Vigilante: Duel Identity and Armour


Rules Questions

The Exchange

The vigilante's Duel Identity class feature is an extraordinary ability which clearly allows the character to bypass the usual time requirements for donning a disguise (as it takes 1 minute to change identities, but 1d3x10 minutes to apply a disguise normally using the skill) when it comes to those two (social and vigilante) identities. The text also mentions changing outfits. The question is this: does the Duel Identity class feature also allow one to bypass the usual time requirements for donning or removing armour?

E.g. brother Stephen is a humble illuminator of manuscripts who wears simple scholars robes, but he's also the social identity of Captain Andoran, freedom loving champion of liberty and justice who, as part of his vigilante guise, wears scale armour and carries a big metal shield. Does it take brother Stephan 5 minutes to change identities (1 minute to change plus 4 minutes to don his scale armour), and two minutes to change back (1 to change and 1 to remove the armour)? Or does all that armour donning and removing time get dealt with by the class feature?


From Mark's opinion on the matter, it does not help with donning or removing armor faster. So far there isn't anything in the writing of the Dual Identity to allow it (if the vigilante chooses to wear heavier armor without consideration of change time, it's his own choice/fault) nor has there been an official word on the matter changing it.

As for the actual time involved with example, it's 1 minute (by default) to change identities. After 1 minute, Stephen is Captain Andoran, but still out of uniform. One could say the minute change time included the first minute of changing into Scale Mail (so 3 additional minutes to don armor), or go for more conservative full 4 additional minutes. If one wants to quickly change back and forth between identities, one needs to invest in the right social talents AND magic/mundane equipment: magic illusions like hat of disguise or glamered armor, or something that'll allow to don/strip armor quickly (Iron Man might use a Folding Plate armor for example), or wear light enough armor that can be covered up by clothing (regular or tear-away versions depending on preference) without anyone complaining about it in the table. AND Stephen will need a way to carry around his shield during non-vigilante hours if he wants to keep that around him when needed.

If Stephen is always wearing scholar's robes, say he always buys them one or two sizes two large because he's not that stylish (Clark Kent does this with his business suits) and have scale armor underneath it. Or maybe invest in light armor (leather lamellar looks like scale, almost as good stat-wise but doesn't slow one down, and only 10 gp more) to wear underneath regular loose clothing for emergency quick changes and heavier ones when time isn't a factor. Maybe a establish a more rough-and-tumble lifestyle that he can warrant wearing generic scale armor during social identity and he can slap on "Andoran! F Yea!" decals on to armor as part of the Dual Identity minute change. Or if the scale armor is too much, say a fancy/casual looking armored coat that looks like a long robe (basically metal plates sewn into the lining of a robe instead of a coat) and have that on top of the scale armor and only a move action to remove the coat/robe and Captain Andoran is ready to bash or punch or kick or speechify his way to victory!

The Exchange

Excellent - thanks!

P.S. '... "Andoran! F Yea!" decals...' made me LOL! :)


A few new options show up in the Armor Master's Handbook.

* Djezet Skin: It's kind of like a light armor version of Folding Plate. Standard action to put on and a free action to remove it. Once removed it turns into a little ball that you can put in your pocket.

* The Folding Shield special ability: put this on a shield and it can transform into othe shield types as a move action. Keep your buckler hidden under your robes and turn it into a heavy shield when it's time to spring into action.

An older option for the shield is to use the Shinking weapon special ability. Give your light or heavy shield a +1 weapon enhancement (which is separate from any defensive abilities) and now you can add Shrinking for 1000 gp. You can shrink your heavy shield down to the size of a dagger and put it in your pocket.

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