Blind caster [Archive] - Wizards Community

Blind caster [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
qsoe
02-02-08, 07:53 PM Can a blind caster still use lightning bolt or burning hands?
Seeker95
02-02-08, 10:59 PM Yes, s/he can. These spells require line of effect, not line of sight. Although spells that require targeting your foe may require line of sight, these do not.
qsoe
02-03-08, 02:15 PM Can he cast daze?
Xiuhcoatl
02-03-08, 02:55 PM They can cast any spell unless some spell specifically requires eyesight.
Sildatorak
02-03-08, 11:07 PM Basically any spell that doesn't require a ranged touch attack or a target is still castable. Spells that have "target: [creature/object] touched" will still be usable, too.
Tedronai
02-04-08, 12:08 AM Basically any spell that doesn't require a ranged touch attack or a target is still castable. Spells that have "target: [creature/object] touched" will still be usable, too.

A ranged touch attack will technically still be possible, but rather simply incredibly unlikely to succeed. They would have to pick a square to target, make the attack roll, and would still have the 50% miss chance for total concealment.
qsoe
02-04-08, 08:10 PM They can cast any spell unless some spell specifically requires eyesight.
There are very few such spells, and Magic Missile for example would require it logically. And how will a blind caster target someone with a Finger of death? "The owner of the nice tenor voice"?
Area spells, and touch spells are obvious, but others? How would they identify targets?
It were ridiculous, if an enchanter would not be hindered by blindness at all.
tyrecian
02-04-08, 11:43 PM Don't forget the familliar, can yours talk? he could help out with targetting. You could also get a familiar with blindsense (pseudodragon, maybe?)

It is weird that you could cast a lightning bold and hit every time, but i suppose its RAW since you don't have to target. I guess that could be very nasty indeed. Illusions would still be viable as well (silent image as walls, etc.).

guessin' you just gotta go through and make sure you are picking good spells. Shouldn't be too hard to get that fixed though, blindness... it is definately going to get you killed... :P

50% movement, no run, same as darkness... pretty nasty. One melee with you out of spells, or unable to make a listen check and it could be over (same with a rogue NPC who would pretty much autohide when he were moving silently, since he doesn't have to hide, ouch).

Not to mention that you could think you were talking to the county sherrif in the jailhouse, when in reality you were surrounded by dark elf wizards and be talking to an illythid overlord (assuming you didnt wake up for the journey, bed on a TFDisc).
qsoe
02-05-08, 06:56 AM My character is not blind, he intend to use Blindness against enemy wizards, as they are likely to fail their Fort save. But according to the previous posts and RAW, it will not be much of a disadvantage for them as they do not usually run :D

blindness... it is definately going to get you killed... :PBut as it seems, it will not get THEM killed :(
Father Dale
02-05-08, 08:54 AM No, it is a SEVERE disadvantage to a caster to be blinded.

Its one thing to try and roleplay a 'blind' character from the beginning; its quite another to have your sight taken from you in the middle of a combat. The effects are quite devastating:

unable to cast spells that have a target entry, other than personal or touch spells; 50% miss chance on all attacks; no certainty as to the location of enemies and allies, making casting any attack spell a risky proposition; loss of dex to AC, making susceptible to sneak attacks; -2 to AC; move at half speed; -4 to Str and Dex based skills; unable to use scrolls

Blindness is an excellent spell to use against other casters that likely have poor Fort saves.
Sildatorak
02-05-08, 09:43 PM A ranged touch attack will technically still be possible, but rather simply incredibly unlikely to succeed. They would have to pick a square to target, make the attack roll, and would still have the 50% miss chance for total concealment.

Ray: Some effects are rays. You aim a ray as if using a ranged weapon, though typically you make a ranged touch attack rather than a normal ranged attack. As with a ranged weapon, you can fire into the dark or at an invisible creature and hope you hit something.

Ranged Attacks: With a ranged weapon, you can shoot or throw at any target that is within the weapon’s maximum range and in line of sight.

The SRD is self-contradicting on this one. I think that the entry on ranged attacks is the primary source here and the person writing up the bit about ray spells was unaware that ranged attacks required line of sight.
pigknight
02-05-08, 11:55 PM He can, I just won't let him into my party, seriously why does every other person need a blind/mute/deaf (sometimes all three) character?
tyrecian
02-06-08, 01:18 AM seriously why does every other person need a blind/mute/deaf (sometimes all three) character?

laff, pallys = see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil :D

Yes its a fun debuff, and does effect casters, especially depending on what spells they have memmed for the day, however typically blind is used against melee as it gives them a 50% miss chance to hit, and makes it easy to 'kite' them around, since they have reduced movement... Although deafness is weaksauce (20% chance to fail cast with verbal) it is the caster variant :P
Sildatorak
02-06-08, 11:01 AM He can, I just won't let him into my party, seriously why does every other person need a blind/mute/deaf (sometimes all three) character?

My character is not blind, he intend to use Blindness against enemy wizards, as they are likely to fail their Fort save.

