Obscure

[Dresan]

Obscure (toggable)

Through the use of face coverings, paints and other skills of the trade you obscure any identifiable traits on yourself. This is not only limited to facial features but also other things such as tattoos, birthmarks, defects, noticeable behaviors patterns, and even voice. Walking around openly while being obscured (the same way someone walks into a store wearing a ski mask on a hot summer day) is likely going to get you wanted and landing you in jail for routine questioning and torture, just in case you happened to be up to no good. Some places might be more tolerant of being obscured than others(redstorm and luirs). Though even then the powers that be will most likely take notice of you and begin to question because trying to actively hide all your features at a bar with no wind blowing in your face is suspicious.

Delay before

Delay after

The ability could be an extension of hide skill (city version only), the same way tame ability is one of riding_skill. And the same way scan can break lower level hide, the high perception has a chance to see through obscurity. Though it would be okay making it its own skill for assassins and later in life for burglars and pickpocket. Obscurity more with people than wildlife so no free skill for rangers, perhaps they could get it with an extended sub-guild. Though I can just imagine how annoying it will be when you have newbie clanned assassins walking up to you and asking you if they could tell its them.   And if you are wondering, the reason why you'd get criminalized walking around obscured, while I try to make it sound as a realistic reason as possible, its mostly a game mechanic to prevent people from walking around like this all the time and more importantly acting like douches to people like aides and such that would otherwise have them killed or call a soldier. Though with everyone having master contact perhaps it might also be unnecessary but I wouldn't want people walking around like this all the time.

I know, I know these ideas pop up every once in a while but I think it is for a good cause. Not sure if this particular idea has been brought up, I think some version of it has, but the name of the skill certainly has I think.

[Riev]

While a fun idea, I think there are too many variables. Creating a "perm" mdesc and a "temp" mdesc. Same with Sdesc. Hiding tattoos and scars (and knowing which is which since its all just clothing). Then having it work, or not work, or partially work, according to a skill.


I'm all for something to replace the lost "Trap" skill, and while people hate the Hide In Plain Sight users, I don't think this would fix things. This is a world with mindbenders and long-range instant communication, unfortunately people are going to have an idea who attacked or mugged them. I would suggest muggers and attackers start stealing/acquiring Clan/House insignia and wearing it when they assault people.


Though, as far as replacing "Trap" is concerned, I think it'd be interesting if high tier assassins got a "slice" ability, that engages the bleed code. At high levels, it'd bleed <x> amount, but at low levels it'd just be a minor annoyance. Maybe make bandaging more necessary to stop bleed code. Unfortunately, I just don't think Obscure would work, would replace, or would add much of anything other than "You don't know who I am" which, in a world of mindbenders and The Way... just... doesn't work.

[wizturbo]

I would rather they just add msdesc hiding code on to facewraps, but have a toggle on whether or not that code is active.  Those with Karma X or above can toggle it on by default, otherwise you can apply for the ability through the request tool.

Not a perfect solution by any means, but it'd help a lot.  The only reason I can imagine for having facewraps not hide your mdesc is potential abuse, and the whole point of Karma is to put in code that's at risk of being abused in the hands of trusted players only.

[Qzzrbl]

In a world where it's a-okay to lodge a poisoned arrow into a complete stranger's neck from three rooms away, backstab nublets straight out of chargen, and all sorts of other general nastiness, I struggle to see how mdesc-hiding equipment could be used for anything equating to "abuse".

Would be about par for the course, if you ask me.

[RogueGunslinger]

In a world where it's a-okay to lodge a poisoned arrow into a complete stranger's neck from three rooms away, backstab nublets straight out of chargen, and all sorts of other general nastiness, I struggle to see how mdesc-hiding equipment could be used for anything equating to "abuse".

Would be about par for the course, if you ask me.

I agree. In a world where you have Hide and Sneak and Barrier that can COMPLETELY obscure you as if you didn't even exists, it's sort of silly that we don't have mdesc obscuring gear.

[wizturbo]

I agree. In a world where you have Hide and Sneak and Barrier that can COMPLETELY obscure you as if you didn't even exists, it's sort of silly that we don't have mdesc obscuring gear.

But, they cannot completely obscure you.  Scan/listen/watch all exist.  Barriers can be overcome.  All of these things can be countered without even adding in spooky supernatural stuff.

Mdesc obscuring gear is taking things a step further, and while I certainly believe it should exist, I don't agree that it should be available freely to all players.  I'm not sure what restrictions to place on it, staff would be in a better position to understand that, but Karma seems like a logical way to handle it.

[Qzzrbl]

Mmm.... Karma has never been used to restrict equipment or features beyond class and race. Would be kinda wonky from a playability standpoint.

I don't agree that it should be available freely to all players.

Why is that, exactly?

[Down Under]

I'd like to see mdesc hiding equipment ubiquitous and not fool-proof. Watching someone, or examining them, ruins the disguise.

[Majikal]

Used to be masks that would change your mdesc to the description of the mask, though they became so highly sought after you had people going to weird lengths in order to kill some dude so you could steal his 'white cloth sack'.

[Down Under]

I believe the item could be worn in your 'head' slot and change your mdesc, or on your face with no effect.

[HavokBlue]

Used to be masks that would change your mdesc to the description of the mask, though they became so highly sought after you had people going to weird lengths in order to kill some dude so you could steal his 'white cloth sack'.

This sounds like the same reaction people have to things that are scarce in game despite virtual abundance, like scabbards, shoulder items, and elves.

[Riev]

Or the ability to tie a blindfold over your face to cause blindness.

