[Edit] - I have added a new series of abilities. I've expanded the prestige class to 10 levels and bumped up the prereqs.
The Illusion
"It's a corridor!" Lidda spat for the fifth time, "An empty corridor! I've checked the walls, I've checked the floor, Mialee detected magic on the whole sheebang, I've smelled it, prodded it with that ten foot pole Krusk insisted on carrying around, and done everything but walk on it. Anything that can get past that kind of inspection deserves to catch us!"
Nebin shook his head, then approached the line he had demanded Lidda not cross in her inspections. He knew she was thorough, but this still wasn't right.
"There are ways to foil even the best of trap-finders," he said quietly. Lidda's anger drained from her, Nebin was almost never quiet or solemn. He walked up to the line, extended his hand, and splayed his fingers. He balled his hand into a fist, then drew it back, as if he were gripping something and ripping it away.
The others gasped, as what had been a well-lit corridor turned into a deep chasm. Lidda turned white.
"I had no idea, the illusion was perfect."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The devil howled in mirth as Krusk's greataxe merely bounced off his magic-imbued hide. The infernal powers of the Pit wouldn't let such puny magics harm him. He laughed again when he saw a small group of identical spell casters all point their crossbows at him. A mirror image spell, how quaint! He snarled at them, and began to leap.
Began, no more. All of the "illusions" let their crossbow bolts fly at the same time. In shock and surprise, he looked down at himself, peppered with crossbow bolts, infernal blood streaking his flanks. His surprise was such he didn't see the halfling that stabbed him in the back.
Gnomes have a natural knack for illusion magic. Those who follow the path of the wizard usually continue to build on this, becoming specialist wizards. However some can even go farther. Illusions (particularly figments), even the most powerful of them, tend to become static if not tended by someone. But some can improve upon this, creating illusions so perfect that few discover the disception until it's too late.
Taught only to the most dedicated of gnomes, The Illusions are master craftsmen of their Art. The majority of Illusions are wizards, with a few sorcerers and even fewer bards in their ranks. Their love of illusion magic constantly drives them to create the perfect illusion. Usually a bit more sober and serious than other gnomes due to their extensive devotion to their Art, nevertheless their excellent illusions are in high demand for practical jokes. Most Illusions are quite willing to oblige, if for nothing else to have a guinea pig for their latest creation.
In general, most potential Illusions were noticed by another Illusion and tutored in the ways of this Art. However a few have discovered this path by sheer determination and persevereance.
Some Illusions have been known to find employment in making mazes for the eccentric, helping with vault security for the wealthy, or even entertaining the masses.
Hit Dice: d4
Requirements
To qualify to become an Illusion, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Race: Gnome
Skills: Spellcraft +9, Craft (any)* +9, Knowledge (Arcana) +9
Feats: Spell Focus (Illusion), Any one metamagic feat
Spells: Able to cast 4th level arcane spells, including five illusion spells
Special: Must have created a new illusion spell. If a wizard, must not have Illusion as a barred school.
*An Illusion treats his illusions as art, and as such often uses real Craft skills to make his illusions more lifelike. See below.
Class Skills:
The Illusion's class skills and key ability score for each skill are Alchemy (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge (all skills taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), Scry (Int), and Spellcraft (Int)
Skill Points: 2 + Int mod per level
Lvl..BAB...Fort..Ref..Will...Special
1....+0....+0....+0...+2.....Life Imitates Art, Greater Spell Focus, Barred School
2....+1....+0....+0...+3.....Weapons of Illusion (personal)
3....+1....+1....+1...+3.....It's All In The Mind
4....+2....+1....+1...+4.....Metamagic Mastery
5....+2....+1....+1...+4.....Weapons of Illusion (loanble)
6....+3....+2....+2...+5.....Glorious Glamers, Faithful Figments
7....+3....+2...+2....+5.....
8....+4....+2...+2....+6.....Weapons of Illusion (mirror image)
9....+4....+3...+3....+6.....
