Senko |
I'm looking at a fairy dragon familiar but I'd like it to be able to blend in when visiting cities or the like. That is appear to be a more normal animal rather than an exotic dragon. The problem is when I looked at hat of disguise (seemed the best choice) it didn't quite work. The lesser version would let it be any dragon subtype while the greater lets it be any small or medium humanoid. While a gnome or human child is sort of workable I was hoping to find a way to make it at least look like a bird (raven, crow, thrush, parrot, kookaburra). Does anyone know of a magic item to achieve this effect or should I just go with hat of greater disguise? Even then it'd need to be modiied to let it last more than the 10 minutes/level of these two items. Oh and yes I know I'd need to figure out a way to have the hat not look suspicious on them as well.
Shorticus |
Well, I know of a few spells that could help, but their durations aren't big.
Polymorph Familiar is a good example. It works, certainly. It's just... 1 min/level isn't amazing.
You can extend that duration, of course, or else extend caster level.
Perhaps you can ask for a custom magic item that grants permanent Polymorph Familiar, similar to a Hat of Disguise? Unfortunately, that would normally cost around 30,000 gold...
Outside of custom items, I know the Magical Child Vigilante gets a familiar that can transform between a mundane and an improved form later, but it's not a powerful archetype.
Good luck, by the way. Faerie Dragons are cool little guys. I hope you find a way to make this work!
zza ni |
familiars have the share spell ability. use alter self and such.
Shorticus |
Also...
Even then it'd need to be modiied to let it last more than the 10 minutes/level of these two items. Oh and yes I know I'd need to figure out a way to have the hat not look suspicious on them as well.
Yes, it only has a 10 min/level duration on those items. However, those aren't limited use items. So far as I can tell, you can use them all day. It just means that every now and then you have to re-activate the item to refresh the duration.
Per an FAQ, the item does not have limited uses and so can be used as often as you like, basically.
Senko |
Also...
Quote:Even then it'd need to be modiied to let it last more than the 10 minutes/level of these two items. Oh and yes I know I'd need to figure out a way to have the hat not look suspicious on them as well.Yes, it only has a 10 min/level duration on those items. However, those aren't limited use items. So far as I can tell, you can use them all day. It just means that every now and then you have to re-activate the item to refresh the duration.
Per an FAQ, the item does not have limited uses and so can be used as often as you like, basically.
As long as no one wonders why the girl is taking off its hat, turning into a faerie dragon then putting it back on and turning back into a girl every 10 minutes.
I know some people argue that once on they just last till removed but even so that doesn't solve the problem I want them to look like a normal animal not a normal humanoid. I suppose you could work out somehting . . .
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K7MG9iuMj5o/maxresdefault.jpg
"Yes this is my little sister she just has a medical condition where every 2 minutes she turns into a dragon".
Shorticus |
As long as no one wonders why the girl is taking off its hat, turning into a faerie dragon then putting it back on and turning back into a girl every 10 minutes.
I don't think she'd have to take it off. You can activate the item before the duration runs out, you realize. It just means spending an action to do so, maybe uttering a command word.
Senko |
Shorticus wrote:Also...
Quote:Even then it'd need to be modiied to let it last more than the 10 minutes/level of these two items. Oh and yes I know I'd need to figure out a way to have the hat not look suspicious on them as well.Yes, it only has a 10 min/level duration on those items. However, those aren't limited use items. So far as I can tell, you can use them all day. It just means that every now and then you have to re-activate the item to refresh the duration.
Per an FAQ, the item does not have limited uses and so can be used as often as you like, basically.
As long as no one wonders why the girl is taking off its hat, turning into a faerie dragon then putting it back on and turning back into a girl every 10 minutes.
I know some people argue that once on they just last till removed but even so that doesn't solve the problem I want them to look like a normal animal not a normal humanoid. I suppose you could work out somehting . . .
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/K7MG9iuMj5o/maxresdefault.jpg
"Yes this is my little sister she just has a medical condition where every 2 minutes she turns into a dragon".
Oh I know and that's all I'll say as I don't want to get dragged into the debate of "Command Word every 2 minutes" vs "once activated it lasts till you change or remove it" that this kind of item gets.
zza ni |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
if duration is the problem then use harmless form it last 8 hours or until dismissed.
zza ni |
btw. share spells allow a caster to cast share shape on his familiar. thus making it take the form of...itself!!! (identical type actually ,but more funny if looks the same. then again - 'this is not the familiar your looking for. he's black with white paws..')
"BWAHAHA! they would never suspect that the true identity of the 'cat' was really a cat all along!!!!"
side note - materiel component for casting this spell is a piece of the familiar...
Shorticus |
Honestly, that Harmless Form spell is probably your best bet, Senko. It's 2nd level (so achievable by third level for prepared spellcasters), and you could always just get a Pearl of Power II to have an extra spell/day so you don't feel like you're gimping yourself by taking it. Elsewise... a custom magic item for 1/day use of that spell would cost... *checks* 6,000 gold, or potentially 9,000 gold for a continuous effect.
Yeah, I'd say that a Pearl of Power would be the most affordable if that's an option for you.
SmooshieBanana |
Why not inscribe a magical tattoo on yourself?
You can craft magical tattoos.
Prerequisites: Craft (calligraphy, paintings, or tattoos) 5 ranks, caster level 5th.
