Playing a blind character in 3.5

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For the next D&D campaign, I fancied a real challenge, and the DM suggested a character with some kind of handicap. An idea formed in my head of a blind monk.

Thing is, we can't just permanantly apply the blindness rule as it'd be kinda unplayable, so obviously certain advantages will be given to balance it out.

Basically, we're looking for suggestions on how this could be done. What bonuses should be given to balance things?

 

I'm thinking something along the lines of Marvel Comics' Daredevil character. He's blind but all his other senses are dramatically enhanced. Perhaps this will give you some good ideas.

 

At the moment we're thinking something along the lines of a modified Blindsense.

 

My advise is something like this:

Character is treated as blind for all sight-dependent effects (cannot read, immune to gaze attacks, unaffected by visual concealment, etc).

If you don't mind something messy, every time any roll happens that is affected by the character's blindness (enemy attacks, character's attacks, skill rolls, etc.), the player can roll to negate the effects of blindness. That would mean an extra roll for the player every time the enemy attacks them (and every time they attack), but a chance (probability set by DM) to have full AC, including Dex bonus, when they attack. If you're playing a monk, the DM may even include something like adding your Wis bonus to the roll.

If you don't want an extra roll for every action, you may do something like one roll per engagement, hour, day or something, with the results impacting your character for that entire time.

If you want something simple and consistent, simply half-penalties from blindness would do.

In all cases, I'd suggest a huge bonus to any sound-sensitive roll (listen checks, etc). That may include sensitivity to sound attacks, though.

 

I wouldn't get crazy with the rule changes, it will make the game drag. When DMing back in the day, one of my players wanted to play a Blind Elf Fighter/Mage, the Elven Knight Kit from the "Elves of Evermeet" expansion for the Forgotten Realms. I ok'd it, but gave the character a -2 penalty to all rolls that sight would effect. THACO, AC, some Saves, etc... Hence a saving throw to avoid a fireball would be affected, but not a saving throw vs poison. But to make up for this, you need to somehow compensate the character to offset this penalty. Maybe by allowing an extra spell level, like a specialist wizard. Or for monks, give him an extra feat or more skill points per level, depending on what edition your playing. In my campaign, I gave the Elven Knight a pendant, really a family heirloom, that gave him various powers, dependant upon his character level, something similar to a "Moonblade". Whatever makes the game more enjoyable will work though.

 

Depending on what kind of game you're playing, immunity to any effects dependant on or affecting sight may well be bonus enough. That means invisibility, blur, mirror image, and the like mean nothing to this character. Similarly, color spray, blindness spells, and the like are a lost cause against him.

Of course, if you're fighting ettins on a frozen tundra, that may not be so important as if you're taking on a cabal of mages.

 

Best not have a bard in your group then. His singing would mess up your hearing, hehe.