Zen Archery. I would think that this feat would help a lot until Blindsight can be aquired. This actually gives me a decent idea for a PrC based around being blind, and accomodating your skills around that. Might you be interested in something like that? I may whip one up, but I could assemble it quicker if you wanted me to?
Evadyn
12-28-04, 05:34 AM Well if you would like to...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Evadyn 12-12-04, 06:18 PM	Background bellow I am going to play a Blind Elf Druid in an upcoming FR campaign and would like to hear your ideas: Str: 16 Dex: 18 Con:10 Int: 14 Wis: 18 Cha: 14 Skills: Max. ranks in Concentration, Craft(poisonmaking), Handel animal, Knowledge (nature), Listen and survival. Feats:Blindness adaptation, Skill focus listen, Point blank shot and regional He should be a archer and have at least 8 druid levels, he should be a wild shaper fighter(ex. Dire Bear) but more of a scout(ex. Eagle), PrCs are a must I have the PHB, DMG, MM, MM3, Book of vile darkness, Defenders of the faith, Epic level handbook, Masters of the wild, Song and silence, Sword and fist, Tome and blood, Book of exalted deeds, FRCS, Unapproachable east, Unearthed Arcana and Deities and Demigods. Please tell me your thoughts.
Evadyn 12-12-04, 06:19 PM	Heres the Feat: Blindness adaptation: Prerequisite: You must be blind for at least 3 years, Wis 15+, skill focus listen. Benefit: You get Listen as a class skill. Although blind you are not treated flatfooted (this does not grant the benefits of uncanny dodge), this means that you don’t lose your Dexterity bonus to AC, you can make attacks of opportunity, your opponent doesn’t have concealment, you can attack anyone you can locate, to locate a enemy you must beat the opponents Move silently check (the opponents makes this check regardless of the situation he is in) your ears have become your primary sense, you may always take 10 on listen check’s. Normal: You are blind!!! New use for the Listen skill: 1.Move blindly: To move blind you need something to make distinctive sounds, special shoes or at least a 2 ft. long stick (you can use a bow a longsword or anything of appropriate size instead of the stick) or you must have a guide animal (bird, dog or other animal or familiar trained for guiding a blind person) Base DC 10 DC Modifiers +5 obstacles -5 some noise +5 very loud noise (think of a rave party) +10 perfect silence Don’t count the noise you make for this DC's So to move on a clear road with no help you would need to make a DC 20 listen check. 2.Locate a person: To locate a person you must beat his move silently check (same as PHB) 1. You are distracted by the fight around you add +5 to the DC. 2. You get a +1 stackable DC modifier for every 10ft. of distance between you and the person. So to locate a 1st level rouge in a fight you would have to beat a DC of 20 (average10+4ranks+1dex+5ditracted) and many characters are far better, if he is 50 ft away from you that’s a DC 25 (take 10+4ranks+1dex+5distracted+5distance) and some common sense, a raging barbarian is so loud you wouldn’t even have to roll, but a quiet rouge is QUIET!
Evadyn 12-14-04, 12:45 PM	Annyone!?
Gadodel 12-14-04, 08:33 PM	Tell us the story behind it. That might get some ideas flowing.
InkBlot 12-14-04, 09:50 PM	When he wildshapes into something that can normally see will he still be blind?
nihility 12-15-04, 12:00 AM	When he wildshapes into something that can normally see will he still be blind? By the rules, he would not be blind when in wildshape.
Evadyn 12-15-04, 09:24 AM	OK this is the mising background. Once upon a time… When Eduron was young a Black Dragon (Wyrm) threatened his forest, he lived there with his family. One day the dragon came to destroy the forest, his father was called to fight and Eduron followed him, he saw him get killed by the Dragon. Poor Eduron ran into the woods but the Dragon spotted him. The Dragon tried to attack Eduron By his Acid Breath but the trees blocked the majority sadly a small Drop of acid flew right in his eyes and since then he was blind. He was all alone in the woods no food, no water, no nothing. He spent several months wandering blind through the woods when he came across a Druid, The kind man never said his name but helped Eduron he treated him like a son. For year and years they lived together he helped him adapt to his blindness and taught him to use the Bow. One day the kind Druid went to gather some food, Eduron stayed at their camp, he suddenly heard a Scream, he came to the place where he herd it, he couldn’t hear anyone, he started to feel the ground and found the corps of his Friend with his head bitten of, he also felt some acid and he knew who did this. Since that day he searched for the Dragon to revenge his Father and his Friend. There, I this that is enough.
Evadyn 12-15-04, 09:27 AM	THE CAMPAIGN IS 1st LEVEL
Evadyn 12-17-04, 04:51 PM	:bump:
KikUSquaNtheNuts 12-21-04, 10:46 AM	You should pick up R.A. Salvatore's Sojourn. Your character sounds a lot like Montolio, the guy who taught Drizzt about ranger stuff. Its a good read, and you might find some roleplaying stuff to help spice up your character.
