Appearance Altering Ideas?

[RFlatstone]

Yeah, I was really suprised to not find a simple spell that would accomplish this task. It seemed pretty straightforward.

It seems like a custom magic item might be the best way to go.

Really. I mean, in the mage scenario, he’s not even trying to look like someone ELSE! When I originally thought of the idea, I thought of it as the D&D version of getting you hair dyed and putting on control top tights. I figured “There’s gotta be some 0 level minor illusion (the equivalent of the old Cantrip) that has a 1 hour/level duration.” Nope! I mean, like I was telling Rob, your 11th level Mage can’t even get through dinner with his young, hot apprentice before he turns into a pumpkin!

Sure, Hat of Disguise really sounds like the way to go. Like someone else said, I’ll probably go for a custom item. This isn’t even as powerful a thing as a Ring of Invisibility. I mean, “Make a Will save to see that this old coot is trying to look younger.” That is, if you CARE.

And the dragon – This dragon is going to be older and high in level. I see no reason that she can’t create an Amulet of Polymorph Self. Besides, the dragon is an NPC villain character, so as the DM I can do whatever I want, right?

Thanks to all of you for your input! I really appreciate it.

 

[Mistwell]

Yeah hat of disguise does the trick for the younger look.

Disguise self is an illusion spell, and that lends itself to many alternate class features that extend illusion spells. I believe a 5th Gnome Illusionist Racial Substitution level extends illusions for free, and the Extended illusions ability of a shadowcraft mage stacks with it as well (one is Su, the other is Ex, I believe), so thats 3 times the normal length of time...And all you loose for this is a metamagic feat on 5th level, and 2 free spells. I am not sure if you can add in extend spell, the feat, as well, but you might be able to. Regardless, a 10th level gnome illusionist is casting disguise self at 5 hours per casting, for a first level spell.

Given that, it's a wonder that any mid-level gnome illusionist ever actually looks like a gnome illusionist

 

[avr]

Making new, specialised spells might work too. Neither effect looks like a game breaker (providing the dragon-to-human spell can't be reversed...) so I'd call the mages spell about level 1-2 (more limited but much longer duration than disguise self) which he should certainly be able to research by 11th level. Maybe level 3 for the dragons' spell at the standard polymorph duration, higher for a longer duration.

The spell research rules are in the DMG; as the DM you can approve a newly researched spell without too much trouble, I'd think!

 

[mvincent]

your 11th level Mage can’t even get through dinner with his young, hot apprentice before he turns into a pumpkin!

Sure, Hat of Disguise really sounds like the way to go. Like someone else said, I’ll probably go for a custom item. This isn’t even as powerful a thing as a Ring of Invisibility. I mean, “Make a Will save to see that this old coot is trying to look younger.”

I believe the hot apprentice would typically have to touch the illusion (or poke it with a stick) to be entitled to the will save. So the wizard should be good to at least 1st base (which might be all he can handle anyway).

The Rules of the Game says:
"we can define "interacting" with an illusion as doing something that could affect the illusion or allowing the illusion to have an affect on you. You have a valid claim to an interaction with an illusion when you attack it, touch it, talk to it, poke it with a stick, target it with a spell, or do something else that one might do with a real creature or object."

and I believe talking to it wouldn't count here (as you are actually conversing with the real wizard, not a programmed illusion).

 

[Charwoman Gene]

Original Spell research.

Duh.

 

[Jack Simth]

Scenario 2 is easy - a Ring of Chameleon Power, Hat of Disguise, or a number of other fairly standard magic items will do the job. Or a Persistent Disguise Self in a 7th level spell slot. Persistent Alter Self in an 8th level spell slot will also work - 24 hours, you're good (but quite frankly, several Extended versions will do better, mechanically).

The Black Dragon needs Polymorph Any Object. Same Kingdom (animal; +5), Same or lower Int (Adult Black Dragons have Intelligence scores of 12 (base), and an average human has an Int of 10; +2) for a 1 week duration. He can't cast it himself, mind, without levels in Sorcerer or something... but he can do it (or more readily, Hire it done - he's got loot...).

Alternately, the Black Dragon needs to Alter Self into something roughly humanoid in shape, and get the rest of the way with a Ring of Chameleon Power, Hat of Disguise, and so on.

 

[Thurbane]

If there's a spell that allows a human to take dragon form, simply reverse it for a dragin to take on human form. Then apply it to a permanent magic item.

Oh, and for the vain old wizard, hat of disguise is definitely the way to go. Why reinvent the wheel?

 

[SteelDraco]

Disguise Self is only appearance, though, rather than a real change. Alter Self seems like it would work better for the intended effect. A permanent item of Alter Self, though, opens you up to other mechanical problems. An item that just changes you so that you're physically younger? I wouldn't price that at more than 2,000, personally. It'd be a common conceit of the rich, I'm sure. Not so much for the mage crowd - I imagine eventually a wizard finds it useful to have be the old man with the grey beard. You get more respect that way.

 

[UltimaGabe]

Disguise Self is only appearance, though, rather than a real change. Alter Self seems like it would work better for the intended effect.

Didn't you (and your friend) say that you're only looking for a cosmetic effect? Unless you're looking for bonuses like Natural Armor, gills, or a claw attack or something, there's nothing about what you want that Disguise Self isn't perfect for.

 

[RFlatstone]

Didn't you (and your friend) say that you're only looking for a cosmetic effect? Unless you're looking for bonuses like Natural Armor, gills, or a claw attack or something, there's nothing about what you want that Disguise Self isn't perfect for.

Actually, you are correct with regard to my scenario about the old wizzard. I realize that the dragon is a whole other situation (and I knew going in that the solution might be different for the two scenarios).

Right, with regard to the wizard, it's totally cosmetic. In fact, I have no problem is the illusion is easily seen through - like a pair of sunglasses or mascara, which is obviously not the natural eye-lid pigment. He is NOT trying to gain any physical advantage. In fact, I am not even looking for a charisma modifier - it's strictly for role-playing purposes. I'm just OCD about not bending the rules too far just for a role-playing element if at all possible.

The draon shouldn't "gain" anything by becomeing human. Indeed, she's losing many physical benfits of dragon form: Size, strength, natural attcks, etc. Here's the idea: This dragon is basically Maleficent from Sleeping beauty, but whereas that character turned into a dragon, this creature is a dragon masquerading as a human. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of an amulet that, while worn, keeps her in human form. But when she is called out (at the dénouement of the story) she cackles and unclasps the amulet, letting drop to the floor, and grows into her natural form. >>Growl!<<