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Visual Impairments and D N D: Input for making High-Vis dice, Braille Dice and can I as a sighted person create a blind character without being harmful or ableist? (self.Blind)
submitted by ShakerEdge
(Cross Posted in r/disability and in r/DnD )
Hello, I'm looking for some information on how to incorporate awareness, representation and accessibility within Dungeons and Dragons, so I have a few questions and would love some insight!
**DnD Dice Questions:**
I am a sighted person, so I have the luxury of using standard dice sets. But came to the realization that those with visual impairments or varying levels of blindness may need some special accommodation. I would like to 3D model and 3D print dice for this purpose.
1. What size of dice might be best to accommodate blindness, poor vision?
2. Are there any specific combinations of colors for easier visibility?
3. Would raised numbers be preferable, or braille? or both?
4. Any other suggestions?
I want to try and help everyone enjoy D&D, and while I personally do not know anyone with visual impairments or blindness, as an artist with a 3D printer I feel like I have the ability to try and help provide something to those that do have such disabilities. I know there are some places that do sell dice with braille online, but I would like to try and make some of my own design as well that I might be able to offer to people online or at local conventions that I sell at.
**DnD Character Questions:**
I was wanting to create a character for my friend's campaign and considered the idea of him being blind so that I might try to imagine navigating the world with a different perspective. His blindness is most likely due to an injury or other health condition. The DM originally suggested a cursed item causing him to lose his sight as a symptom of it's parasitic nature but I have heard that this may be ablelist in equating blindness as an unfortunate curse, and if that's true this is something I definitely want to avoid. In a world of magic it might be easy to "Magically cure his blindness" but I feel this is a pretty lame cop-out, and I believe the character would remain blind for the rest of his life since he has adjusted to it. This character would have an animal companion, a hawk or falcon with a bell attached to it's leg, that helps guide him either by the following the sound of the bell, or possibly lashing a suede string to the bird's ankle. I thought it would also be cool if he used his quarter staff as a sight cane to help navigate and avoid obstacles. I'm undecided on if he will use Blind Sight or Blind Sense or not.
In combat, his bird guides his arrow by flying around enemies heads so he can fire at them based on sound and his skill prior to becoming blind, just because I thought this would be pretty badass. I want characters with disabilities to be included on adventures, because having cool characters that people can identify with I feel is very important. It's something I have an interest in creating so I want to try, but to do it as right as I can. I have heard that Toph from Avatar the Last Airbender is a good example of a character with blindness, whereas a character like Dare Devil may be less well received since he's basically got super powers. I do want to stress that this character's blindness would not be his only defining trait. He just happens to be blind, is comfortable making a joke about it now and then, while also being very badass with his bird and his bow. So here are my questions:
1. If I, as a sighted person, create a character whose disability is blindness - with the intention of trying to explore and navigate a world as how I might if I found I lost my sight one day, is this inherently appropriative or distasteful or rude towards those who have blindness as a disability?
2. If I am allowed to, How can I create a character that is respectful representation, while avoiding harmful stereotypes?
3. If I am allowed to - The other party members are fairly able-bodied as are the players portraying them. As such they may exhibit unconscious behaviours such as trying to coddle or be too overly helpful to my character. What can I have my character do that people with blindness wish to teach to able-bodied, sighted people? (Such as, if one of the party members grabs him and tries to guide him without asking, or make a comment that blind people are sick of hearing?) I'd like to use this character to teach both myself, and my friends how to better include people with disabilities without being overbearing, coddling or rude. So, what are things that you (if you are blind) annoy you and what do you want to tell them when they do it?
I can only speak from experience as a wheelchair user - such as people grabbing my chair and pushing me without my permission and god I want to snap their fingers off sometimes.
