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 Post subject: Plausible Deniability
PostPosted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 8:39 pm 

Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 6:45 pm
Posts: 639
The Yamandrakes are back with a vengeance. Some folks roll the dice and cast blatantly. Others hide in the shadows. One tactic I don't recall seeing PC's or NPC's using is the "cover story".

Example: "Caster? Me? No. Not me, but there is this really good rune smith I ran into..."

I ask because deceit is a archtype skill for arcane just like stealth. But the only rules for casting with subtly uses stealth. When can you use deceit to hide your craft?

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Eric Hughes

There once was a gnome called Oozy,
Who kissed a Yaricite floozy.
But rather than wed,
She drowned him instead,
Now he is a Yaricite toosey!


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 Post subject: Re: Plausible Deniability
PostPosted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:11 pm 

Joined: Fri Sep 27, 2013 12:08 am
Posts: 1473
Hello Eric,

Use Deceit to HIDE CASTING A SPELL?

No - if you think about it, you'll see that it doesn't make sense.

Now, using Deceit to misdirect that you cast a spell (past tense)? Yes I could see that.

If you mean you wish to use Deceit to convince someone who saw you cast a spell that it came form a rune? Depends on how knowledgeable that person is with Arcane magic.

Is it some peasant, merchant or soldier that's never seen a sorcerer cast a spell? Sure - absolutely.

Against a Harvester? Not a chance. Harvesters know their stuff - that's why they were selected to be a Harvester. They are trained extensively and seeing through the ol'-it-wasn't-me-it-was-my-rune trick must be basic training.

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 Post subject: Re: Plausible Deniability
PostPosted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 9:16 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 23, 2013 11:34 am
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Location: Southwestern Ohio
The only good is Harvester is a dead Harvester. :)

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Haakon val'Ishi, Beltinian Exorcist 2.7 [Divine]
Ursula val'Holryn, Grand Master of the Tralian Hammer 2.2 [Martial]
Arun of Tultipet, Holy Champion of Neroth 1.10 [Expert]
Rikitsa val'Holryn, Psion 1.9 [Arcane]


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 Post subject: Re: Plausible Deniability
PostPosted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 11:17 pm 
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Joined: Fri Sep 27, 2013 1:06 am
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Location: Portland OR
*shrug*

The Harvesters aren't everywhere all the time. If you have the bad luck to be spotted by an actual Harvester then you're unhappy. One the other hand if you just run in to an informant who tips off Harvesters then maybe your deceit check is worth something. "Yeah I throw fire around. See this Holy Symbol of Nier?" Or idea about runes...

It depends on what's in the module, but in general i think every bit helps.

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Eric Gorman

AKA Ambassador Tukufu, man of letters, tomb raider and Master Sword Sage
. . . and Sir Szymon val'Holryn, Order of the Phoenix
Formerly Sir Jaeger val'Holryn. Weilder of the Holy Avenger: Thonanos. Gave his soul to help free King Noen


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 Post subject: Re: Plausible Deniability
PostPosted: Fri Jul 24, 2015 11:33 pm 

Joined: Thu Nov 07, 2013 9:37 pm
Posts: 842
Location: Michigan
My character only really does two type of magic that is flashy and that I really worry about being noticed. Both are primal. One, the shapeshifting, is the biggest concern, but I usually manage to duck out of sight to do it. But I really worry about a smart person being easily able to put two and two together when I run into the alley and an eagle flies out a moment later. The second flashy magic is the elemental magic (elemental bolt and elemental tempest). If I'm anywhere near the public there is really no way to hide the casting. That's why I wear a holy symbol of Sarish and make sure to yell really loudly, "By the power of Sarish I smite you!" when I feel it is worth it to cast these in public (Which I do try to avoid). Sure, if there is an actual harvester present he'll be able to tell I'm not a sarishan priest; but I figure for most informant types I have a pretty good shot of passing it off. I've got the symbol, Sarishan's have that power, and I've practiced the deceit, so I assume there is a deceit roll involved when I try that. And I assume that the Harvesters don't have any interest in sarishan priests because they are priests.

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 Post subject: Re: Plausible Deniability
PostPosted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 12:50 am 
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Joined: Fri Sep 27, 2013 1:06 am
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Location: Portland OR
I suspect it may have as much to do with the Cold War between the SK and Loshnek as the fact that the Sorcerer Priests are "priests." But you are right, Ymandragore leaves them alone.

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Eric Gorman

AKA Ambassador Tukufu, man of letters, tomb raider and Master Sword Sage
. . . and Sir Szymon val'Holryn, Order of the Phoenix
Formerly Sir Jaeger val'Holryn. Weilder of the Holy Avenger: Thonanos. Gave his soul to help free King Noen


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 Post subject: Re: Plausible Deniability
PostPosted: Sat Jul 25, 2015 8:35 am 

Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 6:45 pm
Posts: 639
Thanks Henry,

I did mean to misdirect after casting, and not to hide the actual act.

My concern was that there are times when you can not afford the CTN hit to cast subtly There are also some spells that just can't be hid very well. Elemental Bolt comes to mind. So, why wouldn't a caster try to buffalo a potential informant?

Now for trying to fool a Harvester first hand. Yea, that isn't what I was talking about from a player's perspective. However, Eldritch casters are not necessarily the most insightful of people. A dim witted one my try the ruse....and fail.

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Eric Hughes

There once was a gnome called Oozy,
Who kissed a Yaricite floozy.
But rather than wed,
She drowned him instead,
Now he is a Yaricite toosey!


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