So, I came across an incident where a forge was mass producing weapons for Tiamat's armies. The PCs went to investigate and found out where the smithing was done only dwarves and wizards were allowed in by the guards. So, they went into an alley cast an illusion spell that allowed each of them to be disguised as dwarves. It was only an illusion though, and so they walked into the factory and I said some audible alarms starting going off as they got halfway into the forge. One of the PCs is a former DM and he looked at me and asked me, really how's that happening?
So, question... Alarm spell vs. a ritual illusory spell? If a magical alarm is coded to go off to non dwarven creatures, should Alarm be triggered by creatures magically looking like dwarven creatures. I made the executive ruling that alarm could detect the make up of the source creature. The wizard in the party uses alarm to guard their camp against anyone that isn't a party member. So, he's telling me that if another wizard use major image or other illusory magic to look like one of the party members, they could come in, cast a Delayed blast fireball while they are all sleeping, then walk out and wait for the fireball to go off?
Should illusions be able to thwart alarm or other detection spells? I think of it this way. Would detect magic detect that the PCs are shrouded in illusionary magic? Would detect good and evil detect the alignment of the PCs or the illusion the PCs are projecting (e.g. if they did a demonic illusion of themselves, would detect good and evil show them as evil-their projection, or good, their innate character development?)
If it's their innate character, I felt alarm would work the same. It would detect the actual creature not the magic the creature is shrouded in. Now, support coming to fight the intruders will need some type of magic or perception check to validate they aren't dwarves that look like other dwarves.... That will be a whole another issue. The PCs at a minimum will get a surprise round to decide what to do as the room fills with enemies looking for the intruders.
So, question... Alarm spell vs. a ritual illusory spell? If a magical alarm is coded to go off to non dwarven creatures, should Alarm be triggered by creatures magically looking like dwarven creatures. I made the executive ruling that alarm could detect the make up of the source creature. The wizard in the party uses alarm to guard their camp against anyone that isn't a party member. So, he's telling me that if another wizard use major image or other illusory magic to look like one of the party members, they could come in, cast a Delayed blast fireball while they are all sleeping, then walk out and wait for the fireball to go off?
Should illusions be able to thwart alarm or other detection spells? I think of it this way. Would detect magic detect that the PCs are shrouded in illusionary magic? Would detect good and evil detect the alignment of the PCs or the illusion the PCs are projecting (e.g. if they did a demonic illusion of themselves, would detect good and evil show them as evil-their projection, or good, their innate character development?)
If it's their innate character, I felt alarm would work the same. It would detect the actual creature not the magic the creature is shrouded in. Now, support coming to fight the intruders will need some type of magic or perception check to validate they aren't dwarves that look like other dwarves.... That will be a whole another issue. The PCs at a minimum will get a surprise round to decide what to do as the room fills with enemies looking for the intruders.