4. Should I avoid creating this character entirely since I, as a sighted person, lack real-world experience?
**About me, the guy asking the questions:**
I still feel a bit reluctant to take on the 'disabled' label out of fear I might offend or hurt people that have worse disabilities than I do. I, personally, struggle with CPTSD, Anxiety and congenitally short tendons that manifest as chronic Plantars Faciitis. I use a cane and wheelchair occasionally to minimize pain and assist with daily tasks like grocery shopping, but otherwise I am fortunate enough to be able to work from a computer. Being in a wheelchair has really changed my perspective and opened my eyes to the lack of truly inclusive accessibility and inspires me to try and advocate as much as possible.
Hello, I'm looking for some information on how to incorporate awareness, representation and accessibility within Dungeons and Dragons, so I have a few questions and would love some insight!
**DnD Dice Questions:**
I am a sighted person, so I have the luxury of using standard dice sets. But came to the realization that those with visual impairments or varying levels of blindness may need some special accommodation. I would like to 3D model and 3D print dice for this purpose.
1. What size of dice might be best to accommodate blindness, poor vision?
2. Are there any specific combinations of colors for easier visibility?
3. Would raised numbers be preferable, or braille? or both?
4. Any other suggestions?
I want to try and help everyone enjoy D&D, and while I personally do not know anyone with visual impairments or blindness, as an artist with a 3D printer I feel like I have the ability to try and help provide something to those that do have such disabilities. I know there are some places that do sell dice with braille online, but I would like to try and make some of my own design as well that I might be able to offer to people online or at local conventions that I sell at.
**DnD Character Questions:**
I was wanting to create a character for my friend's campaign and considered the idea of him being blind so that I might try to imagine navigating the world with a different perspective. His blindness is most likely due to an injury or other health condition. The DM originally suggested a cursed item causing him to lose his sight as a symptom of it's parasitic nature but I have heard that this may be ablelist in equating blindness as an unfortunate curse, and if that's true this is something I definitely want to avoid. In a world of magic it might be easy to "Magically cure his blindness" but I feel this is a pretty lame cop-out, and I believe the character would remain blind for the rest of his life since he has adjusted to it. This character would have an animal companion, a hawk or falcon with a bell attached to it's leg, that helps guide him either by the following the sound of the bell, or possibly lashing a suede string to the bird's ankle. I thought it would also be cool if he used his quarter staff as a sight cane to help navigate and avoid obstacles. I'm undecided on if he will use Blind Sight or Blind Sense or not.
In combat, his bird guides his arrow by flying around enemies heads so he can fire at them based on sound and his skill prior to becoming blind, just because I thought this would be pretty badass. I want characters with disabilities to be included on adventures, because having cool characters that people can identify with I feel is very important. It's something I have an interest in creating so I want to try, but to do it as right as I can. I have heard that Toph from Avatar the Last Airbender is a good example of a character with blindness, whereas a character like Dare Devil may be less well received since he's basically got super powers. I do want to stress that this character's blindness would not be his only defining trait. He just happens to be blind, is comfortable making a joke about it now and then, while also being very badass with his bird and his bow. So here are my questions:
1. If I, as a sighted person, create a character whose disability is blindness - with the intention of trying to explore and navigate a world as how I might if I found I lost my sight one day, is this inherently appropriative or distasteful or rude towards those who have blindness as a disability?
2. If I am allowed to, How can I create a character that is respectful representation, while avoiding harmful stereotypes?
3. If I am allowed to - The other party members are fairly able-bodied as are the players portraying them. As such they may exhibit unconscious behaviours such as trying to coddle or be too overly helpful to my character. What can I have my character do that people with blindness wish to teach to able-bodied, sighted people? (Such as, if one of the party members grabs him and tries to guide him without asking, or make a comment that blind people are sick of hearing?) I'd like to use this character to teach both myself, and my friends how to better include people with disabilities without being overbearing, coddling or rude. So, what are things that you (if you are blind) annoy you and what do you want to tell them when they do it?
