Camouflage Blanket Questions: Stealth check and Darkleaf Cloth

[Skarm]

Hi all,

I was wondering three things:
- If used in the right terrain, the blanket grants concealment. Does this means that, if I put it on, I could try a Stealth check? Or...would it require to make a distraction to use like this?
- If I carried around on my shoulders as a sort of cloak...would I be able to use it for "instant concealment"? :P
- If a Camouflage Blanket was made out of Darkleaf Cloth, could it gain the 1/2 weight benefit of it (in theory, the material of the blanket is not specified, but the Darkleaf Cloth could be used for Padded Armor, whose description doesn't suggest it being of leather...moreover the "Items not primarily constructed of leather, fur, or hide are not meaningfully affected by being partially made of darkleaf cloth" line seems to exist to counter its use for mainly metallic armor...)?

Thanks,
Skarm

[Wonderstell]

Skarm, you really gotta start to quote the relevant items/feats you want a ruling on.

Camouflage Blanket wrote:

This large, coarse blanket covers a single square and has a multi-colored design that blends in with a specific environment type, such as underground, forests, or plains (see the ranger’s Favored Terrains table on page 65 of the Pathfinder RPG Core Rulebook for a full list of environment types). A character covered by a camouflage blanket in that blanket’s matching terrain has concealment. Such characters who are also prone gain a +2 circumstance bonus on Stealth checks. The bonus applies even when the covered character attempts a Stealth check to remain hidden after sniping with a projectile weapon.

Skarm wrote:

- If used in the right terrain, the blanket grants concealment. Does this means that, if I put it on, I could try a Stealth check? Or...would it require to make a distraction to use like this?

Ufff... This is kind of a loaded question. I'll just leave it to someone else to stick their neck out.

Skarm wrote:

- If I carried around on my shoulders as a sort of cloak...would I be able to use it for "instant concealment"? :P

The item doesn't say that you can wear it, so that's up to your GM. It only has rules for covering a single square, which means it wasn't intended to be worn.

Skarm wrote:

- If a Camouflage Blanket was made out of Darkleaf Cloth, could it gain the 1/2 weight benefit of it (in theory, the material of the blanket is not specified, but the Darkleaf Cloth could be used for Padded Armor, whose description doesn't suggest it being of leather...moreover the "Items not primarily constructed of leather, fur, or hide are not meaningfully affected by being partially made of darkleaf cloth" line seems to exist to counter its use for mainly metallic armor...)?

Yup. A blanket would be made of cloth, so it can be made of Darkleath Cloth for an additional price of 750 gp since the blanket has a weight of 2 lbs. I'd really not recommend spending 750 gp to save 1 lbs of carried weight, though.

[Talonhawke]

Okay so I would think a distraction is needed since even a ranger who is using camouflage still can hide while being observed till getting Hide in Plain Sight.

Camouflage wrote:

A ranger of 12th level or higher can use the Stealth skill to hide in any of his favored terrains, even if the terrain doesn’t grant cover or concealment.

Hide in Plain Sight wrote:

While in any of his favored terrains, a ranger of 17th level or higher can use the Stealth skill even while being observed.

[Azothath]

canvassing for a blanket answer

[ShieldLawrence]

If you are covered by the blanket, you have concealment and are able to make a stealth check. No distraction is necessary as the concealment from the blanket breaks observation for you.

You can carry items around with you within reason, it would likely fall under “Manipulate an Item” to cover a square with the blanket (a move action). As the blanket seems to be tied to a specific square for its benefits, you would have to use more actions to move the blanket around, it wouldn’t be as easy as keeping it tied to your shoulders. Move actions to pick it up, cover an adjacent square, stow it, etc.

[Azothath]

Skarm wrote:

...

1) If used in the right terrain, the blanket grants concealment. Does this means that, if I put it on, I could try a Stealth check? Or...would it require to make a distraction to use like this?

