Alter Self questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alter Self questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
AustinChef
02-05-07, 07:54 PM First question: Alter self allows you to appear to be another creature, within limits. The most notable limit being that the assumed form must of the same type as you, and 5 or fewer racial HD. I'm questioning the forms a bone devil could alter into. Since his type is outsider, can he alter himself into any outsider. Specifically, I'm wondering if he could use it to appear to be a tiefling. The subtypes don't mesh (at all), but the type is still Outsider. Legal by the rules, or is it pushing the limits of the spell?

Second Question: A bone devil hears the commotion in the other room, and knowing the party was coming and their battle prowess decides to strike up a deal working for them as he has been doing for his current, soon-to-be-deceased, master. In his current form, there's little chance that they wouldn't attack on sight, so he thinks to use a different form to allow him a couple of minutes to explain the situation and possibly strike a bargain (being lawful he would probably explain that he was using a false form and explain why before the deal was final). Long way of asking, would the knowledge check reveal the tiefling characteristics, or allow them to see that there is a spell in affect?

DM Chris
SALDAR
02-05-07, 09:55 PM First Answer: Alter Self only deals with Types, not subtypes. That is why a human (Humanoid) can alter self into an orc (Humanoid) but not an ogre (Giant).

Second Answer: They would need to use Detect Magic or a Spellcraft check (DC 22) to determine that a spell is in effect. Without knowing a spell is in effect a knowledge check concerning the "tiefling" would give them knowledge about a tiefling, not a bone devil.
AustinChef
02-05-07, 10:10 PM Muchos Gracias.

DM Chris

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
AustinChef 02-05-07, 07:54 PM	First question: Alter self allows you to appear to be another creature, within limits. The most notable limit being that the assumed form must of the same type as you, and 5 or fewer racial HD. I'm questioning the forms a bone devil could alter into. Since his type is outsider, can he alter himself into any outsider. Specifically, I'm wondering if he could use it to appear to be a tiefling. The subtypes don't mesh (at all), but the type is still Outsider. Legal by the rules, or is it pushing the limits of the spell? Second Question: A bone devil hears the commotion in the other room, and knowing the party was coming and their battle prowess decides to strike up a deal working for them as he has been doing for his current, soon-to-be-deceased, master. In his current form, there's little chance that they wouldn't attack on sight, so he thinks to use a different form to allow him a couple of minutes to explain the situation and possibly strike a bargain (being lawful he would probably explain that he was using a false form and explain why before the deal was final). Long way of asking, would the knowledge check reveal the tiefling characteristics, or allow them to see that there is a spell in affect? DM Chris
SALDAR 02-05-07, 09:55 PM	First Answer: Alter Self only deals with Types, not subtypes. That is why a human (Humanoid) can alter self into an orc (Humanoid) but not an ogre (Giant). Second Answer: They would need to use Detect Magic or a Spellcraft check (DC 22) to determine that a spell is in effect. Without knowing a spell is in effect a knowledge check concerning the "tiefling" would give them knowledge about a tiefling, not a bone devil.
AustinChef 02-05-07, 10:10 PM	Muchos Gracias. DM Chris