Eyepatches

[Xalos]

Why does any NPC or PC wearing an eyepatch always makes them 200% more badass?

[weckar]

Compensatory senses. -50% sense of vision, +50% sense of adventure/badass.

[John Longarrow]

Two Words.

Nick

Fury

(The Samuel Jackson version)

The only way to make a more badass eyepatch wearer would be Chuck Norris wearing an eye patch.

[Sewercop]

It doesn`t really.

[KorbeltheReader]

What's interesting is there's only enough badass-ness in the scene for one eyepatch. If there's a second guy with an eyepatch, they both look kind of stupid. If there are three, it looks like the scene is taking place in a hospital near the western front.

[Benthesquid]

Well, first, it makes people think of pirates. Pirates wear eyepatches, pirates are badass. So the thinking goes.

Second, on a more abstract level, it adds a sense of history to the character. How did they lose their eye? Was it in a fight? Did they trade it for magic? Is it even gone? What's really behind the eyepatch? In this respect, you can make any NPC seem more badass just by adding details to them. The more details, the more important, and therefore the more probably powerful your PCs are likely to assume they are.

[Sam K]

Two Words.

Nick

Fury

(The Samuel Jackson version)

The only way to make a more badass eyepatch wearer would be Chuck Norris wearing an eye patch.

Eyepatches wear Chuck Norris to become more badass.

[Red Fel]

Here's a rationalization for you.

First off, consider that one of the most horrifying and traumatic physical sensory experiences we can endure is the Eye Scream (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EyeScream). (WARNING: Typical TVTropes disclaimers aside, the name should give you a clue that this is not for the squeamish.) Basically, the idea is that our eyes are very sensitive, very vulnerable, and very, very squishy.

That guy with an eyepatch? He survived one of those. And he's not a shambling wreck.

And I will totally buy him a drink.

[Bronk]

Here's a rationalization for you.

First off, consider that one of the most horrifying and traumatic physical sensory experiences we can endure is the Eye Scream (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EyeScream). (WARNING: Typical TVTropes disclaimers aside, the name should give you a clue that this is not for the squeamish.) Basically, the idea is that our eyes are very sensitive, very vulnerable, and very, very squishy.

That guy with an eyepatch? He survived one of those. And he's not a shambling wreck.

And I will totally buy him a drink.

Clearly the only thing more awesome than a pirate with an eyepatch is a pirate with two eyepatches.

[Ravens_cry]

Clearly the only thing more awesome than a pirate with an eyepatch is a pirate with two eyepatches.

We'd be blind not to see it.

[gooddragon1]

Clearly the only thing more awesome than a pirate with an eyepatch is a pirate with two eyepatches.

You know, you don't necessarily have to wear eyepatches over the eyes. I feel bad for mentioning this.

[malonkey1]

Two Words.

Nick

Fury

(The Samuel Jackson version)

The only way to make a more badass eyepatch wearer would be Chuck Norris wearing an eye patch.

Mainline Marvel comics version qualifies too, to a lesser extent.

[infomatic]

Why does any NPC or PC wearing an eyepatch always makes them 200% more badass?

It doesn't. Not always:

http://marybethevans.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/1988/07/love_story_of_patch_and_kayla_sod_july_12_1988_3-smaller.jpg

That there, the guy with the patch, is Steven Earl "Patch," no lie, Johnson, the longtime Days of Our Lives character, and he's always looked like a doofus.

[CyberThread]

You know, you don't necessarily have to wear eyepatches over the eyes. I feel bad for mentioning this.



I wear an eyepatch over my peg leg. It be a true seein eyepatch, and the rules don't say I have to wear it over me eye, to be seein you dead.

[geekintheground]

It doesn't. Not always:

http://marybethevans.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/1988/07/love_story_of_patch_and_kayla_sod_july_12_1988_3-smaller.jpg

That there, the guy with the patch, is Steven Earl "Patch," no lie, Johnson, the longtime Days of Our Lives character, and he's always looked like a doofus.

i think theres an easy answer to this: eyepatches only work on NPCs. PCs with eyepatches are just trying to emulate it. and SEPJ (as i will call him) is a PC

[John Longarrow]

You know, you don't necessarily have to wear eyepatches over the eyes. I feel bad for mentioning this.

Sounds like you've met my ex. I give her an "A" for effort though.

[Werephilosopher]

Clearly the only thing more awesome than a pirate with an eyepatch is a pirate with two eyepatches.

"I'm Blindbeard the Pirate!"

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/165708_141459745913330_2332229_a.jpg

[HighWater]

Clearly the only thing more awesome than a pirate with an eyepatch is a pirate with two eyepatches.
Actually, thanks to the Corsair's Eyepatch (Magic Item Compendium), you can wear TWO eyepatches (over your eyes) and still have uninhibited vision for only 6000 pieces of gold!
This makes an NPC more badass, because PCs will realise that this bit of munchkinry will allow the NPC to first use See Invisibility for 3x1 round, before having to rely on Blind Fight for a full minute (or three)!

(Regretfully, they both occupy the same "Face"-slot, so only one of them can be active at a time. However, when it's spent, the other automatically becomes available.)

What's cooler than TWO Corsair's Eyepatches? Why, I'm glad you ask! How about TWENTY of them! If you can see through one without any downsides, you can surely see through TWENTY!

Imagine NPC Cool McAwesomePants entering the tavern with not one, not two, but TWENTY eyepatches stacked over his eyes! So... Awesome...


Edit: Fixed, Corsair's Eyepatch is 3/day!

[Telonius]

This phenomenon is well-known to Whovians.

