3.5 illusion spell suggestions

[ShortBus]

I don't usually run wizards but I have run one or two in my day. Mostly they have been more evokers or guys that make things go boom! I'm looking to change it up a bit and run a illusionist under 3.5 rules. I would love some suggestions on the most effective lower level illusion spells as well some creative uses.

I also only have the main 3.5 books. Are there any official wotc publications that have some cool illusion spells?

Thanks!

 

[Vorput]

I'd ask this in the 3.5 rules forum- you'll probably get more responses.

Link: http://www.enworld.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=3

 

[ShortBus]

Really? I looked at the various forums and this question seemed broad and general enough for this forum to me.

 

[blargney the second]

I gather being a gnome shadowcraft mage is a good way to go.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

I gather being a gnome shadowcraft mage is a good way to go.

Heh, yeah. Silent Image becomes the best spell ever.

Shadowcraft Mage Handbook - Wizards Community

Soon as my new game gets underway, I'll be trying a version of the build, via cleric. Staying away from the just plain dirty abuses, in order to keep the game fun for everyone.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

To actually answer the OP's question, Spell Compendium has some awesome choices. My favorites, for both humor and effectiveness:

Shadow Well: Sucks them into the plane of shadow, for a round at a time, till they make their save and come back (scared). Good fun, and at level 4, a poor man's Maze.

Illusory Pit: Makes the subject think he's falling down an infinite chasm, as he writhes around in hillarious fashion on the ground.

Solipsism: level 7, effectively a Will save or die (completely helpless for round/level), it's both effective and a funny/cruel jab at an actual philosophical outlook.

 

[Lanefan]

Can't speak for 3.5, but my 3.0 Illusionist made her living with Colour Spray at low level. Hypnotic Pattern next, along with the various Images, Invisibility, and utility stuff e.g. buffs. That lot should get you through until you start picking up the fun 4th-5th level spells...

And that's just from the core books. If your DM allows other stuff then go to town!

To make her more true to the original Illusionist I made Evokation her banned school...yes it's not the best choice, but Illusionists shouldn't be able to blow things up for real.

Lanefan

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

Actually, it seems a common consensus on char op forums that evocation is the worst school and the best one to drop as a specialist.

I personally always loved evocation and don't agree. Just saying, it's debatable if giving it up is "not the best choice."

 

[Spatula]

Illusion and enchantment are probably the weakest schools, since there's large classes of foes they won't work on. On top of that, pretty much every enchantment spell is negated by a 1st level protection from X. And once one foe makes his save vs an illusion, all his friends get a new save with a bonus. Illusions are best used to divert and misdirect foes, but it takes a lot of imagination and thinking on your feet (and a willing DM) to make that effective. Although it sounds like the SC has some interesting new general-purpose illusion spells.

Evocation isn't a particularly strong school because of monster HP inflation, but at least it's reliable.

 

[ShortBus]

thanks for the feedback guys. I haven't played an illusionist since my college days.. *cough* in the 80s *cough*. I just wasn't sure if they have changed much