Blind PC's and a Dragon? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Blind PC's and a Dragon? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gneral Kass
06-14-06, 09:14 PM My DM doesn't have acces to the net so I'm asking this question for him. Our party has happened upon a dragon who wasn't very happy to see us. Luckily, this was near the end of our session so this rules question let us stop early.

My character happens to be blind... as in physically can't see. My DM allowed me to make a custom Prestige Class for her so she can get around and still fight but that's besides the point. What my DM wanted to know was, would my character suffer any penalties from the dragon's Frightful Presence ability since she can't actually "see the Dragon's presence". She's simply told that what she's getting ready to engage is a Dragon.

Anyway, we were just wondering. Thanks in advance!
Quaoar
06-14-06, 09:29 PM What my DM wanted to know was, would my character suffer any penalties from the dragon's Frightful Presence ability since she can't actually "see the Dragon's presence". She's simply told that what she's getting ready to engage is a Dragon.

According to the MM, a dragon's Frightful Presence effects all creatures within a radius of 30 feet times the dragon's age who have fewer HD. There's no mention of line of sight being required on the side of either party. So yes, your character would be affected. Even if you can't see it, that dragon's hungry roar should be more than scary enough.
shadowofjedis
06-14-06, 09:32 PM I'd say yes, simply because a frightful presence would include not just sight but sounds and ofcourse knowledge of it. Knowing the tales of a dragon, and hearing a fellow pc shout "ITS A DRAGON!" and then hearing the loud roar of a dragon would scare you just as bad as seeing it
Dag
06-14-06, 09:41 PM Yes. Still frightened. It's not a gaze attack.
A good thing too lest there be packs of blind PCs given extraordinary prestige classes and powers running about slaying every dragon in the realm.
Blindness should not be turned into a gift for a PC - being blinded should suck, it shouldn't be the pathway to untold powers that bypass all manner of special powers and such. I'm sick of blind characters wanting untold abilities to do away with being blind and turning their blindness into qualities that make them better than sighted characters.
Gneral Kass
06-14-06, 09:50 PM Well, thankies. That was our thought process too but he wanted me to ask just to be sure. Thanks for the info guys. Good to know we can come in with a question and get friendly, constructive responses. :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gneral Kass 06-14-06, 09:14 PM	My DM doesn't have acces to the net so I'm asking this question for him. Our party has happened upon a dragon who wasn't very happy to see us. Luckily, this was near the end of our session so this rules question let us stop early. My character happens to be blind... as in physically can't see. My DM allowed me to make a custom Prestige Class for her so she can get around and still fight but that's besides the point. What my DM wanted to know was, would my character suffer any penalties from the dragon's Frightful Presence ability since she can't actually "see the Dragon's presence". She's simply told that what she's getting ready to engage is a Dragon. Anyway, we were just wondering. Thanks in advance!
Quaoar 06-14-06, 09:29 PM	What my DM wanted to know was, would my character suffer any penalties from the dragon's Frightful Presence ability since she can't actually "see the Dragon's presence". She's simply told that what she's getting ready to engage is a Dragon. According to the MM, a dragon's Frightful Presence effects all creatures within a radius of 30 feet times the dragon's age who have fewer HD. There's no mention of line of sight being required on the side of either party. So yes, your character would be affected. Even if you can't see it, that dragon's hungry roar should be more than scary enough.
shadowofjedis 06-14-06, 09:32 PM	I'd say yes, simply because a frightful presence would include not just sight but sounds and ofcourse knowledge of it. Knowing the tales of a dragon, and hearing a fellow pc shout "ITS A DRAGON!" and then hearing the loud roar of a dragon would scare you just as bad as seeing it
Dag 06-14-06, 09:41 PM	Yes. Still frightened. It's not a gaze attack. A good thing too lest there be packs of blind PCs given extraordinary prestige classes and powers running about slaying every dragon in the realm. Blindness should not be turned into a gift for a PC - being blinded should suck, it shouldn't be the pathway to untold powers that bypass all manner of special powers and such. I'm sick of blind characters wanting untold abilities to do away with being blind and turning their blindness into qualities that make them better than sighted characters.
Gneral Kass 06-14-06, 09:50 PM	Well, thankies. That was our thought process too but he wanted me to ask just to be sure. Thanks for the info guys. Good to know we can come in with a question and get friendly, constructive responses. :)