Beef with Disguise Self [Archive] - Wizards Community

Beef with Disguise Self [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Berwick
08-17-05, 05:17 PM Ok,

I do not understand this spell at all.

In the description (in the spell entry, not the short desc in the spell lists by level), it states that one can change how one looks physically, the clothing, height, blah blah blah.

The mechanical effect is to add +10 to a disguise check.

The problem I have, is how am I gonna make my gnome cleric look like an elf fighter, 3 feet taller might I add, with only a +10 on my disguise check!

I thought Magic was Magic! Most especially Illusions!

Please someone explain it to me! It makes my brain hurt!

Thanks,
Berwick
Arkonth
08-17-05, 05:43 PM Well it is magic, any your gnome does look taller, but it's not perfect, and anyone paying attentions would probably note that your character doesn't move like an elf, or bend quite right etc. explaining why it's only +10.
green_yawgmoth
08-17-05, 05:56 PM Doesn't it say you can only make yourself something like 50% taller/shorter? You'd be a 4'6" tall elf, at best. In fact, iirc, Disguise Self can only add/subtract gross physical features and change your general appearance; it takes Alter Self (2nd level spell) to make you taller/shorter.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
Seeker95
08-17-05, 11:29 PM I thought Magic was Magic! Most especially Illusions!Magic is magic.
And Illusions are illusions.
But 1st level spells are still only 1st level spells.
CryoSilver
08-18-05, 10:23 AM Disguise
The character can change his or her apparent height and weight much more than normal.
Disguise Modifier
Change height and/or weight 11% to 25% –25*
Change height and/or weight 26% to 50% –50*
*Can be negated by any effect that can duplicate a height and/or weight change of this degree.

Pulled that right from the SRD under Epic Skills. An alter self could negate the penalty, but not a disguise self.
Keenath
08-18-05, 10:35 AM You make yourself—including clothing, armor, weapons, and equipment—look different. You can seem 1 foot shorter or taller, thin, fat, or in between. You cannot change your body type.
You can change your apparent height by one foot. That's all. No percentage.

Ignore the epic skills; they're partially 3.0 and were not well-edited in the changeover.

So, a tall gnome could use the spell to disguise himself as a short elf. He'd take a -2 for disguising as a different race, but the spell lets him automatically change his apparent height by a foot, so that isn't even necessary to penalize for.

The spell gives a +10 disguise, -2 for race, for a total of +8 on your check. Assuming the gnome has a couple points of charisma modifier and takes ten, it's not unreasonable to assume he'd wind up somewhere around DC 20.

If you aren't trying to look like anyone in particular, nobody gets a bonus on their spot checks, and you just have to worry about them noticing that you don't move quite right for an elf.
Berwick
08-18-05, 11:47 AM Hmm, ok, I appreciate the help, but then this draws another question:

Drawn from SRD:
"You make yourself—including clothing, armor, weapons, and equipment—look different. You can seem 1 foot shorter or taller, thin, fat, or in between. You cannot change your body type. Otherwise, the extent of the apparent change is up to you. You could add or obscure a minor feature or look like an entirely different person."

So is this just fluff text? I thought the SRD was a bit lean on that kind of stuff.

One of the examples I have read was making a battleaxe appear like a dagger...
In my head, I do not see you being able to make a battleaxe _look_ like a dagger using a disguise check, but it definately being possible with an illusion to make it look like something different.

Is it that it presents a facade over the item, which is mechanically represented by the +10? :confused: or is it that the changes you can make have to be physical changes (make up, different clothes, etc) that are enhanced by the spell?

I understand that it is only a first level spell, and that the effects are limited, but I am trying to figure out the extent of this spells capabilities.

I really appreciate the help,

Thanks,
Berwick
Berwick
08-19-05, 10:26 AM :help:

:bump:
Kidthulu
08-19-05, 10:32 AM So your an elf poser?
Berwick
08-19-05, 10:41 AM :rofl:

No no, I am a gnome cleric stuck in a really heavily populated human area....

I am trying to avoid detection from the negative elements...mainly the people who have been sent to kill me.

