Going by RAW the Tortle, as it exists in Monsters of the Multiverse, is not mentioned with a tail and the artwork used there doesn't show one either. Most descriptions out there only mention a "small" tail as well, if they do mention one. Ask your DM how they would rule on that.
You might need to ask your DM to rule on Limbs and Shell Defense as well. RAW the Disguise Self spell notes "You can't change your body type, so you must adopt a form that has the same basic arrangement of limbs." and Shell Defense notes "You can withdraw into your shell as an action" and "While in your shell" in it's wording. So Shell Defense doesn't note that your limbs are withdrawn, but it notes that you are "in" your shell. However, you do, of course, still have those limbs and the shell is essentially a part of your body. So I think RAW could go a few different ways on this. Either it's interpreted as you not having your limbs (possibly including head) when withdrawn into the shell and the "disguise self" spell is unable to show anything more than a limbless (possibly headless) human torso lying on the ground or it's interpreted as you having your limbs and you look like a human on the ground with their arms, legs and head tucked in tightly.
Also note that you can choose to be a "small" creature when you take tortle, but humans are "medium". Disguise Self notes that you can appear 1 foot taller but RAW says you can't change your body type so you might be restricted to appearing as a human child or trying to pass off as a midget unless you pick to be a "medium" size Tortle.
The picture of a tortle on page 244 of Mord. Monster of the Multiverse has a tail. Tome of Foes uses the same picture.
Yes, the one in the race section does not clearly show either way (it is loaded down with gear on the back). But the other picture is very clear, they have a tail.
Tortles should not be capable of turning into a human, etc. They are much closer in body type to dragonborn, lizardfolk and kobolds anyway.
From Jeremy on the tail of a tiefling he writes: Q: Disguise Self says “must adopt a form that has the same basic arrangement of limbs." Is a tiefling’s tail a limb? A: A tiefling's tail isn't considered a limb; it's not prehensile https://twitter.com/jeremyecrawford/status/694949841059774465?lang=en
Obviously, JC Twitters (outside the compendium) is not Official rulings but going into the RAW lawyering, a non-prehensile tail is not a "limb" as the spell specifies.
Other details about "body type" with regards to the tortle's shell would all need to be DM ruling but if the spell can hide a non-prehensile tail, give or take up to a foot of height, make you appear thinner or... thicker and even grant additional clothing such as a hat, I see no reason why a medium size tortle couldn't appear as a medium human following RAW
EDIT: Obviously this is opinion based but I believe the RAI on "Disguise Self" is that they want players to be capable of changing their appearance to other humanoid creatures, but they don't want the spell to be capable of simulating additional limbs such as wings or extra arms that could wave, flap or appear to perform conscious actions and they don't want the spell to be capable of showing illusionary arms while your real arms turn invisible and interact with objects, possibly making them float around, or a prehensile tail doing the same. They also don't intend for it to be used to look like a non-humanoid beast, much smaller or larger creature or an object (other than maybe a humanoid statue).
Either way I feel like that sidesteps the OP's question. They could have just as easily asked what it looks like while they are disguised as a tiefling or whatever race would be considered compatible.
I would say it looks like the player layed down on the ground with their arms and legs tucked under them.
I continue to believe that it is something you should ask your DM about.
Completely agree a DM ruling ALWAYS trumps any written rules. I only debate on the RAW lawyering. Obviously DnD rules are not complete world or physics settings and a DM can override for their game on what they believe to be Rules as Intended, Rules as Fun, common sense, better gameplay or because they damn well said so ;)
But there might be some RAW to be debated on the tortle's Limbs being withdrawn. Never-the-less I think RAI would agree with a human lying down, arms and head tucked in tight.
Or you look like a human with arms, legs, and head that somehow inverted into their torso with fingers, toes, and hair sticking out of the torso. That'd be a fun one to roleplay!
Im now imagining a human just walking around and then like a ninja turtle popping back into its shell but the disguse spell showing this torso with its limbs sucked inward
I continue to believe that it is something you should ask your DM about.
Well yes, obviously. I also believe that these kinds of situations are the DMs ruling, of course, but I was interested in the opinion of the interwebz just for the hell of it...
Interesting discussion of the use of disguise self and how it works, thanks!
Or you look like a human with arms, legs, and head that somehow inverted into their torso with fingers, toes, and hair sticking out of the torso. That'd be a fun one to roleplay!
Now that I think of it, since a turtles arms, legs and head is "sucked" into its body with the skin overlapping this might be my favourite!
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Hellu
I have a tortle sorcerer that uses shell defence while looking like a human with disguise self.
How would that look like?
Tortles have a tail. They cannot use Disgtuise Self to look like a human ("same basic arrangement of limbs")
You could manage a Lizardfolk, dragonborn, kobold, or other upright creatures that have 4 limbs, a head and a tail.
