Obfuscate question (VtM:rev)

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Little PCs mess with Elder Nosferatu. Elder Nosferatu lacks*) the time to
wreck cold, sterile vengeance on PCs so he's going for the classic lead into
lair, collapse the exit, swarm with hordes of Ghouled animals and kill from
the shadows-technique. (Damn, that'd be a wicked Charm.)

Now, the guy's got Obfuscate at 5, so he can basically run off whenever he
wants to. I was wondering: can he use Obfuscate 5 to make one or more of the
PCs look like him (extending Obf 3 to them all)? Can he activate Obf 2
afterwards, staying near to keep up the illusion as long as possible?

Can he make himself look like one of the PCs (in homid/glabro) and disguise
this guy as himself? Will the laying of the illusion be noticeable to the
target (PC disguised as Nossie)?

Yeah, yeah, I'm stretching the Discipline, I know. But these PCs have 200 XP
under their belts and they're in a bit of a hurry, so I'm guessing round one
of combat will be to the tune of "Four Rage each, ST" I need some dirty
tricks to keep up with 'em 😉

You people got any more combat-advice? Boobie-traps, for example? Dude's got
loads of potence/animalism, middling celerity/fortitude, some dominate.
Also, a couple of Childer he's not really willing to sacrifice. Age: about
1200 years. He's an architect who's trying to mold the chronicle-city,
believing he van use geomancy to ward off the Nictuku. Based on Zelios from
Trans. Chron., although we haven't played through those. Actually not that
bad a guy, except that he's using a bit heavy-handed tactics to clear some
areas of the city (gang-infested parks, mostly) where he needs to build
certain structures.

Best regards,
Gieljan

*) Nuckalavee is Coming; Nuckalavee is Near...actually, the first of the
Thunderwyrms, but skinless is skinless, and he's not taking chances. PCs
also know that Grandmother Thunderwyrm is heading towards their city, so
maybe there's a chance for talking and allying...

 

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Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

"Gieljan de Vries" <gieljanBZZdeBZZvries@planet.nl> wrote in message news:<2obbl0F8t2d7U1@uni-berlin.de>...
> Little PCs mess with Elder Nosferatu. Elder Nosferatu lacks*) the time to
> wreck cold, sterile vengeance on PCs so he's going for the classic lead into
> lair, collapse the exit, swarm with hordes of Ghouled animals and kill from
> the shadows-technique. (Damn, that'd be a wicked Charm.)
>
> Now, the guy's got Obfuscate at 5, so he can basically run off whenever he
> wants to. I was wondering: can he use Obfuscate 5 to make one or more of the
> PCs look like him (extending Obf 3 to them all)? Can he activate Obf 2
> afterwards, staying near to keep up the illusion as long as possible?
>

I'd say that it takes an action for each one. So an action to use any
particular power on himself or others. I'd say one action to use
Vanish of the Mind's Eye on everybody, including himself, with Ob5.
Then another action to use Mask of a Thousand Faces on everybody. The
party will quickly cause the Ob 4 power, or Ob 2 if you want it to be
easier, to be broken as they say things in surprise or otherwise move
without being stealthy. Then they'll appear to everybody as the Nos as
doing such doesn't break the Ob3 powers. Of course this is only if the
only person not affected by the Ob5 power is the person using it. I'd
say that the people it is being used on are immune as would be the
user of the Ob5 power, so your shielded people you're using Ob on to
get into a secure place can follow you.

Better plan would be to get ahead of the coterie. Obfuscate and sit
silently so that there is little to no chance of the party seeing him,
unless they have Auspex of sufficient level. Then use Ob5 to use Mask
on the last person in the party to look like himself, or any Nos. that
way they're following the Nos then all of a sudden, he's behind them
and one of their coterie is missing. Maybe they'll kill him. Another
trouble is that the Ob5 power only works "upon those nearby". If he
moves away, it would probably drop the power.

Best advise, forget about the PCs. Avoid them and hope they forget
about the Nos while keeping an eye on them. Revenge is a dish best
serve cold. Sounds like they're garou anyway if they have homid forms.
Avoid confrontation and deal at a later date. Getting into close
combat or even close proximity just risks ending up dead. PCs with
that much XP will be too good at making those roles to see through
Obfuscate to risk it. Attacking a pack of garou in close quarters when
you don't have time to plan and plot is just too risky. Skip it. Flee,
or deal with them. Ask what they want and pay it. Offer to serve them.
Once you are in their debt, you're a resource to them not an enemy.
While being subserviant to them would be an excellent time to inform
them of all the nasty creatures they might want to destroy rather than
you (like, say, the Nuckalavee). Think like a vampire or at least a
Nosferatue. Manipulate your enemys or just simply outlive them.

If they are garou, I'd work on the idea that the Nos doesn't breathe
and they do. Confined underground space with even a little fire can
cause breathing difficulties. Tear gas or other noxious chemicals will
cause the Nos no trouble but be major problem for anybody not already
dead. Not to mention underwater escape routes that are way too long to
swim while holding your breath. Underwater tunnel to a secret room
with no air flow where they Nos can turn on a propane space heater (no
open flame to worry about). It wouldn't take long for all the oxygen
to be used up and by time the garou try to flee they'll be too oxygen
deprived to swim back. They may just dive into the umbra at that point
where they'll be stuck with city banes to deal with instead of
vampires.

 

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Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

Gieljan de Vries squarked:
> Little PCs mess with Elder Nosferatu. Elder Nosferatu lacks*) the

> Now, the guy's got Obfuscate at 5, so he can basically run off
> whenever he wants to. I was wondering: can he use Obfuscate 5 to make
> one or more of the PCs look like him (extending Obf 3 to them all)?
> Can he activate Obf 2 afterwards, staying near to keep up the
> illusion as long as possible?
> Can he make himself look like one of the PCs (in homid/glabro) and
> disguise this guy as himself? Will the laying of the illusion be
> noticeable to the target (PC disguised as Nossie)?
While it is not clear in the Vrev rulebook, the live rules I have seen used
rule that a kindred can only cloak willing targets, and that all targets
must be affected by the same power in the same way (i.e. the Mask would be
the same on all characters, although 'generic human' works fine). Having
said that, this is an NPC so it is unlikely the PCs are going to get
argumentative if he does something different.

Personally, I agree with marc - this is not a good time to fight the PCs.
His best bet would be to spy on them - or get a childer to spy - and use the
information to drop hints about the coming beasty. With that information
available it should be possible to time that offer of alliance to when it is
most likely to be accepted.

Failing that, use water to drive the PCs out of their lair and drop them one
by one when they emerge.
--
Picks-at-Flies
I only eat people in self-defence (with apologies to Pete Abrams)
http://www.werepenguin.net

 

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Archived from groups: alt.games.whitewolf (More info?)

In news:2obbl0F8t2d7U1@uni-berlin.de,
Gieljan de Vries <gieljanBZZdeBZZvries@planet.nl> typed:
> Age: about 1200 years. He's an architect who's trying to
> mold the chronicle-city, believing he van use geomancy to ward off
> the Nictuku.

Aside from supernatural might and other resources, over a millennia of
experience in dealing with allies, enemies, problems, opportunities etc.
should count. He's likely not unbeatable but having him make rookie mistakes
or fall for traps he should have seen and used thousands of times is
unbelievable. Even if the players surprise _you_, it might not be unfair to
think real hard whether or not the PCs could surprise the Nos...

Not saying he should be able to handle every possible scenario but IMO lots
of dots doesn't fully represent what a millennia old being is like.

--
T. Koivula