Scent

[*Bogus]

I've met some trackers recently and it got me thinking... how do they work, how do you counter them (if at all)? Can a decent tracker see you from all across the minimap?

Most importantly, how do you counter Scent? Is the range of scent based tracking the same as normal tracking?

I know there's Cloud Mind but it has a will save which, let's be honest, no semi-dedicated tracker is ever going to fail.

Any input is appreciated.

[*Mr_Otyugh]

http://nwn2.wikia.com/wiki/Scent <- that is the mechanical implementation of Scent. No mechanical counter to it. Granted they won't be able to see you unless you end up being hostile. Well spirits and undead can be seen via spell/class trait in similar fashion. Then you're out of luck entirely.

If I were to battle scent, I'd probably use stinking cloud. No one sane is going to go sniffing around that. If you're not keen on the will-save aspect, I'd go for a more elaborate idea: adopt a scent of your choice, something easily re-produceable. In-case of desiring to disappear, make sure to spread the said scent around a lot... like say perfume, keep chugging it to random people minding their own business and it's going to be difficult to follow you up after a while.

Another way is to be mindful of wind direction and utilize it in your roleplay. Fine pepper or powdered drugs on your tracks? Sniff that for a change!

Consider scent to be an opportunity rather than a challenge and you'll find some interesting options in roleplay.

[*WhenWizardsWar]

//While we are on the topic, everyone generally has a different smell, so those with scent "smelling that tiefling whos hiding? Umm...IMHO that shouldnt fly at all.

"I smell someone or something over there behind the counter" Ok!

"I smell a tiefling hiding in the shadows" Bad!

"I smell a tiefling inside that full body suit of armor and full cover helm" Bad!

[*Altair]

Yeah, Scent's a funny beast. Certain things DO have a 'racial' smell (Hezrou, animals, etc) and they'll smell like something in particular, and another thing is nothing is completely scentless. It just isn't possible. However, like Mr O says, there's a number of ways to baffle scent, including perfumes, spells, and other options. As a scent tracker myself, I tend to be perfectly willing to roll with pretty much anything as long as it makes sense. I'll also RP it as a weakness sometimes, when a particularly foul demon or smog from the lower ward rolls in.

[*Bogus]

Thanks, that sounds reasonable.

So far I've seen that the presence of strong misleading scents should up the DC by about 10 so I'll roll with that for now.

[*Altair]

That's about right. The other thing working in your favor is that in a city like Sigil, it's drowning in scents. As crowded as it is with as many creature types as there are. So a decent scent to track won't last more than three to four days, if you're lucky, unless it's a particularly quiet alley. Think of tracks in a heavy storm. That's effectively what it'd be like tracking a scent in Sigil at any given time. Possible, but it'd be difficult. Off plane it'd be significantly easier, and a more normal dc.

[*Sunshine]

The use of Smokebombs or Choking Powder to mask a scent is something I allowed several times in my events.

Spells like Stinking Cloud or Gust of Wind can also be used to mask the scent or disperse it more quickly.

Shapeshifting or flying (or both- get a Bat Totem from Brux if you can use them) are good ways to make tracks more difficult to follow as well.