How to Play World of Warcraft Blind (Without Sight)

A few months ago, I started to do some research on how viable it would be for a blind person to play World of Warcraft; however, I wasn’t able to get a lot of information, which is understandable. Additionally, I tried to reach out to some other blind players, but it was more difficult to get in contact with them than I thought. As a result, I started to do some more in-depth research on the information already provided by some blind players while trying to fill in a lot of missing information with my prior knowledge of the game, and I was able to find a few addons, macros, and general tips along the way.

The following information is what I have compiled throughout the past few months. However, I have not been max level for very long; therefore, this is not a comprehensive list of everything that is needed, but it is a good start.

World of Warcraft is not very accessible

Before we get into the following information, I want to say that WoW is not very accessible when it comes to playing the game completely by yourself. If you never played the game with sight, it might be not worth the trouble because there is a relatively large learning curve. In my situation, I remember playing the game when I was able to see, and it is still fun to me without sight.

You should expect to need help with things like:

• creating a character,
• using the auction house,
• navigating the world,
• reading things like quests and chat,
• and more.

Despite that, if you play with a friend, it is definitely possible and enjoyable.

Battle.net launcher

From what I have found, the Battle.net launcher is not really accessible when it comes to navigating it, but once you get logged into your account, it keeps the information and you just have to press enter to launch WoW.

Character creation

Next, you will need assistance creating a character, but once the character is created you just press enter to enter the world. Then, you can follow your friend around to navigate the world, do quest, dungeons, and more, or you can stay in and around a zone for a little bit to farm mobs for XP.

If you want to see me play the game, I will link a YouTube video showing some gameplay, or you can check out my Twitch stream sometime.

20 Addons to play World of Warcraft blind

You can download the Twitch desktop app to easily download addons and, from my experience, it is screen reader accessible.

The following list of addons are compiled from researching articles and forums on other blind players along with some other addons I thought might be useful. However, I have not used all the addons yet.

1. DialogKey. Allows you to use the space bar or any other button to accept things like group invites. It also lets you use the numbers on the keyboard to navigate certain dialog boxes. For example, you could press 3 to select a certain quest reward.

2. GTFO. Gives sound alerts if you are standing in something that you shouldn’t be standing in, and it has other alerts.

3. MiksScrollingBattleText. Allows you to set sounds for many things like cooldowns and low health.

4. RangedDPS. Someone mentioned this addon, but I couldn’t find it on Twitch.

5. RangeDisplay. Lets you set sound alerts to notify you if you are in range or out of range.

6. DBM. Helps with things like boss fights, but I haven’t used it much yet.

7. DBM voice. I believe this is an addition to DBM that adds more or better voices, but I haven’t investigated it much.

8. WeakAuras2. Allows you to set sound alerts for many things.

9. TellMeWhen. Another addon that has configurable sound alerts.

10. Genie. A bag addon, but I haven’t really used it yet.

11. AutoRepair. Lets you automatically repair when talking to a repair NPC.

12. AutoTurnIn. Lets you automatically accept and turn in quests, but I am using DialogKey to do the quest actions instead.

13. AutoLootPlus. Can help with looting.

14. GladiatorlosSA2. A PVP addon that tells you what abilities an enemy is using.

15. Azeroth Auto Pilot. Helps you level, from 110 to 120, quicker by telling you what quests to take, and it helps to make things easier by auto accepting and turning in quests along with taking the correct flight path or boat path.

16. AudioQs. An audio based healing addon, and it also has cooldown alerts. For dungeons, it will say the numbers 1-5 with 1 being your health and 2-5 being the party member’s health. Once someone drops below 90% health, it will start saying their number, and the lower the health someone is, the faster their number will be said. Furthermore, the F1-F5 keys correlate with the numbers 1-5, and that is a way to target party members. For raids, it will say the lowest three numbers in the raid. Additionally, if the voice changes from female to male, that means you can dispel that number. Thanks to Yewchi for making this addon.

17. BlindAssist. Tells you if you are following, stopped following, swimming, diving, outside, inside, mounted, name of dungeon, name of battleground, and more. Thanks to Zensunim (creator of GTFO) for creating this addon.

