Illusion • Legacy Witch Glamour

Masque (False Visage)

Juan Gris, Harlequin with Guitar — original illustration preserved. Select to enlarge.

Masque makes each affected creature perceive the caster as someone that creature already loves or trusts. The illusion is supplied by the victim’s own mind, so different observers can perceive different familiar faces at the same time.

Masque (False Visage) at a Glance

5.5e / 2024	Optional 4th-level Illusion for Bard, Wizard or Witch; three non-Undead observers within 60 feet; Wisdom save; Concentration up to 10 minutes
5e / 2014	Optional 4th-level illusion for Bard, Wizard or Witch; three eligible observers; Wisdom save; Concentration up to 10 minutes
Pathfinder 1e	Optional Illusion (pattern) [mind-affecting]; Bard 4 or Witch 4; Close range; Will negates; spell resistance yes; 1 minute/level
D&D 3.5e / Legacy d20	Third-party 2003 source; Witch 4, Bard 4; Will negates; spell resistance yes; 1 minute/level; legacy +5 Bluff and Diplomacy

What the spell does: each affected observer perceives the caster as a different person it loves or trusts. The disguise exists in the observer’s mind; it does not physically transform the caster, provide hidden memories, or compel obedience. The printed 2003 source has a one-target versus twice-caster-level inconsistency explained in the legacy panel.

Spell Rules by Edition

5.5e / 20245e / 2014Pathfinder 1eD&D 3.5e / Legacy d20

Masque (False Visage) — 5.5e / 2024

Optional 2024 fourth-level conversion, not an official published spell. This is a complete playable adaptation of the source’s identity glamour; fifth-edition rules do not import the legacy +5 skill bonus or additional-spell save DC stacking.

Spell Level / School	4th-level Illusion
Suggested Classes	Bard, Wizard; optional Witch by GM approval
Casting Time	Action
Range	60 feet
Components	V, S, M (perfume and a thin gossamer veil; neither consumed)
Targets	Up to three non-Undead creatures within range that can see you
Duration	Concentration, up to 10 minutes
Saving Throw	Wisdom negates; repeat saves when important evidence contradicts the disguise
Effect	Each target sees a different personally trusted identity; no damage or mind control

Perceptual glamour. Each chosen creature makes a Wisdom saving throw. A creature that fails perceives you as someone it personally loves or trusts. The identity is supplied by its own memories; different observers may see different faces, hear a familiar voice or recognise mannerisms that were never truly reproduced. The illusion changes only the observer’s perception: your real identity, position, language and knowledge do not change. The target does not gain the Charmed condition, and it is not compelled to obey instructions.

Social advantage. While an affected observer accepts the perceived identity, you have Advantage on Charisma (Deception) and Charisma (Persuasion) checks against that creature which rely on the assumed relationship. Requests contrary to its safety or values can still be refused, and you cannot automatically use knowledge that only the genuine person would possess.

Disbelief and ending. A target that witnesses significant contrary evidence may repeat the Wisdom save when the contradiction occurs; a success ends the illusion for that creature. Truesight reveals your actual appearance and prevents the illusion from deceiving that observer. The effect on a target also ends if you or an ally attacks or deals damage to that target, if the target becomes aware of undeniable physical proof of the impersonation, or when you lose Concentration. This spell does not affect Undead.

At higher levels — optional scaling. Each slot level above 4 allows one additional non-Undead observer within 60 feet. Each makes a separate Wisdom save. This is part of the original conversion, not text from the official 2024 spell lists.

Masque (False Visage) — 5e / 2014

Optional 2014 fourth-level conversion, not an official published spell. This is a complete playable adaptation of the source’s identity glamour; fifth-edition rules do not import the legacy +5 skill bonus or additional-spell save DC stacking.

Spell Level / School	4th-level illusion
Suggested Classes	Bard, Wizard; optional Witch by GM approval
Casting Time	1 action
Range	60 feet
Components	V, S, M (perfume and a thin gossamer veil; neither consumed)
Targets	Up to three non-Undead creatures within range that can see you
Duration	Concentration, up to 10 minutes
Saving Throw	Wisdom negates; repeat saves when important evidence contradicts the disguise
Effect	Each target sees a different personally trusted identity; no damage or mind control

Masque (False Visage) — Pathfinder 1e

Optional Pathfinder 1e conversion, not an official Pathfinder Witch spell. This keeps the original illusion concept and resists adopting its unbounded save-DC stacking.