10..+5....+3...+3....+7.....Illusion Eyes, Rending
Class Features
All the following are class features of the Illusion prestige class.
Weapon and armor proficiencies: Illusions gain no additional proficiency in any weapon or armor.
Spells per day: When a new Illusion level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class he belonged to before adding the prestige class. (And you should all know the drill for adding spellcasting levels by now, no bonus feats or familiar advancement).
Life Imitates Art: Any illusion spell that makes use of any image of something that could be created by the Craft skill the Illusion possesses gets a +2 to its DC. Note this applies any Craft skill in which he has +9 ranks in.
Greater Spell Focus: The Illusion's magic becomes even harder to resist. He gains the Greater Spell Focus (Illusion) feat.
Barred School: The Illusion must choose a barred school of spells, as he forsakes them to further focus on illusions. If he already has one barred school, he must choose another. The Illusion can never agains learn spells from that prohibited school or schools. He can still use the prohibited spells he knew prior to becoming an Illusion, including items that are activated by spell completion or spell trigger. He must choose (1) either Abjuration, Conjuration, Enchantment, Evocation, or Transmutation; or (2) both Divination and Necromancy.
Weapons of Illusion (personal): Similar to the spells shadow conjuration and shadow evocation, the Illusion can create a weapon out of shadowstuff. It can be any weapon he's proficient with. If it is a ranged weapon, it has 20 pieces of ammunition. The Will save upon a hit by the weapon is equal to that of the highest level Illusion spell the Illusion can cast. If the Will save is failed, the struck creature only takes 40% of the damage dealt. The weapon only exists for the Illusion, he cannot give it someone else. If the weapon is dropped and picked up by someone else, it dissolves. The Illusion may do this 1/day per every two levels (max 5 times), and the weapon lasts for 2 rounds/ 2 levels (max 10 rounds). Because the weapon is created from pure magic, it is treated as a sure striking weapon (able to bypass up to +5 damage reduction). Creating a weapon is a free action. Sp
Weapons of Illusion (loanable): Now the Illusion can share his illusionary weapons with allies. This is identical to the Weapons of the Illusion (personal), except that each creature designated as an ally by the Illusion can handle the weapon as if the Illusion were handling it (i.e. it's real for them). This is an extension of the above ability, not a separate ability (so this must come out of the times per day outlined above; duration as above as well).
Weapons of Illusion (mirror image): In the final evolution of his illusionary weapons, the Illusion can create illusions of himself, like the mirror image spell, armed with weapons of shadowstuff. 2d4 images are created, each armed with the same weapon of the Illusion's chosing (a weapon his is proficient with). These images cannot move more than that five feet away from each other or you (as per the mirror image spell). If you choose to attack, you and the images must attack targets within 10 feet of each other. They attack on your initiative, using your attack bonus. This facet of the Weapons of Illusion ability is more draining, and takes two of the uses per day.
Metamagic Mastery: Any metamagic feats applied to an Illusion spell has their level cost decreased by one, to a minimum level cost of +1.
It's All In The Mind: The Illusion can see through the illusions of others. +4 to saves against all spells of the Illusion school.
Glorious Glamers, Faithful Figments: All Illusion spells that require concentration now last (at the Illusion's option) for 3 rounds/level plus any additional time listed. They maintain any effects (flickering flames, moving shadows, voices, etc) that were set when the spell was first cast. Sp
Illusion Eyes: The Illusion spends so much time with illusions that he can learn to see through them. The Illusion is essentially under a constant true seeing spell for spells, spell-like abilities, magical effects, or supernatural abilities of the Illusion school (or that immitate Illusion spells). The caster level is equal to the Illusion's arcane caster level. Sp
Rending: The Illusion can banish other illusion effects with startling ease. He can cast greater dispelling in regards to spells, spell-like abilities, magical effects, or supernatural abilities of the Illusion school 3/day. The caster level is equal to the Illusion's arcane caster level. Sp
The Illusion
"It's a corridor!" Lidda spat for the fifth time, "An empty corridor! I've checked the walls, I've checked the floor, Mialee detected magic on the whole sheebang, I've smelled it, prodded it with that ten foot pole Krusk insisted on carrying around, and done everything but walk on it. Anything that can get past that kind of inspection deserves to catch us!"
