Some Questions on Disguise

[bensei]

Some questions to all who have already rollplayed with the Disguise skill:


1. How many Disguise checks are made?

The PHB says: 'Make one Disguise check even if several people make Spot checks.' So there is one and only one check - rolled by the GM - which determines how good the disguise you made is. No Disguise checks later, only Spot checks.

Under Special the PHB says: 'If you have 5 or more ranks of Bluff, you get a +2 synergy bonus on Disguise checks when you know that you're being observed and you try to act in character.' Well, but there are no Disguise checks at later times, only Spot checks...

How do you interpret this? How do you play disguising in your adventures?


2. Why is a Disguise kit so heavy?

According to the PHB a Disguise kit (+2 on Disguise checks) weighs 8 lb., so it is almost twice as heavy as a Climber's kit. According to the description it just contains cosmetics, hair dye and small physical props, while a Climber's kit contains metal utils. Are the 8 lb. a typo? It is interesting, because charcaters who want to disguise often aren't the stongest, so they cannot afford to carry 8 lb. around.

 

[Crothian]

1) I make one Disguise check. Then if the person disguised character knows he is being watched i add two to those opposed rolls.

2) No idea. I'd think that the Climbers kit would be rather heavy. 5lbs is very light.

 

[bensei]

1) I make one Disguise check. Then if the person disguised character knows he is being watched i add two to those opposed rolls.

Okay, that makes sense.
So the bonus applies nearly always, doesn't it, unless the disguised character is alone in the bathroom. From the character's point of view: 'Of course I always try to act in character, this is why I disguised!' Or do you interpret this in a stricter way?

<EDIT> Typos </EDIT>

 

[Crothian]

No, I allow them yo have it most of the time. Let the PCs be clever, or else the hacvk everything to peices.