There is nothing in RAW at all that states that when you cast at a lower caster level that there is ANYTHING to indicate that you are not that caster level.
There is absolutely no way in RAW to tell if a 5th or 15th level caster is casting a 5D6 Fireball spell.
Adding Bluff in this circumstance is a house rule.
I never said it wasn't a house rule.
Like I said before- the concept of high-level characters having a reputation has been around since 1977 or so (anyone remember "Name Levels?"). Despite 3rd edition not spelling it out, I would find it hard to believe that the 15th lvl caster who, for example, helped the Village of Phed overthrow its Vampire Overlord Gyll didn't have a rep. The mere fact that he is 15th level means he has done noteworthy deeds, and may be the subject of lore and song. If he wanders into town dressed in his usual garb, he's probably going to be recognized, especially if he's still hanging out with the rest of the party that killed Gyll.
You don't recognize a spellcaster by the power of his spells, you recognize him by the way he's been described in rumor and legend, the distinctive robe of the order he founded, the scars from his epic battle with a demon, the Staff of OMFG he carries.
Basically, if the campaign's equivalent to Morden-freakin-kainen wants to pretend to be a newbie, I'll let him pretend...but I'm NOT going to let him merely spoof by underpowering his spells while he's toting around 4 major magic items and an artifact known around the world. He's going to have to bluff someone.
(If the Complete series DOES allow Bluff/Sense motive challenges to determine opponent HD, then that is essentially working out someone's power/rep by sizing them up...which would lead (N)PCs to question why Mr.Badass cast such a wussy fireball that barely browned their toast.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dannyalcatraz
When Alexander the Great used motion in his cavalry to cover his skirmishers moving into position to flank the Persian cavalry, that was bluff vs sense motive on a grand scale.
KarinsDad responded
Again, nonsense.
If such an action is done in the game, it is merely an action. No Bluff roll involved. How the NPCs react is based off how the DM makes them react.
Its CLEARLY a bluff. If the DM, who is looking down at the battlefield with an omniscient POV- thus seeing all of the "covert" actions- allows opposing forces react as they would with an omniscient POV as opposed to the battlefield POV, then there is no point in "covert" maneuvers.
If he decides that the opposing forces simply didn't see the maneuver, then he has, essentially, given the opposing force an auto-failure.
Or look at it from the other side. How would you feel if your forces were the victim of Alexander's maneuver? I'm sure you'd protest that you should have had a chance to figure out that the cavalry was concealing the advance of other troops.
The Persians at least had a chance. They failed, but they had a chance.
There are a lot of actions in the game that are misleading that do not require Bluff rolls.
Maybe in your campaigns, but not in mine or the ones I've played in. There's no such thing as a free misleading action.
For example, your PC runs away down the street and around a corner. What the PC is actually doing is moving to a position to cast Summon Monster where it is difficult to disrupt the spell. But, you do not roll a Bluff versus Sense Motive for the NPCs to think that you left and are not coming back.
Sure you do- this is a tactical retreat- a very old form of battlefield deception. This would at least qualify as "The bluff is hard to believe or puts the target at some risk." (PHB p68)
I've been in enough bar fights to know you always check the parking lot before you leave.
Bluff is for specifically attempting to mislead by communicating (4 out of the 5 listed here include verbal communication), not by taking other actions. You are attempting to use the phrase "misleading body language" to expand upon what Bluff is used for and say that any action you are doing can be misleading, hence, can require a Bluff check.
Bluff is explicitly used for feints (p155). When you are feinting, you don't go "I'm attacking your leg!" and attack the target's arm instead- you
move like you are attacking the leg before revealing the true target.
That many of the examples given are verbal is inconsequential. The PHB also says "Use a bluff to sow temporary confusion, get someone to turn and look where you point, or simply look innocuous." Any of those could be done by actions or even a lack of action...completely non-verbal behavior.
Indeed, the very definition for communication includes non-verbal elements:
From Mirriam-Webster3 a : a process by which information is exchanged between individuals through a common system of symbols, signs, or behavior <the function of pheromones in insect communication>; also : exchange of information b : personal rapport <a lack of communication between old and young persons>
There is a reason why going all in on
A-K-J-9-8 with unsuited
7-2 in Texas Hold'Em (Poker) is called a bluff...
