A Deceptive Wight? [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Deceptive Wight? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
GrandMarquis
08-10-05, 06:17 PM First of all, anyone in my campaign, stop reading. :shifty:

This might be better in "What's a DM to do?" or something, but I don't know.

Now then, what I have is a group of 3rd level PCs raiding a tomb searching for a certain sword. What I want is for them to open a coffin and find a corpse, begin searching through it, and be surprised when the corpse comes to "life" as a Wight (with Int 11, seems logical enough for it to understand how to act dead whether it was ordered or just felt like it, and wights obviously have a penchant for sneakiness given their sizable move silently modifier). What I need to know is how should I give them a chance to realize the trick before it attacks? Spot opposed by Disguise or Bluff? Replace Spot with Sense Motive? An intelligence/Knowledge check to see that it should be more decayed or something?

Or am I just being too evil and scrap the idea? Or not evil enough and give it a free attack (unless they voice suspicions beforehand...)?

I realize I'm way too picky about little things like this, but bare with me.
R.M.G.C.L.F.
08-10-05, 06:58 PM A wight would probably have tell-tale signs of animation. Since lying still and mimicking another thing would be unhindered by size or dexterity, I'd say hide is out. Bluff seems to fit better than disguise, as it is quite literally playing dead.
GrandMarquis
08-12-05, 02:52 AM Bluff does sound like the the best idea.I don't think Sense Motive fits the situation, so maybe Spot? And what exactly do you mean by "tell-tale signs of animation"?

Any other suggestions? (thinly veiled bump)
R.M.G.C.L.F.
08-12-05, 03:55 PM The joints would probably be more worn from movement with less rigor mortis, dust might be a little less prevalent, faint chill around the creature, dim lights in the eyes, etc.

A bluff check opposing spot sounds like a perfect choice for the situation. I'd give the wight a +5 bonus to its check due to the corpse-like appearance.
GrandMarquis
08-13-05, 01:18 AM Sounds good to me, thanks. Though now that I have the MM handy (was using the SRD), Wights look a little... scarier than a regular corpse, but that's fine I guess.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GrandMarquis 08-10-05, 06:17 PM	First of all, anyone in my campaign, stop reading. :shifty: This might be better in "What's a DM to do?" or something, but I don't know. Now then, what I have is a group of 3rd level PCs raiding a tomb searching for a certain sword. What I want is for them to open a coffin and find a corpse, begin searching through it, and be surprised when the corpse comes to "life" as a Wight (with Int 11, seems logical enough for it to understand how to act dead whether it was ordered or just felt like it, and wights obviously have a penchant for sneakiness given their sizable move silently modifier). What I need to know is how should I give them a chance to realize the trick before it attacks? Spot opposed by Disguise or Bluff? Replace Spot with Sense Motive? An intelligence/Knowledge check to see that it should be more decayed or something? Or am I just being too evil and scrap the idea? Or not evil enough and give it a free attack (unless they voice suspicions beforehand...)? I realize I'm way too picky about little things like this, but bare with me.
R.M.G.C.L.F. 08-10-05, 06:58 PM	A wight would probably have tell-tale signs of animation. Since lying still and mimicking another thing would be unhindered by size or dexterity, I'd say hide is out. Bluff seems to fit better than disguise, as it is quite literally playing dead.
GrandMarquis 08-12-05, 02:52 AM	Bluff does sound like the the best idea.I don't think Sense Motive fits the situation, so maybe Spot? And what exactly do you mean by "tell-tale signs of animation"? Any other suggestions? (thinly veiled bump)
R.M.G.C.L.F. 08-12-05, 03:55 PM	The joints would probably be more worn from movement with less rigor mortis, dust might be a little less prevalent, faint chill around the creature, dim lights in the eyes, etc. A bluff check opposing spot sounds like a perfect choice for the situation. I'd give the wight a +5 bonus to its check due to the corpse-like appearance.
GrandMarquis 08-13-05, 01:18 AM	Sounds good to me, thanks. Though now that I have the MM handy (was using the SRD), Wights look a little... scarier than a regular corpse, but that's fine I guess.