diff --git a/doc/Guidebook.mn b/doc/Guidebook.mn
index 496d588de..df7301a81 100644
--- a/doc/Guidebook.mn
+++ b/doc/Guidebook.mn
@@ -1921,6 +1921,8 @@ quality of the weapon; you are free to manually fill your quiver or quiver sack
 or make ready
 with the `Q' command instead.  If no weapon is found or the option is
 false, the `t' (throw) command is executed instead.  (default false)
+.lp blind
+Start the character permanently blind. (default false)
 .lp bones
 Allow saving and loading bones files.  (default true)
 .lp boulder
@@ -2143,6 +2145,8 @@ Cannot be set with the `O' command.
 Read the NetHack news file, if present (default on).
 Since the news is shown at the beginning of the game, there's no point
 in setting this with the `O' command.
+.lp nudist
+Start the character with no armor (default false).
 .lp "null    "
 Send padding nulls to the terminal (default on).
 .lp number_pad
diff --git a/doc/Guidebook.tex b/doc/Guidebook.tex
index 6c3ccbded..7c2464664 100644
--- a/doc/Guidebook.tex
+++ b/doc/Guidebook.tex
@@ -2322,6 +2322,9 @@ or make ready
 with the `Q' command instead.  If no weapon is found or the option is
 false, the `t' (throw) command is executed instead.  (default false)
 %.lp
+\item[\ib{blind}]
+Start the character permanently blind. (default false)
+%.lp
 \item[\ib{bones}]
 Allow saving and loading bones files.  (default true)
 %.lp
@@ -2576,6 +2579,9 @@ Read the {\it NetHack\/} news file, if present (default on).
 Since the news is shown at the beginning of the game, there's no point
 in setting this with the `{\tt O}' command.
 %.lp
+\item[\ib{nudist}]
+Start the character with no armor (default false).
+%.lp
 \item[\ib{null}]
 Send padding nulls to the terminal (default on).
 %.lp
diff --git a/doc/fixes35.0 b/doc/fixes35.0
index 507480768..b5dfeea67 100644
--- a/doc/fixes35.0
+++ b/doc/fixes35.0
@@ -1109,6 +1109,7 @@ when you're hiding under something a zap downward should not hit that
 	something, while a zap upward should
 show more explicit reason why player was helpless at death
 added new hallucinatory-only gods
+options to create the character blind or nudist
 
 
 Platform- and/or Interface-Specific New Features
diff --git a/include/patchlevel.h b/include/patchlevel.h
index 1b0ebf241..f4281139e 100644
--- a/include/patchlevel.h
+++ b/include/patchlevel.h
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * Incrementing EDITLEVEL can be used to force invalidation of old bones
  * and save files.
  */
-#define EDITLEVEL	59
+#define EDITLEVEL	60
 
 #define COPYRIGHT_BANNER_A \
 "NetHack, Copyright 1985-2015"
diff --git a/include/you.h b/include/you.h
index 0fc5c6073..a69fe4de3 100644
--- a/include/you.h
+++ b/include/you.h
@@ -92,6 +92,11 @@ struct u_conduct {		/* number of times... */
 				/* genocides already listed at end of game */
 };
 
+struct u_roleplay {
+    boolean  blind;   /* permanently blind */
+    boolean  nudist;  /* has not worn any armor, ever */
+};
+
 /*** Unified structure containing role information ***/
 struct Role {
 	/*** Strings that name various things ***/
@@ -330,6 +335,7 @@ struct you {
 	struct u_event	uevent;		/* certain events have happened */
 	struct u_have	uhave;		/* you're carrying special objects */
 	struct u_conduct uconduct;	/* KMH, conduct */
+	struct u_roleplay uroleplay;
 	struct attribs	acurr,		/* your current attributes (eg. str)*/
 			aexe,		/* for gain/loss via "exercise" */
 			abon,		/* your bonus attributes (eg. str) */
diff --git a/include/youprop.h b/include/youprop.h
index 1dfe3a9e9..cdecb6c82 100644
--- a/include/youprop.h
+++ b/include/youprop.h
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
 #define Blinded			u.uprops[BLINDED].intrinsic
 #define Blindfolded		(ublindf && ublindf->otyp != LENSES)
 		/* ...means blind because of a cover */
-#define Blind	((Blinded || Blindfolded || !haseyes(youmonst.data)) && \
+#define Blind	((u.uroleplay.blind || Blinded || Blindfolded || !haseyes(youmonst.data)) && \
 		 !(ublindf && ublindf->oartifact == ART_EYES_OF_THE_OVERWORLD))
 		/* ...the Eyes operate even when you really are blind
 		    or don't have any eyes */
diff --git a/src/attrib.c b/src/attrib.c
index b9ce67596..f7af4fee8 100644
--- a/src/attrib.c
+++ b/src/attrib.c
@@ -691,6 +691,8 @@ int propidx;	/* special cases can have negative values */
 		Sprintf(buf, because_of,
 			obj->oartifact ? bare_artifactname(obj) :
 				ysimple_name(obj));
+	    else if (propidx == BLINDED && u.uroleplay.blind)
+		Sprintf(buf, " from birth");
 	    else if (propidx == BLINDED && Blindfolded_only)
 		Sprintf(buf, because_of, ysimple_name(ublindf));
 
diff --git a/src/cmd.c b/src/cmd.c
index 5d9bcfc27..51bc10896 100644
--- a/src/cmd.c
+++ b/src/cmd.c
@@ -2246,6 +2246,9 @@ int final;
 	en_win = create_nhwindow(NHW_MENU);
 	putstr(en_win, 0, "Voluntary challenges:");
 
