Adversity of a Different Kind

The concept of playing RPGs  is to escape reality a bit but not necessarily leave it behind at the same time. By this I mean yes the laws of nature are more pliable, your character is able to do things that you as a real person can only imagine and yet gravity still functions as expected, the sun (or suns) still rise and fall in a predictable fashion (I feel another post coming up) and so on. In this alternate reality people are still prone to injury in battle, some permanent and some temporary, but what about the idea of a character with a disability from the start?

"You have got to be joking John! Why would someone do that, after all gaming is all about a character doing what you can't."

Well there you have it, your question may well be the reason for adding a physical disability (for me anyways). I am relatively healthy and as of yet have not had to deal with many physical limitations (growing older and injuries notwithstanding) so to play a character with one would be a challenge of sorts. While it may seem a bit condescending on my part to talk about this sort of subject, I assure you it is meant honestly and with no malicious intent to anyone with a disability so get over any feelings of resentment right now and hang up that call to the ADA...please.

It could add something different to a game to not have a fully physically capable hero, how does a one legged Monk handle combat? What issues might a dyslexic Wizard have in reading scrolls? If your character is the only one with knowledge arcana but the words or symbols are in green on red background and he is color blind what do you do? You have a Rogue with asthma who also has a speed feat, how long does he rest after using this feat before he can battle? Does it affect other aspects? A Sorcerer with turrets anyone? Maybe a Bard with aspergers?

The possibilities are endless and where the issues pop up or limit may be a constant thing in the case of missing appendages or may be on a random roll such as with turrets. Use your imagination on where this could go, I am just putting it out there for you to read and comment on and maybe even use in a game. I have already discussed this with a few players in my group and they thought it was an interesting idea for a short game or one off so who knows down the road I may give it a run.

Have you ever run such a scenario?
How did it work out?
Would you do it again on either a long term adventure or a one off setup?

Leave comments, would love to hear your thoughts.
~John~