Thanks though.

Funny

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Berwick 08-17-05, 05:17 PM	Ok, I do not understand this spell at all. In the description (in the spell entry, not the short desc in the spell lists by level), it states that one can change how one looks physically, the clothing, height, blah blah blah. The mechanical effect is to add +10 to a disguise check. The problem I have, is how am I gonna make my gnome cleric look like an elf fighter, 3 feet taller might I add, with only a +10 on my disguise check! I thought Magic was Magic! Most especially Illusions! Please someone explain it to me! It makes my brain hurt! Thanks, Berwick
Arkonth 08-17-05, 05:43 PM	Well it is magic, any your gnome does look taller, but it's not perfect, and anyone paying attentions would probably note that your character doesn't move like an elf, or bend quite right etc. explaining why it's only +10.
green_yawgmoth 08-17-05, 05:56 PM	Doesn't it say you can only make yourself something like 50% taller/shorter? You'd be a 4'6" tall elf, at best. In fact, iirc, Disguise Self can only add/subtract gross physical features and change your general appearance; it takes Alter Self (2nd level spell) to make you taller/shorter. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v91/yawgmoth/kittyjig.gif
Seeker95 08-17-05, 11:29 PM	I thought Magic was Magic! Most especially Illusions!Magic is magic. And Illusions are illusions. But 1st level spells are still only 1st level spells.
CryoSilver 08-18-05, 10:23 AM	Disguise The character can change his or her apparent height and weight much more than normal. Disguise Modifier Change height and/or weight 11% to 25% –25* Change height and/or weight 26% to 50% –50* *Can be negated by any effect that can duplicate a height and/or weight change of this degree. Pulled that right from the SRD under Epic Skills. An alter self could negate the penalty, but not a disguise self.
Keenath 08-18-05, 10:35 AM	You make yourself—including clothing, armor, weapons, and equipment—look different. You can seem 1 foot shorter or taller, thin, fat, or in between. You cannot change your body type. You can change your apparent height by one foot. That's all. No percentage. Ignore the epic skills; they're partially 3.0 and were not well-edited in the changeover. So, a tall gnome could use the spell to disguise himself as a short elf. He'd take a -2 for disguising as a different race, but the spell lets him automatically change his apparent height by a foot, so that isn't even necessary to penalize for. The spell gives a +10 disguise, -2 for race, for a total of +8 on your check. Assuming the gnome has a couple points of charisma modifier and takes ten, it's not unreasonable to assume he'd wind up somewhere around DC 20. If you aren't trying to look like anyone in particular, nobody gets a bonus on their spot checks, and you just have to worry about them noticing that you don't move quite right for an elf.
Berwick 08-18-05, 11:47 AM	Hmm, ok, I appreciate the help, but then this draws another question: Drawn from SRD: "You make yourself—including clothing, armor, weapons, and equipment—look different. You can seem 1 foot shorter or taller, thin, fat, or in between. You cannot change your body type. Otherwise, the extent of the apparent change is up to you. You could add or obscure a minor feature or look like an entirely different person." So is this just fluff text? I thought the SRD was a bit lean on that kind of stuff. One of the examples I have read was making a battleaxe appear like a dagger... In my head, I do not see you being able to make a battleaxe _look_ like a dagger using a disguise check, but it definately being possible with an illusion to make it look like something different. Is it that it presents a facade over the item, which is mechanically represented by the +10? :confused: or is it that the changes you can make have to be physical changes (make up, different clothes, etc) that are enhanced by the spell? I understand that it is only a first level spell, and that the effects are limited, but I am trying to figure out the extent of this spells capabilities. I really appreciate the help, Thanks, Berwick
Berwick 08-19-05, 10:26 AM	:help: :bump:
Kidthulu 08-19-05, 10:32 AM	So your an elf poser?
Berwick 08-19-05, 10:41 AM	:rofl: No no, I am a gnome cleric stuck in a really heavily populated human area.... I am trying to avoid detection from the negative elements...mainly the people who have been sent to kill me. Thanks though. Funny