Obfuscate FAQ

Please read through this, v5 Obfuscate has many powers that interact with one another.

General Discipline restrictions: 

• Obfuscate is a subtle form of mental manipulation. It does not alter the user, but alters others’ perception of reality. Unless otherwise noted it affects all senses. Those affected by Obfuscate will justify avoiding an unseen person, accepting a false identity, or ignoring a concealed object. 
• Mechanical Surveillance will always catch an Obfuscated user unless Ghost in the Machine is taken. The way Ghost in the Machine is ruled on server is below in a later section. 
• Obsfuscate powers intended to make the user ‘disappear’ cannot be used when they are being observed, unless they have the power Vanish.

Invisibility via Obfuscate

Obfuscate is not a power that gives invisibility.

Instead, Obfuscate subtly influences the minds of potential observers to filter out the user in their field of view. This is what happens when using powers such as Cloak of Shadows, Unseen Passage, Ghost in the Machine, Vanish, and Cloak the Gathering. When using these powers, the Kindred generally do not focus on being invisible or turning themselves invisible, but instead focus on not being perceived by others. “They can’t see me,” is more apt than “I can’t be seen.” 

Breaking Obfuscate

If the observer cannot ignore reality, Obfuscate breaks. This includes boxing the observer in, violent actions, failed pickpocketing, or readying weapons to attack. Drawing attention to the Obfuscated user will force a contest or break Obfuscate entirely with the observer.

Examples: 

•  A vampire using Unseen Passage blocks a doorway the observer was going through.
•  Talking above a whisper. 
•  Mechanical surveillance (unless Ghost in the Machine is taken)
•  A Kindred with Auspex, specifically Sense the Unseen or Clairvoyance. (A contested roll is still needed in either case)
•  Moving objects in view of others. (by passing Larceny or Stealth roll to do this without breaking Obfuscate)
•  Open a door in view of others. (Beware automatic doors in occupied rooms)
•  Strong smells (Burning trash, literally bathed cologne, industrial smoke, black water sewage, covered in blood head to toe to other vampires.)
•  Raising a weapon and/or preparing an attack/other hostile action (Prompts a sneak attack contested roll; opponents always get a chance to detect attacks out of Obfuscate)

What doesn’t break Obfuscate

Manipulating objects when no one is around is okay, but if they return they may notice things have moved and become alerted.

Other things include:

•  Successful pickpocketing on an oblivious target. 
•  Successful sleight of hand to move an object without alerting others. 
•  Lockpick is possible as long as it is successful or failure doesn’t happen in the presence of others.
•  Opening a door no one else is around. 
•  Faint Whispering. 

Breaking Obfuscate vs causing a roll

Obfuscate is broken when something audacious happens that cannot be ignored. Smelling like black water sewage for example. The smell of human waste to that degree is so pungent that Obfuscate doesn’t work. Blatantly moving an item a mortal is focusing on, yelling, or shooting a weapon always breaks Obfuscate. 

Should there be a chance that the onlooker didn’t see the disturbance, a contested roll may be called for, to determine if the act was seen. Such instances that may call for this roll as subtly moving a paper in an occupied room, opening a door a person isn’t looking at but is near, pickpocketing, and others as determined by the ST. A failed roll will have the watcher notice the Obfuscated Kindred, but passing the roll implies the action was taken without notice. 

Breaking others Obfuscate

When someone is Obfuscated nearby, others in the room may be able to pierce the power with Auspex. Should they break the power with a roll, the Obfuscated user remains invisible to others in the room until attention is drawn to them or Obfuscate otherwise breaks.

Obfuscate cannot be activated in front of others observing to let them break Obfuscate intentionally, in the case of working with Obfuscated allies. Their allies will need to make rolls to be able to see them. Those who do manage to see the user will remain able to see the user for the duration of its use. As long as they do not call out the location of or declare the presence of the user they can see, the power remains working for/against everyone else.

Additional notes regarding some Obfuscate Powers

Cloak of Shadows

When using Cloak of Shadows, the user will need to be partially concealed (dumpster, flag pole, car) but unless there is a reason they need to move (the parked car is driven away) Cloak of Shadows can be used to avoid police interactions and consequences. Even an active investigation will ignore the vampire without relevant Auspex powers, or the breaking conditions mentioned above such as tight spaces, overpowering odor, etc. 

Silence of Death

Silence all noise of the user. Does not fool microphones or electronics recording devices. Noise beyond the user can break this. Banging on pipes, tripping, shattering glass, or noise that draws attention. 

Ghost in the Machine

This allows your ability to transfer through technology. So observers from live feeds feel the full force of the discipline. Even on photos or other recorded media, there is a lingering effect the watcher needs to overcome with a roll to identify the obfuscated user. The Watcher needs to roll Intelligence/Wits + Awareness vs vampire’s Wits + obfuscate. The vampire’s roll has a +3 to their result. *The bonus is to their margin not extra dice*

Powers affected: Silence of Death, Cloak of Shadows, Unseen Passage, Conceal, Enconce, Cache, Mask of 1000 faces, Guise of the Departed, Cloak of Gathering, and Imposter’s guise.

When dealing with tech based defenses or obstacles the user also gains the above bonus to avoiding detection. If passed automatic doors will not open, as the door does not perceive the vampire. This means they will have to wait and follow someone in. 

Vanish 

If the vampire was present when the Vanish took place and failed the roll, they do not have a chance to sense the obfuscated Kindred with Sense the Unseen.

Cloak of Gathering

Extends to those equal to wits per rouse check used. This Obfuscate has whatever the user knows extended to the group.