Optimizing a Changelings Minor changeshape (Su).

[RH909]

I am looking for options on how to make sure my Changeling Bard's disguises do not get discovered. He is an extremely evil character who often adventurers with extremely good characters. He will have three main disguises that he uses fairly regularly. His main disguise (the one he will be in most of the time) is that of a mute Human Violist. In this role, he will act as a relatively harmless musician, who despite his mute handicap, always remains in a positive and benevolent demeanor. His second disguise is as a Half-elf Warrior, he conveys as Chaotic Neutral who's main concern is to get stronger, because he feels that his half-breed bloodline has weakened him more so that either side of his ancestry. His third main disguise will be one that he adopts latter on on his adventurers, but basically it will be of a small time warlord looking to expand his lands and power in a nearby region, which he will actually be working towards while in his other disguises.

Biggest problems I see...
1) True Seeing spell. As per the description of the Minor Shapechange ability, "A true seeing spell reveals their natural form", so unless I am wearing a "mundane disguise" such as from a disguise kit ON TOP of my minor shapechange ability, a true seeing spell will reveal my natural appearance. So the first task to either make me able to always be blind to true seeing, or always able to dispel true seeing before they spot me AND DO SO IN SECRET

2) The next big obstacle, and probably the more important one, is anything that can detect alignment. If I am in one of my disguises and actively trying to convey myself as a specific alignment (likely LG, CN, or LE), and someone (especially another PC or a town Sentry) finds out I am actually CE, it could end up a very hairy situation, and blow all of my disguises.

3) A third huge obstacle to this plan is anything that can either read my mind or make me reveal my true nature (such as forcing me to tell the truth)

4) Basic scrying. Say I raise a tiny bit of suspicion of my true nature to a Mage, they use something like Arcane Eye to scry on me, I don't notice, I change from my good disguise to my warrior disguise...bam!...Unless I can come up with some really good ways to use my Charisma skills on everyone quickly (a bit more difficult since my main disguise is supposed to me mute), then I am screwed.

So how do I protect all of my Alias's from being discovered? Sure Mind Blank is good, but I can't get it as a Sublime Chord until lvl 17 I think...plus there are ways around Mind Blank, so now I have to find out ways to make sure my Mind Blank doesn't get countered away at all...I think players with some Wizard experience could help me with that part.
But what about keeping my identities safe before that. Okay, so I will likely have a high UMD. Sure I probably won't stick in Bard for more than 4 levels, but I may end up taking one of the methods to get UMD as a permanent class skill (such as the apprentice feat), so having max UMD wont be a problem. What can I do to protect myself before I am able to get a hold of mind blank scrolls?

Any feats that I need to be looking into to keep my identities safe? Any spells that are must haves?...Doesnt have to be Bard spells, seeing how I can go into Sublime Chord to gain access to High level Wiz/Sorc spells. Also lower Wizard spells could be a possibility too, if I went a Lyric Thaumaturge; however, it seems like it takes too many levels to start getting really low level wiz spells to make the LT option seem appealing. Maybe Clerics actually have the best defense in this sense?...there is always the Ur-Priest, Mystic Theurge route.

Skill tricks? I plan on a dip of Mindbender (and of course taking mindsight), so I plan to abuse the hell of my telepathy for hiding any verbal components coming from my character while in his mute form (assuming there are many verbal components that an instrument wouldn't satisfy). Any telepathy tricks I might be overlooking?


As of now, the planned route for 20 is: Bard4/DreadWitch4/Mindbender1/Virtuoso1/SublimeChord2/Virtuoso+8. I feel that going a more Fear bard route suites his nature, Mindsight ought to be super handy, and his casting will be okay. Going with Virtuoso over other +1 Caster options should improve upon my bardic music enough that the other PC's shouldn't be too suspicious of what my actual build is. I need to be able to keep my identities safe from pretty much from level 1-20.
Build can be changed, even a complete change if needed, but if this way could work, then I'd rather stick close to it. Let's assume all published material (3.0, 3.5, PF, 3rd Party, DragMag, etc) is acceptable for now, but no homebrew.

Sorry if it seems like I am trying to get the forums to do my work for me, but I've always been more of a Ranger or Scout type player...The only time I played a true caster, my character was under the tutelage of a grand mage who trained me in a specific style (One on one mage arena battles), so I am not as versed in spells as I should be.

[sleepyphoenixx]

1) The Cloak of Khyber spell blocks True Seeing (and anything else that would reveal your true form). It's in City of Stormreach and a 3rd or 4th level spell i think. Lasts 1 day/level.
There's also an item that does the same (in Sharn:City of Towers iirc, Mask of something), but it's hideously expensive.

2) Undetectable Alignment is the standard. Alternatively combine it with 3

3) The Ring of Mind Shielding (DMG) will cover all of those and is fairly affordable at 8,000gp. Otherwise high will saves will protect you (and are a good idea in any case). Glibness forces a decently tough CL check (if you've kept up your caster level) to affect you with magic that will detect lies or force you to tell the truth.