I can only speak from experience as a wheelchair user - such as people grabbing my chair and pushing me without my permission and god I want to snap their fingers off sometimes.
4. Should I avoid creating this character entirely since I, as a sighted person, lack real-world experience?
**About me, the guy asking the questions:**
I still feel a bit reluctant to take on the 'disabled' label out of fear I might offend or hurt people that have worse disabilities than I do. I, personally, struggle with CPTSD, Anxiety and congenitally short tendons that manifest as chronic Plantars Faciitis. I use a cane and wheelchair occasionally to minimize pain and assist with daily tasks like grocery shopping, but otherwise I am fortunate enough to be able to work from a computer. Being in a wheelchair has really changed my perspective and opened my eyes to the lack of truly inclusive accessibility and inspires me to try and advocate as much as possible.
bright_side1977 8 points 2y ago
My son is 18, Visually Impaired and loves d&d. He goes to the School for the Blind and they have a d&d club that the students absolutely love. The use a 20 sided dice app to roll. The DM made a tactile map, but during COVID when the kids were playing on zoom he just described the map.
Until COVID I had no idea that d&d for sighted people had a visual component. The kids at the School for the Blind love the game. There’s nothing on the table when they play except snacks.
Just my experience as the mom of a VI player.
Until COVID I had no idea that d&d for sighted people had a visual component. The kids at the School for the Blind love the game. There’s nothing on the table when they play except snacks.
Just my experience as the mom of a VI player.
FrankenGretchen 2 points 2y ago
My first ever dnd game was at a camp for blind/VI kids. That was 40 years ago. Our dm was the only fully sighted person playing and I'm assuming that. He could've been VI like me and we just never talked about it. I've never used maps or visual aids when I've dmed. Never seemed necessary. Dming is a storytelling event for me. If I'm successful, my crew is there with me and nobody is wondering what's going on.
As for dice we used high contrast, braille or tactile ones. Trusting your dm to honestly read a roll on a mystery dice is a Thing. For that matter, trusting folks to be honest about a saving throw is a Thing, too. Now, dice rolling apps fill the gap and keeps everyone honest.
As for dice we used high contrast, braille or tactile ones. Trusting your dm to honestly read a roll on a mystery dice is a Thing. For that matter, trusting folks to be honest about a saving throw is a Thing, too. Now, dice rolling apps fill the gap and keeps everyone honest.
CosmicBunny97 3 points 2y ago
I had a hard time reading the dice, even high contrast ones, when I could see but was low vision. I’d say something large print and in varying colours - black and white, yellow and black, black with pink and bold print etc.
I also believe you need a good 3D printer for Braille dice. I ordered a set and they were horrendous. Hopefully will be getting the DotsRPG dice made with resin - my dads coworker tried making them through a 3D printer and was struggling. However, I often just resort to Siri but it isn’t perfect. As for making characters, I used to use my iPad and Apple Pencil, import the character sheet into Notability and do my sheet from there. Now, I use the Knights of the Braille character sheets. I’m trying ro see if Brailling the most important parts of my sheet out or putting it in a Word document would be easier.
As for running a blind character, I believe there was a guide on a D&D subreddit. I’m not sure how you would go about running it however, though it is worth a shot.
I also believe you need a good 3D printer for Braille dice. I ordered a set and they were horrendous. Hopefully will be getting the DotsRPG dice made with resin - my dads coworker tried making them through a 3D printer and was struggling. However, I often just resort to Siri but it isn’t perfect. As for making characters, I used to use my iPad and Apple Pencil, import the character sheet into Notability and do my sheet from there. Now, I use the Knights of the Braille character sheets. I’m trying ro see if Brailling the most important parts of my sheet out or putting it in a Word document would be easier.
As for running a blind character, I believe there was a guide on a D&D subreddit. I’m not sure how you would go about running it however, though it is worth a shot.
soselections 3 points 2y ago
There are some great comments here, so I won't repeat what others have said. I think you're approaching this in a considerate and careful way, I appreciate that!