18. SmartError. Has audio alerts for events such as, moving and can’t cast, stunned, silenced, out of range, line of sight, interrupted, and more.

19. AstralKeys. Lets other people see what mythic key you have if they have the addon as well. I think if you do either !key or !keys in the in-game chat, it will tell people what your key is.

20. Angry Keystones. Should automatically put your mythic keystone into the Font of Power.

A few more notes on addons

There is an interesting addon called Jocys TTS, which seems like it is able to read the chat window and quests, but after doing some research, it seems like the way the addon gets its information is against Blizzard’s terms of use. Therefore, I would not suggest using this addon if you come across it.

Auto Hotkey is an interesting program that helps keep your curser in the middle of the screen, which is helpful when clicking on things that you cannot target like portals, mailboxes, and more. However, this is probably against Blizzard’s terms of use as well; therefore, I would not suggest using it unless it is confirmed that it is not against the terms of use.

There was a project headed by @blindwarcraft on Twitter to try to make WoW more accessible to the blind. The project seemed like it got a good start, but the project does not seem to have been updated in a couple years. Additionally, the website, blindwarcraft.com, is not working. I am not sure what happened to the project.

32 in game WoW tips for people with visual impairments

1. There are many commands you can use that start with the symbol /. I will go over some of them below.
2. “/f” or “/follow”- to follow your target, you can also input a character’s name. For example, “/follow jim” will follow a character named Jim. Additionally, “/f ji” may work because the character’s name can be shortened to an extent.
3. “/target Name” or “/tar Name”- to target an NPC/friendly/enemy but replace “Name” with the name of the NPC/friendly/enemy. For example, “/target jim” will target Jim.
4. “Interact with target”- is a keybind you can set to be able to loot a target, interact with an NPC, get on another players mount, and more.
5. “interact with mouseover”- is a keybind that lets you interact with whatever your mouse is over. You could also just use the mouse buttons to click. This is necessary for things you cannot target like portals, mailboxes, and more. Furthermore, you can set your camera zoom in and out keybinds to the page up and page down keys or any other keys to help zoom in when you are in front of a portal. This allows the object to take up more of the screen and is easier to put your mouse over the object. Additionally, you can hide the UI by pressing alt Z to increase the chance of clicking on the object. Also, if you have a touchscreen, it might be helpful to just touch the middle of the screen to know where the mouse is.
6. “/targetlasttarget”- can be used for targeting something you just killed in the game. Then, use interact with target to loot it.
7. There is an item called loot-a-rang for engineers to help loot a target, and hunters can use their pet to loot through a learnable skill called Fetch.
8. “/assist” or “/assist Name”- to help target another player’s target.
9. “/equip name of armor/weapon”- will equip the piece of armor or weapon.
10. For the second ring and second trinket slots, use “/equipslot 12 Name of ring” and “/equipslot 14 Name of trinket” respectively.
11. For enchanting items, you can use commands like “/use enchant ring – seal of haste” followed by “/use charged sandstone band.”
12. “/equipset name of set”- can be used if you make an in-game gear set and want to equip the gear set.
13. If you want to cycle through friendly targets, use control tab.
14. If you want to cycle through nearby enemies, use tab.
15. You can use a command like, “/run BuyMerchantItem(5,5)” to buy items from venders.
16. “/cast” or “/use” followed by the name of an ability will cast/use the ability. For example, “/use hearthstone” will use your hearthstone.
17. “/click” followed by the name of a button can be used to click on a button.
18. “/framestack” or “/fstack” can be used to help figure out what a button is called, but someone sighted will probably have to help with this. You will need to put your mouse over the button to allow it to tell you what the button is called. For example, if you put your mouse over the queue button for a random battleground, it will show that the button is called “HonorFrameQueueButton.”
19. Consider buying the mammoth mount to conveniently use venders including a repair vender. To target the repair vender type, “/tar gnimo” or “/tar gn” for Alliance or “/tar drix blackwrench” or “/tar dr” for Horde. The name of the other Alliance vender is Hakmud of Argus, and the other Horde vender is named Mojodishu.
20. Hunters have an ability called Flare that can be helpful for navigating the world when you are not following someone. Disregarding what the ability actually does, it makes a sound when it is on the ground, and this is helpful because it can help you know if you are moving forward or if you are running into something.
21. “/tar sp”- to target the Spirit Healer when dead.
22. Ctrl + or ctrl – to adjust the in-game volume.
23. “/camp” or “/logout”- to logout.
24. “/run RepopMe()”- should release your spirit to the graveyard.
25. “/script PortGraveyard()”- should port you back to the graveyard when you are in spirit form.
26. “/script PickupItem(“Item Name”)”- will pick up an item. For example, “/script PickupItem(“Hearthstone”)” will pick up your Hearthstone.
27. “/script RepairAllItems()”- should repair all items that you have equipped and have in inventory, but I use the AutoRepair addon; therefore, I haven’t tried this script.
28. “/enableaddons” and “/disableaddons”- will enable/disable all your addons respectively.
29. You can enable or disable specific addons for your character by going to WTF>Account>Account Name>Server Name>Character’s Name>AddOns.txt.
30. You can edit account wide macros by going to WTF>Account>Account Name>Macros-Cache.txt.
31. “/run CreateMacro(“Name”, “INV_MISC_QUESTIONMARK”, “input macro text here”, nil, nil);” lets you create macros.
32. “/reload”- will reload the UI.

