Oh no, I understand the mechanical differences. I'm just wondering WHY those mechanical differences exist with two rather similar potions.
As I said, it has historical reasons.
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Ish. The historical version works very differently (For one, being a curse. Also working on unwilling people)
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Ish. The historical version works very differently (For one, being a curse. Also working on unwilling people)
Actually, I believe Barbarossa was referring to this.
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I could see there being 'appearance parlors' where you could pay someone who has a large bonus to disguise due to their skills and equipment to change your appearance for you.
Also, there may be appearances that are popular or trendy for a season, appearances that show that you are a sort of fashionista, appearances that show you are a a good conforming citizen, a no-nonsense military type, and appearances that were created by edgy artists (Scream face, Picasso face, Ysoki with Micky Mouse ears, etc., only different because its a different universe). Since the Pact worlds are capitalistic, some looks might be copyrighted (someone would figure out how to do it). One would have to pay a fee to get a given look, and bearers of forged looks would get punished if they were caught.
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Note that for 500 credits you can buy a holoskin that would let you change to any of hundreds of pre-programmed appearances, of any race and gender you wanted. The reason for using a serum instead is if you except your appearance change to be subject to physical examination (either for reasons of intimacy, or as part of a security protocol).
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Another very, VERY good reason lore-wise that the sex shift serum wouldn't be released until it couldn't be dispelled: Drinking a serum produces no effect if you're dealing with certain biological processes that are sex specific, notably pregnancy. Dispelling an active dose of the serum would have no such restriction.
Without any disrespect meant at all, would it be possible to confirm whether the Serum of Sex shift can create a set of features that are a mix or combination of the biological sexes?
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Without any disrespect meant at all, would it be possible to confirm whether the Serum of Sex shift can create a set of features that are a mix or combination of the biological sexes?
Serum of Sex Shift
Mass production has rendered this once-rare serum easy and
inexpensive to obtain among the Pact Worlds. Upon drinking
this elixir, your biology instantly transforms to take on a set
of sexual characteristics of your choice, changing both your
appearance and physiology accordingly. You have some mild
control over the details of this change, but you retain a strong
“family resemblance” to your former appearance.The elixir’s magic functions instantaneously and cannot
be dispelled. Your new anatomy is as healthy and functional
as your previous body’s, potentially allowing you to conceive,
carry, or bear children (depending on your species’ biology).
Drinking a second elixir of sex shift either reverts you back to a
former form or allows you to adopt other sexual characteristics,
as you choose. The elixir has no effect if you are unwilling, and
the presence of certain sex-specific biological processes, such
as gestation, may prevent this serum from taking effect.
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I can see arguments for either way, hinging on the word 'set'. Have seen, in fact. My personal reading of it allows for an in-between, but I've seen it argued the other way.
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I believe the 'of your choice' is the pertinent clause, and 'set' is simply 'the parts of your choice as a complete set of varying size, type, complexity, etc.
Could be wrong, and this was a bit of a side-track again.
Back on track...
Even with a Serum of Appearance Change, I'm not sure I'd want to look *AMAZING*. I mean, I could probably swing the Charisma for it, but... it just feels like 'cheating', y'know? Sort of cheapens the individual developmental paths?
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Really interesting thread! I hope the stories Paizo tells in this setting take advantage of some of the high-concept ideas it allows.
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Another very, VERY good reason lore-wise that the sex shift serum wouldn't be released until it couldn't be dispelled: Drinking a serum produces no effect if you're dealing with certain biological processes that are sex specific, notably pregnancy. Dispelling an active dose of the serum would have no such restriction.I tried to think of how you could get around this and use the serum to make an anatomically male (externally) human be pregnant without any changes to externally visible parts.
You'd have to use the formula to grow a womb, have a fertilized egg implanted artificially, then hope either a potion that allows a birth exists or a doctor near bye can give a C section.
wouldn't people be having babies in fishtanks by this far in the future anyway?
... a womb with a view. I think i'm a clone now...
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I love it how some people really think things instead of just scraping the surface. As these potions (appearance/sex change) go, main discussion in my group was how much more interesting swinger parties would get... And yes, everyone in our group is 40 years old +-2 years :P
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About the serum of appearance change (not sex shift), it lacks some fine control. Apparently you can't even attempt a disguise check to look like someone else. I'm not totally sure that once you've changed your appearance entirely you could use it again to get back to your original look. Anyone else think this could cause some angst?
