being blind [Archive] - Wizards Community

being blind [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
somogyi
12-09-05, 02:44 PM i have a guy that wants his char in my game to be blind. his char was born blind. now wht penalties and/or bonuses should he get?
Tyler Do'Urden
12-09-05, 03:15 PM He's blind. He can't make Spot checks and everybody he fights has total concealment. He wouldn't really get any bonuses, but if you want to give him a +2 to Listen, most people would be alright with that.

If he wants to survive very long, he needs to take Blind-Fight and some class that grants uncanny dodge.
rbrt_Spade
12-09-05, 03:23 PM Blinded: The character cannot see. He takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class, loses his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any), moves at half speed, and takes a –4 penalty on Search checks and on most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks. All checks and activities that rely on vision (such as reading and Spot checks) automatically fail. All opponents are considered to have total concealment (50% miss chance) to the blinded character. Characters who remain blinded for a long time grow accustomed to these drawbacks and can overcome some of them
from the srd.

You might want to lower some of the penalities since hes has been blind for so long if your the dm. I do not see how a blind person can adventure.
BobtheBiotitan
12-09-05, 03:24 PM I agree with the first poster, but this character would not make it very far as a spellcaster because you must see the target to cast at it. Maybe a fighter with those two feats he pointed out.
Some_call_me_Tim
12-09-05, 03:29 PM i have a guy that wants his char in my game to be blind. his char was born blind. now wht penalties and/or bonuses should he get?
Off the top of my head I would say treat him as blinded and then give him some bonuses to counter them:
normally blinded means:

takes a -2 penalty to Armor Class
loses his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any)
moves at half speed
takes a -4 penalty on Search checks
takes a -4 penalty most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks
All checks and activities that rely on vision automatically fail.
All opponents are considered to have total concealment (50% miss chance)

Now to off set that I would give Blind-fight as a bonus feat. Also throw in Uncanny Dodge as an extraordinary ability. Maybe halve the other check penalties and give the person +4 to listen checks. Might allow the person to make balance checks to move at full speed.

Another option is keep the normal penalties but give the PC blindsense.

Just some ideas never tried it so I don't really know how it balances.
Rulebook
12-09-05, 03:39 PM dont give him any benifits from being blind. if he's blind he'll have to work extra hard to be a viable character. he'll have to take the blind-fight route on his own if he's going to learn how to fight, find some other manner of magic besides direct targeting damage if he's a spellcaster etc...

though you might want to show him Blindsight 5' radius, from Sword and Fist.

im toying around with a monk/thief-acrobat who's blind. gonna take all that and go totally Daredevil with him. dont expect it to work well, but hey, could be fun.
shadowpavement
12-09-05, 04:15 PM There is always the "Blind Sight 5' Radius" feat from Complete Divine I think.

It's limited enough that it should still make for a roleplaying chalenge but good enough to still let the character be viable.

Just some thoughts.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
somogyi 12-09-05, 02:44 PM	i have a guy that wants his char in my game to be blind. his char was born blind. now wht penalties and/or bonuses should he get?
Tyler Do'Urden 12-09-05, 03:15 PM	He's blind. He can't make Spot checks and everybody he fights has total concealment. He wouldn't really get any bonuses, but if you want to give him a +2 to Listen, most people would be alright with that. If he wants to survive very long, he needs to take Blind-Fight and some class that grants uncanny dodge.
rbrt_Spade 12-09-05, 03:23 PM	Blinded: The character cannot see. He takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class, loses his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any), moves at half speed, and takes a –4 penalty on Search checks and on most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks. All checks and activities that rely on vision (such as reading and Spot checks) automatically fail. All opponents are considered to have total concealment (50% miss chance) to the blinded character. Characters who remain blinded for a long time grow accustomed to these drawbacks and can overcome some of them from the srd. You might want to lower some of the penalities since hes has been blind for so long if your the dm. I do not see how a blind person can adventure.
BobtheBiotitan 12-09-05, 03:24 PM	I agree with the first poster, but this character would not make it very far as a spellcaster because you must see the target to cast at it. Maybe a fighter with those two feats he pointed out.
Some_call_me_Tim 12-09-05, 03:29 PM	i have a guy that wants his char in my game to be blind. his char was born blind. now wht penalties and/or bonuses should he get? Off the top of my head I would say treat him as blinded and then give him some bonuses to counter them: normally blinded means: takes a -2 penalty to Armor Class loses his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any) moves at half speed takes a -4 penalty on Search checks takes a -4 penalty most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks All checks and activities that rely on vision automatically fail. All opponents are considered to have total concealment (50% miss chance) Now to off set that I would give Blind-fight as a bonus feat. Also throw in Uncanny Dodge as an extraordinary ability. Maybe halve the other check penalties and give the person +4 to listen checks. Might allow the person to make balance checks to move at full speed. Another option is keep the normal penalties but give the PC blindsense. Just some ideas never tried it so I don't really know how it balances.
Rulebook 12-09-05, 03:39 PM	dont give him any benifits from being blind. if he's blind he'll have to work extra hard to be a viable character. he'll have to take the blind-fight route on his own if he's going to learn how to fight, find some other manner of magic besides direct targeting damage if he's a spellcaster etc... though you might want to show him Blindsight 5' radius, from Sword and Fist. im toying around with a monk/thief-acrobat who's blind. gonna take all that and go totally Daredevil with him. dont expect it to work well, but hey, could be fun.
shadowpavement 12-09-05, 04:15 PM	There is always the "Blind Sight 5' Radius" feat from Complete Divine I think. It's limited enough that it should still make for a roleplaying chalenge but good enough to still let the character be viable. Just some thoughts.