Trading

1. “/trade”- will begin trading with your target.
2. “/click TradeFrameTradeButton” or “/script AcceptTrade()”- to accept trades.
3. For the following, replace “Stringy Loins” with the item you want to trade.
4. /run for i=0,4 do for x=1,GetContainerNumSlots(i) do y=GetContainerItemLink(i,x) if y then if GetItemInfo(y)==”Stringy Loins” then PickupContainerItem(i,x); DropItemOnUnit(“target”); return; end end end end
5. I am not sure how to accept gold trades yet.

Battlegrounds

1. You will have to choose tank, healer, or damage before queueing for a battleground, and I’m not sure if there is a command to do this; however, once you choose one, it will stay set. Then, you can use the following to queue for battlegrounds.
2. “/run TogglePVPUI()”- will bring up the PVP interface.
3. “/click HonorFrameQueueButton”- will click the button to queue for a random battleground.
4. “/click PVPReadyDialogEnterBattleButton”- used when the queue pops.
5. “/script LeaveBattlefield()” or “/click WorldStateScoreFrameLeaveButton”- used when the battleground is over.

Dungeons and Raids

1. You will have to choose tank, healer, or damage before queueing for a dungeon/raid. The following command should work for choosing a role for dungeons. Once you choose one, it will stay set.
2. “/click LFDQueueFrameRoleButtonHealer” You can replace healer with DPS or Tank.
3. To get a Mythic Keystone into the Font of Power, have a player position you near the Font of Power and try to click it. Once you click it, the Angry Keystones addon should automatically place it into the Font of Power. Then, use the following command to start the key:
4. /run ChallengesKeystoneFrame.StartButton:Click()
5. “/LFD”- to bring up the dungeon finder.
6. “LFR”- to bring up the raid finder.
7. “/click LFDQueueFrameFindGroupButton”- to find a group in LFD.
8. ”/click LFDRoleCheckPopupAcceptButton”- clicks accept on the pop-up dialog.
9. ”/click LFDDungeonReadyDialogEnterDungeonButton”- will enter the dungeon when the group is ready.
10. To change the drop down list in the dungeon finder, xxx Specific dungeons, random warlords of draenor
11. dungeon, random warlords of draenor heroic, and random legion dungeon. The buttons use a number that corresponds to the buttons place in the list. the
12. command is
13. /click DropDownList1Button1
14. 1 should always be specific i think
15. so you could try /click DropDownList1Button2
16. and that will probably select the one you want
17. Also note that you don’t have to have the dungeon finder frame open for the /click command to work

