Identifying disguised characters

[Faerynn]

The question here is how are people who are disguised identified by others?

A situation was played out a couple days ago regarding my character Mauglir who had a couple of disguises in place. Now, Mauglir is no "master" of disguise. However, PnP druids have the ability called "A Thousand Faces" which is a druids ability to "actually" alter their physical appearance as the disguise spell, but with no illusory effects. The change is a true physical alteration. A second form of disguise are mundane disguises such as changing clothes, makeup, hairstyle and color changes, etc.

The DM involved did what he thought was right, and likely about the only thing that could have happened given the current in-game skill sets and other limitations of the game. I have no issues with his decisions made at that time. He did a good job DM'ing the situation.

All I really want to know, for future reference, is this the way it should be played out in the future?

Mauglir was walking around (RP'ing the Thousand Faces to look like someone else) and had a complete change of clothing, cloak, boots, etc to look entirely different from his normal self. I even went to the barber shop and purchased a nice wig to make him actually look different. Mauglir has silvery white LONG hair (white for the game), but this time he was walking around with short RED hair. Totally different.

As I walked around, the gasps, double-takes and overall "metagaming" because "Mauglir" was over my head with a mouse over, was interesting. Eventually, Mauglir was approached by another character who decided to challenge me. Now part of me did this just to see what would happen... so I'm not upset at all by the outcome, which by the way, I did get away. Barely.

I understand that True Seeing can see through a lot of things, but true physical changes are true physical changes, and mundane disguises are mundane and cannot be determined by True Seeing.

We don't have a Disguise skill to build up. So, I was told to roll a bluff check vs the characters Spot check. Well, I was "killed" in that check because I have no Bluff at all, vs highly built up Spot.

So, is this how it will continue to be done? And how about True Seeing vs Thousand Faces ability of a Druid? Does it see through it?

Thanks! I just want to get clarification so i can do more crazy public stunts with uber-evil villains.

[Luna]

approved for replies

[Eldebryn]

I am almost certain that True Seeing *can* see through thousand faces. As far as I remember it can piece not only 'alter self' effects but also polymorph and shapechange which include actual physical change (someone touches your artificial long hair and it's actually long, no illusion). Keep in mind that it's pretty strong level 7 spell, and as far as I know it can even pierce a changeling's disguise which is also actual polymorph and no illusion.

[BlueHero45]

True Seeing

You confer on the subject the ability to see all things as they actually are. The subject sees through normal and magical darkness, notices secret doors hidden by magic, sees the exact locations of creatures or objects under blur or displacement effects, sees invisible creatures or objects normally, sees through illusions, and sees the true form of polymorphed, changed, or transmuted things. Further, the subject can focus its vision to see into the Ethereal Plane (but not into extradimensional spaces). The range of true seeing conferred is 120 feet.

So in my opinion it should beat 1000 faces, but not the wig and the rest of the disguise

[Larzs]

I just say we toss in more skills =P

Gives people more choices and just makes the server more flavorful! (I bought this up once before =P)

I may not have means to alter my face, but anyone can change their cloths and voice...so I would of been a little upset unless there is some super tell-tale sign it was you(such as an armor appearance, weapons or a familiar that is uncommon).

[WeWhoEat]

Personally, in the case of seeing through magically crafted disguises, I would think that Spellcraft vs. Spot would make more sense, but actual physical changes like you describe would be another matter entirely.

My question is - as a result of these physical changes, was Mauggy's voice any different? If not, at a stretch, I could see Listen being use to identify the voice, rolled against... no idea. But if the facial features such as cheeks, lips, and tongue are changed, I imagine a changed voice would be a natural consequence.

[Metro-Gnome]

The thing with pnp abilities is the slippery slope. A thousand faces here and there, soon you've got every paladin on the server detecting evil and basically removing the ability to play secret evil. Shadowdancers shadowjumping to areas they couldn't normally reach. Mages scrying on secret meetings or wishing people out of existence. Clerics windwalking from waterdeep to Amn in a matter if minutes...

I don't feel the need to keep this going. You get my point.

[Maecius]

The staff position has and will remain "play what's on your sheet." For the same reason we do not allow paladins to RP detect evil, we cannot allow druids to use "A Thousand Faces" for disguises.

Now, most PnP abilities can be used for RP with friends, and sometimes in DM events. But in general, you should not expect other players to play along with you in this regard, and the DM team will never support you if you try to use an ability you do not have, and the other player calls shenanigans on it. (It is their right to do so).

As an aside, True Seeing does see through all polymorphed, altered, or transmuted disguises. In that sense, it's probably more effective to rely on mundane disguises than to rely on magical disguises on a high-magic server like ours.