School	Illusion (pattern) [mind-affecting]
Level	Bard 4, Witch 4 (GM-approved)
Casting Time	1 standard action
Range	Close (25 feet + 5 feet per 2 caster levels)
Components	V, S, M (a dab of perfume and thin gossamer veil)
Targets	One living creature per caster level, maximum 10; each must be able to see you
Duration	1 minute per caster level
Saving Throw	Will negates; see disbelief
Spell Resistance	Yes

Effect. Each affected observer perceives you as a person it loves or trusts; the mind supplies different faces and mannerisms for different observers. The spell does not actually change your body, confer knowledge or control the target’s actions. You gain a +5 circumstance bonus on Bluff and Diplomacy checks against a target when exploiting the imagined identity, subject to normal Pathfinder stacking rules. The target can refuse unreasonable or dangerous demands.

Disbelief and counters. An observer that notices significant contradiction can attempt a new Will save; success ends the effect for that observer. True Seeing exposes the illusion to a creature using it. Undead and creatures immune to mind-affecting patterns are unaffected, and spell resistance and Dispel Magic apply normally. The caster may be seen differently by several observers; resolving one target’s disbelief does not dismiss every other target’s effect.

Masque — D&D 3.5e / Legacy d20 (2003)

Preserved source mechanics: Liber Mysterium (2003), p. 146. This is third-party d20 material predating the official 3.5e revision, not a core 3.5e spell.

School	Illusion (Pattern)
Level	Witch 4, Bard 4
Components	V, S, M
Casting Time	1 action
Range	Not specified in the 2003 entry; a suggested table limit is 60 feet for observers who can see the caster (GM ruling, not source text)
Targets	The printed line says “1 Target”, while its descriptive text allows up to twice the caster’s level in observers; use the latter as the practical default unless the GM rules otherwise
Duration	1 minute/level
Saving Throw	Will negates
Spell Resistance	Yes

Each creature that fails its save sees the caster as someone that creature loves and trusts. The caster does not need to know the person being perceived, imitate their voice or copy their behaviour; the victim’s mind supplies those details.

The legacy source grants the Witch +5 on Bluff and Diplomacy checks against an affected target and suggests a +5 bonus on a relevant non-magical seduction check at the Games Master’s discretion.

The older text also allows compatible enchantment or social spells to reinforce the deception. Treat any save-DC stacking language as legacy-only; do not carry it into later editions automatically.

Material components: a dab of perfume and a thin gossamer veil.

Original target-count discrepancy. The stat line in the source says “1 Target”, but the effect explicitly allows twice the caster’s level in affected viewers. For playable legacy adjudication, allow the described number of observers, each with its own Will save and spell resistance. Require them to be able to see the caster; the 60-foot limit above is a declared GM guideline because the source gives no Range entry.

Legacy-only interaction. The source offers a further save DC increase of +3 plus the added spell’s level for each suitable reinforcing spell. This unusually strong interaction belongs only to the preserved historical text and must not be imported automatically into Pathfinder or fifth edition. The original +5 Bluff and Diplomacy bonuses for Witches and the optional seduction check bonus are likewise legacy mechanics.

What Changed?

5.5e / 2024: the optional 4th-level Illusion permits up to three non-Undead observers within 60 feet, uses Wisdom saves and Concentration, and grants Advantage on suitable identity-based social checks. Truesight and significant contradictory evidence can expose it.
5e / 2014: the optional 4th-level illusion uses 2014 action terminology and the same practical disguise and disbelief rules; it is not an official named spell.
Pathfinder 1e: a proposed Witch/Bard 4 conversion uses Will saves, spell resistance, a Close-range target group, 1 minute/level duration and a +5 circumstance bonus to relevant Bluff and Diplomacy checks. It omits the old extreme save-DC stacking.
D&D 3.5e / Legacy d20: the original 2003 spell keeps its Will save, spell resistance, 1 minute/level duration, +5 social-skill bonuses for Witches and source-specific interaction with reinforcing spells. The conflicting single-target stat line and multi-target description are disclosed rather than silently rewritten.