2) If I carried around on my shoulders as a sort of cloak...would I be able to use it for "instant concealment"? :P

3) If a Camouflage Blanket was made out of Darkleaf Cloth, could it gain the 1/2 weight benefit of it (in theory, the material of the blanket is not specified, but the Darkleaf Cloth could be used for Padded Armor, whose description doesn't suggest it being of leather...moreover the "Items not primarily constructed of leather, fur, or hide are not meaningfully affected by being partially made of darkleaf cloth" line seems to exist to counter its use for mainly metallic armor...)?

1) leading question. Clearly a creature is meant to be prone under the blanket and attempting to conceal itself BEFORE any perception checks are made to detect it (that timing is critical).

Wearing it means you are treating it as clothing and not in the manner it is meant to be used. As it is not clothing you cannot wear it per se. A conservative reading would mean it is not mobile/portable while providing concealment or any bonus. A camouflage burqa/chadri isn't defined in RAW.

See Camo Netting

IMO simply putting on a bag or wrapping yourself in a blanket doesn't imply you have concealment of any significant value for the purposes of Stealth as the "new clothes" move with you. You are essentially wearing different clothes or attempting a Disguise check. I can see a GM giving you +2 circumstance in the right terrain to your Stealth check but not giving concealment for ranged attacks. For magic and other mechanics it may be different. If the blanket was secured to a frame (as in a blind or as a tent of camouflage) it would be different but circumstances have you in this application.

2) see above.

3) yes, the blanket can be made out of various materials and painted appropriately. A blanket it is not clothing or armor. You are not fatigued after sleeping in a blanket overnight.

The line about dark leaf CLOTH being used for things primarily made of cloth(or similar material) is there to prevent people from attempting to make inappropriate items out of a type of material. It's not that complicated and a very sensible rule. It is there for wooden weapons, metal weapons, and a lot of other items. It has been well known for ages that full plate involves padded armor, leather, chainmail, and plate armor and that you can't separate it without GM caveat. You CAN use dark leaf cloth for the padding in plate mail and it doesn't provide any mechanical benefit other than being leafy. Dragons need fiber so it's a nice change of pace.

You might try;
Camo Lichen for oreads (or earth typed creatures).

[Azothath]

There are plausible uses for the blanket on a light wooden frame with a stand to gain partial to full cover. It takes GM agreement to make this work and a decision on set up time and action time to move it 5ft. As this is a non-published application I'll stop commenting there.

[blahpers]

Skarm wrote:

Hi all,

I was wondering three things:
- If used in the right terrain, the blanket grants concealment. Does this means that, if I put it on, I could try a Stealth check? Or...would it require to make a distraction to use like this?
- If I carried around on my shoulders as a sort of cloak...would I be able to use it for "instant concealment"? :P
- If a Camouflage Blanket was made out of Darkleaf Cloth, could it gain the 1/2 weight benefit of it (in theory, the material of the blanket is not specified, but the Darkleaf Cloth could be used for Padded Armor, whose description doesn't suggest it being of leather...moreover the "Items not primarily constructed of leather, fur, or hide are not meaningfully affected by being partially made of darkleaf cloth" line seems to exist to counter its use for mainly metallic armor...)?

Thanks,
Skarm

1. Yes, provided you're covered in it and it matches the given terrain.

2. Not exactly "instant", and not worn as a cloak. It's a blanket. Blankets are generally larger than cloaks, and this one needs to completely cover you with enough material left over to seamlessly blend in. At the least, you're going to need to either hold the thing with both hands and lean against a matching surface or else crouch or lie prone with the blanket over you. Note that if a creature sees you do this, your attempt at Stealth isn't likely to work very well, though it would protect you from being sneak attacked in return, I guess. Doesn't seem like an effective tactic for, say, instant repeatable sneak attack at close range.

3. Possibly; the cloth's durability might allow you to construct a thinner blanket with the same properties. GM call.

[Cevah]

You have concealment, so you can make a stealth check.
However, your hiding does not hide the blanket. :-(

Your "instant camouflage" will require a few actions to activate:
Free: fall prone
Move: remove the item from being worn
Move: spread the item over the square

I don't see any problem using Darkleaf. I don't see any benefit either.

/cevah