Defel & Blind-fighting

[Esoomian]

I think it still should be a skill as some Defel may be better at it than others.

On a more tangential question if a defel's visor allows them to see in the normal (human) spectrum does that mean a defel will have trouble seeing other defels when they're wearing their visor?
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Simply stand closer to the object you wish to view.

[vong]

hmmm, im going to have to say yes, if it shifts their spectrum, they lose any vision bonuses/penaties and gain that of the new one.
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[Gry Sarth]

As far as I know, the Defel's visor doesn't change their viewing spectrum. They still see in the ultraviolet spectrum, but the visor blocks out the blinding "sub-violet" rays of light.

[Esoomian]

So they'd see everything as a that doesn't display in an ultraviolet spectrum as a shadow?

They wouldn't be able to read computers or datapads that weren't specially modified then.

I could be reading too much into this though.
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Don't waste money on expensive binoculars.

Simply stand closer to the object you wish to view.

[awfulalex]

I would say it would be a good idea maybe to remove blind-fighting totally and allow Defel to use it as speciality on brawl and melee (lightsaber) and related parry skills. But I think they are already penalised on so many other things becuase of their limited visual ranges.

Also if I played a defel I would always try to destroy all light sources and use head mounted UV lights so I can see and noone else can. Which is much beter than having one skill to replace 2 or 4 skills while my enemies can still sue all theri skills including BLASTERS which work at range unlike any of the defels uses of blind-fighting all are close range. I think this might be why it is ok for them to appear powerful. Don't get into hand-to-hand range with a defel.

It is a hard descision, I mean look at blindfury with Rutger Hauer, and also Zatoichi with Takehashi(if memory serves) blind sword masters who can fight, parry, etc while being either blind or keeping their eyes closed. Skill is so developed that they can hear sounds of faster breating, weapons being drawn, slightest movements.

For game I agree it might be a bit powerful for PC's but damn look at them NOGHRI with 5D+2 Dex and STR and extra 4 build dice and martial arts ...
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[Matthias777]

Okay, this is what I decided on for my game that I'm running. Let me know what you think. The applicable text has been highlighted in blue, and there is an example at the end of this post.
. Defel
Attribute Dice: 12D
DEXTERITY 2D/4D
KNOWLEDGE 1D/3D
PERCEPTION 2D/4D
STRENGTH 3D/4D+1
TECHNICAL 1D/3D
Special Abilities:
Blind Fighting: Defel are adept combatants even when fighting in near or total darkness. At close range, their senses of smell and sound combined with sharp natural instincts allow them to sense the movements of opponents with surprising accuracy. All Defel experience reduced sight penalties from fog, darkness, etc. when attacking or parrying as a result. This penalty reduction begins at 1D for all Defel, and may be improved like a skill, although at three times the Character Point cost. If the Defel used the ability in the last adventure, there is no training time. If he or she did not, the training time is two days times the number before the "D" (with a teacher) or four days times the number before the "D" (without a teacher). Sight penalties may not be reduced below 0D, and this ability may not be improved past 4D. Beginning Player Characters may place up to 1D of their starting skill dice in this ability at character creation.
Invisibility: Defel receive a +3D bonus when using the sneak skill.
Claws: The claws of a Defel can inflict STR+2D damage.
Light Blind: Defel eyes can only detect ultraviolet light and the presence of any other light effectively blinds the Defel. Defel can wear special sight visors which black out other light waves, allowing them to see, but if a Defel loses its visor, the difficulty of any task involving sight increases one level.
Story Factors:
Reputation: Defels are considered to be a myth by most of the galaxy---therefore, when they are encountered, they are often thought to be supernatural beings. Most Defel in the galaxy enjoy taking advantage of this perception.
Overconfidence: Most Defel are comfortable knowing that, if they wish to hide, no one will be able to spot them. They often ignore surveillance equipment and characters who may have special perception abilities when they should not.
Move: 10/13
Size: 1.1-1.5 meters tall

Example: Thar'daeus, a Defel, is fighting a thug in an alleyway on a moonlit night. Because of the level of darkness, the gamemaster has imposed a +2D modifier to the difficulty of all combat skill checks. Thar'daeus has improved his Blind Fighting ability's penalty reduction to 3D over the course of the past several adventures. While this allows him to reduce any sight penalties by up to 3D, in this case the penalty is only 2D. Because of his ability, the penalty is reduced to 0D, and Thar'daeus may attack and defend as if he were fighting normally. The thug, however, must still roll all combat skill checks with the 2D difficulty modifier. After the adventure, if Thar'daeus wants to improve his ability to 3D+1, he must spend nine Character Points to improve it. There is no training time because he used the ability in the last adventure. If he had not, he would spend either 6 days training (with a teacher) or 12 days training (without a teacher).
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Arek | Kage

[Ankhanu]

I'd add the caveat that it only applied to brawl and melee fighting, not ranged weapons.

[Falcon79]

[Matthias777]

I think I'll add in that "close range" means 3 meters or less. At that range I think that a Defel could hear the rustle of a gunman whipping around to fire a hand weapon at him, or the change in breathing as someone took aim at point-blank range perhaps. He could then react accordingly. But anything more than that and he's just another target. And as always, it's at the GM's discretion, so anything that wouldn't fall within the realm of possibility could be fixed on the fly (say, an enemy lying in wait, not moving, holding his breath, and only firing when the Defel literally walked into his line of fire). Another plus of the "close range" bit is that it means that you don't have to give Defel a bonus to any search skill checks, since it's clearly stated that their senses are only good enough to help them inside their "personal space".

And I think that it could possibly be applied to other species as well, since a number of species have heightened senses of smell, hearing, etc. The reasoning I give for it not being widespread among such species is that Defel are used to operating in a different visual environment, as well as the "instinct" part. It's my implication that these two things coupled with their heightened senses created the possibility for such an ability to develop among their species. But you could apply it sparingly to other home-grown species if you chose to.

Thanks for the feedback guys!
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Arek | Kage

[Tupteq]

[Ankhanu]

[Matthias777]

[K21DUBIE]

I used the system of not allowing his Blind fighting to go higher then any of his combat skill with out raising those. Example my brawiling is 6D+1 then my blindfighting could not exceed that meaning it could only be no higher then 6d+1, if his melee is higher then you pick the lowest skill and that is as high as the blind fighting can go.

[Tupteq]

[Matthias777]

Thanks for all the input (everyone!) on this subject. 8)
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Arek | Kage