Missing an eye
- Thread starter Yig
- Start date
Since the Eye of Grummsh PrC specifically mentions that the character must remove one of their eyes to take levels in the class, I looked it up expecting to find some details there. Surprisingly, I found none.
Other that the penalty to ranged attacks, it would probably be reasonable to give them a penalty to Spot checks in many conditions (though you should probably let them take 10 on the check without penalty, since they could take the time to move their head around to cover the areas that they are blind in). I would also give a bonus on an attempt to avert their eyes from a gaze attack.
Other that the penalty to ranged attacks, it would probably be reasonable to give them a penalty to Spot checks in many conditions (though you should probably let them take 10 on the check without penalty, since they could take the time to move their head around to cover the areas that they are blind in). I would also give a bonus on an attempt to avert their eyes from a gaze attack.
Norfleet
First Post
An old rule, which I don't recall where it came from, was something like a -2 penalty to ranged attacks due to loss of depth perception. This may not even be current in 3E, since I don't recall having seen this passage.
On the other hand, depth perception is only meaningful when depth is meaningful: This means the weapon that's suffering a ranged attack has to suffer from significant gravitational effects: A point-and-shoot weapon requires no depth perception to use, since these weapons don't suffer from projectile drop: I don't need depth perception to tag someone with a laser pointer, laser pointers don't have measurable drop due to gravity.
Also, use of depth perception may be overrated anyway: Using the sights or a scope only permits the effective use of one eye, yet doing so is generally more accurate than firing without the use of sights or a scope.
Having only one eye available also has little or no effect on tasks performed at melee range, and no edition of the rules has ever imposed a penalty on melee for the loss of an eye.
There's also, of course, the loss of peripheral vision on one side corresponding to the loss of an eye, which may be represented by a complete inability to make spot checks on anything approaching from the side of the lost eye: Unfortunately, 3E is devoid of rules for directional facing.
On the other hand, depth perception is only meaningful when depth is meaningful: This means the weapon that's suffering a ranged attack has to suffer from significant gravitational effects: A point-and-shoot weapon requires no depth perception to use, since these weapons don't suffer from projectile drop: I don't need depth perception to tag someone with a laser pointer, laser pointers don't have measurable drop due to gravity.
Also, use of depth perception may be overrated anyway: Using the sights or a scope only permits the effective use of one eye, yet doing so is generally more accurate than firing without the use of sights or a scope.
Having only one eye available also has little or no effect on tasks performed at melee range, and no edition of the rules has ever imposed a penalty on melee for the loss of an eye.
There's also, of course, the loss of peripheral vision on one side corresponding to the loss of an eye, which may be represented by a complete inability to make spot checks on anything approaching from the side of the lost eye: Unfortunately, 3E is devoid of rules for directional facing.
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Some things from published sources that may help:
The Quintessential Fighter has rules about called shots to the eye. A creature subjected to a successful one is subject to a -4 circumstance penalty to attack rolls and reflex saves. They also suffer -4 to all dexterity based checks, and -10 to movement. These penalty's don't seem very balanced or logical to me, but YMMV.
The SRD has some psionic effects that work in the opposite direction:
Expanded Vision:
...
The manifester is granted a 315-degree arc of sight, allowing him or her some slight vision of creatures that might otherwise fully flank the character. Opponents flanking the character gain only a +1 bonus on their attack rolls instead of +2 (although rogues can still take sneak attacks). All the character’s Spot checks gain a +1 enhancement bonus. Concurrently, the character suffers a –2 enhancement penalty against all gaze attacks while the power persists.
and
Ubiquitous Vision:
...
This power grants the manifester reduced penalties and bonuses in specific situations. In effect, the manifester has a 360-degree sphere of sight, allowing him or her perfect view of creatures that might otherwise flank the manifester. Thus, flanking opponents gain no bonus on their attack rolls instead of +2, and rogues are denied their sneak attack because the character does not lose his or her bonus to Dexterity (but they may still sneak attack if the character is caught flat-footed). The character’s Spot checks gain a +3 enhancement bonus, and his or her Search checks gain a +1 enhancement bonus. Concurrently, the character suffers a –4 enhancement penalty on saves against all gaze attacks during the power’s duration.
If you were to extrapolate these effects, a person with only one eye would have a -1 to spot and search checks, would give flanking opponents a +3 instead of +2, and would get a +2 enhancement bonus on saves against gaze attacks.
