Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rathje 08-20-06, 02:16 AM	Alright, I'm trying to make a playable blind combatant. It's a specific character of mine that I made a couple years ago. He was great with a sword, but terrified of blood. That didn't come up too much, as he was a thief and a charlatan. Regardless, it was this irrational fear of blood that prevented him from fighting too much. Seeing it paralyzed him with the thought of that being his blood being spilled. Anyhow, moving right along, I'm trying to see how it would work out if he blind-folded himself in combat. Before I begin, it's a DC 0 Listen check to hear someone in combat, correct? And if one beats a Listen DC by 20 or more, one pinpoints the exact location, right? If that's accurate, then I need to beat a Listen DC of 20 to know what square an opponent is in. ABILITIES Decent Wisdom FEATS Blind-Fight Skill Focus (Listen) Keen-Eared Scout (PHBII) SKILLS Max out Listen (obviously) That's all that's really jumped out at me. He'd be a Fighter/Rogue, probably. Maybe replacing Fighter with the Thug variant from Unearthed Arcana. Things like Weapon Focus/Specialization (Longsword) would fit in there, as well, but that's unnecessary when listing things to beat the Listen DC. So, does anyone have any recommendations? Also, I'd only ask from a DM that I would be able to discern who's an ally, as I've spent time with them and can recognize how their movements sound (keeping in mind this would be a character with max Listen and feats to boost it). Would you, as a DM, allow that? Thanks in advance, Rathje
KurenaiYami 08-20-06, 02:22 AM	I believe there is an actual feat that gives you Blindsense out to 30 feet. Useful if you are blind. Not entirely sure what book that is in though...anybody out there know?
Xaphiel 08-20-06, 02:46 AM	Hear the Unseen is a feat in the Complete Adventurer that requires a listen check (Oh my, how fortuitous! Your character happens to be *great* at that!) to pinpoint creatures out to a certain range. Also, a spell called listening lorecall which is from the same book allows someone with enough ranks in listen to gain blindsense.. or is it blindsight..? Sorry, don't have the book with me at the moment, but I hope this helps at least a little.
BobSutan 08-20-06, 02:59 AM	BLIND Feats (from Blind Fury--see below): Blind-Fight + Combat Awareness + Combat Focus + Hear the Unseen + Keen-Eared Scout + Quick Reconnoiter + Skill Focus: Listen Check out these blind builds that are already out there: http://boards1.wizards.com/showpost.php?p=9683990&postcount=13 Blind Fury (mine) http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=681413 Blind Monk http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=680470 Blind Dwarf http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=678925 Unnamed Blind Character
Free1983 08-20-06, 08:38 AM	I like your idea of maximizing the listen skill to circumvent the loss of vision, but... I haven't found your rule of beating the DC by 20 => pinpoint location AND If your fighting with more than two people, I (as a DM) would impose higher DC's (and make them higher when more people are participating in the fight). It's only logic that if 5 people around you are fighting it will be way harder to pinpoint one's location. But I still like the idea :D
skogenlives 08-20-06, 09:50 AM	You do realize that, if you are a blind rogue, you CANNOT ever make sneak attacks? As well as taking 50% miss chances (somewhat mitigated with blind-fight), and -2 to AC as well as losing all Dex to AC. Basically, even if you could make a blind character work, a rogue loses many abilities, more so than any other class I think, when they are blinded. On a side note, why would someone who had a phobia of blood become an adventurer? It seems the wrong career choice to me... ~Skogen~
BobSutan 08-24-06, 05:03 PM	I believe Uncanny Dodge would offset the negatives to AC and Dex. And combat focus + combate awareness gives blindsight 5' which should allow for those Sneak Attack should he be doing so from melee (once he's struck a foe).