I will say a couple of important notes about our blind/low vision community. This fact was told to me by my O&M instructor, 90% of the visually impaired community has some amount of vision. So if your character is 100% blind that's actually not representative of us. The stereotype for our community is that we are all completely blind but most of us have some amount of vision. It could be; subtle light perception, vision in one eye but not the other, good central vision but not peripheral, good peripherals but no central, the list goes on. You could pick a character with a certain condition and do research into what it's like to have that type of visual impairment. RP might be a good one to look into, a good amount of folks here have RP (retinitis pigmentosa).
(Someone with RP, feel free to jump in!)
Take myself for instance, I'm low vision and color blind. Color blindness has a big spectrum too. For instance, I'm blue/grey/purple/green colorblind, all those colors blend together for me so I can't tell them apart. Playing games where color isn't important is easiest for me.
As for your friends trying to help your vision impaired character, I'll tell you what my O&M instructor told me. I'm kind of a petite young woman, so she said people are going to try and 'help' me more often. Usually by grabbing the arm. She taught me how to quickly yank myself out of the grips while saying, "thank you but I don't need help". Kind of aggressive but as a woman I need to be more forward. Since these are friends role playing in a game, you could just remove their hand and say, "I'll let you know if I need help."
Lmk if you have any questions about what I've said here!
I will say a couple of important notes about our blind/low vision community. This fact was told to me by my O&M instructor, 90% of the visually impaired community has some amount of vision. So if your character is 100% blind that's actually not representative of us. The stereotype for our community is that we are all completely blind but most of us have some amount of vision. It could be; subtle light perception, vision in one eye but not the other, good central vision but not peripheral, good peripherals but no central, the list goes on. You could pick a character with a certain condition and do research into what it's like to have that type of visual impairment. RP might be a good one to look into, a good amount of folks here have RP (retinitis pigmentosa).
(Someone with RP, feel free to jump in!)
Take myself for instance, I'm low vision and color blind. Color blindness has a big spectrum too. For instance, I'm blue/grey/purple/green colorblind, all those colors blend together for me so I can't tell them apart. Playing games where color isn't important is easiest for me.
As for your friends trying to help your vision impaired character, I'll tell you what my O&M instructor told me. I'm kind of a petite young woman, so she said people are going to try and 'help' me more often. Usually by grabbing the arm. She taught me how to quickly yank myself out of the grips while saying, "thank you but I don't need help". Kind of aggressive but as a woman I need to be more forward. Since these are friends role playing in a game, you could just remove their hand and say, "I'll let you know if I need help."
Lmk if you have any questions about what I've said here!
MostlyBlindGamer 3 points 2y ago
It sounds like you've put a lot of thought into this and are coming from the right place.
I wouldn't say anybody gets to decide what kind of character you are allowed to play, except maybe for your DM. Learning by role-playing is a pretty good idea.
There's a pinned post here about research and surveys that lists a lot of interesting reading material about blindness. There was also a post, a week or two ago, with a document about playing disabled D&D characters. I cross-posted it to
/r/EveryoneGames. You might be interested in that event, by the way.
As far as jokes go, I tell my friend they're allowed to laugh at mine and that's it. Seriously though, I'll laugh at myself once in a while and your character can too. As long as your party is made up of the kind of people who'll laugh with them and not at then or at home people, if that makes sense.
And don't get me started on people wanting to drag me around too. Why do they all think they know where I want to go!?
Edit - Sorry, one more thing. I play a sighted ranger, but I wouldn't play a blind one. Just like I switched to doing things I can still do well when my vision got worse, I'd expect a character who lost their sight would also adapt. At most, I might nulticlass as a level 1 ranger and then pick some kind of a fighter or mage. You could even be a rouge who doesn't take any more disadvantage from being on the dark, but can't make ranged attacks.