Benefit: You can create magical tattoos, magic items inked directly into the flesh of a willing or helpless creature. Both you and the recipient of the tattoo (if the recipient is not yourself) must be present during the entire tattooing process. Magic tattoos must be placed on a part of the body normally able to hold a magic item slot, but they do not count against or interfere with magic items worn on those slots. A single slot can only hold one magical tattoo (non-magical tattoos and tattoos acquired from the tattooed sorcerer archetype do not count against this limit). Tattoos may be inscribed on the following slots: belt, body, chest, feet, hands, head, neck, shoulder, ring (up to two), or wrist. They cannot be inscribed on armor, eye, headband, or shield slots.
Magical tattoos are difficult to destroy, though they count as magic items for the purposes of dispel magic. The spell erase can permanently destroy a magical tattoo, but the bearer of the tattoo can resist the spell with a Will save, in addition to the caster needing to make a successful caster level check to erase the tattoo. Physically removing a magical tattoo with a sharp instrument or defacing it with fire or acid can destroy it as well. Doing so is a full-round action that not only requires the target to be willing or helpless, but also provokes attacks of opportunity. At least 2 points of damage per caster level of the tattoo must be dealt to destroy a magical tattoo in this manner.
Magical tattoos follow the rules for magic item creation as though they were wondrous items, except that they can use the Craft (calligraphy, paintings, tattoos) skill. New magical tattoos can be researched and designed using the guidelines for pricing new magic items. Magical tattoos are treated as slotless magical items for pricing purposes.
If you had the Craft Wondrous Item feat, normally, you could make a Hat of Disguise. This would be using disguise self as a prerequisite spell for crafting with a 900 gp raw cost. If that's possible, then you can make a "Hat of Disguise Other"-esque Tattoo with the disguise other spell and add the slotless amount of gold with a higher CL. Increase the spell duration with magical item costs to permanent or a duration you want.
Then whenever your dragon touches you and you activate your tattoo, it will get this spell effect for a number of times per day as you allot in the creation of the item.
Use 2 Times/day
Command Word: Command Word Lvl 2 x CL 3rd x 1800gp = 10800gp
Charges Per day: Divide by 2.5 (aka 5/2)
Slotless Creation Cost x2
Spellcasting Services Cost 60gp
Scroll Cost 150gp
Hat Cost 1sp
Total Cost: 8850gp 1sp. Duration 30 minutes each use (2).
Continuous Use
Spell Lvl 2 x CL 3rd x 2000gp = 12000gp
Slotless Creation Cost x2
Spellcasting Services Cost 60gp
Scroll Cost 150gp
Hat Cost 1sp
Total Cost: 24210gp 1sp
Shorticus |
Senko's trying to avoid a humanoid form. Disguise Self would turn the dragon into another kind of dragon, and Disguise Other would... either turn the dragon into a humanoid or a dragon. I think dragon, but I'm not sure.
Basically, Hat of Disguise options = a no go, but he doesn't even need an Inscribed Hat of Disguise Other to pull that off in the first place, Banana. He just needs a Hat of Disguise, or a tattoo of that.
So, it's a no go either way. BUT...
Harmless Form honestly seems like the right bet.
Senko |
Hmmm I need to do some feat sorting I think. Both harmless familiar and shapeless form seem viable. Harmless form as an alternate form of the hat disguise (collar of catiness) to allow the wearer to transform usign harmless form instead of alter self. Still if I can find a feat I'm illing to give up the harmelss form one is very tempting as it avoids them needing to wear an item and can just shift from one form to anotehr.
Thanks for the help.
Cevah |
A familiar satchel will let you hide it easily, as will having it stay in your backpack.
Generally, a GM will ignore familiars unless they actively do things like attack enemies or use magic items. Guards might notice unusual activity like scouting, but distance can help. If you rank up your stealth skill, it can make the familiar hide better.
A faerie dragon flying around town will not attract much notice unless it tries to go into places people go in. So landing on a roof won't attract much notice, but going in a doorway and many windows would.
What do you really want the familiar to do?
/cevah
Senko |
Basically walk around town and do what it wants to without drawing attention. I was thinking faerie dragon to urban animal as a faerie dragon is going to be a lot more noticeable than a cat or a pigeon.
To be honest though I'm leaning towards a more old school hat of disguise as on looking at it again I realized I'd made a few mistakes in my original assessment. It's small or MEDIUM so they can take on an adult human form and go where the people go without drawing attention as a lost child.
The other is the "and so forth" in its becoming part of the disguise so I think I can get away with bobbie pin, hair pin, scrunchy for a female familiar masquerading as a human. I just need to have it be old school style hat where on once activated it just lasts till its removed/dispelled.
Cevah |
The hat predates 3rd edition D&D, and was set until removed or changed.
3rd Ed changed the rules, giving it a CL and thus a limit to how long it stayed active. This short duration meant that for it to work as advertised for more that that time frame, it would have to be activated silently. Otherwise, a disguised person will be saying a command word repeatedly, a clear clue something strange is going on.
Every GM I have dealt with uses silent activation.
/cevah
Senko |
Which is why I said old school hat of disguise (and ring of invisibility for that matter) once on/activated they last till removed (or you stab someone). None of this silent activation every 10 minutes. I know people love to nerf casters (look at 1st ed spells) but these items can be used by anyone and they should not need a POINTLESS activation method every 10 minutes just because. Flizzerdark . . . Flizzerdark . . . Flizzerdark. . . Flizzerdakr oh crap! It's just an annoying extra thing to track and adds nothing in my opinion to game play. Your view may differ.