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zeratulcraft wrote:

If they want to play a blind character, make them really blind. Blindness is rather crippling, afterall. Not really a condition that an adventurer favours.

Not to curb this off topic, however this statement isn't quite true, the blind are only as crippled as they allow themselves to be. Remember perception is only 1/5th sight, the other 4/5ths are made up of sound, scent, touch and taste. Senses that are enhanced with the loss of vision. Some blind can still walk like you or I do. This is especially true of those who went blind after they were born and trained their other senses to help compensate for the lack of vision.

Adventurers who travel while blind, cannot perceive the world as others would, but they still have a way to perceive the world. The perception skill covers things other than Search and Spot, search itself can be used by touch as well. A blind character gains a form of blindsense, so yes they would still be able to sense that arrow, maybe a bit late maybe soon enough to dodge or deflect it. I wouldn't call it blindsense though, not with a Blind PC. I would though use it as an opportunity as a DM to say things such as "Your other senses, helping to compensate for your lack of sight, gave you assistance as you dodge the air vibrations caused by an arrow shot from the southwest of your position." As a flavor thing when describing the action, or results of an action. This tells the player that his blind character didn't get hit, but now knows that the ranged opponent is off in the southwest of his position, exactly how far you don't know yet. No penalties really need to apply, and no bonuses either. Effectively the opponent still gains combat advantage in melee, but only for so long, and only as long as said opponent is able to take a move action in order to shift 1 square.

Now if you do want to say that the Blind PC gets a penalty to sight, attacks and the like, then by all means you can. Be aware though that this would mean that you are purposely and effectively turning the PC into an NPC instead and that this may earn you some resentment from that player. Remember adventurers are those who rise above their present standing to do something beyond everyone else.