Chameleon familiar [Archive] - Wizards Community

Chameleon familiar [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Old Kobold 2
07-22-03, 04:55 AM My wannabe duelist (currently Rog1/Wiz2) is looking for a nice familiar that would fit his character. We came up with idea of using chameleon as a familiar. What stats should I use for it?

The special ability I would like to grant to him is +5 (instead of normal 3.5ed +3) on Hide checks, but only if the character takes 10 or 20. Is it too much or too little benefit?
Neonsamurai
07-22-03, 06:07 AM To keep design consistency, keep it at +3 bonus to hide checks.
KCDinc
07-22-03, 06:10 AM Originally posted by Old Kobold 2
My wannabe duelist (currently Rog1/Wiz2) is looking for a nice familiar that would fit his character. We came up with idea of using chameleon as a familiar. What stats should I use for it?

The special ability I would like to grant to him is +5 (instead of normal 3.5ed +3) on Hide checks, but only if the character takes 10 or 20. Is it too much or too little benefit?

IIRC you cant take 10 on hide checks becuase there is a penalty for if you fail.
Argarnis
07-22-03, 06:21 AM Use the stats for a lizard or some animal like that. And +3 on hide sounds good.
Old Kobold 2
07-22-03, 08:36 AM Can one actually fail a hide check itself? From what I see, you can't fail to hide, you can just hide in such a lousy manner that a half-blind drunken commoner would notice you ;). So I think one can take 10 or 20 on Hide checks. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I know that design consistency is good, but I would like to emphasize more on "slowly blend into surroundings" style of hiding then "hop into that hole, fast!" one.
Stormranger
07-22-03, 08:46 AM Alternatively, you might prefer to conceptualise it as a -3 to all rolls to spot the PC, regardless of whether he's trying to hide or not (cf contrast on p.59 of the DMG 3.0).
UrathDM
07-22-03, 12:14 PM Originally posted by Old Kobold 2
Can one actually fail a hide check itself? From what I see, you can't fail to hide, you can just hide in such a lousy manner that a half-blind drunken commoner would notice you ;). So I think one can take 10 or 20 on Hide checks. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I know that design consistency is good, but I would like to emphasize more on "slowly blend into surroundings" style of hiding then "hop into that hole, fast!" one.

Take 10 represents being able to take your time; Take 20 is being able to take your time and keep "doing over" until you get it right. The 3.5 PH lists Hide as not being an action, simply part of your movement, except in the case of hiding after a "sniper shot". No taking 10 or taking 20 would be allowed in either case.
hiryuu
07-22-03, 12:42 PM But chameleons don't blend. They change color based upon emotive response and local temperature. Excited chameleons stand out, while relaxed chameleons tend to be more drab.
Shifting Master
07-22-03, 03:35 PM Originally posted by Stormranger
Alternatively, you might prefer to conceptualise it as a -3 to all rolls to spot the PC, regardless of whether he's trying to hide or not (cf contrast on p.59 of the DMG 3.0).
I agree, but it should be to Search, Survival and maybe Move Silently too. These things involve noticing the PC, and a -3 penalty to Spot to notice him just doesn't seem enough.
Stormranger
07-22-03, 09:58 PM But chameleons don't blend. They change color based upon emotive response and local temperature. Excited chameleons stand out, while relaxed chameleons tend to be more drab. Hiryuu, enough with the advanced herpetology already! It's a special D&D chameleon that changes colour in the way that chameleons would if this were a perfect world. ;)

Angry chameleons turn black, did you know?

