Best magical disguise? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Best magical disguise? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
RogerWilco
11-17-04, 09:47 AM I am looking for the best spells that can function as magical disguises at different levels for (PHB races) wizards.

There are four levels of disguise as I see it:
A) A different looking individual of the same race.
B) Any humanoid.
C) Humanoid-related, like monstrous humanoid or fey (giants?).
D) Virtually any creature in the books.

This is my list at the moment:
1) Disguise self (Illusion, 10 min./level (D), level A)
2) Alter self (Transmutation, 10 min./level (D), level A+B)
4) Polymorph (Transmutation, 1 min./level (D), level A+B+C)
5) Seeming (Illusion, 12 hrs.(D), level A)
9) Shapechange (Transmutation, 10 min./level(D), level A+B+C+D)

Two of these are Illusions and do not change perceived tactile (touch) or audible (sound) properties of you or your equipment, limiting use as a disguise.

Only Seeming has a duration suitable for an infiltration into an enemy base, the others are only applicable for short encounters. Polymorph seems only usefull for very short encounters.

I would like to be able to infimtrate an enemy stronghold by posing as one of them. The only way I can currently see is by using Seeming, but it has the drawbacks of being an illusion (Will saves and tactile/audible clues) and only level A forms to choose from.

I know that Druids get "a thousand faces" at level 13. This does not have the duration problems, and is limited to levels A+B. Maybe this is the "best" option, better as any pre epic wizard can do.

-----------------------------------------------------------
My question is:
Do you know of any other ways to magically disguise oneself, and what level of disguise (A,B,C,D) does this give for how long at what level?
Seeker95
11-17-04, 03:22 PM Try this: Face-Off: the Prequel
1. Flesh to Stone
2. Have a master sculptor* re-carve your features.
3. Stone to Flesh

stoneshape might work here too. A master druid sculptor. Ignore the "no fine detail" restriction. This is specialty work!
Luminous Crayon
11-17-04, 07:33 PM Not a magical disguise, but if you're worried about duration, I'd suggest just getting a disguise kit and using a nice, old-fashioned mundane disguise. You don't get the +10 to Disguise checks that most magical disguises provide, but you get +2 from the kit, and the freedom of not having to worry about the spell running out.
Musrum
11-18-04, 04:51 AM I'm not sure if this is doable in 3.5, but my favourite disguise is one that can't be pierced by True Seeing:

Polymorph into Green Hag (or whatever).
Permanent Alter Self back to your original form.
GRAOUH !!!
11-18-04, 05:11 AM You have the changeling race from eberron.
Talchar
11-18-04, 05:20 AM Magic Jar makes for a great way to infultrate a stronghold. You get to take over a body that is "known" (ie a guard or even better a child). Of course you have that range bugaboo.... instant death and all that jazz. I would suggest that precautions be taken
CaoSlayer
11-18-04, 06:46 AM also you may use wish for adquiring a shape for a looong time...

of course there is a xp penalty for getting the form and getting back to original
RogerWilco
11-18-04, 11:26 AM also you may use wish for adquiring a shape for a looong time...

of course there is a xp penalty for getting the form and getting back to original

I am not sure even a wish would do the trick, even the level 9 shapechange is 10 min/level, and you could not duplicate that with Wish, without asking more as Wish would normaly do (up to level 8). So asking for a longer duration Polymorph or Shapechange can hurt bigtime.
Maybe wishing for a persistent alter Self would be doable, but for 5000XP it's not very attractive, and impossible before level 17.

(Persistent Shapechange = spell level 15, persistent polymorph = spell level 10)

My conclusion thusfar is that magical disguises are not practical before Epic, except if you are a level 13+ druid.

I just find a druid master spy (or something like that) a rather odd role-playing option, because such a character would like open/close, knock, fly, invisibility, erase, jump, expeditious retreat, rope trick, spider climb, secret page, shrink item, etc. IMHO.
I just thought a Transmuter, or maybe Illusionist would be a more logical thing.

Well, I suppose it's druid then.
RogerWilco
11-18-04, 01:53 PM Hmmm,

I found this Shifter PrC in Masters of the Wild, it might be what I'm looking for, even for a Wizard the prerequisits are not that hard.
Only does not have spell progression, but something like 3 levels should work for me.

