Post/Author/DateTime	Post
PV 01-02-05, 08:53 PM	Hello Please, excuse me if I make some English mistakes since it’s not my first language. I'm planning to make a BLIND wizard on a campaign, and I'm seeking for advice on: a) How to make the most use of the fact that he is Blind Being blind brings me some advantages: I am not affected by Gaze attacks, I am not affected by illusions unless they also have sound and smell, some fear effects won’t work (e.g. my PC may fear a dragon, but he will have an easier time resisting without seeing it), I don’t care whether it is dark or not. That brings me to the point: Based on that, what advantages could I take? The first thing that came to my mind is using Darkness or spells of the similar kind, but that brings me to another point: My PC was born blind. He has NEVER seen light, shadow, colors, shapes. How would someone who doesn’t know the concepts of light and shadow master a spell such as Darkness or Light?? For that reason, I decided that my PC is going to have illusion as a prohibited school. How can you make an illusion if you don’t know how “SEEING” is like? By giving up on illusion, I may specialize in one of the following schools: Divination Enchantment Necromancy Diviner: The character can’t see with his eyes, so he tries to see the world with his mind. Seems good to me albeit very weak since I can’t find good divination spells. Enchantment: the character can’t see, so he tries to charm others so they can “be his eyes”. He is also going to have a lot of charism – people will get piety because he is a semi-old man who can’t see, and he will be very intelligent and wise so he will be able to “charm” them with ease, sometimes not even needing to use spells. Necromancy: I see two paths from here. The first one: The character is tired of a life without sight. He wants to become a lich or another kind of undead. The second: he knows he has a disvantage, so he tries to “even” it by using spells like blindness/deafness (usually deafness since I don’t see how he would try to blind someone), ray of enfeeblement, enervation, fear, etc. Any path may also use skeletons and other undeads to “guide” him. I personally don’t like anyone much and would prefer one of the first two, even though I’m accepting suggestions ;) b) how to “less” the penalities he gets from being blind: By being blind, the character receives those penalities: 50% chance to “miss” – I guess that would apply for spells too, but I’m not sure. I know he wouldn’t be able to cast Magic Missle, because he needs to see the target – but, how about charm person? One way to avoid it is by not using a weapon – what advantages would one get by not attacking at all?? I’ve read some stuff about a vow-of-non-violence, but I have ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE of what it is or where it comes from, nor I have access to where it comes from. Can someone please post it’s FULL description (or at least what matters) or a place where I can find them, so I can show my DM? I don’t think he would oppose anything since I’m BLIND, but, theorically, we only have access to the core books and the prestige classes from TaB, SaS, SaF, MotW. Another way to counter that would be using area spells instead of targeted spells – fireball, web, walls (how would he know WHERE to place those, though?) and utility spells (buffs, charms, dispel, etc). -4 to search checks: pff. Who cares, I have other party members to search. +2 bonus to attackers and lose dextery bonus to AC: the second one is easy, I’m not going to have any dextery bonus to AC – that reflects the fact that he is blind and gives me more points to locate on mental status. (question: if he had a NEGATIVE dextery (like 5), would the penality still apply? He wouldn’t try to dodge anyway, so I don’t know… The first one, even though more complicated, while added to the fact that I have no dextery bonus makes me think I wouldn’t get in close combat much. After all, an AC of 14 after mage armor with attackers getting +2… hm no thanks :P The other option would be getting the Blind Fight feat, which would make me semi-normal in combat but wouldn’t be as fan, and I’d have to spend points on dextery and all the stuff normal people do, and if I wanted a normal people I’d play a non blind one – even though it might be TOO HARD to play without blind fighting and then I’ll have to take it. - move at half speed: that could be complicated in case I need to run – maybe I should get FLY :P - I won’t be able to see! (DUH). For that, I will have a familiar which will be the thing to guide me. I can talk to him telepathically, so he would be able to describe me everything he sees. (question: would I be able to see through his eyes??). I’d probably get a Hawk, and try to see if I can get a bonus to Listen check instead of something else (I don’t see how a hawk would gain bonus to listen checks but I also don’t see how a toad would give constituition, so…). I’d also get Skill focus: listen (costs me a feat, but very useful for me I think). This way I’d have Listen 11 at level 1, in case of wisdom +3 (4 + 2 familiar +2 skill focus + 3 wis) and assuming my DM lets me take it even though it’s not a class skill, which I think to be more than enough for the beginning. It will also improve later and I can have magical items to boost it as well. - I won’t be able to read my spellbook!!!! For that, I have developed a spell. It reads as following: (insert good name here) Lvl 0 Duration: 1 