Blindness (condition)

Blindness describes the complete physical lack of light perception, a circumstance resulting from magical or chemical inducement, injury to the eyes, a bestowed curse or the result of disease. Characters plunged into complete darkness are also blind, though this is an outward effect.

Usually, blindness is overcome over time, with the spell cure blindness (which can also cause blindness) or through the use of restoration. Curses, on the other hand, must be removed through making amends, though sometimes a remove curse will suffice. However, circumstances could arise that makes it impossible to obtain these remedies, so that a character might have to live with being blind for months. Nonetheless, it is possible for a character to be effective, despite his or her blindness, and some players may even want to run a character of this kind.

Adjusting to Blindness

Initially, those struck blind or plunged into darkness are severely disabled. In battle, they suffer a -8 penalty to hit, and naturally they are limited in a hundred ways with regards to locating themselves, recognising associates or even managing to dress and eat when they cannot see. Usually, in the first few weeks, blind characters must be assigned a "helper" who arranges their clothes and assists in feeding. It's probable that a blind adventurer would need to hire an attendant full-time, since orienting oneself in strange places and with meeting new people offers many challenges.

Within two months, however, the blind person can be taught how to eat and dress, or can adopt strategies for getting about with the help of a guide. A blind druid could rely upon animal friends, while other characters may be able to similarly gain the same benefit from the druid in the party. With each month of blindness, the character gains benefits from his or her other senses, reducing