Nebin shook his head, then approached the line he had demanded Lidda not cross in her inspections. He knew she was thorough, but this still wasn't right.
"There are ways to foil even the best of trap-finders," he said quietly. Lidda's anger drained from her, Nebin was almost never quiet or solemn. He walked up to the line, extended his hand, and splayed his fingers. He balled his hand into a fist, then drew it back, as if he were gripping something and ripping it away.
The others gasped, as what had been a well-lit corridor turned into a deep chasm. Lidda turned white.
"I had no idea, the illusion was perfect."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The devil howled in mirth as Krusk's greataxe merely bounced off his magic-imbued hide. The infernal powers of the Pit wouldn't let such puny magics harm him. He laughed again when he saw a small group of identical spell casters all point their crossbows at him. A mirror image spell, how quaint! He snarled at them, and began to leap.
Began, no more. All of the "illusions" let their crossbow bolts fly at the same time. In shock and surprise, he looked down at himself, peppered with crossbow bolts, infernal blood streaking his flanks. His surprise was such he didn't see the halfling that stabbed him in the back.
Gnomes have a natural knack for illusion magic. Those who follow the path of the wizard usually continue to build on this, becoming specialist wizards. However some can even go farther. Illusions (particularly figments), even the most powerful of them, tend to become static if not tended by someone. But some can improve upon this, creating illusions so perfect that few discover the disception until it's too late.
Taught only to the most dedicated of gnomes, The Illusions are master craftsmen of their Art. The majority of Illusions are wizards, with a few sorcerers and even fewer bards in their ranks. Their love of illusion magic constantly drives them to create the perfect illusion. Usually a bit more sober and serious than other gnomes due to their extensive devotion to their Art, nevertheless their excellent illusions are in high demand for practical jokes. Most Illusions are quite willing to oblige, if for nothing else to have a guinea pig for their latest creation.
In general, most potential Illusions were noticed by another Illusion and tutored in the ways of this Art. However a few have discovered this path by sheer determination and persevereance.
Some Illusions have been known to find employment in making mazes for the eccentric, helping with vault security for the wealthy, or even entertaining the masses.
Hit Dice: d4
Requirements
To qualify to become an Illusion, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Race: Gnome
Skills: Spellcraft +9, Craft (any)* +9, Knowledge (Arcana) +9
Feats: Spell Focus (Illusion), Any one metamagic feat
Spells: Able to cast 4th level arcane spells, including five illusion spells
Special: Must have created a new illusion spell. If a wizard, must not have Illusion as a barred school.
*An Illusion treats his illusions as art, and as such often uses real Craft skills to make his illusions more lifelike. See below.
Class Skills:
The Illusion's class skills and key ability score for each skill are Alchemy (Int), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge (all skills taken individually) (Int), Profession (Wis), Scry (Int), and Spellcraft (Int)
Skill Points: 2 + Int mod per level
Lvl..BAB...Fort..Ref..Will...Special
1....+0....+0....+0...+2.....Life Imitates Art, Greater Spell Focus, Barred School
2....+1....+0....+0...+3.....Weapons of Illusion (personal)
3....+1....+1....+1...+3.....It's All In The Mind
4....+2....+1....+1...+4.....Metamagic Mastery
5....+2....+1....+1...+4.....Weapons of Illusion (loanble)
6....+3....+2....+2...+5.....Glorious Glamers, Faithful Figments
7....+3....+2...+2....+5.....
8....+4....+2...+2....+6.....Weapons of Illusion (mirror image)
9....+4....+3...+3....+6.....