hour/lvl Range: touch The touch text or picture becomes “in relief” - I don’t know if this word is correct. this way, he would be able to touch stuff and “read”. It is much easier than developing a brile language, in my opinion, but… WHERE did he learn to write? Or understand other languages?? Keep in mind he is VERY intelligent (int 18). That brings me to… c) useful spells or items I could make with blindness in mind, like the one above. Maybe a spell that like detects warm? Living creatures are “hot”, so he would be able to at least know the direction an enemy is, or if someone approaches silently, and make it easier to aim stuff at that person. Maybe an item to boost his listen skill? d) What already existing spells should I pick? There must be some spells that are MADE for characters that can’t see yet I can’t find them (maybe I’m blind ^^). Anyone knows any that would be good for this character?? e) why would he NOT cure his blindness? We all know there are ways to overcome it. It is RPG, he could pay even if its for wishes etc, when he gets more gold. I don't want him to stop being blind, but why would HE not want to? or why would HE not be able to? maybe a curse from a GOD, because thats the only thing wish doesn't look like it's going to heal? f) what is going to happen when he gets to lvl 7 and gets polimorph? he would be able to see in an animal form, no? then, again, HE would want it. Maybe I should make it so he never has access to polimorph self, or he only uses it to morph into dudes that can't see (bats?) or he still doesn't see when morphed? or should I give him a chance to see the world at lvl 7 on? what would happen then?? (I think I'd get crazy if I suddenly started to see the world I had been living for 30+ years) Well, I think that sums it. I know there are posts about blind characters already, but none about wizards and there was a lot of stuff I wanted to ask. So, opinions? Thoughts? Suggestions? Anything to make a blind’s life easier? Ways to role play it?? Also, is it POSSIBLE? I know it will be hard, but I can live with that – e.g. a fighter with strenght and dextery 8 is hard but possible, but a wizard with intelligence 8 isn’t. Thanks for your time  Paulo Vitor
doopokko 01-02-05, 11:23 PM	This sounds like a very interesting charcter, and you seem to have thought it out very well. I'd like to point out that according to 3.5 rules you would have to prohibit TWO schools in order to become a specialist, but if you're playing with 3.0 rules I believe your interpretation is correct. If you are playing 3.5 perhaps you can convince your DM that due to your blindiness you have focused so much on studying magic that you only have to prohibit the one school. Regarding the feat relating to a vow of nonviolence, that is in the Book of Exalted Deeds. Ask your DM ahead of time if you can use material in the book, and bear in mind that most of the stuff in there has stringent roleplaying requirements. As far as lessening the penalties of blindness, I think the first thing you would want to do would be to max out your ranks in listen. It would be very useful to have enhanced hearing to help make up for the fact that you can't see. Getting the familiar to boost Listen is a great idea, and I like the idea of using the familiar to guide yourself. As far as for why you remain blind, you could say that because you were born with it, it isn't really an injury, and thus isn't actually curable. It wouldn't necessarily have to be a curse, although if it is that provides your character with some interesting roleplaying opportunities to try to remove it.
Anio 01-03-05, 12:55 AM	I agree with doopokko. It seems as though you've given it a lot of thought. snip e) why would he NOT cure his blindness? snip He might not heal himself as a form of sacrifice to a god or as a means to improve his magical ability. f) what is going to happen when he gets to lvl 7 and gets polimorph? he would be able to see in an animal form, no? snip Following on from the above suggestion, even if he polymorphs into another form, the new form can just as easily be visually impaired. Anio.
Dreaming Bard 01-03-05, 01:36 PM	There is a simple reason not to cure blindness and it would provide good role-playing opportunities. Your charecter could be a proud person who is determined to prove that he can make it on his own. A life were one depends solely on magic to live is, after all, a very sad one. My next suggestion is one you should only use if your realy sure that it is right for your charecter. Take the leadership feat for the following reasons: 1) Your charecter is charismatic and charming. 2) A few people to be your eyes would be quite useful. 3) There are times when you just can't cast because of a lack of spell, time, etc. There's nothing better than having someone to read you your spells in the morning. AgainI ask that you only take this feat if your sure that you want a leading role in your party.
Mirikon 01-03-05, 11:01 PM	It wouldn't cure the blindness, but perhaps get yourself a wondrous item that gives you blindsight 60'? You still look like you're blind, and can play it off that way, but in the situations where you need to see, you'd be able to. And you'd still be immune to gaze attacks.
Rhaynin 01-05-05, 08:51 AM	@Mirikon I think Blindsight is good idea. In the way I see it, its nothing else then perceiving the world through other senses, like scent, sensing air vibrations and things like that. Would be an useful item for him.