Flight Paths

1. “/run TaxiNodeName(slot)”- will be used in the following macro to provide a number for each flight path when talking to the flight master.
2. /run for node = 1, NumTaxiNodes() do print(node .. “: ” .. TaxiNodeName(node)) end
3. “/run TakeTaxiNode(slot)”- will be used when you figure out what number your desired flight path is. Replace “slot” with the flight path number.
4. The following is an alternative method that was recommended, but I couldn’t get it to work.
5. For the following, replace “Grassy Cline” with the name of the place you want to go.
6. /run local n = “Grassy Cline”; for i=1, NUM_TAXI_BUTTONS do if TaxiNodeName(_G[“TaxiButton”..i]:GetID()):lower():find(n:lower()) then TakeTaxiNode(i) return; end end PlaySound(47355);

Scripts for Quests

1. It seems that you can use /script functions to accept, turn in, and navigate the quest dialog box, but I just use an addon. Below are some examples of /script functions for questing.
2. /script AcceptQuest()
3. /script SelectGossipAvailableQuest(1)
4. /script SelectGossipActiveQuest (1)
5. /script CompleteQuest()
6. /script GetQuestReward(1)

Keybinds and Placing Things on Action Bars

1. To set a keybind, use the following command. Replace xx with the key you want bound such as the letter j. Replace ActionButton10 with whatever the slot is called on the action bar. The main bar uses language like ActionButton10, but other bars use something like MULTIACTIONBAR3BUTTON3. You can also edit binds in the bindings-cache document found at WTF>Account>Account Name>Server Name>Character’s Name> bindings-cache.
2. /run SetBinding(“xx”,”ActionButton10″) SaveBindings(GetCurrentBindingSet())
3. To place a spell on your action bar, use the following command. Replace xx with the spell number which can be found at the end of the Wowhead URL where it says spell=. Replace zz with the number of the action bar slot you want to place it in. The action bar slots will start at 1 and keep increasing.
4. /run PickupSpell(“xx”) PlaceAction (“zz”) ClearCursor()
5. To place a macro on your action bar, use the following command. It is similar to the above method having to do with putting spells on action bars.
6. /run PickupMacro(“Name”) PlaceAction (“zz”) ClearCursor()
7. For putting spells and macros on action bars, it doesn’t seem like you are able to use the commands for all action bars, and I’m not sure why.

Talents

1. To open the talents frame, use the following command:
2. /run ToggleTalentFrame()
3. To select talents, use the following command, and the talent frame doesn’t have to be open. Within the command you will be editing the part that says, “t(1,1)t(2,2)t(3,1)t(4,3)t(5,3)t(6,1)t(7,1).” The first number in each set of parentheses correlates with each new section of talents which is unlocked at certain levels. The second number is the actual talent. For example, if you wanted to choose a talent from your level 100 talents, you would go to the section where it has (7,1) and change the second number to the talent you want. To figure out which order the talents are in, go to the builds and talents section of your class guide on Icy Veins. Then, the order that the screen reader reads the talents is the correct order. As in, if you want the talent that the screen reader reads second, use the number 2 in the command. Hopefully that makes sense.
4. /run local function t(r,c)LearnTalent(GetTalentInfo(r,c,1))end t(1,1)t(2,2)t(3,1)t(4,3)t(5,3)t(6,1)t(7,1)

PVP Talents:

1. I couldn’t get these to work, but maybe I’m just doing something wrong.
2. /run TalentMicroButton:Click();PlayerTalentFrame:Hide();PlayerTalentFrameTab3:Click();
3. /run PlayerTalentFramePVPTalents.Talents.Tier1.Talent2:Click()
4. /run PlayerTalentFramePVPTalents.Talents.Tier2.Talent1:Click()

Auction House:\

1. Thanks to Tophlove for finding this information.
2. After interacting with an auctioneer:
3. “/run BrowseName:SetFocus()” to click the search box and begin entering text for the item you want to search for. You can press enter after typing to search.
4. “/run AuctionFrameBrowse_Search()” can be used to begin the search for the previously typed item if you didn’t press enter for the previous item.
5. “/click BrowseButton1” to select the first auction in the list (cheapest).
6. “/run StaticPopup_Show(“BUYOUT_AUCTION”)” to open dialogue box to purchase auction.
7. “/click StaticPopup1Button1” to select the confirm button.