The serum of appearance change being permanent rather than instantaneous means my thoughts about being unable to get back to your original look were groundless. Never mind them.
I still haven't seen any sort of convincing arguments about the duration of the appearance change.
"Permanent" is a duration.
"Instantaneous" is a duration.
Neither "instantaneously" nor "permanently" are a duration - at least not in any sort of a mechanical sense.
When read together as a sentence, it seems like it's clear: there isn't any real "go back" (unless you hit it up with some sort of second effect that isn't in the core book).
Bringing up the Disguise, Holoskin, and appearance alterations... let's actually look at what these things do.
DISGUISE (CHA)
You are able to change your appearance to blend in and deceive others, whether to infiltrate
Change Appearance
You can use Disguise to change your appearance with 1d3 × 10 minutes of work with a disguise kit, by casting a spell such as disguise self, or by using a technological device such as a holoskin. The GM rolls the Disguise check in secret, so you’re not sure how good your disguise is. This check is opposed by the Perception check (see page 144) of anyone who might realize that you are not who you appear to be. If you are not drawing attention to yourself, other creatures do not usually get to attempt a Perception check to pierce your disguise. If creatures are being particularly alert for suspicious activity (such as security personnel on a starship or space station), it’s assumed that such observers are taking 10 on their Perception checks.
The effectiveness of your disguise depends on how much you’re changing your appearance. Without the aid of transformative magic or technology that allows you to do otherwise, you can use Disguise only to appear as a creature that is your size or one size category larger or smaller than you. This does not change your actual size or reach. Disguises are general—you cannot disguise yourself as a specific person.
Certain magic spells, such as disguise self, grant you a +10 bonus to Disguise checks.
The DCs for Disguise checks are adjusted by the type of disguise as well as other circumstances determined by the GM. These modifiers are cumulative; use all that apply.
So, relevant points:
- you can't normally disguise yourself as something too different- it requires a kit, a spell, or a holoskin (or similar)
- transformative magic or technology can let you overcome this limit
- please don't start on the "DCs" thing here, but instead discuss (and FAQ) it, here! Thanks!
So let's look in the things I found under equipment:
Holoskin
This holographic projector is generally mounted to a belt or arm strap. It can be programmed using the Disguise skill to project a different appearance. When you use a holoskin, you can disguise major features, race, or creature type without the DC of your Disguise check increasing, except against Perception checks that involve physical examination.
All your disguises for free forever!
Tool Kit
A tool kit is a set of specialized tools and devices not worth purchasing individually, but which as a collection are required for a given task or provide a circumstance bonus to certain skill checks. The types of tool kits are: disguise kit (required for Disguise checks to change appearance), engineering kit (Engineering checks without one take a –2 penalty), hacking kit (required for most Computer checks; see page 137 for more information), navigator’s tools (grants a +4 bonus to Survival checks when orienteering), professional’s tools (provides a +4 bonus to Profession checks for one profession), rider’s kit (provides a +4 bonus to Survival checks to ride creatures), and trapsmith’s tools (provides a +4 bonus to Engineering or Mysticism checks to arm or disarm traps).
So it's basically just a lesser holoskin. The minimum investment needed to use the Disguise skill.
Serum of Appearance
Change Upon drinking this elixir, your coloration and the general form of your features instantly and permanently changes. Within the range that is normal for your race and sex, you can select any skin tone, hair and eye color, and alter the nature of such things as the shape or your nose or chin, the length of your fingers, broadness of your frame, and so on. You are still recognizable as yourself unless you attempt a Disguise check to alter your features enough to conceal your identity (comparing the result of this Disguise check to any effort to determine if you are the same person as your original appearance). In no case can you take on the exact appearance of another creature (even with a Disguise check; the level of control is not that fine).
So, you could either spend 20 gold to make disguise checks for free into any form, or 75 gold to make it once. Could definitely be useful, but it's a lot of expense for a one-shot item.