+	if (u.uroleplay.blind) you_have_been("blind from birth");
+	if (u.uroleplay.nudist) you_have_been("faithfully nudist");
+
 	if (!u.uconduct.food)
 	    enl_msg(You_, "have gone", "went", " without food", "");
 	    /* But beverages are okay */
diff --git a/src/options.c b/src/options.c
index e1ff15ff0..742958fc3 100644
--- a/src/options.c
+++ b/src/options.c
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ static struct Bool_Opt
 #else
 	{"BIOS", (boolean *)0, FALSE, SET_IN_FILE},
 #endif
+	{"blind", &u.uroleplay.blind, FALSE, DISP_IN_GAME},
 	{"bones", &flags.bones, TRUE, SET_IN_FILE},
 #ifdef INSURANCE
 	{"checkpoint", &flags.ins_chkpt, TRUE, SET_IN_GAME},
@@ -149,6 +150,7 @@ static struct Bool_Opt
 #else
 	{"news", (boolean *)0, FALSE, SET_IN_FILE},
 #endif
+	{"nudist", &u.uroleplay.nudist, FALSE, DISP_IN_GAME},
 	{"null", &flags.null, TRUE, SET_IN_GAME},
 #if defined(SYSFLAGS) && defined(MAC)
 	{"page_wait", &sysflags.page_wait, TRUE, SET_IN_GAME},
diff --git a/src/read.c b/src/read.c
index 9d8cac038..3ad28e8aa 100644
--- a/src/read.c
+++ b/src/read.c
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ doread()
 		&& scroll->oclass != SPBOOK_CLASS) {
 	    pline(silly_thing_to, "read");
 	    return(0);
-	} else if (Blind) {
+	} else if (Blind && (scroll->otyp != SPE_BOOK_OF_THE_DEAD)) {
 	    const char *what = 0;
 	    if (scroll->oclass == SPBOOK_CLASS)
 		what = "mystic runes";
diff --git a/src/topten.c b/src/topten.c
index 19eaa2ed2..48c69cb8e 100644
--- a/src/topten.c
+++ b/src/topten.c
@@ -397,6 +397,8 @@ encodeachieve()
     if(u.uachieve.mines_luckstone) r |= 1L << 9;
     if(u.uachieve.finish_sokoban)  r |= 1L << 10;
     if(u.uachieve.killed_medusa)   r |= 1L << 11;
+    if(u.uroleplay.blind)          r |= 1L << 12;
+    if(u.uroleplay.nudist)         r |= 1L << 13;
 
     return r;
 }
diff --git a/src/u_init.c b/src/u_init.c
index 79954841c..3c32637dd 100644
--- a/src/u_init.c
+++ b/src/u_init.c
@@ -491,6 +491,7 @@ void
 u_init()
 {
 	register int i;
+	struct u_roleplay tmpuroleplay = u.uroleplay; /* these set by rcfile options */
 
 	flags.female = flags.initgend;
 	flags.beginner = 1;
@@ -502,6 +503,8 @@ u_init()
 	(void) memset((genericptr_t)&ubirthday, 0, sizeof(ubirthday));
 	(void) memset((genericptr_t)&urealtime, 0, sizeof(urealtime));
 
+	u.uroleplay = tmpuroleplay; /* restore options set via rcfile */
+
 #if 0	/* documentation of more zero values as desirable */
 	u.usick_cause[0] = 0;
 	u.uluck  = u.moreluck = 0;
@@ -922,6 +925,13 @@ register struct trobj *trop;
 				nocreate4 = otyp;
 		}
 
+		/* nudist gets no armor */
+		if (u.uroleplay.nudist && obj->oclass == ARMOR_CLASS) {
+		    dealloc_obj(obj);
+		    trop++;
+		    continue;
+		}
+
 		if (trop->trclass == COIN_CLASS) {
 			/* no "blessed" or "identified" money */
 			obj->quan = u.umoney0;
diff --git a/src/worn.c b/src/worn.c
index 70ba11b3a..b810332ea 100644
--- a/src/worn.c
+++ b/src/worn.c
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ long mask;
 	    uskin = obj;
 	 /* assert( !uarm ); */
 	} else {
+	    if ((mask & W_ARMOR)) u.uroleplay.nudist = FALSE;
 	    for(wp = worn; wp->w_mask; wp++) if(wp->w_mask & mask) {
 		oobj = *(wp->w_obj);
 		if(oobj && !(oobj->owornmask & wp->w_mask))