Astropaths are blind. However, they have some kind of supernatural perception and the rules tell us that they should be treated in-game as if they could see normally. However, I think this ruling seems to be incomplete, maybe even overhasty, and leads to problems

I wished there would be a more precise definiton of what an Astropath can see in his surrounding area and in which way he recognizes the world.

Obviously, an Astropath is able to see people. Moreover, the rules tell us that they can see walls – and that they can't see through walls.

But what about monitor screens: Is an Astropath able to see what is shown on a screen?

And what is about windows/glass or water surfaces: Will the Astropath see just the glass/water-surface as barrier or will he see through it – or both of it?

Is an Astropath able to read (probably not, except of braille.)

(If he can't read screens and if he can't see through windows and walls: Being on a ship – is he able to recognize another starships at all?)

Maybe you have more information about the Astropaths senses and maybe you can help me to see those things clearer. At the time, I think it's hard to tell my players how an Astropaths perception should be handled – and I am tempted to houserule that Astropaths simply aren't blind at all: This would make the things quite easier.

The books state that they see as a normal person would. It is obviously some sort of supernatural sight, perhaps a gift from the Emperor. If you are wondering if they can see monitors and read books, I would say they can.

Literacy is a Rank 1 Astropath advance. So they can see well enough to read.

I had a player who rolled frankly atrocious agility and reduced it further via the origin path. We came up together with the idea that the soul-binding had left him feeling partially disconnected from his body, permanently using his new sight from an over-the-shoulder perspective and controlling his body like a puppet. Worked quite well, tended to disconcert other people when he'd try to shift his body out of the way so that he could read a terminal better.

Its supposed to be "mystical", without a direct explanation. The Astropath represents the "blind mystic sage" archtype.

The Astropath is quite clearly blind, and possibly acts like it, but always seems to "see" whatever he/she needs too. So yes, they can see screens, read books, and everything else, but "mystically", woOoOoOo!!!

So the book doesn't give anything specific, and it is largely up to the players "how" they percieve the world. Likely each does it a little differently. But it clarifies that, for all intents and purposes, they can see everything everyone else can. Just more "mystically".

WooOoOoOOoOoo...

Thank you for your help!

After all, I tend to establish the housrule that Astropaths simply aren't blind. Me and my group think that it's ridiculous to take someones eyesight – just to replace it by an undefined mystical sense that works exactly like eyes.

You may not find this helpful, but I think this whole theme is based on events in Dune Messiah(I personally feel like 40k is significantly based on Dune in general). In the story Paul loses his eye sight in an attempt on his life but he continues to see through “prescient vision”. Basically he can function as if he has full sight because he is actually looking into the future to see how events unfold and thus acts accordingly to those. I run an Astropath in a very similar way, he doesn’t have to read the incoming message because he already knew what it said. I guess in the end it doesn’t really make a difference, but it does let me play the functionality a bit, like sometimes I’ll have events happen that He did not predict and have him briefly act as if he is truly blind because events are not unfolding the way he saw it.

I guess I understand why it seems silly, why take something away just to give it back with an obscure explanation? For one thing it is actually better than sight, it can see through some enviromental conditions that normal sight cannot (smoke, total darkness). I think its up to your players to make it work, come up with your own rules/guides and put a unique spin on it.

I think its done they way it is to keep the character from imparing players who want to just run with the rules as written, but to give the character room to expand and develop further if the player wants that. Personally I love it, I think its awesome, whenever I miss a shot really bad or completely fail a normal action I just turn to the other players and say "Hey thats what you get for leaving it up to the blind guy."

Just a note: Don't forget they can't see Untouchables or other beings who have no warp presence.