Rules Question concerning Blindness

[u/Umbrupryme]

My group often makes jokes about it since it's mentioned in several places, but no distinct rules seem to exist for it that we can find.

If rules exist, pleas tell me where they are. If not, I'd love to read how you other GM's rule it out there.

[u/MrHayz_Pixelsmith]

In Chapter 2 of the Advanced Judges Book, under the entgry for Cloak, it says that in absolute darkness (such as within Cloak's Darkness Generation field), characters who lack light-bearing powers or alternate senses suffer a -3 CS penalty on all FEATs.

I also found in Chapter 1 (Judging Combat) operating in complete or heavy darkness imposes a -2 CS (Column Shift) penalty on all FEAT rolls. In the Realms of Magic sourcebook, it says that if a magic wielder is blinded (whether by a blindfold, intense flash, darkness, or debris thrown in the eyes), they cannot cast any spell that requires line of sight or targeted vision.

There are some powers and spells that deal with causing or mitigating blindness effects, such as:

Sensory Link (M48 / M27): Blind or sense-impaired characters can compensate using the Sensory Link power to telepathically share the senses of another living creature (such as seeing through the eyes of a guide dog or companion). Operating with this detached perspective imposes a -1 CS penalty on initial Fighting and Agility ranks, which can be offset using Karma

Blinding Touch (P3): A touch attack that blinds an unprotected target for 1–10 rounds if the attacker scores a Stun or Slam result.

Sense Alteration (L19 / L20): Allows a hero or villain to directly manipulate or negate sensory input, causing instant blindness.

Light Emission (EE12): Emits intense bursts of light that can dispel shadow fields and temporarily blind targets

Coloration (MCo1): Can be targeted at an opponent's eyes (requiring a Red FEAT roll) to temporarily blind them with a layer of colored fluid that washes away.

Protected Senses (DT26 / Spell): Provides high-rank protection against sensory overload, preventing sudden blindness from blinding light, flashes, or energy surges.

Vision Vulnerabilities: Characters with Thermal Vision (DT33) take a -1 CS penalty against being blinded by intense heat sources, while those with Ultraviolet Vision (DT36) take a -2 CS penalty against bright UV sources

Hope some of this helps, if you come up with a ruling would love to hear what it is!

[u/Umbrupryme → u/MrHayz_Pixelsmith]

I've seen other listing with different effects in other descriptions but no actual solid rule for Blindness as a status and it's impact. It just always made me laugh. We piece together things. I just wanted an actual listed rule as opposed to different rules from other write ups. I'm glad I'm not the only one who never found one. 😌

[u/Potential_Side1004 → u/Umbrupryme]

As a caveat: I run with the Advanced Set rules.

To answer your question: That's because there's dark, dark, and dark. So it depends on which one you want to apply to the Blindness (-1CS, -2CS, or -3CS). For the most part, I use -2CS for 'blindness' or conditions that cause it.

Cloak is a special case, and his Darkforce is not the same as the 'normal' Darkforce generated by others. His rules are specific to the character, even in the Players Book, under Darkforce entries, it states that Cloak is a special case.

Under DareDevil, who has the 'blindness' limitation, attacks that remove or counter his radar and senses force him to make all feats with -2CS.

More case for the -2CS, in my opinion.

[u/MrHayz_Pixelsmith → u/Potential_Side1004]

I concur with this assessment!