Note that the disguise created by a kit doesn't have a listed duration. Sure, it might be able to be removed, but it's unclear how far that change actually goes. It doesn't change your clothes for you, and you can't alter major physical features... but neither does this serum.
Hm.
Serum of Sex Shift
Mass production has rendered this once-rare serum easy and inexpensive to obtain among the Pact Worlds. Upon drinking this elixir, your biology instantly transforms to take on a set of sexual characteristics of your choice, changing both your appearance and physiology accordingly. You have some mild control over the details of this change, but you retain a strong “family resemblance” to your former appearance. The elixir’s magic functions instantaneously and cannot be dispelled. Your new anatomy is as healthy and functional as your previous body’s, potentially allowing you to conceive, carry, or bear children (depending on your species’ biology). Drinking a second elixir of sex shift either reverts you back to a former form or allows you to adopt other sexual characteristics, as you choose. The elixir has no effect if you are unwilling, and the presence of certain sex-specific biological processes, such as gestation, may prevent this serum from taking effect.
What I find interesting about this is, you are no longer recognizable as the same person.
The Serum leaves you with a "family resemblance" but that is all.
A quick Google search brings a lot of results of varying utility, but sometimes you catch the ability to compare males and females.
family resemblance project by Rachael Rifkin
Two women with a "strong" family resemblance, but clearly not the same person
Family resemblance between Schwarzenegger children
Point being only this: even with strong family resemblances, people can "look the same" as well as "look like different people" - these are not mutually exclusive.
And, you know, if you go by the entry in Kits, taken at face-value, it suggests you have to have a kit (in addition to anything else) in order to make a disguise, but I'm pretty sure that's clearly not the case for everyone here, right? I mean, it's clear that other things are intended to allow you to make the checks sans this kit, right?
That said, if not, it makes the case for the serum being able to be dispelled. Also, I haven't exactly seen any spells that actually transform you into anything else - another argument for a "permanent" duration; however, this argument is undercut by the veil spell, which does make you look, feel, and smell like what you make yourself resemble.
That said...
... I think we're missing the point.
Here, in the real world, there are a lot - and I mean a lot - of people who experience body dysphoria for a host of different reasons. This sucks.
The serums are pretty clearly put into the book to make that real-world problem a non-issue.
Why? Because this is a fantasy game where people want to come and have fun and enjoy a safe space*, and people like to live out awesome fantasy stories to relieve the stress of their real life.
If that's the case, why have rules at all? It's an imagination focusing tool the arbitrates disputes by giving a common reference and framing device.
To that end, a few limits were intentionally also put into the two serums: "No, you can't gain all the stat bonuses; also, you're still probably recognizable as you (or at least closely related)."
This is a nod to how people might actually use such things in-character, while also limiting the out-of-control power that can arise from the ability to change your form.
What about those with body dysphoria so extreme they were born to the wrong race?
Though currently extreme measures, there is a solution in-game, and, in my game, at least, there are other ways to accomplish such things. They just haven't been figured out en masse, yet.
In any event, it seems clear, to me, that they're not really supposed to be dispelled. They're mostly there for the "Now let's allow people to live the life." sort of thing, and are given price values to shut down potentially out-of-character frustrating antics, as well as to permit in-character stories (if that's your sort of thing).
*
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I can see arguments for either way, hinging on the word 'set'. Have seen, in fact. My personal reading of it allows for an in-between, but I've seen it argued the other way.
I would interpret it as any set of characteristics that is physically possible for your species -- and note that, for humans, the range of intersex possibilities is enormous.
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Like I said, I read it that way too but have seen enough arguments to think an FAQ justifiable.
When read together as a sentence, it seems like it's clear: there isn't any real "go back" (unless you hit it up with some sort of second effect that isn't in the core book).
permanent means it lasts until its undone, by dispel magic or walking into an anti magic field. You still detect as having a spell on you. That gives you options to go back, or to be thrown back under the wrong circumstances.
Instantaneous means that the magic showed up, did its thing, and left. There is NO way to undo the magic. Anti magic field? its still there. Dispel magic? there's nothing to dispel anymore. Detect magic? nope. you are genuinely from that point forward what you told the nanites to make you.
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This thread has given me the an idea for a Vesk action star that plays both the main lead and his love interest because he films on extreme locations and is often the only vesk available.
