Disguise

[dergon darkhelm]

Does anyone know if NWN2 will have disguise skill?

Any plans on some means of it's implementation in ALFA2?

[dergon darkhelm]

Since this has obviously been a scorchingly hot topic over the last three months I thought I'd try again.

If not governed by hard code , I would at least like to see some means of RPing disguise and the foiling of said disguise somewhat following PnP rules using some opposing skill check.

Currently, it seems that disguise is RP'd as follows:

*in a tavern somewhere in Waterdeep*

Player A)*approaches hooded stranger at bar* Greetings
Player B) Hello
Player A) /t OOC -- hey man, aren't you a drow?
Player B) /t you can't tell i'm drow because I'm wearing a hood and gloves

[darrenhfx]

I hate to see you talking to yourself... I'd like to know about this as well.

[Fionn]

We have hoods now, can't imagine we'll loose them. We can certainly check all body slots on any Guard scripts that look for subraces. If you aren't wearning hood, gloves, cloak, they stop you. This assumes we have such guard scripts, which may or may not be wanted (lots of issues have happened due to them, and it's too hard to *subdue* via them).

[dergon darkhelm]

We have hoods now, can't imagine we'll loose them. We can certainly check all body slots on any Guard scripts that look for subraces. If you aren't wearning hood, gloves, cloak, they stop you. This assumes we have such guard scripts, which may or may not be wanted (lots of issues have happened due to them, and it's too hard to *subdue* via them).

*nods* While I like the idea of some kind of coding of NPC reactions, I was more trying to get to PC/PC interaction.

My take:

A hood and gloves doth not a disguise make.

While that's probably good enough to pass through a busy city gate, maybe even hang in the back of the tavern and do some dealings with merchants, it is unlikely to pass real scrutiny.

If a PC wearing a disguise interacts with another PC or is questioned by the city watch etc. *some* opposed skill check should ensue. PCs can take ranks in something (ideally disguise skill, but I'd settle for bluff) to make themselves more apt to have their dusguises believed. PCs can also take ranks in spot to see through said disguises.

[darrenhfx]

Maybe we can develop "craft nose" to its fullest potential.

[Fionn]

Emote ball allows rolling of any skill or ability. Most players should be able to figure it out without a scripted 'pierce disguise' option ;) Scripting is only good where we can have a one-size-fits-all scenario. There's just too many variables with such a thing to really work. Now add a Bard with Perform, Disguise and access to 2nd level spells...

[ç i p h é r]

I *thought* Obsidian was looking into the ability to mask your characters name. That might have been in a conversation or question relating to disguise in fact. When you think about it, the only thing you need to disguise in a game like this is your name. Most, if not all, people won't recall a character's face, relying primarily on their visible name as their identity (or other notable markings). A hood and alternate clothes will already mask any other recognizable aspects of a character.

So it really comes down to your name. IF the game ships with the ability to mask your characters name (the main concern Obsidian noted was corrupting the chars file), I think what we could simply do is attach a script to hoods that makes a disguise roll for you already. A player can then attempt an opposed check (perhaps even built into the perception event) that will reveal your true name if successful.

Outside of that or some ingenius idea, I think this will forever remain in the RP arena.

EDIT: It would actually be very interesting if NWN2 eliminates floating names entirely, or provides that option to servers. It would be even better if you could "attach" a name to a portrait so the next time you see so and so, that name appears next to it. Make name an attribute of the client, not server, so anyone could potentially call themselves anything. Where this idea tends to run aground is in the area of 'enforcement'. How do server admins *know* who Joe Blow actually is so they can give him das boot, or worse, who he's masquerading as so they don't give the wrong guy das boot? Somehow, I just don't see Obsidian spending the cycles to puzzle these details out.

[Shienarier]

How do server admins *know* who Joe Blow actually is so they can give him das boot, or worse, who he's masquerading as so they don't give the wrong guy das boot? Somehow, I just don't see Obsidian spending the cycles to puzzle these details out.

Perhaps admin's/DM's always see the right/choosen at char creation name?

[Mulu]

I have a hard enough time remembering the names of toons *with* the names floating over their heads.

But I like the idea of a hood concealing it.

[Fionn]

1.67 gives us the option to randomize NPC names onSpawn. This tells me there is a hook to the name value, and we may be able to make use of this onEquip. If you put on a helm/cloak, we cache your name on something and replace it with your race (not subrace).

Not a huge deal for me, so not something I'm going to write this weekend ;)

[Mayhem]

Cool - putting on a hood or and seeing the name change to "Hooded Man" would be very cool.

Of course, the same should apply to helmets too.

***

Even cooler - if we have the same sorts of phenotypes, perhaps it could fetch that too.

"Tall Hooded Man"

"Portly Helmed Dwarf"

[dergon darkhelm]

I like the name changing by dissguie idea somewhat .......but I still would like to see some accepted protocol for varying qualities of disguise.

A dwarf fighter with 0 ranks blufff and a charisma of 8 just isn't going to make a very good disguise for himself......at least .not without a bit of magical help.


Take the aforementioned Bard with Perform, Disguise(bluff) and access to 2nd level spell and you have an entirely differnt story,

If a PC is wearing a disguise they should be prepared to be challenged via some opposed D20 check..whatever it is.

[Mayhem]

Perhaps it could work by intercepting the "examine" click, and rolling Disguise vs Spot.

Success, you get the ordinary description.

Failure, you get a custom description.

****

Note that this ought to be tied to a way of modifying descriptions even without disguise, so that new scars or important articles can be added to descriptions at a later date.

[HDB]

IG:Jack the Scamp runs into an alley(uses his Disguise emote), and walks out with his head held high looking like a noble from the DM Client's creator standards.

PC INV item:
-scripted to morphe PC like the Omega wand; few SetAppearance #, few clothing tailor scripts, few PC creation options, and alter the overhead PC lable if we ever could.
-DC rolls for it may be added to roll and inform the disguised, who'd pass it on via TELLs.

...................HDB.