Can you recognize a Skinwalker when they’ve transformed if you’ve seen them in human form but didn’t see them transform?

[Reksew_Trebla]

Just wondering if you could use this to get past the long change time from social to vigilante identity for the vigilante class, by having your bestial form be your vigilante identity.

I know there are talents for that, but if I were going to be a vigilante skinwalker, I’d want my bestial form to be my costume.

[Meirril]

Anyone ever notice that renown scholar Pony Danza and the vigilante Horse Mask use the same rapier? And they both wear the same armor? Even down to the boots and cloak? A remarkable coincidence. Right down to the same pale yellow ioun stone.

[Reksew_Trebla]

Meirril wrote:

Anyone ever notice that renown scholar Pony Danza and the vigilante Horse Mask use the same rapier? And they both wear the same armor? Even down to the boots and cloak? A remarkable coincidence. Right down to the same pale yellow ioun stone.

Why would he have any of that out in social identity? The whole point of the dual identites is that you don’t do real fights in social identity unless it makes sense, such as being a martial arts instructor or something.

Also, people don’t notice that kind of thing the way you think they do. Superman’s simple disguise of glasses really is enough to fool people. Don’t believe me? Put on a bald cap and contacts (or non-prescription glasses if you don’t wear glasses) tomorrow, act like a different person, and see how long it takes people at work to figure out you are the same person. Now imagine you completely change from a human into some sort of humanoid animal, and your entire life depends on making sure people believe you are a different person, so you’ve actually trained to behave like a completely different person. Nobody is going to put that together.

EDIT: Not to mention the Glamered enchantment.

[Alphavoltario]

Short answer: No.

Long answer: No, you can't decrease the change time via shapechange; although I would likely as a DM rule that you might get a bonus to your Disguise if you don't use that shape outside of the selected persona.

I will continue looking for anything that supplements the Vigilante transformation outside of Quick Change/Immediate Change, using the shapechange ability.

[Alphavoltario]

Options with Shapechanger subtype:
#1.) Social talent

Seamless Shapeshifter:

Seemless Shapechanger (Ex) (Blood of the Beast pg. 15): The vigilante seamlessly adopts any persona he assumes with magic. The vigilante adds his seamless guise bonus to the bonus on Disguise checks that he gains to assume the shape of another creature with a polymorph spell or effect. A vigilante must have the shapechanger subtype to select this talent.

This actually circumvents what I stated before, except that Skinwalkers seem to lack the Disguise bonus that others (namely Kitsune) get from their change shape ability.

#2.) Archetype

Splintersoul:

Splintersoul
Source Antihero's Handbook pg. 17
A splintersoul pushes the boundaries of what it means to have two separate identities. One may be kind and calm while the other is angry and heartless, and the change from one identity to another is sudden and frightening. The splintersoul is torn by conflicting emotions and thoughts, but because of his dual mind, he can master a uniquely disparate set of skills and abilities no normal person should be able to manage.

Splintered Identity (Ex): A splintersoul’s two identities are even more distant from one another than those of a normal vigilante. He cannot use any of his vigilante talents while in his social identity.

However, for the purpose of qualifying for classes, feats, and other abilities, he is eligible if one of his alignments meets the requirements. While in an identity whose alignment is incompatible with an ability, class, or feat, he temporarily loses access to the feat or ability or is treated as an ex-member of the class, as appropriate.

For example, a splintersoul with barbarian levels, a lawful-good social identity, and a neutral vigilante identity can’t use his vigilante talents or his rage class feature while in his social identity, but he regains these abilities and can use them as normal as soon as he changes to his vigilante identity.

A splintersoul with paladin levels must follow the paladin’s normal code of conduct while in a lawful-good identity, but while in an identity with a different alignment, the following changes apply to his code: Willingly committing an evil act (for example, casting a spell with the evil descriptor) still causes the vigilante to become an ex-paladin, but otherwise, he can do whatever else he feels is necessary to uphold the causes of law and good. He should strive to act with honor and uphold the tenets of his faith, but failing to do so is not a violation of his code. At the GM’s discretion, other classes or archetypes with similarly strict codes of conduct can also follow a less strict version of a code of conduct while in an identity with an incompatible alignment.

This alters dual identity.

Sudden Change (Ex): More adaptive than other vigilantes, a splintersoul must select the quick change social talent at 3rd level and the immediate change social talent at 7th level, ignoring the minimum levels for those talents.

This replaces unshakable and alters the social talents gained at 3rd and 7th levels.

Surprising Change (Ex): At 7th level, when a splintersoul uses the immediate change talent to reveal his vigilante identity and then attacks a foe in the same round, he can use the startling appearance ability against that foe as though the foe were unaware of his presence. At 11th and 17th levels, he can use frightening appearance and stunning appearance, respectively, while using this ability. A splintersoul can use frightening appearance and stunning appearance only against foes who are unaware of his presence, and he can do so a number of times per day equal to his Charisma modifier. This ability doesn’t function against foes who already know the splintersoul’s identity.

This alters startling appearance, frightening appearance, and stunning appearance.

This is imho the fastest way to get around change times, as it comes online slightly quicker than just taking Quick/Immediate Change.

[Reksew_Trebla]

Alphavoltario wrote:

Options with Shapechanger subtype:

#1.) Social talent ** spoiler omitted **

This actually circumvents what I stated before, except that Skinwalkers seem to lack the Disguise bonus that others (namely Kitsune) get from their change shape ability.

#2.) Archetype ** spoiler omitted **...

Seamless Shapeshifter works for what I had in mind. Thank you for this. :)

[Alphavoltario]

Reksew_Trebla wrote:

Seamless Shapeshifter works for what I had in mind. Thank you for this. :)

Happy I could be of help.