(any other species of love interest is of course, unthinkable)
When read together as a sentence, it seems like it's clear: there isn't any real "go back" (unless you hit it up with some sort of second effect that isn't in the core book).permanent means it lasts until its undone, by dispel magic or walking into an anti magic field. You still detect as having a spell on you. That gives you options to go back, or to be thrown back under the wrong circumstances.
Instantaneous means that the magic showed up, did its thing, and left. There is NO way to undo the magic. Anti magic field? its still there. Dispel magic? there's nothing to dispel anymore. Detect magic? nope. you are genuinely from that point forward what you told the nanites to make you.
I apologize, but must confess; I'm not understanding the point you're trying to get across. Are expanding upon what I wrote, or are you trying to argue something I said (either for or against)?
The serum lists both "instantly" and "permanently" - either it's partially related to each effect (in which case it fails at rules texts twice), of its using colloquial language; any other reading is just making an assumption.
EDIT: to be clear, you are correct - that is the definition of instant and permanent. I'm just not seeing it's direct relevance to the part quoted.
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I assume being the only Vesk around also makes them both character's stunt doubles, for four roles and counting.This thread has given me the an idea for a Vesk action star that plays both the main lead and his love interest because he films on extreme locations and is often the only vesk available.
(any other species of love interest is of course, unthinkable)
Now I wonder if Vesk cinema has Ed Wood or Roger Corman equivalents.
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I assume being the only Vesk around also makes them both character's stunt doubles, for four roles and counting.
*looks in translation book*
"Why is the vesk word for "stunt double" the same as "Target dummy" ?
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The Serum leaves you with a "family resemblance" but that is all.
A strong family resemblance. That means that you could be confused with your "sibling". Every one who were confused with their siblings by others, even if they believe that they do not look alike, know what I am talking about. In my opinion this means that a man taking the serum of sex shift will look like a female version of himself as if he had a twin sister. In my opnion this serum cannot disguise you or change non-gender specific features. It can only make your body (or parts of your body) more male or more female but nothing else.
"Strong family resemblance" isn't really that compelling when I managed to temporarily conflate a male I grew up with for an entirely unrelated (but extremely similar-looking) female model.
True story.
My dad and I were walking into a store to shop together, and I went, "Wait, is that <dude I know>?!" and went around to see the larger-than-life poster with "his" face on it. When we managed to see everything from the neck down, it was clearly... not him. Not just because physical sexual difference (though several prominent elemnts made it difficult to ignore), but also because she had to be older (given both clothing modeled and a few physical elements I was able to identify). I actually had a picture to compare and the similarity was eerie. And I don't tend to mix up peoples' faces (there are some that do; this is not a case of that thing happening).
I also know for a fact that they were (effectively) unrelated, because I know his family; so, unless there was a rather extreme example of birth-switching (the woman did not look like she'd ever given birth, and was too young, besides; I don't know her story, though, as I was unable). And I've seen him around since then.
Not him. Not related. Looked nearly identical.
Mind, this is on a very-limited population group, i.e. the earth, whereas in any sci-fantasy system (unless there are harder population limits) that have remotely figured out life extension, the probability is much higher.
Anecdotes aside...
"Strong family resemblance" is meant to do exactly what you suggest, but it doesn't invalidate anything else.
But, to quote myself,
Point being only this: even with strong family resemblances, people can "look the same" as well as "look like different people" - these are not mutually exclusive.
My sons often get confused for each other when their baby pictures are compared. They "look the same." Even now, people often comment on how similar they are to each other, to the point where people have often commented that they look "exactly alike." This is powerful evidence of a "strong family resemblance."
My sons do not get confused for each other in real-time, or in most pictures taken after ~1 years old. A difference in ages ensures the former, but the latter is very telling. "They look the alike." (even to the point where, in pictures, they can be confused for the same person) doesn't actually translate into, "They look exactly the same."
Though my sister has given birth to multiple sets of twins, that really can't be used as evidence - they've both been fraternal. But I linked posted pictures of twins, even triplets, including pictures of folks who look nearly identical but with different sexes. I can still tell those people apart. Google search can do the same.