If you wanted to play up the limited field of vision more, you could rule that enemies only need to be at 90 degree angles to each other (rather than across from each other) in order to flank.
The Quintessential Fighter has rules about called shots to the eye. A creature subjected to a successful one is subject to a -4 circumstance penalty to attack rolls and reflex saves. They also suffer -4 to all dexterity based checks, and -10 to movement. These penalty's don't seem very balanced or logical to me, but YMMV.
The SRD has some psionic effects that work in the opposite direction:
Expanded Vision:
...
The manifester is granted a 315-degree arc of sight, allowing him or her some slight vision of creatures that might otherwise fully flank the character. Opponents flanking the character gain only a +1 bonus on their attack rolls instead of +2 (although rogues can still take sneak attacks). All the character’s Spot checks gain a +1 enhancement bonus. Concurrently, the character suffers a –2 enhancement penalty against all gaze attacks while the power persists.
and
Ubiquitous Vision:
...
This power grants the manifester reduced penalties and bonuses in specific situations. In effect, the manifester has a 360-degree sphere of sight, allowing him or her perfect view of creatures that might otherwise flank the manifester. Thus, flanking opponents gain no bonus on their attack rolls instead of +2, and rogues are denied their sneak attack because the character does not lose his or her bonus to Dexterity (but they may still sneak attack if the character is caught flat-footed). The character’s Spot checks gain a +3 enhancement bonus, and his or her Search checks gain a +1 enhancement bonus. Concurrently, the character suffers a –4 enhancement penalty on saves against all gaze attacks during the power’s duration.
If you were to extrapolate these effects, a person with only one eye would have a -1 to spot and search checks, would give flanking opponents a +3 instead of +2, and would get a +2 enhancement bonus on saves against gaze attacks.
If you wanted to play up the limited field of vision more, you could rule that enemies only need to be at 90 degree angles to each other (rather than across from each other) in order to flank.
Humanophile
First Post
DMG, P. 27 (for 3.5. P. 66 in 3.0).
It inflicts a -2 penalty to Appraise, Craft, Decipher Script, Disable Device, Forgery, Open Lock, Search, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, and Spot checks. Also Survival checks for tracking, and most things based on Dex (Reflex saves, ranged attacks, initiative, and raw dex checks).
It inflicts a -2 penalty to Appraise, Craft, Decipher Script, Disable Device, Forgery, Open Lock, Search, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, and Spot checks. Also Survival checks for tracking, and most things based on Dex (Reflex saves, ranged attacks, initiative, and raw dex checks).
Darklone said:I always thought the penalty for ranged attacks was a little bit funny considering that most "shooters" close one eye for aiming...
I would not give an archer a penalty unless it was a recent occurance.
The reason is, that the use of the two eyes is one form to determine depth perception.
You take the visual image from both eyes and you mind compares the differences in the image to add the third dimension.
When archers are sighting down a single device, they tend to look at a close point and a far point (generally the target) or a point beyond the target. They determine the depth through the two varying images.
Without the two different images from two retinas... we take cues from shadows... and size of the object.
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Also, use of depth perception may be overrated anyway: Using the sights or a scope only permits the effective use of one eye, yet doing so is generally more accurate than firing without the use of sights or a scope.
________
A scope is sighted in and generally set to be effective at a given range. In effect, the depth perception is built into the tool.
I had a one-eyed character and the DM set the penalty to -2melee/-4ranged initially and -0melee/-2ranged after I had acclimated to the handicap. We couldn't find any official rule. Seemed to work fine.
Also, use of depth perception may be overrated anyway: Using the sights or a scope only permits the effective use of one eye, yet doing so is generally more accurate than firing without the use of sights or a scope.
________
A scope is sighted in and generally set to be effective at a given range. In effect, the depth perception is built into the tool.
I had a one-eyed character and the DM set the penalty to -2melee/-4ranged initially and -0melee/-2ranged after I had acclimated to the handicap. We couldn't find any official rule. Seemed to work fine.
Kae'Yoss
First Post
Darklone said:I always thought the penalty for ranged attacks was a little bit funny considering that most "shooters" close one eye for aiming...
Think about it. You're a one-eyed marksman. And you close one eye to aim. Nuff said
Anyway, if the cyclops finds that threat, he'll go totally cheeseburger-soup!
