Chameleon
From the OblivioWiki – your guide to everything Oblivion
Chameleon is an Illusion governed spell-effect that allows the user to blend into surroundings as not to be seen. The user may attack and use objects for the duration of the effect (as opposed to Invisibility). Magnitude ranges from 1-100% and spells with Chameleon effects are only available to players with a Journeyman level in Illusion Magic.
Chameleon's spell effect decreases the chance that you will be detected. Getting a total Chameleon effect of 100% or greater(by effect of spells, stacked enchantments, or both) will grant total invisibility that works even without sneaking. While chameleon is rather magicka expensive, invisibility is not. A patient player can use invisibility to move around, cast a short-duration 100% chameleon spell, pull a lever, make an attack or whatever else needs to be done, and then recast the invisibility spell before the chameleon effect has worn off. Magicka can be regenerated while maintaining invisibility if your willpower and intelligence are high enough to do so.
It can almost be considered an exploit to enchant a set of equipment to provide constant 100% chameleon, because once you equip it, NPCs mostly ignore you. There are exceptions, of course. With 100% chameleon you can still talk to NPCs, and NPCs who would normally walk up to you to prompt you with something will still do so. It also does not provide perfect capacity to pickpocket. Pickpocketing ability is greatly enhanced, but you may still be detected. On the other hand, stealing things or trespassing can be done with impunity. Likewise, attacking people in public will no longer cause the guards to come after you, or place a bounty on your head, however talking to the guards will prompt them into attacking you and they will be able to see through your chameleon until you hide and remove and replace your armour. Rather than fighting you, most NPCs will either run to the nearest guard, or stand around doing nothing (consequently, nearly anything can be killed despite your level). On occasion, they will draw their weapons as if to attack you, or move towards you, but they won't attack you. However, if you are caught pickpocketing an NPC they will be aware of you and will be able to detect you even if you sneak, leaving the room and re-entering wont help either, to become invisible to them again, remove the effecting armour, wait a few hours and replace the armour, the NPC should be unaware once more. You are able to pickpocket any of the dremora soldiers in oblivion without them actually detecting you. If you are caught you can constantly pickpocket until you get items.
This is not invincibility, however. Traps will still affect you, of which the most notable are the fire shooting traps in a plane of Oblivion. Despite your invisibility, they retain the ability to shoot fireballs at you. However, since traps don't chase you, and can usually be avoided or disarmed, an observant player should have no difficulty completing nearly anything without needing to save, and should be able to do so much more quickly than without the chameleon effect.
I had chameleon constant effect 180%, and on the hardest difficulty was detected once.
Once the character has been detected, the spell effect does not improve combat defense (ie, it does not incorporate the Sanctuary effect seen in previous Elder Scrolls games).
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[edit] Ingredients that can cause Chameleon
Unless the ingredient has Chameleon as its first effect, the ingredient must be combined with other related ingredients via Alchemy to make a potion that has the Chameleon effect.
Chameleon Spells
Chameleon
Skill level: Journeyman (50)
Spell Effects: Chameleon 25% for 30 secs. on Self
Magicka Cost: 116
Shroudwalk
Skill level: Journeyman (50)
Spell Effects: Chameleon 15% for 30 secs. on Self
Magicka Cost: 98
Shadow
Skill level: Expert (75)
Spell Effects: Chameleon 50% for 30 secs. on Self
Magicka Cost: 282
Cloak
Skill level: Master (100)
Spell Effects: 75% for 30 secs. on Self
Magicka Cost: 474