I have a strong family resemblance, so I may well be my own sister ("That no-good low-life acting up again?! You tell him he's not going to get money out of me! Not after what he pulled! Not one credit!"). Or cousin. Or that person that isn't related to me who sells clothing by being a model for that one store - you know, down the other arm of the station; you got a job for me?
It doesn't make you look all that different, but it certainly allows you to disguise yourself, and bluff for all your worth.
This is true of the serum of appearance change as well - a serum that explicitly notes that you are recognizable as yourself, unless you make a disguise check. Which, you know, you'd still have to do, literally no matter what.
All of the post I have read here is why we removed this item from our game.
Remember this Cursed item
Girdle of Femininity/Masculinity: This broad leather band appears to be a normal belt, but, if buckled on, it will immediately change the sex of its wearer to the opposite gender. It then loses all power. There is no sure way to restore the character's original sex, although there is a 50% chance a wish might do so, and a powerful being can alter the situation. In other words, it takes a godlike creature to set matters aright with certainty. Ten percent of these girdles actually remove all sex from the wearer.
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???
That is a cursed item. Why did you remove the non-cursed serum?
It means people are generally aware of what happens if you're looking for Sneaky Fingers McGee, runn around the corner, and see someone that looks like Sneaky fingers McGees better looking brother wiping a drink off his lips.
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All of the post I have read here is why we removed this item from our game.
Remember this Cursed item
Girdle of Femininity/Masculinity: This broad leather band appears to be a normal belt, but, if buckled on, it will immediately change the sex of its wearer to the opposite gender. It then loses all power. There is no sure way to restore the character's original sex, although there is a 50% chance a wish might do so, and a powerful being can alter the situation. In other words, it takes a godlike creature to set matters aright with certainty. Ten percent of these girdles actually remove all sex from the wearer.
That's realy not areason to remove a not cursed serum from the game. Except perhaps you will keep this cursed item as major plot element...
But even in this case you could keep the serum in the game. You just have to say that it does not work. And if I remember correctly wish spells got lost during the gap.In my old AD&D campaign we had three different version of this girdle. The first one was not cursed and you only changed your gender when wearing it. The secons one was a cursed version of the first one. You cannot remove it after putting it on. And the third one was the major one whose curse may perhaps be broken by a major wish.
Yeah. Its not that it *doesn't* change your appearance, its that the change is no more intrinsically effective than wearing a hat and sunglasses.
That's exactly what I meant. You will not look like one of your siblings but like an opposite gender version of yourself.
You cannot use this serum to disguise yourself. You'll need the serum of appearance change for that (and enough ranks in Disguise).| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Most of what I'm gleaning from the discussion around the two leads me to believe that it's more than just genitals and body mass affected by the serum of sex shift, but that the changes are what would be considered cosmetic by modern standards. You can move, add, or burn fat, make slight adjustments to muscle tone, change the length and volume of hair (maybe fur/scale pattern and colouration if that is a sex-linked trait in your species, like Vesk or calico cats) including facial hair and body hair, gain or lose a tan, grow or reduce fingernail length, and other things that would theoretically be possible to attain with your new body if you work at it.
Meanwhile the Serum of Appearance change can't give you sex-linked traits you don't already have, but it can make adjustments to your bone structure, facial features, complexion, 'natural' hair/fur/scale/horn colouration and pattern, skin colour, weight distribution, and (and let's face it, a lot of human men will be sold on this) adjust the size, colouration, and general shape of sex-based traits you already had.
Neither works as a disguise kit because both probably work by taking an idea or image you see as your 'self' and bring those features out. So the magic knows what you want to look like, and then finds a sort of ideal medium somewhere between that and your current appearance, leaning strongly toward the desired appearance.
I might could see fringe cases where you and another person already look fairly similar and you take a serum to erase the differences, but that'd be, like, eerie-doppelganger level starting points, and even then you won't be mistaken for anyone else.
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With a change in sex, you don't have control to choose your new appearance AFAIK. You just trade genders. This gets messy if you were already a masculine woman or feminine man because do you retain the same amount of masculinity/femininity or do you become really, really masculine/feminine?
If you don't alter much, then does a really masculine man not alter much either? "Wow, that's one hirsute woman!"
