(A rework of 'Blind Since Birth' by idolatrys on DNDBeyond.com)
"The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision."
-Helen Keller
A young halfling, visor dark with sun glass, pores over a lich's safe as her accomplices idle elsewhere in the master suite. Lockpick clicking under deft fingers, she is almost done when she senses it. Her companions drop their spoils; only now catching on to the incoming danger as the young rogue has already her readied her crossbow and holy water. Rotten flesh. Their thief is never wrong.
An old elf, hunched and weak, taps a cane restlessly against a guard's foot, joints creaking and pushed to tears. The sentry -- swamped with discomfort and pity -- temporarily abandons his post to fetch a squire for the poor fellow, his armor clinking noisily into the distance. Finally alone, the senior grins. With practiced grace, his quarterstaff slams into a false wall as the groaning stone twists to reveal the hidden passage within. It is much easier to detect when you can hear the rats scurrying on the other side.
Description:
An incident in your distant past has left you without your sight, whether through physical or magical means. When was it? How did it happen? Why did it take your eyes, and only your eyes? Someday fate may tell; for against all odds, you have thrived. After much suffering and many years of practice, you have refined motes of navigability usually reserved for wild creatures; these motes include hearing, touch, and smell. Perhaps you are a charlatan, using your state to disarm your foes before you strike. Or perhaps you are a veteran, so well attuned to the battlefield that not even cataracts could force you to retire. So skilled are you at these other senses that adventuring may even seem like a piece of cake, in the end. You have blindsense and tremorsense.
- Skill Proficiencies: You are proficient in Perception and a choice of Sleight of Hand, Stealth, History, Deception, or Persuasion.
- Tool Proficiencies: Pick one set of Artisan's Tools. You are also proficient in a quarterstaff which doubles as a cane OR one simple weapon of your choice.
- Languages: You are proficient in up to two languages of your choice, but are unable to read or write in these languages.
- Equipment: A pouch containing 10gp, a set of common clothes, one set of Artisan's Tools, a quarterstaff which doubles as a walking cane OR a simple weapon, an explorer's pack, and a keepsake of your choice.
What was your character blinded by? If you need some help selecting the event in question or if it does not matter to you, you may choose from this table:
| d8 | Source of Blinding |
|---|---|
| 1 | Accident |
| 2 | Battle |
| 3 | Disease |
| 4 | Ritual |
| 5 | Birth |
| 6 | Curse |
| 7 | Ally |
| 8 | Unknown |
You use blindsight and tremorsense to navigate the battlefield, every bit as capable and deadly as your party.
Blindsight allows a creature to perceive their surroundings within a specific radius as well as a sighted creature by utilizing their other senses.
At level 1 your sense of hearing has a radius of 60 ft.
At level 1 your sense of smell has a radius of 30 ft.
These each increase by 15 ft. at levels 5, 10, 15, and 20.
The ranges for sense of touch and taste stay 5 ft., regardless of level.
Tremorsense allows a creature to detect and pinpoint the source of vibrations within a specific radius:
- The source (target) of the vibrations must be connected to the same ground or surface as the creature for this skill to work.
- This skill does not work on detection of flying or incorporeal targets.
- At level 1 the radius for Tremorsense is 30 ft. This increases by 15 ft. at levels 5, 10, 15, and 20.
There are a couple of skill check and combat suggestions that your DM may allow in order to suit your player character's unique circumstances:
Skill check suggestions:
- Advantage to smell, proprioception, and hearing-based Perception checks; but automatic failure of sight-based Perception checks.
- Situationally, disadvantage to Intimidation checks or advantage to Persuasion and Deception checks involving feigning helplessness.
- Situationally, disadvantage to Insight checks involving facial cues but advantage to insight checks involving sound cues.
- Situationally, disadvantage to Investigation or Survival checks involving visual clues but advantage to Investigation or Survival checks relying heavily on smell, taste, proprioception, or sound.
Combat suggestions:
- Disadvantage to ranged attacks and spells on foes outside of blindsight and tremorsense range.
- Vulnerability to sound-based damage (eg. thunder) and stunned by the deafened condition
- Immune to the blinded condition, unencumbered by darkness or invisibility.
- Situationally, enemy creatures may or may not benefit from cover when attempting to hide; staying still may restore the benefits of the cover.
Suggested Characteristics
Here are some suggested traits for your character:
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | The hand I've been dealt in life has made me surlier than most; when you are like me, you need thick skin. |
| 2 | In battle, I am incredibly disciplined; I couldn't stand it if a comrade were to end up like me. |
| 3 | Trials and tribulations are the best tutors; I am grateful my mind was improved by my new perspective. |
| 4 | Life is life. My sight was taken from me years ago; why waste the tears? |
| 5 | My complicated situation has made me an incredible wisecracker. I see smiles in every -- oh, sorry, too forward? |
| 6 | I am like Loki; adaptive and cunning. My blindness is not my weakness -- those that insist so are fools. |
| 7 | I am easily confused by the toils of sighted people, especially art and writing. |
| 8 | Some pity me for my past. I don't view it that way; without my eyes, I am at peace. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sight. What was once mine shall be mine again. (Any) |
| 2 | Revenge. It's not enough to undo what is done; I want lepers to quake at the man who slighted *me*. (Evil) |
| 3 | Knowledge. There is more to life than the senses. I find academic pursuits more fulfilling. (Any) |
| 4 | Improvement. I am able, but my battle prowess still leaves some to be desired. (Any) |
| 5 | Charity. I wish to provide a service to the less fortunate; I want to set an example for the world. (Good) |
| 6 | Hedonism. My life has had enough tragedy; time to balance it out. (Chaotic) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I've been to rock bottom; but I will never forget the friends that were there with me. |
| 2 | I owe my life to the person who saved me from my injuries. |
| 3 | Hatred keeps me going; injustices are the coals in my fire. |
| 4 | There are sighted people less capable than me that need help. |
| 5 | Animals provide much less judgmental company. |
| 6 | I'm one of a kind -- people remember me wherever I've been to. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | Now that I am back on my feet, even minor setbacks frustrate me. |
| 2 | I've bounced back from impossible odds, so I never know when to give up. |
| 3 | Sighted people provoke my ire. They're all high and mighty! |
| 4 | I have relied on people to regain my footing. I still do; perhaps *too* much. |
| 5 | I've been knocked down several pegs; I take nothing seriously, anymore. |
| 6 | I have spent so much time regaining normalcy that I fear I am always falling behind. |
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