Adjusting to long-term blindness.

[Arravis]

Yes, Blindfight and a bevy of other feats, along with lots of ranks in different skills would help. But minuses like 1/2 movement rate aren't affected in that method. Additionally, the fact that characters get skills and feats is inherent in the d20 system for all characters. The specific mention of overcoming some of these penalties for Blindness very clearly indicates something beyond standard character progression.

Personally, I'm not looking for the answer to be supernatural senses, or even heightened senses (such things CAN be gained through natural character progression). There's no logic in thinking that the loss of one sense actually increasing the acuity of other senses. A blind man can hear as well as I, he simply pays more attention to it (again, that's essentially having more skill points in something).

The SRD mentions that some of the negatives (and I stress negatives) of blindness may be overcome in time. There's no mention of positives being added, nor am I looking for that. Being blind is a disadvantage, there's no reason it shouldn't remain so. The specific mention of the disadvantage lessening is what's at hand. The amount of negative (or even removal of some, as stated in the SRD) is the issue being presented here.

 

[Three_Haligonians]

I think you've got the right idea with lessening the penalties to movement and certain skills. However, I would suggest lowering them on the basis of familiarity. A blind person who spends a lot of time at the Ole Ribbontree Inn will eventually learn where the stairs are, where the bar is, the fireplace and that old board that always sticks up in the middle of the floor when it rains.. or whatever. In such familiar places, they shouldn't suffer any penalties at all, while in places they have never been before - they should suffer full penalties. Well, maybe if they have been blind for a really long time, like since birth or what have you, the penalties could start off a little less since they probably have developed routines to follow whenever they are in a new place.

How's that?

J from Three Haligonians