I wouldn't say anybody gets to decide what kind of character you are allowed to play, except maybe for your DM. Learning by role-playing is a pretty good idea.
There's a pinned post here about research and surveys that lists a lot of interesting reading material about blindness. There was also a post, a week or two ago, with a document about playing disabled D&D characters. I cross-posted it to
/r/EveryoneGames. You might be interested in that event, by the way.
As far as jokes go, I tell my friend they're allowed to laugh at mine and that's it. Seriously though, I'll laugh at myself once in a while and your character can too. As long as your party is made up of the kind of people who'll laugh with them and not at then or at home people, if that makes sense.
And don't get me started on people wanting to drag me around too. Why do they all think they know where I want to go!?
Edit - Sorry, one more thing. I play a sighted ranger, but I wouldn't play a blind one. Just like I switched to doing things I can still do well when my vision got worse, I'd expect a character who lost their sight would also adapt. At most, I might nulticlass as a level 1 ranger and then pick some kind of a fighter or mage. You could even be a rouge who doesn't take any more disadvantage from being on the dark, but can't make ranged attacks.
MonochromeAgent 2 points 2y ago
Ohh thanks for the idea! I couldn't decide which class I wanted him to go with. I love the idea that he still has his bow, as long as his bird is able to help guide his aim even if it's a little less realistic, my DM is new so they might be reluctant to give me disadvantage using the bow but I think it would make sense. I like the concept of him aiming with his bird's assistance but if that's tooooo unrealistic, we could incur disadvantage on it. Or he could give it up entirely. Its a tough decision.
I was also thinking also maybe multiclassing into fighter or monk so he can be more adept with the quarterstaff to give some good bonks!
Yeah man its bonkers, the second I'm in my wheelchair it's like I'm on a different plane of existence and people ignore me or do weird crap like grab my chair and spin me in circles. I'll clock someone with my cane if that ever happens again. And start running over toes when they just step right in front of me while I'm scooting along!
I was also thinking also maybe multiclassing into fighter or monk so he can be more adept with the quarterstaff to give some good bonks!
Yeah man its bonkers, the second I'm in my wheelchair it's like I'm on a different plane of existence and people ignore me or do weird crap like grab my chair and spin me in circles. I'll clock someone with my cane if that ever happens again. And start running over toes when they just step right in front of me while I'm scooting along!
MostlyBlindGamer 1 points 2y ago
There's an element of adjustment and stubbornness to dealing with an acquired disability. I've heard of totally blind people still wanting to pull their car out of the driveway, for example.
Along those lines, you could start using the bow with disadvantage at level 1 and nulticlass at level 2.
Along those lines, you could start using the bow with disadvantage at level 1 and nulticlass at level 2.
Meaangel 1 points 2y ago
I play D&D with my low vis husband (no central vision) and got him some pretty big dice(I think the d20 is like 5 cm long). The d20 and d6 very pretty easy to find, the d4 okay but it's a bit low in contrast (white on black is easier for him) but the rest of the dice a pretty impossible to get where I am.
rainmatt 1 points 2y ago
$1
I know Fate is not D&D. but this book is a good read. It helps raise awareness of most disabilities, and has some suggestions FROM players with those conditions about how to adapt play for them. I have a friend who is fully blind and I have been given permission to share my copy of the document with them.
For the melee-and-spell combat details, the mechanics of playing a character that is blind, I think if you have an openminded DM, you can work our something.
Taking a disability as a "flaw" to gain an "advantage" elsewhere is beyond min-maxing, and problematically ignorant. IMHO, just getting through life with a disability is like having the difficulty setting locked at a higher level without even asking you. You find ways to cope, including severe levels of bull-headed stubbornness.
I emailed Wizards in SanFran, asking about any efforts to make a character sheet API that is more accessible. I also reminded them that one of the 504 protests back in the 70's happened at a government office building near where their office is now. We can all be included.
