Blindness and spells? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Blindness and spells? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Archangel
01-24-05, 08:04 AM What spells can a blind person cast?
If he uses listen checks can he cast flamestrikes and fireballs at enemies?
If he summons monsters or animals can he tell then which are allies and which enemies?
smrtgmp
01-24-05, 08:09 AM Flame strike and fireball dont require targets, so you could cast them just fine blind. You just designate the spell's point of origen (such as "230ft that-a-way"). I'm not sure what exactly you would have to do to pinpoint the squares your enemies are in.
Archangel
01-24-05, 08:19 AM Listen check that is DC +20.
smrtgmp
01-24-05, 08:31 AM Well, if you can pinpoint the square, you can definately hit them with area effect spells. Anything that doesnt have a target is fair game (including rays, touch spells, energy missiles, etc).
Zitchas
01-24-05, 10:04 AM Yes, a listen check should most deffinitly be able to help you out, although I don't think that will let you cast target specific effects. Such as magic missile. I suppose you could use them, but you'd suffer the normal miss chance that a blind attacker would be subject to. Note that Blind fight could deffinitly help you out. One thing to take into considerion is that I do believe most spells suffer a chance of arcane spell failure when casting blind, since you can't see your gestures or visualy identify your spell components, and such like.

And I think there's a feat by the name of Blind Casting which both negates the arcane spell failure and either eliminates or severally reduces the miss chance.
Gnomish Zombie
01-24-05, 10:31 AM he can cast clairvoyance :P, and then anything

I'm pretty sure you can't target a creature with a non-touch/non-ranged touch spell if you don't see it. Hence the problem with spellcasters and improved invis (would be real cool if someone could contradict me with a quote. I've had enough of improved invis rogues killing my magis)
dobrimag
01-25-05, 11:35 AM I am also interested in blindness and spellcasting. Does anyone actualy know where in the books i can find rulings on this? Official rullings that is.
I recall something about needing a clear line of sight to cast a spell, but i am not sure if it is about blindness or not.
Derren S.
01-25-05, 11:42 AM You can cast all spells while blind.

"Target" spells can be aimed by touch (and only by touch), area or effect spells can be aimed like a weapon (for things like acid arrow) or by direction like 20 ft. forward for fireball or insect plague.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Archangel 01-24-05, 08:04 AM	What spells can a blind person cast? If he uses listen checks can he cast flamestrikes and fireballs at enemies? If he summons monsters or animals can he tell then which are allies and which enemies?
smrtgmp 01-24-05, 08:09 AM	Flame strike and fireball dont require targets, so you could cast them just fine blind. You just designate the spell's point of origen (such as "230ft that-a-way"). I'm not sure what exactly you would have to do to pinpoint the squares your enemies are in.
Archangel 01-24-05, 08:19 AM	Listen check that is DC +20.
smrtgmp 01-24-05, 08:31 AM	Well, if you can pinpoint the square, you can definately hit them with area effect spells. Anything that doesnt have a target is fair game (including rays, touch spells, energy missiles, etc).
Zitchas 01-24-05, 10:04 AM	Yes, a listen check should most deffinitly be able to help you out, although I don't think that will let you cast target specific effects. Such as magic missile. I suppose you could use them, but you'd suffer the normal miss chance that a blind attacker would be subject to. Note that Blind fight could deffinitly help you out. One thing to take into considerion is that I do believe most spells suffer a chance of arcane spell failure when casting blind, since you can't see your gestures or visualy identify your spell components, and such like. And I think there's a feat by the name of Blind Casting which both negates the arcane spell failure and either eliminates or severally reduces the miss chance.
Gnomish Zombie 01-24-05, 10:31 AM	he can cast clairvoyance :P, and then anything I'm pretty sure you can't target a creature with a non-touch/non-ranged touch spell if you don't see it. Hence the problem with spellcasters and improved invis (would be real cool if someone could contradict me with a quote. I've had enough of improved invis rogues killing my magis)
dobrimag 01-25-05, 11:35 AM	I am also interested in blindness and spellcasting. Does anyone actualy know where in the books i can find rulings on this? Official rullings that is. I recall something about needing a clear line of sight to cast a spell, but i am not sure if it is about blindness or not.
Derren S. 01-25-05, 11:42 AM	You can cast all spells while blind. "Target" spells can be aimed by touch (and only by touch), area or effect spells can be aimed like a weapon (for things like acid arrow) or by direction like 20 ft. forward for fireball or insect plague.