Difference between revisions of "Camouflage (sage ability)"

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Describes the application of coloration, clothing and carefully chosen materials to make the character either hard to see ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crypsis crypsis]) or by disguising them as something else ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimicry mimesis]).  With the ability, character gains knowledge on how to mix paints, apply dye to clothing, and add materials to their body such as mud, vegetable material, animal skins and even the addition of natural odors to mask the smell of the character's body, in order to better approach or remain unseen at a given distance, as defined by the [[Stealth (sage ability)|stealth ability]].
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'''Camouflage''' is a varied-status [[Sage Ability|sage ability]] in the [[Sage Study|studies]] of [[Scouting (sage study)|Scouting]] and [[Smoke (sage study)|Smoke]] that enables the character to achieve [[Crypsis|crypsis]] (avoid detection by animals) or [[Mimesis|mimesis]] (imitation of surroundings) through [[Clothing|clothing]] and the application of colour and carefully chosen materials.  The ability teaches how to mix paints, apply dyes to clothing, add materials to the body (such as mud, vegetable material, animals skins and the addition of natural odours to mask the character's smell), in order to better approach or remain unseen at a given distance, as defined by [[Stealth (sage ability)|stealth]].
  
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Stealth dictates that the character, depending on the amount of illumination, equipment carried, appearance and other factors, will or will not be noticed at a certain distance, measured in [[Combat Hex|combat hexes]]. The application of camouflage beforehand improves this distance by '''2 hexes''' in favor of the skilled character.  This means that if the character rolls and discovers they will be noticed at a distance of 6 hexes, the camouflage ability would enable that same character to remain at 6 hexes indefinitely (until circumstances were changed).  Though a small adjustment, it is enough to give the character a meaningful advantage under the right circumstances.
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The character must purchase or obtain these materials, spending a plausible amount of time shaping them and applying each to his or her person.  This cannot be done hastily; for game purposes, assume that an hour, at minimum, is spent.  Afterwards, they cannot be gotten rid of easily; blacking to darken skin and other materials fixed to clothing or rubbed in will remain as evidence, should the character be caught and [[Interrogation (sage ability)|interrogated]].
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== Use in Play ==
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Camouflage allows the character to approach enemies more closely, or remain unobserved for long periods. The ability adjusts the character's stealth '''by 2 hexes''', which is a meaningful advantage under the right circumstances.  When used in combination with limited [[Illumination|illumination]], camouflage effectively puts the character two hexes further away from those wishing to hurl or fire missiles.
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Camouflage is not only a means of not being seen.  During the day, even in plain sight, the character is able to adjust their appearance so as to seem unworthy of attention.  A "beggar" in the marketplace would not be noticed, nor would an apprentice of some sort.  One more lawyer, [[Courtier|courtier]] or [[Soldier|soldier]] would be dismissed among a plethora of like others — assuming those lawyers, courtiers or soldiers were not well known to each other.  In short, with time to assume the proper clothing, the character is able to appear appropriate to the place, with the stance, tone of voice, mannerisms and general demeanour that would be expected of a drunk, a [[Goodwife|goodwife]] or a labourer.  This allows the character to loiter about, under the right circumstances, without being "seen."
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This relies somewhat upon the character's inventiveness.  If the character acts in a way that brings attention — such as asking questions, moving about too much, hanging about for an overlong period of time — then eventually someone is going to notice and investigate.  The DM should be flexible; and the character should understand there's a limit as to how much inattention camouflage can reasonably provide.
  
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Camouflage does not only apply at night.  During the day, the character is equally able to adjust their appearance so as to appear to be unworthy of attention or so similar in appearance to others on the street that they blend in – even among the crowd they are using to conceal their presence.  The ability assumes the character has studied the habits and characteristics of numerous types: wealthy, poor, pious, humble, boasting, boisterous, etcetera ... so that once the character has assumed the proper clothing, the character is also able to assume the stance, tone of voice, mannerisms and general demeanour of a person of that type.  The character does not cease to look like his or her self; but dressed as a begger, the character seems a beggar; and dressed as a courtier, lawyer, soldier or prostitute, the character "looks" the part.  All of this allows the character to move 2 hexes closer to a would-be target ... and allows the character to escape more easily, for once they have moved past the threshold that their stealth check allows (assuming that at some point they have escaped the direct attention of a pursuer) they can once again blend into a crowd and evade pursuers.
 
  
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== Preparation ==
 
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The character must purchase dyes and paints, clothing and articles designed to support a desired charade, or spend a plausible amount of time gathering materials, shaping them and applying them to his or her person.  This cannot be done hastily, except in matters like the application of black out material to the face at night.  The DM must use good judgement, be flexible and accept that the character does have the [[Knowledge Points|knowledge]] necessary to mix various materials together to produce the effect desired.
 
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See Also,<br>
 
See Also,<br>
 
[[Concealment (sage study)|Concealment]]<br>
 
[[Concealment (sage study)|Concealment]]<br>
 
[[Disguise (sage ability)|Disguise]]<br>
 
[[Disguise (sage ability)|Disguise]]<br>
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[[Way of the Smoke (sage study)|Way of the Smoke]]
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[[Stealth (sage ability)|Stealth]]<br>
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[[Category: Sage Abilities]]

Latest revision as of 17:57, 26 February 2023

Camouflage.jpg

Camouflage is a varied-status sage ability in the studies of Scouting and Smoke that enables the character to achieve crypsis (avoid detection by animals) or mimesis (imitation of surroundings) through clothing and the application of colour and carefully chosen materials. The ability teaches how to mix paints, apply dyes to clothing, add materials to the body (such as mud, vegetable material, animals skins and the addition of natural odours to mask the character's smell), in order to better approach or remain unseen at a given distance, as defined by stealth.

The character must purchase or obtain these materials, spending a plausible amount of time shaping them and applying each to his or her person. This cannot be done hastily; for game purposes, assume that an hour, at minimum, is spent. Afterwards, they cannot be gotten rid of easily; blacking to darken skin and other materials fixed to clothing or rubbed in will remain as evidence, should the character be caught and interrogated.

Use in Play

Camouflage allows the character to approach enemies more closely, or remain unobserved for long periods. The ability adjusts the character's stealth by 2 hexes, which is a meaningful advantage under the right circumstances. When used in combination with limited illumination, camouflage effectively puts the character two hexes further away from those wishing to hurl or fire missiles.

Camouflage is not only a means of not being seen. During the day, even in plain sight, the character is able to adjust their appearance so as to seem unworthy of attention. A "beggar" in the marketplace would not be noticed, nor would an apprentice of some sort. One more lawyer, courtier or soldier would be dismissed among a plethora of like others — assuming those lawyers, courtiers or soldiers were not well known to each other. In short, with time to assume the proper clothing, the character is able to appear appropriate to the place, with the stance, tone of voice, mannerisms and general demeanour that would be expected of a drunk, a goodwife or a labourer. This allows the character to loiter about, under the right circumstances, without being "seen."

This relies somewhat upon the character's inventiveness. If the character acts in a way that brings attention — such as asking questions, moving about too much, hanging about for an overlong period of time — then eventually someone is going to notice and investigate. The DM should be flexible; and the character should understand there's a limit as to how much inattention camouflage can reasonably provide.


See Also,
Concealment
Disguise
Stealth

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