Blind Master Prestige Underpowered

[Saber]

WOW!! The more I hear, the more excited I get about this character. The idea of not looking at the combat grid is pretty cool, but their would have to be something to account for my hearing, seeing as my listen check would be around 33 when taking a 10 (being a blind master grants the ability to take a 10 when normally not allowed, as well as HEAFTY listen bonuses). With that, I think I would have a general idea of where combat is, and the Blind-Fight feat would add to that.
As for a silence or deafen spell, yeah that would be a problem. But once the 3rd level of Blind master is achieved, it would no longer pose any threat. Thats when Blindsight is gained, which is based on vibrations, sents, and hearing. Being deaf would not really hinder this much, seeing as the vibrations and sent would still remain.

 

[Crothian]

WOW!! The more I hear, the more excited I get about this character. The idea of not looking at the combat grid is pretty cool, but their would have to be something to account for my hearing, seeing as my listen check would be around 33 when taking a 10 (being a blind master grants the ability to take a 10 when normally not allowed, as well as HEAFTY listen bonuses).

I realize that it would be problem like, I just thought it would be interesting to try once and see how it works. It would be more fitting to do it before you actually take the prestige class.

 

[Xarlen]

And, hey! Why don't you go on paticular missions against creatures with Gaze attacks? Medusas, Basiliks, stuff like that.

"Turn to stone, damn you!"
"Sorry lady." *SMACK*

And the Blindsight spell is paticularly useful, as noted above, so you're seriously not crippled in a fight.

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

Glad to see everybody's ideas on this one.

As Crothian said, the PrC is very much a "concept heavy" one, where the idea is that a Blind Master is such a traditionally "cool" concept in martial arts games, anime, manga, comics, tv, and film, that players won't mind moving through a couple levels of combat hell to get to the good stuff.

As I was writing it, I tried to embrace the concept of rapid level advancement that D&D 3 is based around. I felt that most players wouldn't mind a couple of months real time dealing with the blindness issues to get to the cool stuff.

Also, much of the QM is geared around the idea of embracing the whole martial arts genre style, where an entire adventure would be based around the idea of a character's master giving him a series of tests to determine the strength of his kung-fu, much like an adventure would be based around a wizard hunting for just the right component to make his magical staff.

So, good luck with your blindmaster!

Patrick Y.

 

[Xarlen]

I'd definetly play this thing! Or a character like the one from Blind Justice.

Maybe a level of rogue, for skills and sneak attack, then ease into the monk class. Pose possibly as a blind begger or such, cane and all. People will underestimate the blind guy.

Now, if only you could get 'Cane' as a monk weapon...

On a side note, I Did have a drow mage who posed as a blind Sun elf. Had gotten him some glasses that were tented black (ala Blind Justice). Had also inserted a Wand of Lightning into his cane, that had a copper bar running through it up to the tip, to allow his lightning to fire through the cane. He was fun.

 

[Crothian]

Glad to see everybody's ideas on this one.

I'm glad to see you found the thread. I tried to e-mail you informing you of it as I like to hear authors talk about their books. However, the e-mail bounced. Just an FYI there.

And I'm doing a review of it, I don't want you to think I forgot. I should be done with in the next day or two.

 

[Saber]

Damn, a reply from the author. I'm honored. The Blind Master is definately a very cool class, and with all the ideas everyone has thrown at me, It will be hard NOT to play it out. Hopefully my group will understand the meaning behind my playing this class, and embrase the originality of it. Its just that sometimes, we get lost in "combat frenzy" missions. I'll just have to find my niche during those levels. Thanks for everyone's ideas, and please continue to comment, I love hearing them.

 

[Cougar]

It sounds like an awesome class to me as well. I greatly prefer the classes that grant cool abilities in exchange for some penalties.

For the DM of the blindmaster, I would remember that if the opponents (especially if they are intelligent) know the PC is blind but they don't know he is a monk, they should ignore him in combat, at least until he starts kicking NPC ass. Not to mention the sheer dishonor to most people! No one attacks the blind man first!

For the PC, I would play up the blindness as a disguise. Let them think you are helpless. Lean on the other party members, carry a cane, and bump into things every now and then. Not like a bumbling idiot, but just enough to throw your opponents off guard. You should also be able to get into places a normal person couldn't. Who suspects a blind man of being a spy?



Look forward to seeing that monk book when we play next.


Dave

 

[Arcane Runes Press]

I'm glad to see you found the thread. I tried to e-mail you informing you of it as I like to hear authors talk about their books. However, the e-mail bounced. Just an FYI there.

And I'm doing a review of it, I don't want you to think I forgot. I should be done with in the next day or two.

Thanks for the heads up. I checked my user profile and, man, was that thing out of date!

I've updated it, so hopefully email shouldn't bounce any more.


Saber;

If you haven't yet, I suggest you take a look at the Legendary Form the Breaking Point.

With the Blind Master's big bonus to Concentration checks, your character would be a breaking machine!

Patrick Y.

 

[Femerus the Gnecro]

Of course, nobody has yet mentioned the blind master's single most pronounced weakness.

An enemy cleric attacks the blind master and *slaps* a 'cure blindness' spell on him. Wham! No more character concept! Bye bye prerequisites!

Hee. Imagine going 10 levels as a blind character, focusing all of your feats and skills into that direction and then suddenly being able to see.



-F