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Had this conversation with someone who chose to no longer be at my table after meeting a blind NPC
(files.catbox.moe)
Another player who was at the table during the incident sent me this meme after the problem player in question (they had a history) left the group chat.
Felt like sharing it here because I'm sure more people should keep this kind of thing in mind.
A lot of this has probably been said already, but I want to point out that restrictions breed creativity.
This is a magic fantasty world, how would your character deal with their differences? What coping mechanisms would they develop? Would a blind character develop some alternative to vision? Would a physically disabled character find some other way to navigate the world?
I see people asking "why would disability exist in a world with magical healing" as a way to dismiss the entire concept. I feel that engaging with the question, and trying to answer, it leads to more interesting characters.
Toph from Avatar is an example of following these restrictions. Would her character and abilities even exist if the writers didn't sit down and wonder how a blind character would work in their universe?
I was thinking Toph while reading your comment lol. And in case anyone feels like Toph is “fixing” disabilities with convenient magic, ATLA also addressed disability in non-magic people as well too with Teo, the inventors son who is in what is effectively a wheel chair, who even takes part in a naval invasion.
My setting has a lot of nautical aspects to it, including lots of drowned and sea creatures. One of my players in a captain of a ship (they're all level 15+ now, so he's worked his way up there). I'd have the blind character have a parrot that narrates the world to them, much like a DM.
How about the deaf general in the Dragon Prince?
She can silently issue complex commands in stealth situations with sign language. It’s pretty dope.
There's also a water bender with no arms in legends of Korra who uses water being as arms