Trolled's page

Does anyone know if "appear as human" or "appear as creature" count towards trying to disguise as an individual?

Typically, polymorph does not allow to appear as an individual, so it seems possible it was not intended to provide a bonus to do so.

Are there typically layers to disguise? Magical vs. mundane and/or individual vs. generic creature?

Trolled, what you bolded is what is commonly considered "flavor text". It doesn't have any bearing on the actual feat, it's just there for fluff.

Just for clarification, according to RAW, the Kitsune is able to Shape Change into a (for example) ratfolk.

If so, it would function as per Alter-Self, and they would gain dark vision, gain the bonus(es) and penalties for small size, and adjust their movement speed/natural attacks, etc. to that of a ratfolk?

I am 99.99% sure that is how it works, but it never hurts to have additional insight.

P.S. I believe the only exceptions would be those imposed by the kitsune race itself (no bite as a human, and no +2 to dex (or str. in the case of a medium creature selection). Right?

Trolled, what you bolded is what is commonly considered "flavor text". It doesn't have any bearing on the actual feat, it's just there for fluff...

Did you read what I said? I said that RAW you are correct, but RAI is pretty clear you were only able to shape change into a human you had encountered...

P.S. The editors (while not official Pathfinder rules lawyers) also indicated it should be human only....

Couple other things to consider:
1) All the disguise penalties still apply (-2 sex, -2 race, etc)

2) Unless you take the time to change clothes.. you are still wearing the same clothing and possessions. Alter-Self will re-size the clothing for you... but not change them

This is where the 1d3x10 minutes for a disguise check, the Disguise-Self spell (or ability), or similar would need to come into play

3) Polymorph and Kitsune racial bonuses do not count towards looking like a specific individual as I understand it.

-----------------

Example: The Kitsune Racial bonus specifically says "+10 to appear human" not +10 to appear as a specific human.

Personally, I believe those bonuses should stack when appearing as an specific individual and not spending 1d3x10 minutes.. but that would but RAI.

However, since the player is attempting to claim "RAW" for any shape via "Realistic Likeness".. it seems disingenuous to later want to claim RAI for the Kitsune racial bonus...

"You can precisely mimic the physical features of any individual you have encountered."

While a little broken that you can take it from human to TECHNICALLY anything that's still S/M, the rules as written on it technically say that.

Maybe by pure RAW, but RAI is pretty clear from the actual feat:

When you are in human form, you can take the shape of a specific individual.

Prerequisites: Kitsune.

Benefit: You can precisely mimic the physical features of any individual you have encountered. When you use your racial change shape ability, you can attempt to take the form of an individual, granting you a +10 circumstance bonus on Disguise checks made to fool others with your impersonation.

P.S. Does anyone have a link to the SRD version of Seamless Shapeshifter feat. I wanted to see if anything was overlooked in it as well, but I can not seem to find it.

=P.S. And that does only covers the disguise and ignores the likely hood of magic items/spells. You will also have to make bluff checks...

They might know that you are not that individual human, but they know a lie is a lie.

I believe from research that my level 7 Kitsune Vigilante disguise check should be +72 under the best conditions before any applicable penalties and before I roll, but I wanted to get feedback if I am appropriately calculating this within the rules.

Under the best conditions? Maybe, those are very specific conditions. If you are trying to imitate individual human, that you have encountered, of the same sex, then yes, you would get most of those bonuses (before the penalties are applied). This is because realistic likeness is powerful, but it still carries the human and same sex limitations of the Kitsune.

+10 Polymorph
+10 Realistic Likeness
+20 Seamless Shapeshifter
+10 Mockingbird
--------
+50

Now while that is an eyepopping number, it is very niche circumstances.

P.S. And that does cover disguise vs bluff (when you talk while disguised) or the fact at 7th level, casters and magic items can negate most of those bonuses