Lots of magic systems have spells that require the caster to be able to see the target. Some systems require this for all magic that isn't self targeted, touch-activated, or something similar. There's a big hole in this concept, though:What you're blind?
"Line of Sight" is not literal. It simply means a direct, unobstructed line, which helps prevent the unfair situation of "I can hit you, but you can't hit me."
Its a bit of a gamism, because the most intelligent thing a wizard could do would be to devise spells that would allow them to hit their enemies without any chance of retribution.
A blind person can have line of sight without actually being able to see, and their other senses are typically enough for them to target their enemies if they're not simply using magical sight.
Playing a blind character puts you outside the realm of reasonable play to begin with. Talk with your DM about how to adjust for this. Maybe you have a limited range on such spells, maybe he tells you to go fuck yourself and play something normal.
>>47052413
"Line of sight" (probably) just means "unobstructed straight line between you and target". Guns also require "line of sight" in this sense.
So aim where you hope the target is, hope there aren't any obstructions in the way, and hope you don't miss.
There's a difference between "you need LoS" and "you need to be able to see the target". Some magic systems describe the latter.
Some magic systems describe your mind "locking onto a particular location". In these systems, you aren't really aiming so much as psychically targeting what you want to cast the spell on. Yet some of these systems still have "be able to see the target" as a requirement. This means that unless some sort of magical particle or something has to travel in a straight line between the caster an the target (when many spells don't seem to work that way) there is no reason that you shouldn't be able to target such a spell outside of LoS other than the fact that you cannot literally see the target.
I suppose this really does just come down to RAW/RAI/GM fiat, which could easily solve the problem in a practical sense, but part of me wonders if maybe something interesting could come of an alternative system of spell target restriction.
Real-life occult curse rituals might require you to have some sort of matter from the would-be victim, such as a bit of hair. Maybe something similar could be implemented in a game? Maybe you need to establish a connection to a particular thing if you want to cast a spell on it. Maybe there's a whole spell, with its own set of requirements and restrictions, that you have to cast in order to establish that connection in the first place!
Or maybe you need to know someone's true name. That's a big part of how it works in the Earthsea books -- in that case, even places have true names that may be important to know when you say a spell.
If we wanted to try to fit the idea of LoS into a "form a connection" system of targeting, the simplest way would be to require something like a finger point, not to direct the magical energy so much as to simply indicate the target. This means that it would be impossible to "miss" so long as who your are pointing to remains unambiguous.
I've usually heard it called, "line of effect." That solves things neatly.
>>47052554
>Playing a blind character puts you outside the realm of reasonable play to begin with.
HEARD YOU WERE TALKING SHIT!
>>47053026
>Or maybe you need to know someone's true name. That's a big part of how it works in the Earthsea books -- in that case, even places have true names that may be important to know when you say a spell.
In my preferred system, this is basically how it works, but you're allowed to use pronouns. So if you have something connected to the target though sympathetic link, the physical target, or can directly indicate the target, that can essentially stand in for their True Name as "this thing" or "that guy over there" or "whoever crosses this line"
>>47052511
Depends on the system. D&D, for example, specifically differentiates between line of sight (being able to see the target) and line of effect (what you're describing). In that case, mages are just screwed. Don't play a blind mage in D&D unless you have some way to become unblind.
>>47053107
Thats just a martial with with the blind sight feat which allows him to know where people are within 30 ft of him.
>>47052511
You're so laughably wrong. You have mixed up line of effect, unobstructed access to target, with line of sight, being able to physically sense your target, most commonly done by sight.
Blind mages are fucked when it comes to combat magics, but are well represented within divination schools. This ties in well with the mythology of the blind sage who can prophesy the future and give advise to the hero.
>>47052413
A wizard's vision can be permanently or temporarily impaired as a result of blindness (magical or natural), disease, poison, or physical damage. Vision is also impaired in darkness.
The ability to see is not crucial in the casting of many spells. For instance, mirror image, monster summoning, tongues, and comprehend languages (when used to translate spoken words) do not require the wizard to be looking at anything in particular, and can therefore be cast with impaired vision. However, spells such as read magic, detect invisibility, and comprehend languages (when used to translate written words) that require the wizard to be looking at a particular object or location cannot be cast with impaired vision.
Impaired vision has no effect on spells the wizard casts on himself, such as change self or armor. Likewise, impaired vision has no effect when the wizard is attempting a touch spell (such as protection from evil) on a willing subject, presuming the wizard is close enough to the subject to touch him. However, if a wizard attempts to use a touch spell on an unwilling subject, the wizard must make a successful attack roll with a -4 penalty (this assumes that the wizard is close enough to his intended subject to touch him). As with all attacks, the DM can modify this roll if the victim is unprepared for the attack or is unaware of it. If the roll succeeds, the wizard touches the subject and the normal spell effect occurs.
Spells that are cast on a specific person, place, or thing from a distance, such as charm person or magic missile, cannot be cast by wizards with impaired vision. A wizard cannot simply blast a magic missile in a general direction and hope for the best-- the spell does not operate that way. Knowing the exact destination of these types of spells is a vital element of their execution.
>>47057233
A wizard's vision can be permanently or temporarily impaired as a result of blindness (magical or natural), disease, poison, or physical damage. Vision is also impaired in darkness.
The ability to see is not crucial in the casting of many spells. For instance, mirror image, monster summoning, tongues, and comprehend languages (when used to translate spoken words) do not require the wizard to be looking at anything in particular, and can therefore be cast with impaired vision. However, spells such as read magic, detect invisibility, and comprehend languages (when used to translate written words) that require the wizard to be looking at a particular object or location cannot be cast with impaired vision.
Impaired vision has no effect on spells the wizard casts on himself, such as change self or armor. Likewise, impaired vision has no effect when the wizard is attempting a touch spell (such as protection from evil) on a willing subject, presuming the wizard is close enough to the subject to touch him. However, if a wizard attempts to use a touch spell on an unwilling subject, the wizard must make a successful attack roll with a -4 penalty (this assumes that the wizard is close enough to his intended subject to touch him). As with all attacks, the DM can modify this roll if the victim is unprepared for the attack or is unaware of it. If the roll succeeds, the wizard touches the subject and the normal spell effect occurs.
Spells that are cast on a specific person, place, or thing from a distance, such as charm person or magic missile, cannot be cast by wizards with impaired vision. A wizard cannot simply blast a magic missile in a general direction and hope for the best-- the spell does not operate that way. Knowing the exact destination of these types of spells is a vital element of their execution.
Most blind guys with superpowers/magic have Daredevil Syndrome anyway, where they can "see" just fine using another sense. Meaning their blindness is more of a quick than anything else.
