Can a creature turn off its aura?

[pennywit]

For a recurring adversary, I'm using a sneaky Bestiary critter that has a very cool aura effect. However, this critter's aura effect is also very distinctive. If my players have to save against it, they will know that the critter is around. So ... can the critter turn off his aura while he's being sneaky?

[Ashram]

How about you tell us what the aura or creature is and then we'll tell you?

Usually if it's something related to fear, they have to choose to activate it. If it's something related to their physiology, like stench or unnatural aura, then no.

[pennywit]

Vilderavn.

[Mr. Bonkers]

According to the PRD, the Vilderavn's aura is a free action to activate, usually during certain actions.

So yes, it can be all sneaky without alerting your party.

[Claxon]

At a certain point, even if it's not in the rules, you're the GM. You get to determine how things work. If the reason you want to change something is to surprise your characters (always make sure what you're doing isn't a jerk move first) it should be okay. As long as you're not doing things like removing the perception check to notice a creature nearby so you can get a surprise round in before the players have a chance to go.

All you would be doing is disabling an ability so the players can't identify the creature before they've seen it.

However, it is worth noting that even if they would make a save against the aura, it doesn't mean they know what caused it or what the save causes (not immediately anyways), and you wouldn't have to tell them until combat started. They might know then, but not before.

[Gevurah]

Here's a similar thread, hope it helps.

Cheers!

[pennywit]

Thanks.