If you did a lizardfolk or dragonborn, you would look like you were crouched on the floor all curled up with your hands and legs in tight.
Going by RAW the Tortle, as it exists in Monsters of the Multiverse, is not mentioned with a tail and the artwork used there doesn't show one either. Most descriptions out there only mention a "small" tail as well, if they do mention one. Ask your DM how they would rule on that.
You might need to ask your DM to rule on Limbs and Shell Defense as well. RAW the Disguise Self spell notes "You can't change your body type, so you must adopt a form that has the same basic arrangement of limbs." and Shell Defense notes "You can withdraw into your shell as an action" and "While in your shell" in it's wording. So Shell Defense doesn't note that your limbs are withdrawn, but it notes that you are "in" your shell. However, you do, of course, still have those limbs and the shell is essentially a part of your body. So I think RAW could go a few different ways on this. Either it's interpreted as you not having your limbs (possibly including head) when withdrawn into the shell and the "disguise self" spell is unable to show anything more than a limbless (possibly headless) human torso lying on the ground or it's interpreted as you having your limbs and you look like a human on the ground with their arms, legs and head tucked in tightly.
Also note that you can choose to be a "small" creature when you take tortle, but humans are "medium". Disguise Self notes that you can appear 1 foot taller but RAW says you can't change your body type so you might be restricted to appearing as a human child or trying to pass off as a midget unless you pick to be a "medium" size Tortle.
The picture of a tortle on page 244 of Mord. Monster of the Multiverse has a tail. Tome of Foes uses the same picture.
Yes, the one in the race section does not clearly show either way (it is loaded down with gear on the back). But the other picture is very clear, they have a tail.
Tortles should not be capable of turning into a human, etc. They are much closer in body type to dragonborn, lizardfolk and kobolds anyway.
Then we'll have to rely on a combination of definition and Jeremy Crawford Twitters.
A tail is not considered a "limb" unless it is jointed or prehensile (capable of grabbing). Most tails in the animal kingdom don't fit this description.
https://www.britannica.com/science/tail-zoology
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/limb
From Jeremy on the tail of a tiefling he writes:
Q: Disguise Self says “must adopt a form that has the same basic arrangement of limbs." Is a tiefling’s tail a limb?
A: A tiefling's tail isn't considered a limb; it's not prehensile
https://twitter.com/jeremyecrawford/status/694949841059774465?lang=en
Obviously, JC Twitters (outside the compendium) is not Official rulings but going into the RAW lawyering, a non-prehensile tail is not a "limb" as the spell specifies.
Other details about "body type" with regards to the tortle's shell would all need to be DM ruling but if the spell can hide a non-prehensile tail, give or take up to a foot of height, make you appear thinner or... thicker and even grant additional clothing such as a hat, I see no reason why a medium size tortle couldn't appear as a medium human following RAW
EDIT: Obviously this is opinion based but I believe the RAI on "Disguise Self" is that they want players to be capable of changing their appearance to other humanoid creatures, but they don't want the spell to be capable of simulating additional limbs such as wings or extra arms that could wave, flap or appear to perform conscious actions and they don't want the spell to be capable of showing illusionary arms while your real arms turn invisible and interact with objects, possibly making them float around, or a prehensile tail doing the same. They also don't intend for it to be used to look like a non-humanoid beast, much smaller or larger creature or an object (other than maybe a humanoid statue).
That is a much better argument ACEspinz. I concede that it is not a clear cut case.
I continue to believe that it is something you should ask your DM about.
Either way I feel like that sidesteps the OP's question. They could have just as easily asked what it looks like while they are disguised as a tiefling or whatever race would be considered compatible.
I would say it looks like the player layed down on the ground with their arms and legs tucked under them.
I would also say it looks like a person in a fetal position.
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Completely agree a DM ruling ALWAYS trumps any written rules. I only debate on the RAW lawyering. Obviously DnD rules are not complete world or physics settings and a DM can override for their game on what they believe to be Rules as Intended, Rules as Fun, common sense, better gameplay or because they damn well said so ;)
But there might be some RAW to be debated on the tortle's Limbs being withdrawn. Never-the-less I think RAI would agree with a human lying down, arms and head tucked in tight.
Or you look like a human with arms, legs, and head that somehow inverted into their torso with fingers, toes, and hair sticking out of the torso. That'd be a fun one to roleplay!
Im now imagining a human just walking around and then like a ninja turtle popping back into its shell but the disguse spell showing this torso with its limbs sucked inward
Well yes, obviously. I also believe that these kinds of situations are the DMs ruling, of course, but I was interested in the opinion of the interwebz just for the hell of it...
Interesting discussion of the use of disguise self and how it works, thanks!
Now that I think of it, since a turtles arms, legs and head is "sucked" into its body with the skin overlapping this might be my favourite!