Do you hear what I hear?

[Umbran]

Why wouldn't they want to be cured? What person with a disability wouldn't want to be cured of their affliction?

Okay, IcyCool, I am sure you were unaware of this, but there are folks for whom this is a big, semi-political issue. In the US, there are entire sub-cultures of deaf and blind folks, some of whom find the assumption that they'd just naturally want to change who they are to be offensive.

Please, folks, don't get into that discussion.

 

[Zoatebix]

deleted 'cause the moderator covered it

 

[IcyCool]

Please, folks, don't get into that discussion.

Understood. My opinions on the matter would likely be unwelcome anyway.

 

[Goldmoon]

Okay, IcyCool, I am sure you were unaware of this, but there are folks for whom this is a big, semi-political issue. In the US, there are entire sub-cultures of deaf and blind folks, some of whom find the assumption that they'd just naturally want to change who they are to be offensive.

Please, folks, don't get into that discussion.

That was not my intention here.

 

[IcyCool]

That was not my intention here.

I doubt anyone thinks it was (at least I don't).

That said, in a world where every serious injury or disease can be cured in seconds (possibly for free by kindly good-aligned priests), the reasons for someone to cling to their "condition" would have to be rare and/or extreme. And unless they had a way to compensate for it, they would be unlikely to find employment as part of an adventuring team (because their uncompensated condition would make them more of a liability, rather than a useful addition to the team).

So, if you wanted to play a character in this vein, you'd need some way to compensate for your condition (although a deaf character could probably be played as is, i.e. with the deaf condition). Granted, a deaf character is much more able to deal with the rigors of adventuring life than, say, a blind character, but you'll still have issues. You'd be only partially useful on watch, for example.

And in reference to your "used to it and functioning normally" comment, they aren't. They don't just get used to being deaf, and suddenly become able to hear. I know that isn't what you are saying, but I'm making a point. They can certainly get to the point where they can function sufficiently, or excel in some areas, but the fact remains that they still can't hear a damn thing.

 

[Goldmoon]

I doubt anyone thinks it was (at least I don't).

That said, in a world where every serious injury or disease can be cured in seconds (possibly for free by kindly good-aligned priests), the reasons for someone to cling to their "condition" would have to be rare and/or extreme. And unless they had a way to compensate for it, they would be unlikely to find employment as part of an adventuring team (because their uncompensated condition would make them more of a liability, rather than a useful addition to the team).

So, if you wanted to play a character in this vein, you'd need some way to compensate for your condition. Granted, a deaf character is much more able to deal with the rigors of adventuring life than, say, a blind character, but you'll still have issues. You'd be only partially useful on watch, for example.

Well, I think a deaf character would have skills that characters with hearing lack, like the bonus to spot or a bonus to sense motive. An immunity to sonic and power word spells. Immunity to command pells and the like. Thats why I want a template, to get all the benefits and hindernaces together.

 

[IcyCool]

Well, I think a deaf character would have skills that characters with hearing lack, like the bonus to spot or a bonus to sense motive. An immunity to sonic and power word spells. Immunity to command pells and the like. Thats why I want a template, to get all the benefits and hindernaces together.

From a balance standpoint, put together all of the penalties that the deaf condition gives you. Then try to balance those out with appropriate bonuses. Bonuses to spot, search, and sense motive checks would be probably be an appropriate starting point for sure.

You might want to hit the house-rules forum up for some ideas as well.

 

[Goldmoon]

Yeah, good idea, I started a topic in the house-rules section as well. Mods, feel free to delete this one unless you think it still has relivance in this section.

 

[werk]

I want to play a deaf from birth character and had considered making up a template. Things like Spot +4, Sense Motive +4, listen N/A. things like that. Anyone have a template they already use? Anyone have any ideas?

I'll spoiler block this after reading the mods post. [sblock]

I would just make him deaf.

To be blunt, they are handicapped as a result of being deaf, it doesn't get balanced by bonuses to other things.

If you cut off someone's arm they don't get an increase to speed. If you remove one eye, they don't get precognition.

Nothing wrong with playing a handicapped character, but I wouldn't make every blind person DareDevil.[/sblock]

 

[Goldmoon]

I would just make him deaf.

To be blunt, they are handicapped as a result of being deaf, it doesn't get balanced by bonuses to other things.

If you cut off someone's arm they don't get an increase to speed. If you remove one eye, they don't get precognition.

Nothing wrong with playing a handicapped character, but I wouldn't make every blind person DareDevil.

But again we are talking about someone born with the condition, not someone who "acquired" it.