10..+5....+3...+3....+7.....Illusion Eyes, Rending
Class Features
All the following are class features of the Illusion prestige class.
Weapon and armor proficiencies: Illusions gain no additional proficiency in any weapon or armor.
Spells per day: When a new Illusion level is gained, the character gains new spells per day as if he had also gained a level in a spellcasting class he belonged to before adding the prestige class. (And you should all know the drill for adding spellcasting levels by now, no bonus feats or familiar advancement).
Life Imitates Art: Any illusion spell that makes use of any image of something that could be created by the Craft skill the Illusion possesses gets a +2 to its DC. Note this applies any Craft skill in which he has +9 ranks in.
Greater Spell Focus: The Illusion's magic becomes even harder to resist. He gains the Greater Spell Focus (Illusion) feat.
Barred School: The Illusion must choose a barred school of spells, as he forsakes them to further focus on illusions. If he already has one barred school, he must choose another. The Illusion can never agains learn spells from that prohibited school or schools. He can still use the prohibited spells he knew prior to becoming an Illusion, including items that are activated by spell completion or spell trigger. He must choose (1) either Abjuration, Conjuration, Enchantment, Evocation, or Transmutation; or (2) both Divination and Necromancy.
Weapons of Illusion (personal): Similar to the spells shadow conjuration and shadow evocation, the Illusion can create a weapon out of shadowstuff. It can be any weapon he's proficient with. If it is a ranged weapon, it has 20 pieces of ammunition. The Will save upon a hit by the weapon is equal to that of the highest level Illusion spell the Illusion can cast. If the Will save is failed, the struck creature only takes 40% of the damage dealt. The weapon only exists for the Illusion, he cannot give it someone else. If the weapon is dropped and picked up by someone else, it dissolves. The Illusion may do this 1/day per every two levels (max 5 times), and the weapon lasts for 2 rounds/ 2 levels (max 10 rounds). Because the weapon is created from pure magic, it is treated as a sure striking weapon (able to bypass up to +5 damage reduction). Creating a weapon is a free action. Sp
Weapons of Illusion (loanable): Now the Illusion can share his illusionary weapons with allies. This is identical to the Weapons of the Illusion (personal), except that each creature designated as an ally by the Illusion can handle the weapon as if the Illusion were handling it (i.e. it's real for them). This is an extension of the above ability, not a separate ability (so this must come out of the times per day outlined above; duration as above as well).
Weapons of Illusion (mirror image): In the final evolution of his illusionary weapons, the Illusion can create illusions of himself, like the mirror image spell, armed with weapons of shadowstuff. 2d4 images are created, each armed with the same weapon of the Illusion's chosing (a weapon his is proficient with). These images cannot move more than that five feet away from each other or you (as per the mirror image spell). If you choose to attack, you and the images must attack targets within 10 feet of each other. They attack on your initiative, using your attack bonus. This facet of the Weapons of Illusion ability is more draining, and takes two of the uses per day.
Metamagic Mastery: Any metamagic feats applied to an Illusion spell has their level cost decreased by one, to a minimum level cost of +1.
It's All In The Mind: The Illusion can see through the illusions of others. +4 to saves against all spells of the Illusion school.
Glorious Glamers, Faithful Figments: All Illusion spells that require concentration now last (at the Illusion's option) for 3 rounds/level plus any additional time listed. They maintain any effects (flickering flames, moving shadows, voices, etc) that were set when the spell was first cast. Sp
Illusion Eyes: The Illusion spends so much time with illusions that he can learn to see through them. The Illusion is essentially under a constant true seeing spell for spells, spell-like abilities, magical effects, or supernatural abilities of the Illusion school (or that immitate Illusion spells). The caster level is equal to the Illusion's arcane caster level. Sp
Rending: The Illusion can banish other illusion effects with startling ease. He can cast greater dispelling in regards to spells, spell-like abilities, magical effects, or supernatural abilities of the Illusion school 3/day. The caster level is equal to the Illusion's arcane caster level. Sp
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