ShadowStar 01-26-05, 04:03 PM	c.) There would definitely have to be something in house rules and/or DM approved for you to target enemies in combat, as well as just to find your way around in environments (unaided anyway). In the following, if you'd like to see for yourself or look for clarification, check out the Rules of the Game section on the official website, specifically the entries "There, Not There (Invisibility) Parts 1 and 2". There's a lot there that might make you think twice about the novelty of blind characters. First of all, to me, it would be a fairly clear cut method for DM's to run blind characters by treating them as if the "world" and everything in it is invisible to them (at least insofar as all things related to seeing activities are usually done). Of course, some additional things can be done with smell or hearing, but in my opinion, such senses are still limited in their ability to fully compensate for seeing. Smelling or hearing cannot always tell friend from foe in large fights for instance. Example: Your listen check tells you something is definitely in square "x,y". Well great. What is it? It could be an enemy guard in his chain shirt and longsword or it could be your party's fighter in his chain shirt and longsword. Your party's fighter is also far too busy to be telling you exactly where he is standing while he's fighting for his life. How do you tell the difference? I say you pretty much can't. If your DM is EXTREMELY forgiving though, target identification might not be an issue. As the rules currently exist, something that is "invisible" to you can't be targeted with a spell, even if you locate/pinpoint the square it is in (unless you can touch the "invisible" thing). Locating such "invisible" things requires either a free listen check every round or a standard action "probe" every round. The latter would expend your opportunity to take any further offensive action with a spell or attack. You've suggested having a familiar through which you can "see" what its eyes are seeing. Interesting, but not an official use of familiars as they are currently outlined. Such a use would definitely require DM review and approval probably. Frankly, if I were your DM, I would discourage this character concept completely. I've played in a campaign with a blind character in the party. The DM had to institute many rules adjustments and house rulings in order to keep the action moving, which ultimately resulted in a situation where the character didn't really seem to be blind at all, other than if he were ever to try to read something (which never happened anyway) or when the rest of us were making Spot checks. Essentially, it seems as if the character was completely unimpaired, which the rest of the players felt like ended up diminishing their characters' worth. I do understand though, that a lot of thought went into this character. Therefore, I would recommend that if you insist on sticking with it, be ready. Go over as many generic combat situations with your DM as possible before or outside of game time. Get the rules that are going to be used straightened out and get everyone in the group to sign off on them. Otherwise, if things are at all unclear and seem to always go in the direction of making things easier for the blind guy, games will get bogged down with arguments. The non-blind characters will turn against you. They will also feel that the DM is being unfair to them in that he is being overly fair to you. It will be a disaster. Thus pre-campaign approval of the DM and fellow players is vital. The DM is the DM and is the final word on rulings, but if a DM isn't at least attentive to all of the players and how they feel about his rulings, he will lose their respect in fairly short order. Only travel this road if you are prepared for your DM to tell you you can't do something that you want to try to do once in awhile. In that other campaign, I hated nothing more than the player arguing over an unfortunate circumstance or automatic failure with the DM when the DM had already given the player mountains of leeway in his character design and existence. As always, take your issues to the DM outside of game time if at all possible, unless your character's life depends on it. In short, do not expect to be able to have the full capabilities of a non-blind, character or to be able to 100% compensate for any potential missing capabilities. Example: You are walking along at normal speed (and thus unable to probe because probing can only be done two squares at a time while not moving). If your DM makes you suddenly roll a Reflex check and then he tells you that you fall down, don't argue with him that you "just knew" the yawning cavernous pit hole in front of you was there and you obviously wouldn't have stepped right off the edge. You are blind. There was no way to know short of external intervention or probing before you walked forward. You would have stepped off the edge. Your Reflex check is your sudden awareness of impending disaster and your only chance to catch yourself from the fall. Or the same situation occurs, but instead of walking off a pit edge, you walk into a tree. Again, your Reflex save is your chance to avoid the unfortunate results of walking headlong into an obstacle. So my last tip then, is if you do go this way; be sure to have a ridiculously high reflex saving throw.
Ivarrius 01-26-05, 05:41 PM	I did this in a Star Wars game before. I played a young jedi who was blind. The DM said I could never roll a spot check, but gave me a +4 to listen. Also, we worked around the 'not being able to target' by saying he was using the force, the same way Luke Skywalker did with the blast visor on in "A New Hope". Now a wizard may have more difficulty with this, as the force doesn't so much exist, but familiars do. The familiar shares skills with its master and can telepathically communicate. Perhaps your dm would allow you to target through your familiars sight, still disallowing Illusions, still cutting out spells like darkness, Light, etc, butthrough your familiar's sight you can acheive more normalcy. Thing the blind guy with the 'seeing eye dog' or weasel or frog or rat etc etc. This way you get away from the inability to target, and have another neat story hook for your DM, should you and your familiar ever become separated.
Eraleas 01-27-05, 05:18 AM	I believe that a Braille system thingy would be much more logical than your spell. Why? You said you have the spell that permits you to read without actually seeing. But how did you actually "read" this one the first time around since you did not have it memorised in the first place? You see, you did not have the spell to be able to read the very same spell in order to ba able to read other spells. :confused: So you could never have been a wizard all along. Being a spontaneous caster would be much easier to play and to rp his abilities. Anyway, I remember of a psionic power In EPH that permitted you to hear "light" or see "sound". You could try to modify as an arcane spell. However as I said before, abandon the whole idea about the spell thatt permits you to read because you could have never had access to it in the first place. A.J.
mycroft65536 01-30-05, 02:07 PM	There is a spell called scholors touch that lasts 1 round/level and lets you reat one book per round. 1st level, in CV
Eraleas 01-30-05, 04:34 PM	Scholar's touch simply lets you be aware of the general content of the book. However,if he is blind he could never have originally "read" the spell since he would have no spells memorized at the time. A.J.