Blinded
Blindness is a condition in which a creature cannot obtain useful visual information from its surroundings. It may be temporary or permanent, partial or complete, and may result from the environment, an obstruction, damage to the eyes, or an effect that interferes with vision. A blindfold is a simple example, but darkness, blinding light, airborne debris, and supernatural effects can all leave a creature unable to see.
Blindness does not necessarily mean that the eyes themselves are damaged. A creature may be unable to see because there is insufficient light, because its vision is overwhelmed or obstructed, or because a magical effect has deprived it of sight. The cause matters when determining how the condition can be removed.
Blinded Causes
Blindness may arise from environmental conditions, physical obstructions, injury, illness, or supernatural effects. Some causes prevent light from reaching the eyes; others damage the organs of sight or interfere directly with the victim's ability to perceive what it sees.
Examples include:
- Complete darkness or blinding light
- Intentionally closed eyes
- Sandstorms, smoke, dust, or other conditions that eliminate visibility
- Blindfolds, hoods, or other physical obstructions
- Damage to or loss of the eyes
- Effects of certain poisons and diseases
- Wards and magical traps
- Curses
- Magical spells
- Archetypal powers
- Other supernatural effects that suppress or distort vision
Creatures that rely on echolocation or another effective substitute for ordinary vision are not considered Blinded when that ability allows them to perceive their surroundings despite the cause.
Blinded Effects
A Blinded creature loses the ability to rely on ordinary vision and must use sound, touch, memory, and other available cues to navigate its surroundings. In combat, this severely limits movement and the ability to locate, track, and attack opponents.
Unless the creature has an ability that compensates for its lack of sight, it moves at one-quarter of its normal movement distance and physical attacks deal one-quarter of their normal damage. These limitations represent the difficulty of positioning, aiming, and striking effectively without visual information.
Magical attacks may still be possible, but their effectiveness depends on how the power is directed and whether it requires the caster to see the target. The GM may require a skill check or make a specific ruling based on the power, the target, and the information available to the caster.
Removing the Blinded Condition
The appropriate method for removing Blindness depends on its cause. Environmental blindness may be resolved by changing the conditions, while physical injury or supernatural interference may require treatment or a specific countermeasure.
Possible methods include:
- Providing adequate light when darkness is the cause
- Removing a blindfold or other physical obstruction
- Using eye protection against blinding light, dust, sand, or similar hazards
- Leaving an environment that prevents visibility
- Administering healing potions where the eyes or visual system have been injured
- Applying magical healing
- Using archetypal powers that restore sight
- Employing magical artefacts that restore or substitute for vision
- Countering or dispelling the curse, spell, ward, or other effect responsible
Restoring sight may not be necessary if the creature can instead use echolocation or another suitable sensory ability to perceive its surroundings.
Long Term Blinded Effects
Blindness can be a severe handicap when first suffered, particularly in unfamiliar surroundings or during combat. Over time, however, a creature may learn to compensate by relying on sound, touch, memory, and other sensory information. Familiar environments become easier to navigate, and practiced responses can reduce the disadvantage in ordinary activities.
Training, specialized skills, and supernatural powers may further compensate for lost sight, potentially restoring movement and physical combat effectiveness to ordinary levels. Such adaptations do not necessarily restore vision itself; they allow the creature to function without it. Whether these benefits apply depends on the creature's abilities, experience, and the circumstances in which it must act.
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