[RPG] What methods are there to remove, prevent, or otherwise safeguard from penalties from Light Blindness

dnd-3.5e

Considering that most adventuring parties will deal with light, and there are a few good templates and races for stealthy types that include Light Blindness (or at least Light Sensitivity) what is out there to counteract this in someone who suffers from it? I know of a few items that offer bonuses to saves against harmful light effects, but would these protect against Light Blindness/Sensitivity as well? And what would be the best (price and effect wise) options to protect against Light Blindness? And the best for Light Sensitivity?

Best Answer

Minimizing Light Sensitivity & Light Blindness

Both

  • Both light sensitivity and light blindness are mitigated by the feat Daylight Adaptation (RoE 108).

Light Sensitivity

  • To ameliorate light sensitivity, use the alchemical item sundark goggles (RDr 122, 123) (10 gp; 0 lbs.), which say that

    The smoked lenses of these goggles block light. They are typically fixed into a band of canvas that clasps together at the back to keep the goggles from falling off. Sundark goggles negate the dazzled condition experienced by a creature with light sensitivity while in bright illumination. As a side effect, they grant the wearer a +2 circumstance bonus on saving throws against gaze attacks. A creature wearing sundark goggles can’t use a gaze attack, since other creatures can’t see its eyes. Creatures without low-light vision or darkvision that wear sundark goggles take a –2 penalty on Search and Spot checks.

  • If on a budget, light sensitivity can be ameliorated with shaders (RoE 103) (1 sp; 0 lbs.) which

    are goggles of a sort that fit over an orc's eyes with a loop of leather tightened behind the ears. Made from a piece of wood or bamboo with a thin slot carved in it to see out of, shaders negate an orc's light sensitivity but impose a -1 penalty on Spot checks.

    Whether non-orcs gain any benefit from shaders is the DM's decision.

Light Blindness

  • The 1st-level drow Domain spell cloak of dark power [abjur] (SpC 48) for 1 min./level removes the creature touched's light blindness penalties and grants the creature touched a +4 bonus to saving throws versus light and darkness spells.
  • The 2nd-level Sor/Wiz spell shadow shroud [evoc] (DrU 62-3) as an immediate action for 1 round/level grants the caster a +5 bonus to competence bonus to Hide skill checks in areas of darkness and negates the caster's penalties and other "harmful effects" due to the caster's light blindness and light vulnerability traits.

Alternately: Minimize the symptoms

Much longer than this is the list of items and spells that prevent or mitigate blindness or dazzling in general: the Raptor's Mask (MIC), Goggles of the Golden Sun (MIC 205), or the spell Vision of the Omniscient Eye (DM 74). You'd still be Light Blind or Light Sensitive going down this route, but its effects would be minimized or negated.

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