You know what they say happens when you assume.
Tsuul
02-06-08, 06:30 PM It makes a pig out of... nevermind.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
qsoe 02-02-08, 07:53 PM	Can a blind caster still use lightning bolt or burning hands?
Seeker95 02-02-08, 10:59 PM	Yes, s/he can. These spells require line of effect, not line of sight. Although spells that require targeting your foe may require line of sight, these do not.
qsoe 02-03-08, 02:15 PM	Can he cast daze?
Xiuhcoatl 02-03-08, 02:55 PM	They can cast any spell unless some spell specifically requires eyesight.
Sildatorak 02-03-08, 11:07 PM	Basically any spell that doesn't require a ranged touch attack or a target is still castable. Spells that have "target: [creature/object] touched" will still be usable, too.
Tedronai 02-04-08, 12:08 AM	Basically any spell that doesn't require a ranged touch attack or a target is still castable. Spells that have "target: [creature/object] touched" will still be usable, too. A ranged touch attack will technically still be possible, but rather simply incredibly unlikely to succeed. They would have to pick a square to target, make the attack roll, and would still have the 50% miss chance for total concealment.
qsoe 02-04-08, 08:10 PM	They can cast any spell unless some spell specifically requires eyesight. There are very few such spells, and Magic Missile for example would require it logically. And how will a blind caster target someone with a Finger of death? "The owner of the nice tenor voice"? Area spells, and touch spells are obvious, but others? How would they identify targets? It were ridiculous, if an enchanter would not be hindered by blindness at all.
tyrecian 02-04-08, 11:43 PM	Don't forget the familliar, can yours talk? he could help out with targetting. You could also get a familiar with blindsense (pseudodragon, maybe?) It is weird that you could cast a lightning bold and hit every time, but i suppose its RAW since you don't have to target. I guess that could be very nasty indeed. Illusions would still be viable as well (silent image as walls, etc.). guessin' you just gotta go through and make sure you are picking good spells. Shouldn't be too hard to get that fixed though, blindness... it is definately going to get you killed... :P 50% movement, no run, same as darkness... pretty nasty. One melee with you out of spells, or unable to make a listen check and it could be over (same with a rogue NPC who would pretty much autohide when he were moving silently, since he doesn't have to hide, ouch). Not to mention that you could think you were talking to the county sherrif in the jailhouse, when in reality you were surrounded by dark elf wizards and be talking to an illythid overlord (assuming you didnt wake up for the journey, bed on a TFDisc).
qsoe 02-05-08, 06:56 AM	My character is not blind, he intend to use Blindness against enemy wizards, as they are likely to fail their Fort save. But according to the previous posts and RAW, it will not be much of a disadvantage for them as they do not usually run :D blindness... it is definately going to get you killed... :PBut as it seems, it will not get THEM killed :(
Father Dale 02-05-08, 08:54 AM	No, it is a SEVERE disadvantage to a caster to be blinded. Its one thing to try and roleplay a 'blind' character from the beginning; its quite another to have your sight taken from you in the middle of a combat. The effects are quite devastating: unable to cast spells that have a target entry, other than personal or touch spells; 50% miss chance on all attacks; no certainty as to the location of enemies and allies, making casting any attack spell a risky proposition; loss of dex to AC, making susceptible to sneak attacks; -2 to AC; move at half speed; -4 to Str and Dex based skills; unable to use scrolls Blindness is an excellent spell to use against other casters that likely have poor Fort saves.
Sildatorak 02-05-08, 09:43 PM	A ranged touch attack will technically still be possible, but rather simply incredibly unlikely to succeed. They would have to pick a square to target, make the attack roll, and would still have the 50% miss chance for total concealment. Ray: Some effects are rays. You aim a ray as if using a ranged weapon, though typically you make a ranged touch attack rather than a normal ranged attack. As with a ranged weapon, you can fire into the dark or at an invisible creature and hope you hit something. Ranged Attacks: With a ranged weapon, you can shoot or throw at any target that is within the weapon’s maximum range and in line of sight. The SRD is self-contradicting on this one. I think that the entry on ranged attacks is the primary source here and the person writing up the bit about ray spells was unaware that ranged attacks required line of sight.
pigknight 02-05-08, 11:55 PM	He can, I just won't let him into my party, seriously why does every other person need a blind/mute/deaf (sometimes all three) character?
tyrecian 02-06-08, 01:18 AM	seriously why does every other person need a blind/mute/deaf (sometimes all three) character? laff, pallys = see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil :D Yes its a fun debuff, and does effect casters, especially depending on what spells they have memmed for the day, however typically blind is used against melee as it gives them a 50% miss chance to hit, and makes it easy to 'kite' them around, since they have reduced movement... Although deafness is weaksauce (20% chance to fail cast with verbal) it is the caster variant :P
Sildatorak 02-06-08, 11:01 AM	He can, I just won't let him into my party, seriously why does every other person need a blind/mute/deaf (sometimes all three) character? My character is not blind, he intend to use Blindness against enemy wizards, as they are likely to fail their Fort save. You know what they say happens when you assume.
Tsuul 02-06-08, 06:30 PM	It makes a pig out of... nevermind.