Before:
http://www.doctorwhoworld.org.uk/Images/episodes/cs8ep1/cs8ep1e.jpg

After:
http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110507211610/tardis/images/2/20/The_Brig_Inferno.jpg

Before:
http://deabryn.com/plushie/Pic%20-%20Amy%20%28police2%29.jpg

After: http://seriable.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/amy-pond-eye-patch-600x350.jpg

There's also evidence for it in the My Little Pony fandom.

Before:
http://th04.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2012/311/9/8/twilight_sparkle_by_nausicaaedu1-d5ka5cu.png
After:
http://www.dylanfox.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/future_twilight_sparkle_by_winter_shadowhooves-d4sc046.jpg

[ShurikVch]

Clearly the only thing more awesome than a pirate with an eyepatch is a pirate with two eyepatches.
"Now, boy," he said, "take me in to the captain."
http://th09.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2011/229/4/a/treasure_island_blind_pew_by_juno_u-d46w79j.jpg

[ArqArturo]

See also, Big Boss.

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/17y5jwc7npilfjpg/ku-xlarge.jpg

[infomatic]

i think theres an easy answer to this: eyepatches only work on NPCs. PCs with eyepatches are just trying to emulate it. and SEPJ (as i will call him) is a PC

Ah, the "It's not cool when you do it" rule. I hear that one all the time.

[Callin]

You know, you don't necessarily have to wear eyepatches over the eyes. I feel bad for mentioning this.

Reminds me of a Beavis and Butthead sketch where they buy eye patches instead of Jock Straps...

[BowStreetRunner]

The real 'bad-ass' pirate wears an eye-patch not because he lost an eye, but because it is extremely bright on the deck of a ship in full sunlight and unbelievably dark in comparison below deck. He knows that when he goes into battle to take that enemy ship, the time it takes his eyes to adjust to the darkness when he heads below could prove fatal. So he wears an eye-patch over one eye and when he heads below he moves the patch off of that eye, which is already adjusted to the darkness.

This level of 'bad-ass' is the same as when you take a look at the rookie police officer or the green soldier in the field for the first time and compare them to the veteran. There are subtle differences that cause the veteran to exude competence. The pirate with the patch is the more dangerous one because he is obviously doing those little things that a veteran does to survive.

[Slipperychicken]

I learned in a marketing class that eyepatches are so badass that you can use them to sell other types of clothing, as evidenced by the famous "Man in the Shirt" marketing campaign by David Ogilvy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ogilvy_(businessman)), which was basically the original "world's most interesting man".


http://joshloebner.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/hathaway-shirt.jpg
http://www.dogsanddoubles.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Purdy_ad_1955.jpg

[RedMage125]

Looks like someone already beat me to the TV Tropes link, but here's the full answer to the OP's question:

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EyepatchOfPower

[Broken Crown]

Being able to kick ass without any depth perception adds at least a little bit of badassness.


"Now, boy," he said, "take me in to the captain."
http://th09.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2011/229/4/a/treasure_island_blind_pew_by_juno_u-d46w79j.jpg

Is this from an illustrated edition of Treasure Island? I want to see the rest of this book!

[ShurikVch]

Is this from an illustrated edition of Treasure Island? I want to see the rest of this book! Unfortunately, no.
It's from Deviantart: http://juno-u.deviantart.com/art/Treasure-Island-Blind-Pew-253444807
I searched for Pew picture from old soviet cartoon http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/279/f/a/untitled_by_drmad13-d6pgj6m.png
but decided Juno-u variant looks way more impressive

[malonkey1]

"I'm Blindbeard the Pirate!"

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/165708_141459745913330_2332229_a.jpg


Clearly the only thing more awesome than a pirate with an eyepatch is a pirate with two eyepatches.

Do you one better:

A Psychic pirate, who can put an eyepatch over both normal eyes, as well as over his third eye.

[ArqArturo]

Do you one better:

A Psychic pirate, who can put an eyepatch over both normal eyes, as well as over his third eye.

Two Words: Beholder Pirate.

[Spore]

Clearly the only thing more awesome than a pirate with an eyepatch is a pirate with two eyepatches.

We were arguing what could be more badass than a pirate with an eyepatch? A pirate with two eye patches, two peg legs and a parrot on the shoulder who has a parrot on the shoulder.

[Techwarrior]

Two Words: Beholder Pirate.

You act like we haven't had this Spelljammer campaign before.

Do note: I'm not saying this means you will still be on speaking terms with your players after this.

[RedMage125]

We were arguing what could be more badass than a pirate with an eyepatch? A pirate with two eye patches, two peg legs and a parrot on the shoulder who has a parrot on the shoulder.

What about a pirate with 2 eyepatches, two peg legs, two hooks for hands, and a parrot on his shoulder that has another, smaller pirate on its shoulder (maybe a Diminutive fey), who also had to eyepatches, peg legs and hook hands.

*drops microphone*

(had trouble holding the microphone anyway...on account of the hooks)


Two Words: Beholder Pirate.

Would it have an eyepatch over ALL of its eyes?

[malonkey1]

Two Words: Beholder Pirate.

http://ladygeekgirl.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/watch-out-we-got-a-bad-ass-over-here.jpg

I know when I have been bested.

[toapat]

Would it have an eyepatch over ALL of its eyes?

no, it only has 9 eyepatches, the other 4 are hooks. Its also undead because any beholder worth her reputation would try to fix loosing all of her SLAs

[BowStreetRunner]

Two Words: Beholder Pirate.

Apparently, this has been done already, but lost to a Warforged Ninja (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/20050510a#12).