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What are the mechanics for disguising self as undead?

When I was running the Sunless Citadel, the gnomish cleric of Olidammara (Trickery domain) used his disguise self to imitate undead. I don't remember the exact circumstances, but I think he wanted to look like a goblin skeleton. I let him do it, though obviously with the "recently dead" flavor so there wouldn't be the issue of transparency through the bones. I didn't particularly care how accurate of a representation of "true" undead he created; I just liked the idea and went with it, spooking whatever bad guys were there.

As an ongoing tactic, it will work against most creatures, but I would allow anyone with a good Knowledge(religion) or a good Spot check to see through a first level spell, yo.
 

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Wolfwood2 said:
That seems kind of wrong, since only someone with Knowledge (religion) would be able to spot the 'clues' and recognize a vampire in the first place. It wouldn't even work on someone who didn't know what a vampire is.
Yeah, I thought I made that perfectly clear in my response. I don't see anything "wrong" with it, though.

You'd have a disguise that wouldn't have any effect on someone unless they make a Knowledge (religion) check. If they do succeed on that check and might be fooled by it (and have at least 5 ranks), they get a +2 to see through it because they not only know enough to recognize what you're trying to disguise yourself as, they know enough to notice all the things that are wrong with your disguise.
 


Zaruthustran said:
Any other suggestions for Disguise subjects that would discourage casters from throwing Will-save spells his way?

Use the disguise self from the ring to make it look like you're wearing shiny full plate, with a shield with a nice big holy symbol on it. They'll think you're a cleric (or a paladin), and start tossing ranged touch and reflex save spells at you. :D
 

Zaruthustran said:
So a ranger with Favored Enemy "orc" does not get his favored enemy bonus against half-orcs (regardless of whether the non-orc half is dragon or human)?

In reading the Vampire entry in the SRD, a number of creature qualities such as Type, Abilities, Environment, and Alignment are listed as being changed.

Race is a game term with a specific value. An insectile dwarf is indeed still a dwarf, and has stonecunning, a favored class of Fighter, weapon familiarity, etc. A fiendish halfling is still a halfling, and is still good at jumping and throwing rocks.

I must disagree with your conclusion but welcome further elaboration.

-z


i do agree with race being a game term.


but take your Half Dragon/ Half -Orc who now gets Killed and brought back as a Dracolich or Ghost or Vampire. what is he now?


as to the original question. the best way to get your elf disguised as undead. hire a cleric. have him kill you and then cast Animate Dead on you or whatever the spell is called now.
 

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