Disguise as an animal [Archive] - Wizards Community

Disguise as an animal [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Delfedd
02-14-08, 03:16 PM In the next campaign I'm in, I'm playing a poison dusk lizardfolk. Since this variety of lizardfolk lives in far off lands, I was wondering what sort of disguise check would be needed to disguise oneself as an animal. This would be quite useful for exploring in social situations.

Of course, it is the DMs call, but I don't want to make him come up with something on the fly.
Ian0311
02-14-08, 03:50 PM I'd say...

Impossible to disguise yourself as an animal smaller than yourself without magic. 10 GP or a DC 20 survival check (or just kill the animal you wish to imitate, I guess, and take its pelt) for the material parts of the disguise.

I'd also say that there'd be a penalty of -2 for unfavorable circumstances (disguising yourself as a creature of a different type that acts differently than you, unless you have the int and instincts of the animal).
pigknight
02-16-08, 12:54 AM A kamodo dragon. I think it would only need the norm check, just crawl.
Nathreet
02-16-08, 11:49 PM Disguised as different race, -2 penalty. You cannot change your size category. Most people will be wary of a giant lizard.
pigknight
02-17-08, 12:20 AM Komodo dragon, it's a giant lizard.
InkBlot
02-17-08, 01:37 PM Most people would be wary of a komodo dragon.
elonin
02-17-08, 04:15 PM I'd imagine that it shouldn't be hard for the disguise to pass muster. Normally disguise is countered with sense motive, but in this case I'd make it knowledge nature. I also wouldn't make the -2 penalty apply unless you were trying to pass as a specific lizard.
InkBlot
02-17-08, 06:00 PM Disguises are normally countered by Spot, not Sense Motive. Sense Motive only comes into play when you're attempting to pretend to be a specific individual, aping their mannerisms and such.

Allowing Knowledge (nature) as a substitute for Spot in this case is a rule I can agree with, assuming the disguised person is in plain sight.
Captain_Kobold
02-17-08, 08:25 PM I'd have to say that it would be completely up to your DM. You are trying to disguise a humanoid, intelligent creature as an animal. (Probably some sort of Dinosaur, since they might have a similar posture.)

It wuld be less a case of disguise, and more a case of acting. You would look monstrous enough to most people that they might believe that you are an unintelligent race, so it would mostly be down to how well you could act.
I assume that the Bluff skill covers acting and suchlike.

Bear in mind that it might not be as useful for exploring cities and such. A strange animal, particularly one that looks dangerous as you will, is unlikely to be tolerated wandering the streets without its owner keeping it under control.
If you do appear to be an animal, the guards may have little compunction in killing you without any sort of legal repercussions.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Delfedd 02-14-08, 03:16 PM	In the next campaign I'm in, I'm playing a poison dusk lizardfolk. Since this variety of lizardfolk lives in far off lands, I was wondering what sort of disguise check would be needed to disguise oneself as an animal. This would be quite useful for exploring in social situations. Of course, it is the DMs call, but I don't want to make him come up with something on the fly.
Ian0311 02-14-08, 03:50 PM	I'd say... Impossible to disguise yourself as an animal smaller than yourself without magic. 10 GP or a DC 20 survival check (or just kill the animal you wish to imitate, I guess, and take its pelt) for the material parts of the disguise. I'd also say that there'd be a penalty of -2 for unfavorable circumstances (disguising yourself as a creature of a different type that acts differently than you, unless you have the int and instincts of the animal).
pigknight 02-16-08, 12:54 AM	A kamodo dragon. I think it would only need the norm check, just crawl.
Nathreet 02-16-08, 11:49 PM	Disguised as different race, -2 penalty. You cannot change your size category. Most people will be wary of a giant lizard.
pigknight 02-17-08, 12:20 AM	Komodo dragon, it's a giant lizard.
InkBlot 02-17-08, 01:37 PM	Most people would be wary of a komodo dragon.
elonin 02-17-08, 04:15 PM	I'd imagine that it shouldn't be hard for the disguise to pass muster. Normally disguise is countered with sense motive, but in this case I'd make it knowledge nature. I also wouldn't make the -2 penalty apply unless you were trying to pass as a specific lizard.
InkBlot 02-17-08, 06:00 PM	Disguises are normally countered by Spot, not Sense Motive. Sense Motive only comes into play when you're attempting to pretend to be a specific individual, aping their mannerisms and such. Allowing Knowledge (nature) as a substitute for Spot in this case is a rule I can agree with, assuming the disguised person is in plain sight.
Captain_Kobold 02-17-08, 08:25 PM	I'd have to say that it would be completely up to your DM. You are trying to disguise a humanoid, intelligent creature as an animal. (Probably some sort of Dinosaur, since they might have a similar posture.) It wuld be less a case of disguise, and more a case of acting. You would look monstrous enough to most people that they might believe that you are an unintelligent race, so it would mostly be down to how well you could act. I assume that the Bluff skill covers acting and suchlike. Bear in mind that it might not be as useful for exploring cities and such. A strange animal, particularly one that looks dangerous as you will, is unlikely to be tolerated wandering the streets without its owner keeping it under control. If you do appear to be an animal, the guards may have little compunction in killing you without any sort of legal repercussions.