Magic is omnipresent in Dungeons & Dragons. Among other things, this is why discussions often arise among players about whether physical limitations are even permanently possible in such an environment. The community explains why this question is actually unnecessary.
Of course, physical limitations are not something that can always be eradicated or must be. Therefore, it is important to handle such topics sensitively and to discuss exactly what is important to the players.
Why is there a discussion? Many players believe that in the multiverse of Dungeons & Dragons, due to the available healing magic, there should be no characters with physical limitations, such as permanent blindness, paralysis, or deafness. After all, they could simply be healed.
However, it is not that simple, as not all inhabitants of these worlds have access to healing magic – on the other hand, magic is needed for healing such ailments and limitations, which operates at a very high level.
For example, for the spell “Regeneration,” which specifically restores severed or severely damaged body parts, a 7th-level spell slot is required, which most classes do not get until level 13. Spells like “lesser or greater restoration” could remove pathological conditions, depending on the cause of the condition – however, they also require characters who are at least moderately magical at levels 2 and 5. Therefore, finding someone who can heal such things should logically not be easy for everyone.
Other, lesser healing spells could of course be interpreted by the game master in such a way that they could remove such issues, but the rules do not explicitly allow this, and if it were so, it would almost make spells like “Regeneration” or “greater restoration” obsolete.
The community points out in a thread on Reddit several logical reasons that undermine questioning the existence of wheelchairs and characters with limitations in Dungeons & Dragons.
Complete Healing Simply Too Expensive
What justifications does the community provide? User RokuroCarisu refers in his thread to this statement that wheelchairs in Dungeons & Dragons make no sense because magic exists. He also refers in his argument to the spell “Regeneration,” which requires a high spell slot and extensive magical knowledge.
Assuming that one could only access such a spell as a service in larger cities, it becomes more difficult for the average population to obtain such healing. Additionally, a magical service of this kind could easily cost several 10,000 gold, which even wealthier mercenaries and others could not just afford.
Wondrous items, or special magical items, would only cost a fraction of this, making it reasonable that primarily adventurers and citizens with a bit more gold in their pockets would resort to aids like prosthetics or wheelchairs.
The existence of such aids or characters with physical limitations in Dungeons & Dragons is therefore not only logically derived from the rules, but it is also very likely intended that way.
Also, MyMMO editor Alex has a character with limitations on his current campaign alongside the group and handles it similarly:
We actually follow this argument in our campaign, that even “smaller” adventurers have a hard time overcoming such limitations or injuries – simply because it is expensive and not everyone can cast these spells. For example, we have a frequently occurring blind NPC who lost his eyes in battle against undead. But since he is just a simple sailor and not a particularly wealthy adventurer, and he does not know anyone who can cast the spell “Regeneration,” he lives with it.
This presents a nice goal for the healer in our group and a chance for character development when he can finally help the character upon reaching level 13. From my perspective, it mainly depends on how the group wants to handle it, but I also find the argument that there cannot be any wheelchairs or similar in DnD to be unnecessary.
Many other users and players, who themselves have physical limitations, agree with him in the comments. Some also highlight that there are other reasons for physical limitations beyond damaged or injured body parts. Here, the question must also be asked whether even “Regeneration” or restoration spells can actually remove this condition or whether one would not need a “Wish“, which for most characters may be nearly unattainable.
However, it must be considered that characters with limitations may fight differently or not at all. It is also important to remember that not every character wants to remove their limitation. Therefore, a committed group is required to balance this convincingly, authentically, and without too much undue advantage or disadvantage – but it is not impossible, and particularly for affected players, it is an important step to be able to realize themselves in the game.
For a group of adventurers, it can also be a goal to help characters with such limitations or to find a way to still be a formidable adventurer.
There may also be magical reasons for limitations that can only be lifted with particularly strong magic. Here you can find, for example, the spell “Wish” and other powerful representatives that you can set as a goal: Dungeons & Dragons: The 10 most powerful spells that you should definitely use
