I want to do a story where I frame the party for a crime they didn't commit through people using Disguise Self and being very obvious towards witnesses.
The issue is once the party, tracks these folks down, I'm not sure how they'll be able to prove they were framed short of dragging them back to give a confession.
I can't guarantee they'll do that so, I'd like to have some more options. Any ideas on what else I can use for evidence?
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They simply need to bring proof that they didn't commit the crime. If the people who framed them, had been contracted by somebody, they would most likely find a contract on them.
Or maybe one of the criminals has a diary/journal where he records his activities.
Maybe they find something that one of the witness heard that was off. Remember disguise self doesn't change the sound of equipment like if one of them was wearing some kind of heavy armor, the clanking noises with someone disguised in medium armor would be somewhat off, to a witness.
Possible that also one witness actually saw the setup and is now in hiding until the criminals are apprehended/neutralized.
Where do you plan to have the party be when the crime occurs and how well known are they in the area?
If the people pulling it off had a couple of failed bluff checks or something indicating all was not as it seemed, that would help quite a bit.
Are the people doing it using multiple magic items, or are some of them wizards that leave behind spellbooks that would include that spell? This would help them prove that the other group was capable of doing it. Surveillance notes taken while setting up the crime could go a long ways towards showing they were set up.
I think it would also be good to work up a motive for why they chose to set up the party. A deliberate frame like that is harder to do than just disguising yourselves as not-you. Why the additional effort? Having a motive would create a connection between the party and the people who set them up -- even if it is only someone paid for the frame job. The person paying for it is someone the party should know who dislikes them.
I want to do a story where I frame the party for a crime they didn't commit through people using Disguise Self and being very obvious towards witnesses.
What is the end purpose here?
Unless this is a low magic setting proving your innocence is not that hard. There are plenty of spells capable of verifying what someone says is true. There are at three 2nd level inquisitor spells that can do this and that is just off the top of my head. Depending on the setting they authorities may employ a suitable spell caster. If not the party may have the option of hiring spell caster as an expert witness on their behalf.
In order for this to be an interesting story you probably have to make the easy magical detect truth spells unavailable or unusable (perhaps not admissible for some reason.) Otherwise, they will probably do that first, and skip over all the good bits you have planned.
Besides the confession, which is probably the best and provides some interesting incentives to take prisoners and use social skills, instructions from a master, physical evidence from the crime itself are all possibilities.
If you have truth spells only being admissible from official agents of the court, that can be a good backup. If their won't be a designated truth detecting spellcaster in the area for a period of time, it can prompt the PCs to act to clear their name right off, rather then spend a couple months in jail, but provides an backup in case they screw the pooch and fail to get mundane evidence to acquit themselves.
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Save the magical solutions as a last minute resort. They're unsatisfying, and don't let the PCs save themselves. Keep it as a backup idea in case the PCs are all playing under par and need rescue.
Here's what I suggest instead. Get them out of trouble by getting them into more trouble. Give the PCs a chance to deal with some thorny dilemmas and come up with their own solutions.
In this case, here are some great ideas:
The Reluctant Witness
The party has the perfect alibi -- Lady Wren. But they were sworn to secrecy by Lady Wren, who would suffer horrible consequences if they betray her trust. This is especially good to play on PCs with honor codes. They have to figure out how to get Lady Wren to release them from their oaths, or drag her name in the mud, or... use their creativity. Great stuff.
The Helpful Crimelord
"Look, this looks bad for you. I know you didn't do it. The job just wasn't your style. Since I like you, I'm willing to swear to everyone that you were in my bar last night. I'll even scare up lots of witnesses who will swear to it. But you'll owe me a favor..." You get the PCs off in the short term, but keep a string hanging that you can pull at ANY TIME. Muahahaha!
The Framer Turncoat
The folks framing the party have had a falling out, since one just knifed (metaphorically) the other one in the back. The wronged party comes to the PCs, offering them the proof they need, but only if they promise to get her vengeance...
Hmm's Guide to Plotting Against / With the PCs
1) Give the PCs a chance to find their own solutions;
2) Offer them lots of morally murky dilemmas as a way out;
3) Reward their creativity
4) Always leave a few plot strings hanging that you can pull later.
Or just frame another group in their stead.
"If it don't fit, you must acquit"
Maybe one of the bad guys could have a easily identified signet ring or something that is either too big or too small to fit the PC he was disguised as.
Or you could use the Chewbacca defense.
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Truthtelling spells can be a blessing for PCs protesting their innocence. But what if an NPC undergoes the truthtelling spell and the spell sticks, appearing for all intents and purposes to work as designed, except the NPC flat-out contradicts the PCs?
I'm sure if you dig around there's a way to do that.