Long-Term Disguise Use [Archive] - Wizards Community

Long-Term Disguise Use [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Abrasax
08-27-07, 04:41 PM My group is just finishing up our current campaign, and we're starting another one with new characters. It's set in Eberron, so I decided to play one of the setting-specific races; specifically, the Changeling. Now, the mechanics of the Minor Change Shape are pretty simple, but the Disguise checks are giving me problems.

I want to disguise my race from one or more of the party's characters. However, to quote the PHB: "Usually, an individual makes a Spot check to see through your disguise immediately upon meeting you and each hour thereafter." If each party member besides myself (3) all get Spot checks vs. my Disguise every hour, it's only a matter of days before they figure out that something is wrong. Is this a correct interpretation of the rules? It seems to me to be contrary to all the flavor about Changeling spies hiding in enemy cities and encampments for years during the Last War. Is there anyway to salvage my sneaky Changeling? Even with the +10 for Minor Change Shape, two ranks in Disguise, and a +3 for Charisma (at first level) that's still only a minimum of +16, not enough to deal with even one day's worth of spot checks. Is the Changeling allowed to spend a minute or so in front of a mirror every day in order to take 10?
Greco
08-27-07, 05:25 PM Think it of this way (keep in mind I do not have rules on me). If your changling is taking form of someone or a race your group hasn't encountered before they should only get one disguise roll when meeting the individual. If it is a race or an individual they have met before, if your spy does something to contradict what the subject would mormally do then give them a roll on the circumstance. If the action is obvious or more than 3 circumstance rolls then give the disguise 1 an hour.
Abrasax
08-27-07, 06:09 PM That makes sense, but it's not supported by RAW. The inconsistency was one of the reasons I posted. I suppose I'll just ask the DM if a houserule is in order. Mostly, I was wondering if I was interpreting the rules correctly, but I guess I was. Unless somebody would prove me wrong, please.
StevenO
08-27-07, 08:42 PM If the party only knows the disguised you I either wouldn't allow hourly check or would increase the difficulty of seeing through the disguise as time passes provided you don't change it.

My logic is that if you can initially pass yourself off and continue to do so with a certain group that group's perception of you should also change. They believe you are as you appear so they start overlooking little things.

Consider the situation where someone is gone a long time before an imposter comes and takes their place. Now if they are accepted and can avoid being revealed they may eventually be so accepted as that individual that even if the real person shows up they may be accussed to being the imposter.
Abrasax
08-27-07, 09:47 PM That makes sense, and I think that's what I'll end up doing. However, just for the sake of my curiosity, can one take 10 on a disguise check? A disguise takes a maximum of 30 minutes. Taking 10 would take 300 minutes, or five hours. However, since Changelings can maintain their shape for as long as they like, would this be another plausible way to maintain a long-term disguise?
Silvercrys
08-27-07, 11:01 PM Taking 10 isn't the same as taking 20 in half the time. Taking ten takes as much time as the action normally does. (I think.) It's just that you're being more careful than normal, which is why you can't do it if you're distracted or threatened.
Fallenangel359
08-28-07, 12:48 AM Changelings can disguise themselves in as a full round action, and with a mirror can take a 20, in 2 minutes. With 8 ranks (L5), a mod of 2, and being a changeling, they just got a 40.

DC 40 spot check to know something is up, but not realize what they are.
Abrasax
08-28-07, 11:41 PM Ah. Taking 10 does, indeed, take the same ammount of time. Thank you. One thought comes up, however. A Changeling can change shape in one round (6 seconds) but a disguise check takes 1d3x10 minutes. Which one would it be? As to taking 20, would this be feasible? While there is a penalty for failure, it is only checked until after the check has been made.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Abrasax 08-27-07, 04:41 PM	My group is just finishing up our current campaign, and we're starting another one with new characters. It's set in Eberron, so I decided to play one of the setting-specific races; specifically, the Changeling. Now, the mechanics of the Minor Change Shape are pretty simple, but the Disguise checks are giving me problems. I want to disguise my race from one or more of the party's characters. However, to quote the PHB: "Usually, an individual makes a Spot check to see through your disguise immediately upon meeting you and each hour thereafter." If each party member besides myself (3) all get Spot checks vs. my Disguise every hour, it's only a matter of days before they figure out that something is wrong. Is this a correct interpretation of the rules? It seems to me to be contrary to all the flavor about Changeling spies hiding in enemy cities and encampments for years during the Last War. Is there anyway to salvage my sneaky Changeling? Even with the +10 for Minor Change Shape, two ranks in Disguise, and a +3 for Charisma (at first level) that's still only a minimum of +16, not enough to deal with even one day's worth of spot checks. Is the Changeling allowed to spend a minute or so in front of a mirror every day in order to take 10?
Greco 08-27-07, 05:25 PM	Think it of this way (keep in mind I do not have rules on me). If your changling is taking form of someone or a race your group hasn't encountered before they should only get one disguise roll when meeting the individual. If it is a race or an individual they have met before, if your spy does something to contradict what the subject would mormally do then give them a roll on the circumstance. If the action is obvious or more than 3 circumstance rolls then give the disguise 1 an hour.
Abrasax 08-27-07, 06:09 PM	That makes sense, but it's not supported by RAW. The inconsistency was one of the reasons I posted. I suppose I'll just ask the DM if a houserule is in order. Mostly, I was wondering if I was interpreting the rules correctly, but I guess I was. Unless somebody would prove me wrong, please.
StevenO 08-27-07, 08:42 PM	If the party only knows the disguised you I either wouldn't allow hourly check or would increase the difficulty of seeing through the disguise as time passes provided you don't change it. My logic is that if you can initially pass yourself off and continue to do so with a certain group that group's perception of you should also change. They believe you are as you appear so they start overlooking little things. Consider the situation where someone is gone a long time before an imposter comes and takes their place. Now if they are accepted and can avoid being revealed they may eventually be so accepted as that individual that even if the real person shows up they may be accussed to being the imposter.
Abrasax 08-27-07, 09:47 PM	That makes sense, and I think that's what I'll end up doing. However, just for the sake of my curiosity, can one take 10 on a disguise check? A disguise takes a maximum of 30 minutes. Taking 10 would take 300 minutes, or five hours. However, since Changelings can maintain their shape for as long as they like, would this be another plausible way to maintain a long-term disguise?
Silvercrys 08-27-07, 11:01 PM	Taking 10 isn't the same as taking 20 in half the time. Taking ten takes as much time as the action normally does. (I think.) It's just that you're being more careful than normal, which is why you can't do it if you're distracted or threatened.
Fallenangel359 08-28-07, 12:48 AM	Changelings can disguise themselves in as a full round action, and with a mirror can take a 20, in 2 minutes. With 8 ranks (L5), a mod of 2, and being a changeling, they just got a 40. DC 40 spot check to know something is up, but not realize what they are.
Abrasax 08-28-07, 11:41 PM	Ah. Taking 10 does, indeed, take the same ammount of time. Thank you. One thought comes up, however. A Changeling can change shape in one round (6 seconds) but a disguise check takes 1d3x10 minutes. Which one would it be? As to taking 20, would this be feasible? While there is a penalty for failure, it is only checked until after the check has been made.