[wizturbo]

Why is that, exactly?

Potential for abuse.  Boils down to the virtual world being unable to respond to all situations appropriately.

For a simple example, right now if someone walked into Red's and emoted pissing all over a noble, nothing would happen immediately but you can be absolutely certain there would be consequences for that action as that person's description was circulated around town.  While the virtual world does not respond properly, it's okay, because there's essentially just a delayed response.  With these masks, anyone could do that and avoid those consequences.   If the virtual world responded to that behavior everything would be okay.  Soldier's would seize the masked person, or the noble's bodyguard would simply kill them immediately and no one would think twice about it.

Sure, the staff could get involved, but I personally don't want to burden the staff with having to police this kind of thing when they could be spending their time telling stories or building content for the game. Players with Karma are considered to be trusted to take into account how the virtual world would respond to their actions, which should severely limit the number of abuse cases.  As I said, the feature could be made available to players without the necessary Karma by requesting it and going through some vetting process.

[RogueGunslinger]

I hate "potential abuse" as an excuse not to add things. Everything can be potentially abused.

[Qzzrbl]

If scenarios that don't really effect PCs in any way, shape, or form is all you can come up as a potential abuse....

I mean.... Come on man.

Not to mention, using karma (something to define race and class selection since its implementation) to gate items causes a whole 'nother host of problems itself.

Having karma itself isn't a measure of "this player won't do absolutely stupid and unrealistic stuff on the regular"-- at least not as much as not having a staff member on your case is.

[wizturbo]

I hate "potential abuse" as an excuse not to add things. Everything can be potentially abused.

I'm not saying don't add it, I'm wholeheartedly agreeing with the idea of having mdesc hiding masks/hoods/whatever.  I just don't think they should be available to everyone right off the bat with no restrictions.  Whether Karma is used to gate their use, or some other means, I don't really have a strong opinion either way.

[Down Under]

If they are controlled items offered by GMH, Staff can decide whether or not the person is OOCly trustworthy enough to have a mdesc hiding mask. They can then tell the merchant 'Sorry, that's out of stock.' or 'Sure, here's one, have fun raiding'.

[Qzzrbl]

Mdesc obscuring items would always wind up in circulation among the pbase anyhow. People die. Things get stolen. Etc.

I really don't think it's a bad idea to just let 'em go unrestricted. I'd even be against making them GMH-only or prohibitively (read: unrealistically) expensive.

The fewer "im not going to do this because if a few keywords get around my reputation is ruined and/or i am dead" situations IG, the better.

Maybe then, the streets will actually get dangerous at night and people won't be compelled (basically required) to twink up their stealth skills before doing anything remotely criminal in the city. Maybe then, militia will actually have something to do between RPTs (harassing people about hiding their face in public, investigating the inevitable spike in crime, etc.). Maybe then, raiders won't be practically required to cut down any PC that looks at them while heisting it up in the wastes. PC bodyguards might become a thing. Maybe being a victim of crime will be a little more engaging than "aw crap that thing disappeared from my inventory" or "aw crap that thing disappeared from my apartment" or "aw crap mantis head". The possibilities!

I mean, yeah. A couple of people might gleefully emote slapping an NPC noble in the face with their tits and get away with it, but I mean really... Is that really an IC concern? Or od or is that a player behavior that should be dealt with on an OOC level?

I dunno.

I'm all kinds of pro crime and more avenues of interacting with other players IG.

[Riev]

I'm all kinds of pro crime and more avenues of interacting with other players IG.

I am all for anything that makes walking the streets dangerous, requiring guards, or generally instilling fear in people that the Law is still mostly lawless.

[knight]

I'm just another face in the crowd cheering for Obscure or some parallel.

[IAmJacksOpinion]

I'm on the fence.

On one hand, as Qzzrbl said, "It has potential for abuse" is a terrible reason not to add something. This is by no means a new idea, in fact I'd say it's one of the most commonly expressed, and I always thought I'd love the option... until I played an RPI that had it. And it was abused SO HARD. They had raised hoods hiding Mdescs, and at least one of the players would just walk around throwing shit at people in broad daylight with his hood up and running off. Then when crimcode wore off, he'd come back and sit across the table from you and have whole conversations, the whole time remaining anonymous. It just wasn't handled well at all.

The other thing I don't like about this, is that I know exactly how it would be implemented. While realistically all you need is one of Jal's 10 sid salt sacks with two eye-holes poked in it, these would be GMH or clan-produced items that would sell for thousands of coins because of their coded ability. Just like the old slashing bracers - which were, in terms of mdesc and material, ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENT from any of the plethora of spike / claw adorned bracers - these would sell for thousands of sids because they'd be sold for their coded abilities, rather than their ACTUAL material / difficulty to produce. Like Kuraci climbing spikes; ICly untenable. And, as Majikal said, people will kill each other over, like, 20 sid ski masks.

I guess the pessimist in me (accounted for by 95% of my mental processes) doesn't trust that this would be handled well.

The only way that I do like it, is if there's a common and easy way around it. Like a "study" command, that had a sizable delay before, that would allow you to get their mdesc in spite of this. If they become non-vis to you in that time window (hide, or leave the room), you won't get their mdesc. So if someone wants to hit and run, yeah you wouldn't be able to get a good look at them in that short time frame. But if they decided to sit at the bar like a tool going "lol guyz i haz a mask look" (also known as the Ed Hardy crowd of Zalanthas - you know who you are) you could just look right through that shit.

[gotdamnmiracle]

Maybe we could give the analyze or watch skill a second use.