fbmf wrote:
Illusion Magic: I Don't Believe This Crap
<SNIP>
In the end, it's a mess because the current rules can be made to do amazing things by creative people, but those amazing things break the level system and that means that DMs are forced to punish players for their creativity, thus hurting everyone. That being said, here are some playable rules regarding illusions that won't cause you to stab out your own eyes.
Anyone want to speculate on what this would look like?
Game On,
fbmf
I guess this is heavy thread Necromancy, but since the thread is up here, let me take a shot at this...
I just ran a session as DM where two wizards took on a gadgeteer by creating a Major Image of a small town on fire with people in it, leading him into a house to administer medical attention, illusioned closing the door and creating darkness while using Wall of Stone to trap him in a half-sphere (he chose not to jump out the "door" so I ruled he got no reflex save to escape the Wall of Stone prison), and also throwing a Cloudkill into the area. He eventually got out using the Teleport Pump.
I think that might be stretching what a 3rd level spell should do (especially compared with, say, Mirage Arcana). Since plot powers leave much to be desired, and a combat spell needs limitations (no leaves fluttering around opponents that can't be interacted with, for example), how about this:
Minor Image
Illusion (Figment, Mind-Affecting)
Level: Brd 1, Sor/Wiz 1
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close
Effect: Visual figment that cannot extend beyond one 10-ft. cube
Duration: Concentration
Saving Throw: Will disbelief
Spell Resistance: No
This spell creates the visual illusion of a single object or creature, as visualized by you. You can move the image anywhere within range. If a person believes the illusion is fake for any reason, they get a will save to disbelieve it, after which the illusion appears transparent to them - they can focus on the illusion to see it, or not, as a free action.
Moderate Image
Illusion (Figment, Mind-Affecting)
Level: Brd 2, Sor/Wiz 3
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Medium
Effect: Visual figment that cannot extend beyond one 10-ft. cube per caster level
Duration: Concentration + 1 round
Saving Throw: Will disbelief
Spell Resistance: No
This spell creates the visual and audible illusion of one object or creature per caster level within the are of effect, as visualized by you. You can move the image anywhere within range. If a person believes the illusion is fake for any reason, they get a will save to disbelieve it, after which the illusion appears transparent to them - they can focus on the illusion to see it and hear it; or not, as a free action.
Major Image
Illusion (Figment, Mind-Affecting)
Level: Brd 3, Sor/Wiz 5
Components: V, S, F
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Long
Effect: Visual figment that cannot extend beyond one 10-ft. cube per caster level + five 10-ft. cubes
Duration: Concentration + 3 rounds
Saving Throw: Will disbelief
Spell Resistance: No
This spell creates the visual, audible and partially tactile illusion of a single object or creature per caster level within the area of effect, as visualized by you. If touched, the illusion feels real, but the effect is completely in the mind of the person touching the illusion, and it cannot actually cause harm to anyone. You can move the image anywhere within range. If a person believes the illusion is fake for any reason, they get a will save to disbelieve it, after which the illusion appears transparent to them - they can focus on the illusion to see it, hear it, and feel it; or not, as a free action.
I realize it's far from perfect, but I hope that it's better than what we currently have. This is a nerf, but it's what I imagine the image spells are actually supposed to do. PEACH.