Total Concealment = Invisibility (?)

[vartan]

I was thinking about an encounter with a medusa rogue, and was wondering the following:
One can shut one's eyes in an effort to avoid having to save against the medusa's petrifying gaze- but does the total concealment that the medusa then gains act like invisibility would? Does it deny the medusa's target the dexterity bonus to AC and allow for the sneak attack dice to be rolled? I think it does, but the total concealment entry on the SRD doesn't specifically mention it.

In case the first questions too easy what about this: will shadows on the plane of shadow effectively always be invisible- I think their entry says they get total concealment in absolute darkness. What does that mean for adventurers on that plane or for shadow society?

[HunterOfJello]

If a person has their eyes shut, they count as being blind. You then follow the rules for blindness.

Originally Posted by SRD Blindness

The character cannot see. He takes a -2 penalty to Armor Class, loses his Dexterity bonus to AC (if any), moves at half speed, and takes a -4 penalty on Search checks and on most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks. All checks and activities that rely on vision (such as reading and Spot checks) automatically fail. All opponents are considered to have total concealment (50% miss chance) to the blinded character. Characters who remain blinded for a long time grow accustomed to these drawbacks and can overcome some of them.

[dascarletm]

There is also that averting your eyes thing that you can do. I read it in the Rules Compendium, but forgot how it works. Your players may do that and keep their dex bonus. (Correct me if I'm wrong).

[Psyren]

Originally Posted by dascarletm

There is also that averting your eyes thing that you can do. I read it in the Rules Compendium, but forgot how it works. Your players may do that and keep their dex bonus. (Correct me if I'm wrong).

Averting your eyes has two effects:
- the thing you're trying not to look at gains concealment (20% miss chance) relative to you.
- You have a 50% chance of not having to make a saving throw vs. the gaze gaze attack of that creature.