I think the Serum of Appearance Change could give you sex-linked traits, if those traits aren't exclusive to the opposite sex, but within the range of people of your gender. So if a masculine man wanted to look like a feminine version of himself (or of any other man) he could. The messiness comes when one realizes just how extreme those ranges can go, but this is true for non-gender attributes as well.
Want to look as furry as the wolfman, even have long fingernails? That's humanly possible, so the serum can do that. Glance through Guinness or Ripley's to see what craziness could ensue. And it all seems RAW, except where does it cross the line to abusive?
And before you say "reasonable" reflect on how subjective the term is. There are Earth cultures with more than two genders, not to mention the modern dialogue trying to suss out all the subtleties on the topic and the various non-XX, XY combinations humans have.
And how does this impact other species?
What if being albino is a sign of a divinity to Vesks?
Could the serum emulate that, or is it really a sign from divinity that no technology could duplicate?
As another commenter pointed out in another sociological SF thread, ultimately the world is beholden to us and the stories we wish to tell.
Few of us, if any, are going to need such specificity of rules from Paizo to tackle these nuances and I doubt SFS will venture there, so it's all up to house rulings anyway.
Cheers
And, yes, there are wish spells (& miracle spells) via the 20th level spellcaster abilities.
With a change in sex, you don't have control to choose your new appearance AFAIK. You just trade genders. This gets messy if you were already a masculine woman or feminine man because do you retain the same amount of masculinity/femininity or do you become really, really masculine/feminine?
If you don't alter much, then does a really masculine man not alter much either? "Wow, that's one hirsute woman!"
That is explicitly not how it works.
I quoted the actual rules text, earlier.
Here it is again, though:
Serum of Sex Shift
Mass production has rendered this once-rare serum easy and inexpensive to obtain among the Pact Worlds. Upon drinking this elixir, your biology instantly transforms to take on a set of sexual characteristics of your choice, changing both your appearance and physiology accordingly. You have some mild control over the details of this change, but you retain a strong “family resemblance” to your former appearance. The elixir’s magic functions instantaneously and cannot be dispelled. Your new anatomy is as healthy and functional as your previous body’s, potentially allowing you to conceive, carry, or bear children (depending on your species’ biology). Drinking a second elixir of sex shift either reverts you back to a former form or allows you to adopt other sexual characteristics, as you choose. The elixir has no effect if you are unwilling, and the presence of certain sex-specific biological processes, such as gestation, may prevent this serum from taking effect.
The bolded part means you can choose elements of your appearance.
And, yes, there are wish spells (& miracle spells) via the 20th level spellcaster abilities.
But that's very true!
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With a change in sex, you don't have control to choose your new appearance AFAIK. You just trade genders. This gets messy if you were already a masculine woman or feminine man because do you retain the same amount of masculinity/femininity or do you become really, really masculine/feminine?
If you don't alter much, then does a really masculine man not alter much either? "Wow, that's one hirsute woman!"That is explicitly not how it works.
I quoted the actual rules text, earlier.
Here it is again, though:
Serum of Sex Shift
Mass production has rendered this once-rare serum easy and inexpensive to obtain among the Pact Worlds. Upon drinking this elixir, your biology instantly transforms to take on a set of sexual characteristics of your choice, changing both your appearance and physiology accordingly. You have some mild control over the details of this change, but you retain a strong “family resemblance” to your former appearance. The elixir’s magic functions instantaneously and cannot be dispelled. Your new anatomy is as healthy and functional as your previous body’s, potentially allowing you to conceive, carry, or bear children (depending on your species’ biology). Drinking a second elixir of sex shift either reverts you back to a former form or allows you to adopt other sexual characteristics, as you choose. The elixir has no effect if you are unwilling, and the presence of certain sex-specific biological processes, such as gestation, may prevent this serum from taking effect.
The bolded part means you can choose elements of your appearance.
RESPONSE
Fair enough. :)
"Mild control" is a bit annoying though for its lack of meaning. How much range does it make available or does it merely mean one may airbrush out the traits associated with one's former gender?And no, I don't expect an answer when we're resting speculation upon the back of hypothetical super-science for an issue we lack foundational knowledge about in our own world. Heck, even applying the typical binary view to what socially & physiologically is a non-binary situation makes our pondering innately errant. Though entertaining.