My keybinds for a beast mastery hunter:\

1. `= assist and follow macro:

/assist focus

/follow focus [mod:ctrl]

/focus [mod:alt]

2. 1= Cobra Shot macro:

/cast Claw(Basic Attack)

/cast Bite(Basic Attack)

/cast Smack(Basic Attack)

/cast Cobra Shot

3. 2= kill command macro:

#showtooltip Kill Command

/petattack

/cast Claw(Basic Attack)

/cast Bite(Basic Attack)

/cast Smack(Basic Attack)

/cast Kill Command

4. 3= Barbed Shot macro:

/cast Claw(Basic Attack)

/cast Bite(Basic Attack)

/cast Smack(Basic Attack)

/cast Barbed Shot

5. 4= Chimaera Shot macro:

/cast Claw(Basic Attack)

/cast Bite(Basic Attack)

/cast Smack(Basic Attack)

/cast Chimaera Shot

6. 5= multi-shot macro:

#showtooltip Multi-Shot

/petattack

/cast Claw(Basic Attack)

/cast Bite(Basic Attack)

/cast Smack(Basic Attack)

/cast Multi-Shot

7. 0= aspect of the wild macro:

/cast Claw(Basic Attack)

/cast Bite(Basic Attack)

/cast Smack(Basic Attack)

/cast Aspect of the Wild

8. -= Bestial Wrath macro:

/cast Claw(Basic Attack)

/cast Bite(Basic Attack)

/cast Smack(Basic Attack)

/cast Bestial Wrath

9. == A Murder of Crows macro:

/cast Claw(Basic Attack)

/cast Bite(Basic Attack)

/cast Smack(Basic Attack)

/cast A Murder of Crows

10. S1= feign death macro:

/cast Play Dead

/cast Feign Death

11. S2= disengage

12. S3= aspect of the cheetah

13. S4= exhilaration

14. S5= aspect of the turtle

15. S0= Flare macro, /cast [@player] Flare

16. s-= Tar trap macro, /cast [@player] Tar Trap

17. S== Freezing trap macro, /cast [@player] Freezing Trap

18. Ctrl1= Concussive Shot macro:

/cast Claw(Basic Attack)

/cast Bite(Basic Attack)

/cast Smack(Basic Attack)

/cast Concussive Shot

19. Ctrl2= intimidation

20. Ctrl3= counter shot

21. Ctrl4= misdirection

22. R= /follow focus

23. U= /petdefensive

24. i= /petassist

25. o= call pet back macro:

/petpassive

/petfollow

26. p= growl macro:

/petautocaston growl

/petautocastoff [@raid7,exists][@party3,exists,group:party] growl

27. C= /targetlasttarget

28. F= mount macro:

#showtooltip

/cast [nomod] mount a

/cast [mod:Shift] mount b

/cast [mod:Alt] mount c

/cast [mod:Ctrl] mount d

/dismount [mounted]

29. G= pet macro:

/cast [mod:shift] Revive Pet

/cast [mod:ctrl] Dismiss Pet

/cast Call Pet 1

/cast Mend Pet

/petattack

/petassist

30. h=Spirit mend macro:

#showtooltip Spirit Mend

/cast [@player] Spirit Mend

31. B= accept macro:

/click LFDRoleCheckPopupAcceptButton

/click LFDDungeonReadyDialogEnterDungeonButton

/script AcceptTrade();

/click StaticPopup1Button1

/click LFGDungeonReadyDialogEnterDungeonButton

/click ReadyCheckFrameYesButton

/click PVPReadyDialogEnterBattleButton

32. V= pet training manual fetch

33. N= Queue for Battleground/Dungeon macro (it will queue for both at the same time):

/click LFDQueueFrameFindGroupButton

/click HonorFrameQueueButton

34. M= interact with mouseover keybind

35. Z= interact with target keybind