Question on Druids Wildshape ability:

[rlphay]

In the Masters of the Wild (3.0 ruleset) it states that when a Druid Wild Shapes, his/her appearance changes and he/she is effectively disguised as an average member of the chosen form, "Gaining a +10 Bonus on Disguise checks". Considering this, when the Druid encounters an NPC should the NPC receive a Spot check vs. the Druids disguise check to be able to see through the shapechange and recognize that the Druid is indeed "not" a true animal?

Why do I ask? In the 3.0 ruleset Druids retain their type (i.e. Human). If a Wizard (or another Druid) wasn't able to recognize the Druid for anything but an animal, he might be inclined to cast "Hold Animal" or "Reduce Animal" on him, which wouldn't work (because he's still considered humanoid). On the other hand if a Cleric were to recognize that the Druid was not actually an animal but was in a shapechanged form, he might be inclined to conclude that he must be a Druid and then use "Hold Person" or some other Humanoid effecting spell.

The only other interpretation I can see as valid is that the comment regarding Disguise was in case the Druid wanted to disguise himself as a "specific" animal. Maybe the Druid wants to pretend that he's some Rangers animal companion so he shapechanges into that specific form trying to look just like the Rangers real companion . . .

Thoughts?

 

[Kahuna Burger]

In the Masters of the Wild (3.0 ruleset) it states that when a Druid Wild Shapes, his/her appearance changes and he/she is effectively disguised as an average member of the chosen form, "Gaining a +10 Bonus on Disguise checks". Considering this, when the Druid encounters an NPC should the NPC receive a Spot check vs. the Druids disguise check to be able to see through the shapechange and recognize that the Druid is indeed "not" a true animal?

....

The only other interpretation I can see as valid is that the comment regarding Disguise was in case the Druid wanted to disguise himself as a "specific" animal. Maybe the Druid wants to pretend that he's some Rangers animal companion so he shapechanges into that specific form trying to look just like the Rangers real companion . . .

Thoughts?

I've wondered about this myself... in some ways, the two statements "effectively disgiused" and "gains a +10 bonus on disguise checks" are contridictory. assuming for the moment a 0 cha druid, who is taking ten on such a check, the bonus gives him a total of 20 - which a character of the same level (5th minimum) with full ranks in spot and a decent wisdom will likely see through half the time... Not that effective, if they mean that the +10 is to a check to disguise yourself as an animal...

As such, I would assume the second. If the druid decides to use wildshape to replace the enemy general's warhorse in the stable, thus giving him a massive surprise on the battlefield, she uses any cha mod and disguise ranks she has, the plus ten bonus and hopefully kidnaps the horse and takes several minutes to examine it and take 20. If the druid is just disguised as some general horse, she is "effectively disguised" and the DM is free to consider everyone fooled unless they are specificly looking for the ruse (or possibly if they have a lot of ranks in handle animal or they are riding the "horse")

thats just my take on it though - I recall the disguise rules being a bit flaky on the difference in difficulty between "looking like someone else (the king)" and "looking like someone else (anyone not me)" in the first place.

kahuna Burger

 

[Li Shenron]

The skill Disguise can be used both to hide your identity or to mimic someone else's identity (a generic type such as "looking like you are a noble" or a specific individual such as the king). In general the latter is more difficult (bonus to Spot): for example if you dress youself as Duke Fake III it will be moderately difficult to appear a plausible duke and much more difficult to deceive the ones who know him personally.

I think that in the case of Wildshape you can use it to appear just like you are a normal animal and others are entitled to recognize you are not with a Spot check (although the DM may consider also a Sense Motive check if you are looking like a bear but you are casting spells and doing smart combat moves).

It's less common, but I say you can also use it the other way, i.e. to appear as a specific animal. Same +10 bonus but the Spot bonuses apply to make it more difficult.