New Feat: Deceptive Spellcasting

jodyjohnson

Adventurer
Not sure if this exists already in some form, but the weakness of the illusion school seem to call for it - somewhat related to the boost to Conj (summoning) with Augmented Summoning. Specifically targetted at foiling Spellcraft checks and Detection magic.

Deceptive Spellcasting [General]

Prerequisites: Spell Focus (Illusion), 1+ Rank in Spellcraft
Benefit: When casting illusion spells you may disguise them as other spells and produce ongoing illusion effects which detect as something other than illusion school.

When casting an illusion spell with the (shadow) subschool the caster may make a Spellcraft check to set the Spellcraft DC for correctly identifying the spell as an illusion (shadow). An opposed check which beats the normal Spellcraft DC (15+spell level) but is less than the illusion caster's check will be identified as Conjuration or Evocation spell duplicated (or of the illusionist's choosing for other effects). 5 Ranks in Bluff add a +2 synergy bonus to the caster's check. A shadow spell effect that duplicates a specific evocation or conjuration spell gains an additional +2 circumstance bonus.

Any illusion spells with a duration other than instaneous may be given an aura other than illusion school and a strength equal to or lower than actual (including non-magical). This effect is similar to that granted by the 1st level Magic Aura spell. Unlike that spell, a Will save is sufficient to correctly read the aura as Illusion rather than the specified school by any spell able to read magical auras. The Will save DC is set by the original spell. Setting the magic strength to non-magical lowers the Will save DC by 2.

This does not change any other properties of the spell and only effects Detection spells that give the school and strength of nearby spells (including Detect Magic, Arcane Sight, Greater Arcane Sight, and Analyse Dweomer). Analyse Dweomer is sufficient to foil this ability for unattended spells without a save. Spells effective on a target still gain the normal save allowed for Analyse Dweomer.
 

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Seems like a cool feat to me.

If I had any characters interested in Illusion I would allow it IMC. Perhaps, I could use it to make some surprises for the players down the road in the campaign, when Shadow Weave spellcasters will become common antagonists ;)
 

Could a form of this be available to other spellcasters? I mean, what if you're a conjuror/evoker and would like to trick your opponents into thinking that you've just conjured some illusionary foes and nothing more?
 

Odd! Jody, for a second I thought that I might know you. So I clicked on your profile (something I never really do) and discovered that, though I don't know you, we've got the same birthday!
 

I like the idea quite a lot!

I'd prolly make it a simple opposed check, Bluff vs. Spellcraft... er... maybe simply opposed Spellcraft?
 

Tuzenbach said:
Could a form of this be available to other spellcasters? I mean, what if you're a conjuror/evoker and would like to trick your opponents into thinking that you've just conjured some illusionary foes and nothing more?

I think the presense of the feat would introduce enough uncertainty to benefit Conjurer/Evocation spells since they could always be disguised Illusion (shadow) spells. With a mere Spellcraft check you couldn't be sure that a Conj/Evocation was actually not an illusion. No need to get the feat although mixing both real and illusory effects is the strongest deception.

For lasting effects I'd prefer to see a spell in line with Magic Aura and Misdirection that would grant an ongoing deceptive aura to an ongoing spell effect. Magic Aura and Misdirection seem to cover object and creatures - probably 3rd to 5th level depending on duration. Definately it would be a part of the Illusion school (glamer?).
 
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the Jester said:
I like the idea quite a lot!

I'd prolly make it a simple opposed check, Bluff vs. Spellcraft... er... maybe simply opposed Spellcraft?

For foiling Spellcraft it is an opposed Spellcraft check with bonuses similar to those gained by the 'Improved' Combat Manuever feats. +2 for duplicated spells, +2 for synergy with Bluff, maybe add +2 synergy with Sleight of Hand for spells with Somatic components.

It might mean that for the dedicated Illusionist he'd want Skill Focus (Spellcraft), Magical Aptitude, Spell Focus (Illusion) and Deceptive Spellcasting. This would put the opposed Spellcraft check at a possible +11 in his favor against an opponent not focused on Spellcraft (not accessible until 7th due to crossclass skills Bluff and Sleight of Hand).
 

Tuzenbach said:
Odd! Jody, for a second I thought that I might know you. So I clicked on your profile (something I never really do) and discovered that, though I don't know you, we've got the same birthday!

Happy One Week Belated Birthday!
 


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