Deaf
| Deaf | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Class | Traits |
| Type | Negative Trait |
| Points | +12 |
| Effect | Can't hear sound. |
| Conflicts | |
Deaf removes sound for the character. The world goes silent, from zombie groans to breaking glass.
It is a negative trait and one of the largest, giving 12 points at character creation. It suits an experienced player who watches the screen closely and relies on sight. The 12 points can fund several strong positive traits. A player who listens for danger will find it very hard.
Deaf Effects
Game sounds go silent. Zombie noises, footsteps, gunshots and alarms make no sound. Background music still plays, and so do some jump scare sounds.
Radio chatter goes quiet too. Text from radios stays hidden, including the Automated Emergency Broadcast System. Television still works, since closed captions show on every set. Television shows and VHS tapes still give their full skill and mood bonuses.
Alarms lose their power. A Deaf character sleeps through an alarm clock. A burglar alarm set off by the character stays unnoticed until zombies start arriving.
The perception radius stays the same as normal hearing. The character still senses nearby zombies around them in the usual way.
In multiplayer, voice and text messages still come through.
Deaf Conflicting Traits
A character with Deaf cannot also take these traits.
| Name | Image | Points | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hard of Hearing | 
|
+4 | Negative Trait |
| Keen Hearing | 
|
-6 | Positive Trait |
Picking Deaf
Deaf clashes with Hard of Hearing and Keen Hearing. The 12 points are a huge sum for a single trait.
The trait suits a player who checks every corner by sight and keeps the camera moving. It is very risky for new players. Hearing a zombie before seeing it saves many lives.
A split-screen game lets one player take Deaf and still hear through the other player's sound. Many players see that as an exploit.
Notes
- The perception radius stays the same as normal.
- Closed captions keep television and VHS tapes useful.
- Alarm clocks fail to wake a Deaf character.
- A triggered burglar alarm gives no warning sound.
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