Loss of an Eye

[Chronologist]

Last session in my 3.5 game, a character's eye was slashed out. What would be an appropriate penalty here?

So far, I'm considering a flat -4 to search and spot, and a -1 on ranged attacks per 30 feet of distance. I'm also thinking about adding on a -4 to maximum hit points, since it's an injury inflicted by a tainted blade and probably won't heal naturally.

In addition, the character in question is researching a magical eye that will replace the old one. He will be able to see (fairly) normally out of the eye. If so, will the penalties remain, or would they be removed?

Any comments or suggestions would be nice.

 

[Nebten]

He could look into trying to find this one: Magical Eye

 

[ValhallaGH]

1) Depth perception generally only matters out to about 20 feet. After that, objects are effectively infinitely far, due to the structure of the human eye. Among other things, this is why eye exams only need to measure how well you see at 20 feet.
2) The loss of peripheral vision is much more troublesome.

Based upon those points, I'd go with the -4 to visual Search checks and all Spot checks, with a -1 to range attacks, and a -1 to ranged damage within 30 feet. (Like the reverse of Point Blank Shot, only a bit worse).
Oh, and a -2 on all Bluff and Diplomacy checks when his uglied-up face would matter.

If the character succeeded in getting a magical replacement eyeball, I'd remove the penalties (even ugly, since he no longer has an empty eye-socket staring at folks). Depending upon the eye (ah, cursed items, or merely tainted ones) there may be other drawbacks.

Good luck.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Penalties sound a little steep to me, at least compared to the fully blinded condition. Actually, I like your harsher take on it, but in a typical game, I'd more likely go with something similar to yours, but with qualifiers, and with natural healing:

-2 (or -4?) on Spot checks
-2 (or -4?) Search checks, but only when rushed/distracted/etc
-1 AC, but only when flanked
-1 ranged attacks

Healing: Spot and AC penalties go away after a level or two as the PC learns to cope with a decreased field of vision (recall that by RAW even full blindness can be partially overcome, eventually). Maybe the ranged penalty would stick, but I don't know how/if people can compensate for a loss of depth perception.

As for the magical replacement eye, I'd be inclined to let it restore full vision... maybe even give a slight benefit, if it's expensive.

Anyway, that's my 2cp.

 

[Celebrim]

I'll have to look it up when I get home, but I think the only thing that happens to you under my rules if you have the 'One Eye' disadvantage is that the penalty for ranged missile fire increases to -3 per range increment rather than -2.

That, and you are one cut from night.

The logic of this penalty is that RAW doesn't track facing, so the only easy way to handle this is to penalize depth perception and not field of vision. If it tracked facing, then you could apply some intuitive penalty to spot checks, but lacking that the best you can do is something like -1 to spot. I think a larger penalty to spot is excessive, particularly since someone with one eye will come up with habits to compensate.

Penalties are removed if you find away to replace the eye, though under my rules, if you bought 'One Eye' as a disadvantage getting the replacement eye to actually work (or at least work well enough that it removes the disadvantage) requires spending a feat. If you acquire 'One Eye' during play, then you lose it when you no longer have one eye. Any other features that you mention, like the vileness of the wound or the effectiveness of the replacement aren't directly linked to the general question, "What is the penalty of having a single eye?"

 

[Dandu]

There's a magic eyepatch in Dragon that gives a -2 penalty on spot checks to the wearer.

There's also a prestige class in, I think, the Complete Warrior for orcs who sacrifice an eye for Gruumsh.

 

[Chronologist]

Concerning the ugliness of the wound, it's a mostly vertical slash about 4 inches high. Apparently the character is going to cover the wound with a bandana wrapped lopsidedly around his head, so there shouldn't be any penalty to social checks.

In addition, the character is described as "ruggedly handsome", so he'll most likely still be quite attractive.

Dandu's comment about the eyepatch seems closest to what he'd have as a penalty, so I think a -4 to Spot and no penalty to search would be appropriate, as well as a -1 to hit with ranged attacks. However, the Dm says the -4 hit points is going to stick.

About a replacement eye, apparently the character has already acquired a custom Legacy Weapon the player designed. Called Veritas, apparently it's a glass eye that allows him to see magic and gives him other divination powers. Apparently the penalties will apply even when he, um, equips the item, since the magic vision and his normal vision don't match properly.

 

[Ashtagon]

I'd go with:

* -4 on Spot checks (contrast with blind: -4 on Search, -999 on Spot).
* Loss of peripheral vision: The character is considered flanked any time three enemies are adjacent to him. Unlike for characters with full vision, these flankers do not have to be on opposite sides of the character. He is also considered flanked if he would be flanked under the normal flanking rules.
* Ranged attacks are more difficult: the attack penalty per range increment is -3 instead of -2.

 

[Dandu]

You know, if you're aiming with something that has sights on it, such as a crossbow, having only one eye available doesn't hurt your accuracy.

 

[Ashtagon]

You know, if you're aiming with something that has sights on it, such as a crossbow, having only one eye available doesn't hurt your accuracy.

That's only really true for modern bullets which have relatively high velocities. Traditional bows and crossbows have such low velocities that you have to angle the weapon upwards ("arching") in order to be accurate at distances. Being able to judge the distance accurately is far more important for bows and crossbows than it is for modern guns.