Wrathamon 12-23-04, 10:33 PM	so you would take 50% miss chance to hit with your bow? or the 100% miss chance if you didnt know which square your enemy is in. How would you be a good scout as an Eagle or hawk? you cant see? Cool concept... don't get me wrong, blind characters that can fight are very superheroic... Daredevil for example. It really depends on your DM... I would have a hard time with a blind archer for my campaign... but I can see the "cool" factor behind the concept. I hope your DM plays on your limitation and doesnt let you just "see". You dont see a blind archer everyday... since, your character is starting out at 1st level... you should think of him as a work in progress... you arent the amazing blind archer of legend, yet. So, I would play down that part of your character till higher level and work on the angry young druid who has vengeance on his mind. I would talk to your DM about making "Blindsight" a feat... with several prereqs... one being alertness, Iron Will and Blindfighting... this should go a long ways into making your character more playable, also wildshaping into things with Scent. As for you backstory... I am wondering if Ranger/barbarian seems more accurate with Favoured Enemy Dragon. Druids do not get bows, but I suppose you picked it as an elf proficiency? I would try and flesh out the backstory with the druid more... how did you get the blindness adaptation? Did the druid teach you this? Was that one of his lessons? Did he teach you that the Bat is almost blind but yet it still sees? Was he a skilled archer before he went blind? How about his family? what did they do? any siblings left (that he knows or does not know about)? Did he have any interests, ambitions or dreams before the accident? What is his motivation? If it is to defeat the Dragon who killed his friend, what then? Is his story done once this is accomplished? Why did the Dragon attack? Was it a Young Dragon, Old? Why did the Dragon attack the Druid? Were they enemies? Is this dragon a campaign element that the DM will utilize? What happened to the Druid's animal companion? Did you take him as your own? hope these questions and comments help... good gaming.
Faustus von Kai 12-23-04, 11:43 PM	Well, my character had his eyes burned out whilst paralyzed (here's a tip, if an assassin starts staring at you, grapple his a$$ to the ground!). Anyway. I went around blind for the session and we found someone to cast blindsight and permenance on me. I got my eyes back (As blue gemstones. Gotta love gods) later, though I retain the blindsight. I use my normal eyes if I have to read (I can't see anything with blindsight that doesn't have any depth) but otherwise I wear a helmet with no eyeslits. Imposing, wouldn't you say? Getting whipped by a paladin glowing with holy light but with no visor on his helm? That's a fun thing to do for effect. I'd work with the inexperienced ranger for now and then later, say around levels 5 to 7 look for a wizard to cast blindsight and permenance on you, then wrap an intricately designed cloth over your eyes (headband of intelligence +2 mayhaps?) and use a might composite shortbow. Blindsight has a range of 60 feet unless your DM gives you more, so a bow with 70 foot range isn't too terrible. Get it enhanced and you'll have some fun with the legendary archer thing. [Edit] By the way. In the back of Complete Warrior is a section on magic item properties, one of which is a bow enhancement called "bloodseeking." "Weapons with the bloodseeking ability often have strange sights on them. Ammunition fired from blood seeking weapons flies around cover if necessary to strike a living creature, negating any bonus to armor class the target might have due to intervening cover. The target can even fire at a target with full cover, but she must know the target is there, there must be an unobstructed path for the ammunition to reach the target, and the target still has total concealment (and thus a 50% miss chance). The blood seeking ability doesn't function against plants, constructs, oozes and undead." It's priced for a +1 bonus. This would be very handy for the image. Another I found that was interesting (and could be used in conjunction with blood seeking) is explosive (though it's +3 for ranged weapons). "Always slightly warm to the touch, weapons with the explosive ability deal extra damage to anyone near the intended target. Each successful hit with an explosive weapon deals 2d4 points of damage to all targets in a 5-foot burst (reflex DC 15 half), including the original target. The explosive ability can be applied to any melee weapon (though the wielder may be subject to the extra damage) or ranged weapon. Projective weapons so enhanced bestow the explosive ability on their ammunition." So. Once you get enough money for a +4 bow, you can essentially sit back and launch homing missles at your enemies. Just some things to think about; have fun with that character. Faust
Evadyn 12-25-04, 05:43 PM	Well first of... 1.The Ranger/Barbarian would be more apropriate but i'm playing the UA variant Druid (Monk armor bonus, Favored enemy) 2.The Dragon and the Druid are old "friends" some 200 years before they were both Druids that lived as in the forest, but one day the other one(Aka Dragon) was cursed by a god of death to destroy all that he loves for all eternity, the good Druid stayed in the forest so he can try to cure his friend one day. 3.And I allready said that the Black Dragon is a Wyrm. 3. Blindsight is allready a feat (MotW)
Evadyn 12-25-04, 05:45 PM	forget it...
Nuntius128 12-26-04, 07:08 PM	I might suggest(this is more for the DM) that a Listen check is made as a Move-Action(just for the sake of determining opponents' locations) each round. Take a look at Zen Archery. I would think that this feat would help a lot until Blindsight can be aquired. This actually gives me a decent idea for a PrC based around being blind, and accomodating your skills around that. Might you be interested in something like that? I may whip one up, but I could assemble it quicker if you wanted me to?
Evadyn 12-28-04, 05:34 AM	Well if you would like to...