Am I understanding the rules right that if you are playing a blind character the only rules that apply in combat are blind fire?

-6dice hmm

is it possible to use auditory enhancements that might reduce this?

one of my players asked me and I told them i would investigate it.

It is more than -6 dice. First the PC has to figure out the general location of where to shoot, although that isn't covered as well in the rules. You can try to locate someone by sound only using a Perception check, and there is a spacial recognition enhancement along with general hearing improvements that that helps with that.

The best way around it though is to be awakened with the ability to see on the astral. Then you only take a -2 die penalty.

so your saying the character needs to
1. make a perception test (threshold determined by modifiers and the GM) to find the opposing character
2. role to hit - primary modifer being blindfire

Astral perception was the work around in previous editions but the -2 for split still applies

so what if someone has an image link and ultrasound? operating on the assumption they are blind this method cant be used correct?

Ultrasound could help, especially if it can overlay across your "visual" field what is around you. (Think Daredevil...) This would depend on if your blindness was caused by something in your eyes or brain damage and a severed connection in the visual processing center of your brain.

I've seen a blind phys-ad who took 4 PPs worth of imp sense powers. She had some problems with standard gear like GPS or reading datapads, but in combat she was able to keep track of most things.

RE: Astral Perception--you could always play a dual-natured person...it has a nasty set of drawbacks in regards to wards, astral combat and the like, but no -2...

one more question about the perception test LOL

would this test be a simple action to observe in detail or just a check?

How nice a GM are you? With a lot of enhanced senses, I'd give the player a free action to perceive the obvious. If someone is trying to stealth or the character wants more detail, then it would be a simple action.

How about virtual light goggles?

Emo--Expand on your idea so we can comment....are you wanting the goggles to darken or brighten the existing light condition? etc..

he means, i think, the goggles from the book Virtual Light. these would not help. they're just AR goggles.

seems like it rests on me to decide. I like the idea of a basic perception check and a simple action in detail role as a simple action.

I guess the type of blindness determines the kind of alternatives available to the character for enhancements.

another question relating to blindness is if a character is blind and uses ultrasound would they be able to identify changes in a room. ie placement of an item has been moved.

I assume so if they make a logic test or have photographic memory.

sorry i know this is probably a lame question but still working it out in my head.

Also, the rules mention (somewhere) that "blind fire" attacks use Intuition instead of Agility as their linked attribute.

okay how about applying the select sound filter to ultrasound? do things like white noise generators or ultrasound emitter become nullified or modify the role.

am i digging to deep into this? its probably alot simpler than i am making it

Okay Brahm, I'll leave this alone seems like you provided me with alot of info thanks much!!

Let me go out on a limb here and suggest that if you are making a blind character who:
1) Is not dual-natured or has access to Astral Perception;
2) Is not a rigger with lots of sensory drones;
3) Is not a stay-at-home decker;

you are probably making a very, very bad decision.

In any game I've ever ran, you would probably die very, very fast.

In SR being blind means that the parts of your brain that interperate visual data simply arn't functional for some reason. Anything less is easily repaired with basic medical cloning or 'ware.

You can't 'see' anything either real or simsense. If you're a decker you have to find replacements for all those nice visual metaphors that everyone else uses. Ultrasound vision doesn't work because it is a form of vision. A computer transforms the ultrasound data into visual data. Astral perception works because it isn't a form of vision. You don't even need a brain to use astral perception.

The best set up for a blind shadowrunner that doesn't rely on the cheese that is Astral Perception is several cameras with all the bells and whistles and an AR overlay that provides audio replacements for visual data. When your range finder shows that you are about to walk into something it sounds a virtual tone. When you point your helmet camera at a street sign your AR system reads it for you. When you point your gun at someone's face your smartlink tells you who you are geeking.

Yeah, with AR a blind character should be able to shoot better than a blind character can hack.

True my IQ is on the low end of the scale so all i have to do is try to read something and looky mission accomplished Confusion! However thanks Brahm and everyone else all your suggestions and insights were great.

I wonder if one of those spells from sr3 where you could see through others eyes is going to be transfered over to 4th hmmmm wish i had my book with me now LOL

please dont answer that i am just trying to cause problems now:P

Would you gain dice bonuses from cyberears or improved senses other than sight, since they're helping you locate the target?

IMHO only for locating the target, not for firing at it.

Heh, got mixed up. To clarify: I can see special traditions that use Intuition for drain playing blind characters, but then again, that would really be pointless now wouldn't it?

this string has gone on way to long LOL being blind isnt useful at all. Shadowrunners shouldnt be blind imo its self defeating....almost regret posting this LOL

Okay, then on a different note, suppose I shot at a physically invisible character, and I had cybereyes with vision mags and a laser sight or smartlink. Would I get my bonuses?

Two words: Blind Fury.

You know the other way players end up playing blind characters? One of their teammates decides to "help out" in a gunfight in a steam tunnel by putting his shotgun over the (now blind) character's shoulder and getting his two cents (or two nuyen, given ammo costs) into the conversation.

That's also a good way to end up playing a deaf character, at least on that side.

These are, of course, repairable. But they'll definitely get your attention.