Counterplay and Rulings

True Seeing: exposes the glamour to the creature using it under the legacy rules.
Undead: are unaffected by the original spell.
Dispel Magic: can end an ongoing Masque effect under normal legacy dispelling rules.
Behaviour still matters: the glamour changes perceived identity, not the caster’s actual knowledge, memories or mannerisms.
Contradictory evidence: the Games Master can allow disbelief or other appropriate checks when the caster behaves impossibly for the perceived identity.

Using Masque in Play

Masque is strongest in social infiltration. It can get a caster through a guarded doorway, buy time during a negotiation, or make several observers independently trust the same stranger for different reasons.

Worked Example: Three Faces at the Gate

A disguised Witch approaches a guarded courtyard. The two guards and a steward have different reasons to trust people they know. Masque gives each successful target its own illusory identity rather than projecting one shared disguise.

5.5e / 2024 and 5e / 2014 — optional conversions

A Bard casts Masque at 4th level against three non-Undead observers within 60 feet who can see the caster. Each makes a Wisdom saving throw against the caster’s spell save DC (for example, DC 15). Two guards fail while the steward succeeds. One guard perceives a trusted captain, the other a beloved sibling, and the steward sees the caster’s actual face. The Bard has Advantage on relevant Deception or Persuasion checks against the fooled guards; none is magically ordered to open the gates. The effect requires Concentration and can last for up to 10 minutes. A witness with Truesight recognises the caster and cannot be deceived by this glamour.

Pathfinder 1e — optional conversion

An 8th-level Witch casts Masque as a 4th-level spell. The Close range is 25 + 5 × 4 = 45 feet, the duration is 8 minutes, and the caster may select up to eight living observers who can see her. Each gets a Will save and spell resistance. The Witch gains a +5 circumstance bonus on Bluff and Diplomacy checks that exploit the false identity. This does not give the source’s extra-spell save DC stacking to Pathfinder characters.

D&D 3.5e / Legacy d20 — preserved source

At caster level 8, the original descriptive text allows up to sixteen observers (twice caster level) to be affected, although its stat line separately says “1 Target”. For this campaign’s playable default, use the explicit description and give each observer its own Will save and spell resistance; the 60-foot observer limit is a separately marked GM clarification, not a value printed in the source. The original duration is 8 minutes and an affected Witch’s Bluff/Diplomacy checks gain +5 as the source specifies.

Mythical Context

In Homer’s Odyssey, Athena disguises Odysseus as an aged wanderer before he returns to his own home. She later restores his appearance before Telemachus, whose astonishment shows how completely a trusted face can be transformed. Masque uses the related idea of hidden identity, but turns it inside out: rather than changing the wearer’s real form, it makes each observer supply a different beloved visage from memory.

Homer, Odyssey Book 13 — Athena disguises Odysseus · Book 16 — his appearance restored

Historical Context

In European masquerades, masks and costume obscured identities and offered temporary freedom from ordinary social expectations. The later Venetian bauta could include a cloak and face covering that concealed the wearer’s features and status. An eighteenth-century pastel portrait by Rosalba Carriera depicts Gustavus Hamilton in masquerade costume, preserving a material example of this practice. It illustrates social disguise rather than any genuine magic.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Gustavus Hamilton in Masquerade Costume (1730–31) · The Met — history of Venetian masks

Related Magic

Rules Sources and Licensing

Legacy original: “Masque (False Visage)”, Liber Mysterium: The Netbook of Witches and Warlocks (2003), p. 146; compiled by Timothy S. Brannan and the Netbook of Witches Team. This third-party d20 work predates the official 3.5 revision. The source’s target-count inconsistency and absence of a listed range are disclosed rather than silently attributed to the core 3.5 rules. Original source-book transcription.

Optional edition conversions: the separate 2024, 2014 and Pathfinder 1e adaptations on this page are original playable game designs, not official named spells. The modern versions use those editions’ familiar saving throw, illusion, Concentration and Advantage concepts as set out in Wizards of the Coast SRD 5.2.1 and SRD 5.1 (CC BY 4.0); the Pathfinder conversion uses the Pathfinder 1e core mechanics (OGL 1.0a). No official spell mechanics are falsely assigned to the title Masque.

Legacy game mechanics and licence: the 2003 source identifies Open Game Content under Open Game License v1.0a. The full inherited licence and copyright notices are reproduced below. The original illustration, newly authored edition conversions, examples and historical/mythical commentary are not designated as new third-party Open Game Content.

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