Turn Off a Gaze Attack

[Joseph Rossow]

Is it possible for an intelligent creature with a gaze attack to "turn it off?"

If not, are there any feats / spells / non-items that would "turn off" a gaze attack (other than invisibility)?

I found a note in the D&D Wiki - SRD that says "a creature with a gaze attack can control its gaze attack and 'turn it off' when so desired," but I'm not sure it applies to Pathfinder. SRD:Gaze - D&D Wiki

I've got a social character who was recently turned into a medusa-like creature. One of their cool powers is that they can discern secrets from someone by looking into that person's eyes. I'd really like to use this power and not also turn that person to stone.

Any ideas?

 

[pawsplay]

Bestiary p.301. It can veil its eyes in order to turn off its gaze attack.

 

[Joseph Rossow]

Bestiary p.301. It can veil its eyes in order to turn off its gaze attack.

Right, but in this case, I'm looking for a non-item (something that is not a tangible-worn item, magical or otherwise).

The reason is, this particular character has another power that requires looking into someone else's eyes. If a standard veil negates the gaze attack (which is defined as a "tak[ing] effect when foes look at the attacking creature's eyes), then it also negates this other power as well - since they can't meet eyes through the veil.

I'm looking for a non-item that will turn off a gaze, but still allow people's eyes to meet. Any ideas?

 

[pawsplay]

I'm pretty sure "veil its eyes" refers to the physical act of covering the eyes in some way, not to wearing an actual veil.

 

[Joseph Rossow]

I guess I'm not explaining the problem accurately.

"Veiling" or "covering the eyes," in this case, is not an option. The creature in question NEEDS to be able to look people in the eyes WITHOUT its gaze attack effecting them.

 

[Thanael]

In the Eberron novel [ame=http://www.amazon.com/Queen-Stone-Thorn-Breland/dp/0786950099]The Queen of Stone: Thorn of Breland by Keith Baker[/ame] the Queen of Stone, a medusa can close her eyes to turn of her gaze attack and still see through the eyes of the serpents that make up her hair iirc.

 

[Redbranch]

To the OP: Are you the player of said character or the GM?
It sounds like the PC wants the best of both worlds. Was turning into at Medusa-like creature a choice or a side-effect/punishment?
I can't imagine she could use one gaze ability without triggering the other.
It could be a perfect opportunity for some creative role-playing: the social character who cannot make eye contact. Perhaps the GM has plans for the PC. It could be the start of a quest.

 

[Joseph Rossow]

As the player in this case, I'm trying to get the most out of the situation - for both myself and my character.

Naturally, it might not be possible to circumvent this problem. However, I feel compelled to try.

What gave me a bit of hope was a line I read in the SRD for D&D 3.5. "A creature with a gaze attack can control its gaze attack and 'turn it off' when so desired," but, as I mentioned before, I'm not sure it applies to Pathfinder.

I guess a more specific question might be: If a ruling on an issue has not been made by the Pathfinder rules, but has been addressed by a D&D SRD, does that previous ruling stand? As Pathfinder is based on those rules, I'm arguing (for the sake of my character) that they should. However, I don't have any real grounds for that argument.

SRD:Gaze - D&D Wiki

 

[pawsplay]

The situation here is that there is no rule, either to help you or hinder you. If you specifically have a different ability based on eye contact, you will need to talk to your GM. If you simply need to be able to see, however, you can either "veil" your eyes with a gesture or wear some kind of gauze veil, if your GM rules against using the 3.5 definition.

I don't know if this is helpful, but some monsters have gotten Pathfinder treatements in sourcebooks, like Classic Horrors, Orcs, etc. Maybe someone knows if medusas or some other creatures with gaze attacks have been given an official treatment.

 

[frankthedm]

I guess a more specific question might be: If a ruling on an issue has not been made by the Pathfinder rules, but has been addressed by a D&D SRD, does that previous ruling stand? As Pathfinder is based on those rules, I'm arguing (for the sake of my character) that they should. However, I don't have any real grounds for that argument.

Pathfinder addressed the issue by taking away from the SRD. Pathfinder was made by copy, paste and then edit. If something was clipped, it was most likely omitted intentionally.