Blindness/Deafness spell help.

[Fayiss]

I'd like some help with the logistics of the Blindness/Deafness spell. How does the total concealment aspect work and what does (permanant) actually mean.

[Inevitability]

From the SRD:


Blinded
The character cannot see. He takes a -2 penalty to Armor Class, loses his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any), moves at half speed, and takes a -4 penalty on Search checks and on most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks. All checks and activities that rely on vision (such as reading and Spot checks) automatically fail. All opponents are considered to have total concealment (50% miss chance) to the blinded character. Characters who remain blinded for a long time grow accustomed to these drawbacks and can overcome some of them.


If you have line of effect to a target but not line of sight he is considered to have total concealment from you. You can’t attack an opponent that has total concealment, though you can attack into a square that you think he occupies. A successful attack into a square occupied by an enemy with total concealment has a 50% miss chance (instead of the normal 20% miss chance for an opponent with concealment).

You can’t execute an attack of opportunity against an opponent with total concealment, even if you know what square or squares the opponent occupies.


Permanent means what it sounds like: the spells is permanent. Unless removed by the proper spells (such as Dispel Magic or Remove Blindness/Deafness), the affected character is going to be unable to see. This particular spell is also dismissable, meaning the caster can as a standard action end its effect. Note that while the caster's death makes them dismissing it impossible, the spell will continue to blind its victim.