blindsight [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

blindsight [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
lucas
06-07-05, 05:29 PM quick question

can someone with blindsight see or sense handsigns ie sign language
:confused:
OpheliaWhispers
06-07-05, 05:50 PM I would doubt it. Those are pretty small and intricate gestures. Blindsight is more for knowing WHERE a foe or an ally is in the dark or a fog, or wherever sight is limited to almost nothing, or nothing.
dngnb8
06-07-05, 06:50 PM quick question

can someone with blindsight see or sense handsigns ie sign language
:confused:

no. That isnt blindsight. that is seeing.

It is a general sense, not definitive view
mvincent
06-07-05, 08:33 PM no. That isnt blindsight. that is seeing. It is a general sense, not definitive viewTo be fair, the question was actually pretty reasonable. The name of the ability (blindsight) indicates that it operates very similar to sight, and the RAW description seems to allow for things like back-stabbing and fine work... just not distinguishing color or visual contrast, or reading.

It's not even inconceivable that certain fantastic monsters might be able to discern things in darkness to that degree. But alas, I too would rule against it. Logically, sign language seems to detailed for this, but also by RAW- you can't read with the ability... and techically, sign language is read.

Of course, I would probably allow such races to invent a means of communicating silenting that they are able to use in the dark (just not standard sign language).
coob of highmoor
06-08-05, 10:33 AM cheers for the answer mvincent and not a god daam smart ass about the question, the problem in a game i am in two ninjas talk to each other with blind sight in the dark, the dm said no to this ability but them are argue about this a lot with him!
Callista
06-08-05, 05:43 PM Have them commission a Wondrous Item that gives you unlimited uses of the cantrip "Message". A similar item, the Hand of the Mage, is worth 900 gp.
Jaime_Wolf
06-09-05, 10:23 PM It's just my opinion I suppose, since there's no clear definition, but I'd say it's logical that they could, though it may not be entirely favourable gameplay wise (since D&D rules are based as much on gameplay balance as they are on logic).

Theoretically, the fact that you can't distinguish colour is because blindsight lets you know WHERE things are, not what they actually look like (as for the whole general idea of where they are, that sounds more like blindsense to me). The description seems to suggest that other than the inability to distinguish colour and contrast, you act as you normally see. Thus, using blindsight to "see" sign lanugage would be completely reasonable and logical. From a gameplay perspective, I'd say it depends on the situation and let the DM decide.
mvincent
06-10-05, 01:17 AM using blindsight to "see" sign lanugage would be completely reasonable and logical. From a gameplay perspective, I'd say it depends on the situation and let the DM decide.Certainly. However a 'RAW' interpretation might disallow it because it actually does involve "reading" (same with lip-reading), which is specifically prohibited.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
lucas 06-07-05, 05:29 PM	quick question can someone with blindsight see or sense handsigns ie sign language :confused:
OpheliaWhispers 06-07-05, 05:50 PM	I would doubt it. Those are pretty small and intricate gestures. Blindsight is more for knowing WHERE a foe or an ally is in the dark or a fog, or wherever sight is limited to almost nothing, or nothing.
dngnb8 06-07-05, 06:50 PM	quick question can someone with blindsight see or sense handsigns ie sign language :confused: no. That isnt blindsight. that is seeing. It is a general sense, not definitive view
mvincent 06-07-05, 08:33 PM	no. That isnt blindsight. that is seeing. It is a general sense, not definitive viewTo be fair, the question was actually pretty reasonable. The name of the ability (blindsight) indicates that it operates very similar to sight, and the RAW description seems to allow for things like back-stabbing and fine work... just not distinguishing color or visual contrast, or reading. It's not even inconceivable that certain fantastic monsters might be able to discern things in darkness to that degree. But alas, I too would rule against it. Logically, sign language seems to detailed for this, but also by RAW- you can't read with the ability... and techically, sign language is read. Of course, I would probably allow such races to invent a means of communicating silenting that they are able to use in the dark (just not standard sign language).
coob of highmoor 06-08-05, 10:33 AM	cheers for the answer mvincent and not a god daam smart ass about the question, the problem in a game i am in two ninjas talk to each other with blind sight in the dark, the dm said no to this ability but them are argue about this a lot with him!
Callista 06-08-05, 05:43 PM	Have them commission a Wondrous Item that gives you unlimited uses of the cantrip "Message". A similar item, the Hand of the Mage, is worth 900 gp.
Jaime_Wolf 06-09-05, 10:23 PM	It's just my opinion I suppose, since there's no clear definition, but I'd say it's logical that they could, though it may not be entirely favourable gameplay wise (since D&D rules are based as much on gameplay balance as they are on logic). Theoretically, the fact that you can't distinguish colour is because blindsight lets you know WHERE things are, not what they actually look like (as for the whole general idea of where they are, that sounds more like blindsense to me). The description seems to suggest that other than the inability to distinguish colour and contrast, you act as you normally see. Thus, using blindsight to "see" sign lanugage would be completely reasonable and logical. From a gameplay perspective, I'd say it depends on the situation and let the DM decide.
mvincent 06-10-05, 01:17 AM	using blindsight to "see" sign lanugage would be completely reasonable and logical. From a gameplay perspective, I'd say it depends on the situation and let the DM decide.Certainly. However a 'RAW' interpretation might disallow it because it actually does involve "reading" (same with lip-reading), which is specifically prohibited.