Thank you for your answers thusfar,
if you have anymore suggestions,
please post.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
RogerWilco 11-17-04, 09:47 AM	I am looking for the best spells that can function as magical disguises at different levels for (PHB races) wizards. There are four levels of disguise as I see it: A) A different looking individual of the same race. B) Any humanoid. C) Humanoid-related, like monstrous humanoid or fey (giants?). D) Virtually any creature in the books. This is my list at the moment: 1) Disguise self (Illusion, 10 min./level (D), level A) 2) Alter self (Transmutation, 10 min./level (D), level A+B) 4) Polymorph (Transmutation, 1 min./level (D), level A+B+C) 5) Seeming (Illusion, 12 hrs.(D), level A) 9) Shapechange (Transmutation, 10 min./level(D), level A+B+C+D) Two of these are Illusions and do not change perceived tactile (touch) or audible (sound) properties of you or your equipment, limiting use as a disguise. Only Seeming has a duration suitable for an infiltration into an enemy base, the others are only applicable for short encounters. Polymorph seems only usefull for very short encounters. I would like to be able to infimtrate an enemy stronghold by posing as one of them. The only way I can currently see is by using Seeming, but it has the drawbacks of being an illusion (Will saves and tactile/audible clues) and only level A forms to choose from. I know that Druids get "a thousand faces" at level 13. This does not have the duration problems, and is limited to levels A+B. Maybe this is the "best" option, better as any pre epic wizard can do. ----------------------------------------------------------- My question is: Do you know of any other ways to magically disguise oneself, and what level of disguise (A,B,C,D) does this give for how long at what level?
Seeker95 11-17-04, 03:22 PM	Try this: Face-Off: the Prequel 1. Flesh to Stone 2. Have a master sculptor* re-carve your features. 3. Stone to Flesh stoneshape might work here too. A master druid sculptor. Ignore the "no fine detail" restriction. This is specialty work!
Luminous Crayon 11-17-04, 07:33 PM	Not a magical disguise, but if you're worried about duration, I'd suggest just getting a disguise kit and using a nice, old-fashioned mundane disguise. You don't get the +10 to Disguise checks that most magical disguises provide, but you get +2 from the kit, and the freedom of not having to worry about the spell running out.
Musrum 11-18-04, 04:51 AM	I'm not sure if this is doable in 3.5, but my favourite disguise is one that can't be pierced by True Seeing: Polymorph into Green Hag (or whatever). Permanent Alter Self back to your original form.
GRAOUH !!! 11-18-04, 05:11 AM	You have the changeling race from eberron.
Talchar 11-18-04, 05:20 AM	Magic Jar makes for a great way to infultrate a stronghold. You get to take over a body that is "known" (ie a guard or even better a child). Of course you have that range bugaboo.... instant death and all that jazz. I would suggest that precautions be taken
CaoSlayer 11-18-04, 06:46 AM	also you may use wish for adquiring a shape for a looong time... of course there is a xp penalty for getting the form and getting back to original
RogerWilco 11-18-04, 11:26 AM	also you may use wish for adquiring a shape for a looong time... of course there is a xp penalty for getting the form and getting back to original I am not sure even a wish would do the trick, even the level 9 shapechange is 10 min/level, and you could not duplicate that with Wish, without asking more as Wish would normaly do (up to level 8). So asking for a longer duration Polymorph or Shapechange can hurt bigtime. Maybe wishing for a persistent alter Self would be doable, but for 5000XP it's not very attractive, and impossible before level 17. (Persistent Shapechange = spell level 15, persistent polymorph = spell level 10) My conclusion thusfar is that magical disguises are not practical before Epic, except if you are a level 13+ druid. I just find a druid master spy (or something like that) a rather odd role-playing option, because such a character would like open/close, knock, fly, invisibility, erase, jump, expeditious retreat, rope trick, spider climb, secret page, shrink item, etc. IMHO. I just thought a Transmuter, or maybe Illusionist would be a more logical thing. Well, I suppose it's druid then.
RogerWilco 11-18-04, 01:53 PM	Hmmm, I found this Shifter PrC in Masters of the Wild, it might be what I'm looking for, even for a Wizard the prerequisits are not that hard. Only does not have spell progression, but something like 3 levels should work for me. Thank you for your answers thusfar, if you have anymore suggestions, please post.