can light pass thru illusionary wall?

[radferth]

Trying not to get into real-world physics, I generally rule that illusions (including invisibility) can hide the source of light, but not the illumination it provides. Thus, if someone is standing within 20' of a torch, but on the other side of an illusionary wall from the torch, he would be in full illumination, but not be able to see through the wall or tell where the light was coming from (unless he makes a save). This has always worked well for me in game, even though it makes no sense from physics standpoint.

 

[rom90125]

Trying not to get into real-world physics, I generally rule that illusions (including invisibility) can hide the source of light, but not the illumination it provides. Thus, if someone is standing within 20' of a torch, but on the other side of an illusionary wall from the torch, he would be in full illumination, but not be able to see through the wall or tell where the light was coming from (unless he makes a save). This has always worked well for me in game, even though it makes no sense from physics standpoint.

Actually, I like this approach enough that I will use it in the future. Thanks again for all the great comments.

 

[MerakSpielman]

And if you can see yourself in an illusury mirror... can you see the monster sneaking up on you that you didn't know about?

 

[Hypersmurf]

In 3.5, illusion(figment) spells can't generate light...

Are you sure?

That line was in the First Printing of the 3E PHB; it doesn't appear in the Second Printing, and I didn't think it appeared in 3.5 either...?

"Because figments and glamers (see below) are unreal, they cannot produce real effects the way that other types of illusions can. They cannot cause damage to objects or creatures, support weight, provide nutrition, or provide protection from the elements."

In the 3E PHB(P1), the phrase 'illuminate darkness' appeared in the list of things figments can't do, but it disappeared with the second printing...

-Hyp.

 

[Shellman]

Patryn,

Thanks for the 411. Another question, based on your response. If the PC happens to be walking next to the illusionary wall, without knowing the wall is not real, will she 'see' light reflecting off the illusionary surface? Assuming the PC is that close to the illusion, without actively looking for it, would you grant a +1 or +2 circumstance bonus to the character's Spot check? I suspect even though the PC doesn't know the wall is an illusion, she would get some type of positive modifier to her Spot check to represent her proximity to the spell. And if she were to make her spot check, she would 'see' what appears to be a shadowy image of a tunnel on the surface of the wall. At this time she would roll her Will ST.

Can I get your thoughts on the aforementioned scenario?

Thats what the Will Save is for!

 

[Stalker0]

I treat illusions as follows: if you fail or have not yet made a will save, the illusion affects your mind so your mind WANTS to believe that wall is real. As we have all seen, the brain has a lot of tricks up its sleeve to fool us.

So while the light might pass through the wall people on the other side won't see the light. That wouldn't make sense for light to be coming through a solid wall, and there mind will make it that way.

 

[Starglim]

Light passes through the illusory wall. Causing darkness would be a separate, and higher level, spell effect. However the source of the light is not visible.

An illusory mirror, at least one created by silent image, doesn't really reflect anything, but shows whatever the caster chooses for it to show, just as he could choose to make an illusory foe appear to suffer wounds from an attack. That means that it can only reflect things that the caster is aware of.

 

[Scharlata]

Setup: [...] Can creatures in the hidden tunnel, on the opposite side of the illusionary wall, see the light coming from the torch in the cavern? [...]

Hi!

Just try to imagine an illusion (i.e. an illusory human) standing directly in front of a lantern in a bar room. Did it ever came up to you asking yourself if the light from the lantern pierces and shines through the illusionary character, letting everybody realize that the illusion is just an illusion without "interacting" with it directly?

Me neither.

Kind regards

 

[reanjr]

Trying not to get into real-world physics, I generally rule that illusions (including invisibility) can hide the source of light, but not the illumination it provides. Thus, if someone is standing within 20' of a torch, but on the other side of an illusionary wall from the torch, he would be in full illumination, but not be able to see through the wall or tell where the light was coming from (unless he makes a save). This has always worked well for me in game, even though it makes no sense from physics standpoint.

The only thing I could think of when you were describing that was video games with prerendered lighting. You could never tell where light was coming from. It just was.

 

[reanjr]

And if you can see yourself in an illusury mirror... can you see the monster sneaking up on you that you didn't know about?

Of course you can even without the mirror. There is no facing, so you always have all-around sight. Now an illusion in the corner of a turn in a passage... I don't know. I'd probably rule that it's a very interesting and unique use of an illusion and allow it.