I know Fate is not D&D. but this book is a good read. It helps raise awareness of most disabilities, and has some suggestions FROM players with those conditions about how to adapt play for them. I have a friend who is fully blind and I have been given permission to share my copy of the document with them.
For the melee-and-spell combat details, the mechanics of playing a character that is blind, I think if you have an openminded DM, you can work our something.
Taking a disability as a "flaw" to gain an "advantage" elsewhere is beyond min-maxing, and problematically ignorant. IMHO, just getting through life with a disability is like having the difficulty setting locked at a higher level without even asking you. You find ways to cope, including severe levels of bull-headed stubbornness.
I emailed Wizards in SanFran, asking about any efforts to make a character sheet API that is more accessible. I also reminded them that one of the 504 protests back in the 70's happened at a government office building near where their office is now. We can all be included.
PrincessDie123 1 points 2y ago
So I’ve got low vision and my issue with DND in my limited experience was being able to see the dice, I had to carefully choose the set I wanted and ended up with bright red dice with black numbers though for text I always set things to white text on a black background this would be even easier to read if the numbers could be larger (think 18+ size times new Roman font) or possibly, and idk what this would do to the accuracy of a roll with he eight and all, but braille as you mentioned would be cool I’ve played with braille playing cards and it’s fun but often slow going for those who aren’t proficient yet. Aside from that people often use apps to roll a digital die and have it set with audio feedback to read the number aloud.
As for the offensiveness I prefer toph because her seismic sense is an exaggeration of something that actually happens, it’s super powered because it’s a cartoon but tactile sensation is what makes a white cane work. People often think your senses heighten with the loss of sight but the truth is you just learn to use what is left. Quest for Camelot has a blind character who has a falcon that cries to give him directional cues during combat or when his staff isn’t sufficient it’s a little out there but in my opinion it’s pretty good for a fantasy thing in that movie the chattering of another character interrupts his ability to navigate because he can’t hear the obstacles he’s looking for which is a legit problem if someone is chitchatting in my ear I can’t tell the directionality of traffic which makes crossing streets difficult. So there are plenty of dangers you can put in the character’s path but they might be really good at leading the team during night missions or through dark caves! As for not being offensive I think just not focusing too much on the characters blindness as their defining trait like no supersonic hearing for example unless that is something they would have even with sight.
As for the offensiveness I prefer toph because her seismic sense is an exaggeration of something that actually happens, it’s super powered because it’s a cartoon but tactile sensation is what makes a white cane work. People often think your senses heighten with the loss of sight but the truth is you just learn to use what is left. Quest for Camelot has a blind character who has a falcon that cries to give him directional cues during combat or when his staff isn’t sufficient it’s a little out there but in my opinion it’s pretty good for a fantasy thing in that movie the chattering of another character interrupts his ability to navigate because he can’t hear the obstacles he’s looking for which is a legit problem if someone is chitchatting in my ear I can’t tell the directionality of traffic which makes crossing streets difficult. So there are plenty of dangers you can put in the character’s path but they might be really good at leading the team during night missions or through dark caves! As for not being offensive I think just not focusing too much on the characters blindness as their defining trait like no supersonic hearing for example unless that is something they would have even with sight.
FaerilyRowanwind 1 points 2y ago
There is a website/ group for this I just can’t remember what it is.
BlindRyan1 0 points 2y ago
Oh for fuck's sake. Play what you want to play. As an elitist RP nerd asshole, if I wanted to play... let's say a paraplegic, I'd ask them. You're doing that by asking us. If there aren't any blind people in your group, there's nobody to be offended (or there damn well shouldn't be.)
D&D is supposed to be about escapism and not being afraid to try new things. D&D is also insanely popular in prison as well as blind schools (for much the same reason, ironically.)
D&D is supposed to be about escapism and not being afraid to try new things. D&D is also insanely popular in prison as well as blind schools (for much the same reason, ironically.)
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