Living Spells and Blindness??? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Living Spells and Blindness??? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
tos_shai_hulud
03-06-08, 08:03 AM I am running a campaign in the Mournlands, and one of my players has an Essence Node of Blinding (grants Blindness 1/day as the blindness/deafness spell). She has no knowledge: arcana, so her character is not aware of what happens when you try to blind a living spell (which is an ooze). I was quite glad for this, because I, too, am not entirely sure what happens...

My thoughts, there is nothing that explicitly states that a living spell is immune to blindness, yet the fact that it does not possess eyes makes me wonder what effect it actually has. Living spells are blind, and possess blindsight, yes, but does Blindness/Deafness affect the ooze's blindsight at all? It is calling upon the powers of unlife, so I wasn't sure if that meant that it removed whatever senses it used to see/hear (even if it was blindsight).

Additionally, the living spell in question is a Living Teleport. Have I already houseruled this living spell by suggesting that it can now forcibly teleport creatures (the Teleport spell can usually only teleport willing creatures)? If so, I think I will just say that this specific living spell is vulnerable to Blindness because it makes for an excellent plot device. Still, I prefer to keep within the rules as much as possible, so if the blindness would work anyway, I would feel better about allowing it in the future.

Finally, assuming that the Blindness does work, what sort of reaction do you think the ooze might have (I realize that this final question belongs in the House-Rules forum, but I figured since I provided the background in this forum, I would ask here, anyway, should some kind soul be willing to aid me).
tos_shai_hulud
03-06-08, 08:37 AM Actually, I had enough House Rules questions in here that I did post in the House Rules forum. So if you have any actual rules suggestions for me, I am all ears, but likely I will find the answers I need there.
Tedronai
03-06-08, 09:17 AM Blindsight is described as the use of acute nonvisual senses to locate and pinpoint your surroundings. As such, I do not believe Blindness would have any effect on it.

If you do rule that the Living Spell would be affected normally, then remember that (IIRC) it is mindless. It has no capacity for thought or planning, and certainly no particular ability to adapt to such drastic changes in its abilities. It might flail arround madly if attacked, but otherwise wandering (literaly) aimlessly is about the best its going to do.
pmurray@bigpond.com
03-06-08, 10:48 AM Isn't Blindness necromantic? It's unlikely it wold affect something that doesn't have living tissue.
Tedronai
03-06-08, 11:05 AM Isn't Blindness necromantic? It's unlikely it wold affect something that doesn't have living tissue.

Only Constructs are by default immune to necromancy effects. Living Spells are Oozes, not Constructs. Thus, they are affected by necromancy effects where applicable.
Sildatorak
03-06-08, 10:39 PM Aren't all oozes blind by default? Casting blindness on it would have no effect if I'm remembering that correctly.

Regarding teleport, it seems fine for a 5th level spell to transport the hit victim somewhere else if you have a save to negate it. That is the same level as dominate person and slay living.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
tos_shai_hulud 03-06-08, 08:03 AM	I am running a campaign in the Mournlands, and one of my players has an Essence Node of Blinding (grants Blindness 1/day as the blindness/deafness spell). She has no knowledge: arcana, so her character is not aware of what happens when you try to blind a living spell (which is an ooze). I was quite glad for this, because I, too, am not entirely sure what happens... My thoughts, there is nothing that explicitly states that a living spell is immune to blindness, yet the fact that it does not possess eyes makes me wonder what effect it actually has. Living spells are blind, and possess blindsight, yes, but does Blindness/Deafness affect the ooze's blindsight at all? It is calling upon the powers of unlife, so I wasn't sure if that meant that it removed whatever senses it used to see/hear (even if it was blindsight). Additionally, the living spell in question is a Living Teleport. Have I already houseruled this living spell by suggesting that it can now forcibly teleport creatures (the Teleport spell can usually only teleport willing creatures)? If so, I think I will just say that this specific living spell is vulnerable to Blindness because it makes for an excellent plot device. Still, I prefer to keep within the rules as much as possible, so if the blindness would work anyway, I would feel better about allowing it in the future. Finally, assuming that the Blindness does work, what sort of reaction do you think the ooze might have (I realize that this final question belongs in the House-Rules forum, but I figured since I provided the background in this forum, I would ask here, anyway, should some kind soul be willing to aid me).
tos_shai_hulud 03-06-08, 08:37 AM	Actually, I had enough House Rules questions in here that I did post in the House Rules forum. So if you have any actual rules suggestions for me, I am all ears, but likely I will find the answers I need there.
Tedronai 03-06-08, 09:17 AM	Blindsight is described as the use of acute nonvisual senses to locate and pinpoint your surroundings. As such, I do not believe Blindness would have any effect on it. If you do rule that the Living Spell would be affected normally, then remember that (IIRC) it is mindless. It has no capacity for thought or planning, and certainly no particular ability to adapt to such drastic changes in its abilities. It might flail arround madly if attacked, but otherwise wandering (literaly) aimlessly is about the best its going to do.
pmurray@bigpond.com 03-06-08, 10:48 AM	Isn't Blindness necromantic? It's unlikely it wold affect something that doesn't have living tissue.
Tedronai 03-06-08, 11:05 AM	Isn't Blindness necromantic? It's unlikely it wold affect something that doesn't have living tissue. Only Constructs are by default immune to necromancy effects. Living Spells are Oozes, not Constructs. Thus, they are affected by necromancy effects where applicable.
Sildatorak 03-06-08, 10:39 PM	Aren't all oozes blind by default? Casting blindness on it would have no effect if I'm remembering that correctly. Regarding teleport, it seems fine for a 5th level spell to transport the hit victim somewhere else if you have a save to negate it. That is the same level as dominate person and slay living.