[RPG] How to rule a permanently blind PC in D&D 4e

character-creationconditionsdnd-4ehomebrew

One of my players wants to build a totally blind character, and while we've run RP-only disadvantages in the past, this time around he wants mechanics to back it up. He's interested in taking on the challenge of overcoming the mechanical disadvantage, but so far as I can tell the system has no rules for it, despite coming close. Blinded is a condition that more accurately reflects having dirt thrown in your eyes, and seems to explicitly not apply in this case:

Blinded

  • The creature can’t see, which means its targets have total concealment against it.
  • The creature takes a -10 penalty to Perception checks.
  • The creature grants combat advantage.
  • The creature can’t flank.

A blinded creature cannot have combat advantage against anyone.

This condition applies to creatures that have been temporarily blinded, such as by exposure to brilliant light or a magical darkness clouding their eyes. It doesn’t apply to creatures that are naturally blind (such as oozes).

Blind is both a keyword and a sense set aside for monsters, but they always have an alternate sense:

blind
A blind creature relies on special senses, such as blindsight or
tremorsense, to see within a specified range, beyond which the
creature can’t see. The creature is immune to gaze attacks and cannot
be blinded.

So, how might I mechanically represent a truly, naturally blind PC that also does not have any alternate senses?

Inflicting the blinded condition permanently looks simplest, but it doesn't feel right and I'd like to explore other options. I know the player has done a lot of research and plans to augment the PC with feats/features/items to help compensate whatever penalties this will give him, so don't worry about 'playable' blindness; he feels he can make that happen regardless.

I realize this question sounds like it's asking for rampant speculation, but please cite (preferably 4e) mechanical inspiration. [consideration of potential ramifications in play is also welcome]

Best Answer

Give him the Blind keyword and Tremorsense 0

The Blind keyword states that the creature uses special senses to 'see' within a specified range. The quotes are intentional because see is used as a game term here.

The Blinded condition and the many vision-obscuring powers define not seeing something as it having total concealment against you.

You can give him the special sense of Tremorsense (to represent his sense of touch) with a range of 0. This follows the rules of Blind by giving him a special sense but it still keeps the feeling that he can't interact easily with creatures outside of his own square.

The mechanical results of this are:

  • All of the characters targets outside of the characters square have total concealment against the character.
  • The character is immune to gaze attacks.
  • The character cannot be blinded.
  • The character always has line of sight to his own square.
  • The character is always aware of creatures in his own square.

He does not suffer the following consequences from the Blinded condition:

  • Take a -10 to perception checks
  • Cannot grant Combat Advantage
  • Cannot flank

Note that anybody that has total concealment against him will get Combat Advantage on their attacks. The important point here is that if he can remove the opponents concealment through an ability, then that opponent doesn't get Combat Advantage just because the character is blind.

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