Fair!
With a change in sex, you don't have control to choose your new appearance AFAIK. You just trade genders. This gets messy if you were already a masculine woman or feminine man because do you retain the same amount of masculinity/femininity or do you become really, really masculine/feminine?
If you don't alter much, then does a really masculine man not alter much either? "Wow, that's one hirsute woman!"That is explicitly not how it works.
I quoted the actual rules text, earlier.
Here it is again, though:
Serum of Sex Shift
Mass production has rendered this once-rare serum easy and inexpensive to obtain among the Pact Worlds. Upon drinking this elixir, your biology instantly transforms to take on a set of sexual characteristics of your choice, changing both your appearance and physiology accordingly. You have some mild control over the details of this change, but you retain a strong “family resemblance” to your former appearance. The elixir’s magic functions instantaneously and cannot be dispelled. Your new anatomy is as healthy and functional as your previous body’s, potentially allowing you to conceive, carry, or bear children (depending on your species’ biology). Drinking a second elixir of sex shift either reverts you back to a former form or allows you to adopt other sexual characteristics, as you choose. The elixir has no effect if you are unwilling, and the presence of certain sex-specific biological processes, such as gestation, may prevent this serum from taking effect.
The bolded part means you can choose elements of your appearance.
But this control is not absolute but only mild. In my opinion this means you have just enough control to decide how masculine or feminine you will become.
I would use a rule I devised for my AD&D campaign. The more masculine a man is the more feminine his female counterpart will be (and vice versa) but an ugly man will always become an ugly woman and a beautiful woman will always become a handsome man. This would also apply to non-binary persons. But you cannot make yourself sexless or a real hermaphrodite (except those exist in your species).| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Issues just keep multiplying.
Cosmetic changes (mainly I think for player ease in PC alterations) are more than skin deep.
If one can exert mild control every time one changes genders, then how about when one changes back?
Everyone with that wealth could become their best self, with zero signs of tampering.
Law enforcement, guard stations, etc. could use Detect Magic on Serum of Appearance Change or look for tech for Holoskins, but not on Serum of Sex Shift used twice (or maybe thrice in the case of Shirrens.)
How would law enforcement function when so many layers of disguise, some via genetic change, are so readily available?
Heck, any adventure that relied on eyewitness testimony or video evidence would be intrinsically flawed due to reasonably easy access to extreme trickery. I saw so-and-so becomes meaningless.
So given the persistence of law enforcement, what tools would they have developed? Genetic readers? Implanted ID chips?
Would a "Most Wanted" poster be a DNA reading?
Would they freely arrest family members of criminals, suspecting they might be the criminals themselves? Who would have the burden of proof?
Hmm...
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My reading has been that the changes you can manage with Sex Shift aren't extreme enough that anyone would be surprised to find out you'd used one if you knew them before and after taking it. I wouldn't suddenly look like Vanna White, but I might look something like my sister. Same eye colour, same hair colour, height the same +/- a couple of inches, cheeks and nose the same, same chin and jawline, etc. once you account for body fat and mass distribution differences between the sexes. However you can probably grow out your hair and nails or shorten them, or grow a beard that would make Billy Gibbons jealous.
For anything that your new body couldn't have attained without intervention you'd need the Appearance serum, which is explicitly a detectable magical effect. By combining both serums as separate doses you can adopt any combination of traits and features a member of your species can possess, but even then you can't get fine enough control to impersonate someone specific. Though maybe close enough to bridge the gap with a disguise kit.
ETA: You can take two and go from "bookish blonde boy" to "blonde bombshell", but can't get Marilyn Monroe or Jean Harlow. Or he can take just the Appearance potion and go to "Dark-eyed heart-throb", but not Ian Somerhalder or Idris Elba. Or he can take just the sex shift serum and end up with "Blonde Bodybuilder", but not specifically Aleksandra Zaryanova.
^^^That one.^^^
I'm still suspicious, though, that a Disguise Kit might be able to make effectively permanent changes.
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This thread has given me the an idea for a Vesk action star that plays both the main lead and his love interest because he films on extreme locations and is often the only vesk available.
(any other species of love interest is of course, unthinkable)