Shadow Blend (Su)

[Infiniti2000]

Total concealment is not the same as invisibility.

It sure can be. If I'm in a fog cloud with total concealment and I can somehow see through the fog, I am visually undetectable to you. By definition, that makes me invisible. Thus, I get all the benefits of invisibility.

 

[Wardo]

Is there a subtle distinction between "visually undetectable" from Invisibility and "no line of sight to target" from Total Concealment that I'm missing here? To me they both mean you can't see it.

 

[Infiniti2000]

Is there a subtle distinction between "visually undetectable" from Invisibility and "no line of sight to target" from Total Concealment that I'm missing here? To me they both mean you can't see it.

They do. A common misunderstanding that I see, however, is that people think the term "invisible" only applies to magically invisible, not just "visually undetectable." However, a creature who is visually undetectable is invisible in every sense of the game term.

 

[Cabral]

For example, in this case, the Shadow Mastiff can blend into the shadows and use them for "cover" granting himself total concealability. While he may now be a fuzzy blob of shadow, you still know about where he is. You can target his square without a problem ... you just don't know exactly where he is so when you swing, that tendril of shadow you thought was his noggin was just a shadow 50% of the time.

He does not become undetectable. In fact, you could read it so that Shadow Meld does not block Line of Sight. Blocking line of sight grants total concealment. Shadow Meld just grants you total concealment regardless of line of sight...

 

[Wardo]

Thanks Cabral. I'm not sure I agree, but at least I can see the distinction you're making now.

 

[Perun]

The ability gives total concealment, though, not just concealment. That is equivalent to invisibility, as total concealment is tied to line of sight:

I see Cabral explained it much better than I could. That's how I've been imagining the ability.

As a side note, another way to gain shadow blend is to be a druid, and at 12th level take Dragon Wildshape feat (from Draconomicon). If your DM has shadow dragons in the campaign, and he lets you become familiar with the form, you gain shadow blend ability.

My druid did that, but he hasn't used dragon forms much, though.

Regards.