Blindsight vs. Gaseous Form

[Scupper]

On the other hand, since a person in gaseous form can clearly change their density at will (to fit through tiny spaces, etc.), it's hard to imagine that a bat-like echolocation ability would be able to recognize it for what it is.

I'm houseruling this anyway, because you're right about the rules not mentioning either situation, but I appreciate everybody giving it some thought.

 

[hong]

Ah. In that case, I would say Blindsight would not help, since Gaseous Form makes the subject insubstantial (no vibrations) and silent.

And in that situation, Blindsight couldn't distinguish between the fog and the vampires.

You're thinking of incorporeal. Incorporeal is distinct from gaseous.

 

[LokiDR]

On the other hand, since a person in gaseous form can clearly change their density at will (to fit through tiny spaces, etc.), it's hard to imagine that a bat-like echolocation ability would be able to recognize it for what it is.

I'm houseruling this anyway, because you're right about the rules not mentioning either situation, but I appreciate everybody giving it some thought.

Blindsight is broken. It seems this intentional. If you want to weaken it this way, or if you let your players get their hands on it, take away the broken-ness. If blindsight only appears on creatures like dragons, it is supposed to be awe-inspiring. Tremorsense is much easier to circumvent. Vibration blindsight can be defeated by silence.

Whatever fits your campaign in the end.

 

[andargor]

Where do you get this out of the rules? Gasous form does not mention the person is silent, unlike etheral. Besides that, not all blindsight is based on vibrations. Even those that are could use echolocation, which can pick up difference in density and get a clear picture of where a person is.

I was looking at the Blindsight spell:

The target creature gains sensitivity to vibrations, so that it maneuvers and fights as well as a sighted creature.

But you are correct, some creatures may have different forms of Blindsight, and I do agree that echolocation would detect the Solid Fog.

Whether Gaseous Form provides enough density to bounce back sound or not for this form of Blindsight is in question. I'm leaning towards "not", since Gaseous Form does mention "insubstantial". However, since the subject cannot go through walls (not permeable to solid objects) and has to use cracks, maybe there is enough density. I hesitate to go the physics route...

But again, it really looks like a DM call either way.

Originally posted by hong
You're thinking of incorporeal. Incorporeal is distinct from gaseous.

Is there definition of "insubstantial" or "gaseous" somewhere? I don't have my books with me. I wasn't thinking incorporeal. Well, not intentionally.

Andargor