I will probably have a lot of disagreement on this, but I can't seem to let this passion go on what would seem to me very flawed/contradictory rulings.
The ruling that was brought to my attention can be found: viewtopic.php?f=23&t=21795&start=75#p309434
If I am understanding this correctly, you are expected to just be blind/ignore face models when outing someone's lazy disguise if you did not pass the spot check.
For me this blatantly breaks WYSIWYG. It's cool to have extra details in your descriptions, but in the past it was optional to accept any RP/description that was not plainly there for a player to see (like a player may choose to accept a monster race attempting to disguise, but that are not expected too). If your headmodel is blonde, and your describe yourself as a redhead; I shouldn't be expected to memorize how you described yourself as as a redhead would be a more relevant example. But if you are disguised, then I suddenly am? If you are too far for me to a get a description from examining and doing a crime, can I not as a play describe what I plainly saw in a report? Descriptions should not supercede WYSIYG, yet we are expected to have hair/face amnesia if we do not pass a spot check.
Now to be fair neither the ruling of WYSIWYG nor any rules are covered under the 5 rules mentioned on
https://nwnarelith.com/index.php/faq
But reference to the wiki is under “what do I need to know before roleplaying” although only mentioning custom changes not roleplay/rules standards.
When clicking the link to the wiki and then the link for disguises: https://wiki.nwnarelith.com/Disguise
This page does not say anywhere about ignoring faces, but very strongly re-inforces WYSIWYG multiple times including in bold: “ -disguise means that people should ignore the floaty name over your head, but does NOT let you ignore what your avatar physically looks like.”
I know wiki can be edited and is not always directly from staff making rules or new rulings, so I had to go fish up forums posting (which you arn't directly at for rules at all on the arelith FAQ and there is to my frustration no 'rules thread' just 'reminders' of already existing rules and I am having troubles finding the origin of the rules at certain times) and was not succesful. In fact due to the forums limiting how often I can do searches, I stopped in frustration in trying to find the original ruling for ignoring faces or WYSIWYG within the forums (the reminder from Grumpy cat that I referenced does not link such).
(relevant because a player might not find all the hidden specific clause rules, and perhaps that is something else we should address as we perhaps streamline our rules our bare minimum rules).
I bring this up because the post I linked earlier about ignored faces when not spotting someone's disguise (can't this be abused ust like if we all given the face change command like we were shapeshifters only people with access to magic and fantasy level makeup?) say it is up to the player who might accidentally out someone to cover themselves with screenshots. This is heavy burden for someone calling out a lazy disguise. I myself don't process descriptions well and already avoid guard RP due to not able to physically describe people well, but now if I managed to pull off a great description, the face part of someone's description becomes mute? This is all very contrary and keeps adding more burden on the spotter. If it's punitive, the burden of proof should be the on disguising. If I don't mechanically spot that you are disguised, then I was able to tell you were that person be it how you talk or not enough change of outfit, etc. If it was truly indeed your face that gave you away, then am I not allowed to engage in RP of falsely calling people out? Am I not allowed to be crazy and accuse everyone of being a known criminal even if faces don't match out of paranoia? Having someone with similar faces is a two sided coin creates more RP opportunity. Like you could send someone in with the same face to be mistakenly grabbed as a distraction while you slip in, etc. You could even disguise your self as someone with a similar face try to falsify crime on their identity. Furthermore, if someone picks an uncommon face or has hotpink hair, do we just ignore WYSIYG here too? It seems silly too.
After reading the wiki section of disguises, perhaps Grumpy was not saying that all of the burden is on the person outing the disguiser, but they should cover themselves just like both sides should in any disagreement. I am totally fine with that, if that is the case. Clarification here is appreciated. Either way, I think full ignoring faces is a bit extreme.
I would like to have these two ruling, rules I can't even find the original ruling made except for on the wiki which heavily favours WYSIWYG and NOT ignoring faces, not only reconciled but also perhaps streamlined into some clear and concise accessible thing for players. Because they are not covered at all under Arelith's five rules.