I agree, but it should be to Search, Survival and maybe Move Silently too. These things involve noticing the PC, and a -3 penalty to Spot to notice him just doesn't seem enough.Much as I'm always happy to have people agreeing with me, I don't think you can justify improving move silently chances - chameleons aren't famous for being quiet movers so much as just being difficult to see. Survival - do you mean wilderness lore checks for tracking? That also seems a bit uncharacteristic.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Old Kobold 2 07-22-03, 04:55 AM	My wannabe duelist (currently Rog1/Wiz2) is looking for a nice familiar that would fit his character. We came up with idea of using chameleon as a familiar. What stats should I use for it? The special ability I would like to grant to him is +5 (instead of normal 3.5ed +3) on Hide checks, but only if the character takes 10 or 20. Is it too much or too little benefit?
Neonsamurai 07-22-03, 06:07 AM	To keep design consistency, keep it at +3 bonus to hide checks.
KCDinc 07-22-03, 06:10 AM	Originally posted by Old Kobold 2 My wannabe duelist (currently Rog1/Wiz2) is looking for a nice familiar that would fit his character. We came up with idea of using chameleon as a familiar. What stats should I use for it? The special ability I would like to grant to him is +5 (instead of normal 3.5ed +3) on Hide checks, but only if the character takes 10 or 20. Is it too much or too little benefit? IIRC you cant take 10 on hide checks becuase there is a penalty for if you fail.
Argarnis 07-22-03, 06:21 AM	Use the stats for a lizard or some animal like that. And +3 on hide sounds good.
Old Kobold 2 07-22-03, 08:36 AM	Can one actually fail a hide check itself? From what I see, you can't fail to hide, you can just hide in such a lousy manner that a half-blind drunken commoner would notice you ;). So I think one can take 10 or 20 on Hide checks. Please correct me if I am wrong. I know that design consistency is good, but I would like to emphasize more on "slowly blend into surroundings" style of hiding then "hop into that hole, fast!" one.
Stormranger 07-22-03, 08:46 AM	Alternatively, you might prefer to conceptualise it as a -3 to all rolls to spot the PC, regardless of whether he's trying to hide or not (cf contrast on p.59 of the DMG 3.0).
UrathDM 07-22-03, 12:14 PM	Originally posted by Old Kobold 2 Can one actually fail a hide check itself? From what I see, you can't fail to hide, you can just hide in such a lousy manner that a half-blind drunken commoner would notice you ;). So I think one can take 10 or 20 on Hide checks. Please correct me if I am wrong. I know that design consistency is good, but I would like to emphasize more on "slowly blend into surroundings" style of hiding then "hop into that hole, fast!" one. Take 10 represents being able to take your time; Take 20 is being able to take your time and keep "doing over" until you get it right. The 3.5 PH lists Hide as not being an action, simply part of your movement, except in the case of hiding after a "sniper shot". No taking 10 or taking 20 would be allowed in either case.
hiryuu 07-22-03, 12:42 PM	But chameleons don't blend. They change color based upon emotive response and local temperature. Excited chameleons stand out, while relaxed chameleons tend to be more drab.
Shifting Master 07-22-03, 03:35 PM	Originally posted by Stormranger Alternatively, you might prefer to conceptualise it as a -3 to all rolls to spot the PC, regardless of whether he's trying to hide or not (cf contrast on p.59 of the DMG 3.0). I agree, but it should be to Search, Survival and maybe Move Silently too. These things involve noticing the PC, and a -3 penalty to Spot to notice him just doesn't seem enough.
Stormranger 07-22-03, 09:58 PM	But chameleons don't blend. They change color based upon emotive response and local temperature. Excited chameleons stand out, while relaxed chameleons tend to be more drab. Hiryuu, enough with the advanced herpetology already! It's a special D&D chameleon that changes colour in the way that chameleons would if this were a perfect world. ;) Angry chameleons turn black, did you know? I agree, but it should be to Search, Survival and maybe Move Silently too. These things involve noticing the PC, and a -3 penalty to Spot to notice him just doesn't seem enough.Much as I'm always happy to have people agreeing with me, I don't think you can justify improving move silently chances - chameleons aren't famous for being quiet movers so much as just being difficult to see. Survival - do you mean wilderness lore checks for tracking? That also seems a bit uncharacteristic.