4) Nondetection, Detect Scrying or just a high spot check will protect you. There's also items like the Scry Shroud (MIC)

[CozJa]

1) True Seeing spell. As per the description of the Minor Shapechange ability, "A true seeing spell reveals their natural form", so unless I am wearing a "mundane disguise" such as from a disguise kit ON TOP of my minor shapechange ability, a true seeing spell will reveal my natural appearance. So the first task to either make me able to always be blind to true seeing, or always able to dispel true seeing before they spot me AND DO SO IN SECRET

There's only one real answer here: cloak of Khyber! a 3rd level spell from "City of Stormreach" (printed in a Dragon Magazine and you can find a Pathfinder reworked version with a somewhat similar wording). Basically the spell is a big "nope" to True Seeing (and arguably the likes, but this is more in the 'ask your DM' field). It has a duration of days/level with the downsides that
1) It require a 50gp shard for casting
2) it needs some hours to attune itself to the form, therefore you cannot cast it on the fly for a quick change. It is perfect for deep covert operations, like your character seems to be doing.

Probably taking a minor Schema of it would be useful: 1/day use, but you still have the 'scroll' when needed.



2) The next big obstacle, and probably the more important one, is anything that can detect alignment. If I am in one of my disguises and actively trying to convey myself as a specific alignment (likely LG, CN, or LE), and someone (especially another PC or a town Sentry) finds out I am actually CE, it could end up a very hairy situation, and blow all of my disguises.



3) A third huge obstacle to this plan is anything that can either read my mind or make me reveal my true nature (such as forcing me to tell the truth)

A ring of Mind shielding costs 8000gp and would be the solution for both problems!

There are even Planar Motes from complete scoundrel, just consider what you think is more cost effective


4) Basic scrying. Say I raise a tiny bit of suspicion of my true nature to a Mage, they use something like Arcane Eye to scry on me, I don't notice, I change from my good disguise to my warrior disguise...bam!...Unless I can come up with some really good ways to use my Charisma skills on everyone quickly (a bit more difficult since my main disguise is supposed to me mute), then I am screwed.


Well, that would require a very effective chain of bad luck on your part! :smalltongue:

Oh, and as an extra, from "City of Stormreach" there's even a feat called "criminal background" (or something similar) that let's you choose a skill in which to always take 10: UMD!

Edit: Eh... those ninja/monk/illusionist/swordsage/invisible blades/rogue multiclass... :smalltongue:

[RH909]

Thanks for the quick replies you two. That little bit of info will be a big help.

[weckar]

For once, Master of Masks could really help. Not only does it allow abilities to hide your alignment and other details about yourself - it allows you to actively project another alignment. And your masks can be invisible, but will turn visible upon true seeing; making it an instant disguise when so needed.

[RH909]

I actually did look into the Master of the Masks PrC, and while it would help with the alignment situation I decided against it. The flavor just isn't right for my character, and only having a +2 out of 6 (6 levels to reach the Hidden Mask class feature) spellcasting hurts quite a bit...my assumption was that with a class that didn't lose me out of 4 caster levels, I'd probably have an extra spell that could do the alignment trick by then anyways.
I did not consider the fact that if I did get hit with a True Seeing spell, that my mask would become visible again and I could play that off as keeping my identity secret though...I'll have to take another look at the class again, and see if I can make it work for the flavor that I want.
-Either way, thank you for pointing that out to me Weckar.

[weckar]

Funny thing about that hidden mask ability: It doesn't explicitly limit its use to persona masks. Now I recall at least one magical mask from MIC that provided a gaze attack... Synergizes well with the Mask Specialist ability too. Even better, there is NO clause that states that a mask taken off becomes visible again - so you can make masks worn by your allies invisible too just by putting them on for a bit. Niche, but fun.

[sleepyphoenixx]

You can make masks invisible just by casting Invisibility on them + Permanency. No need to take class levels for it.
Projecting a different alignment is as easy as casting Misdirection, but it allows a will save for the caster of the detection effect so it's not ideal. It works fine against paladins though. :smalltongue:

There's also Persona Immersion (RoE), which allows you to project the information you want in response to any divination spell of 3rd level or lower cast on you (as long as you save).
So it doesn't help against True Seeing or Mindrape and it doesn't actually do anything to protect you (you need to save for it to actually work), but it's really good for actually selling a cover id instead of giving your examiner a blank wall (suspicious!).
You'll have to ask your DM if it works even if you're wearing a Ring of Mind Shielding or similar (on a failed save you block the spell, on a success you project what you want) or not. In the second case you may actually be better off not getting immunity to those effects and just pumping your will save and getting a few rerolls.

[daremetoidareyo]

Why not pump up your disguise skill. Disguise yourself then minor shapechange on top of it. Seems like an easy backstop.

[ATHATH]

I think that I remember seeing a ring that granted always-on Detect Scrying in Dragon Magazine #319. It was in an article filled with items that scry and defend against scrying; you should check it out.