Creative uses for Illusion ("Image") spells

[Bagpuss]

That's not 'a creature', though.

Okay one Angry barbarian with a spiked chain then.

 

[lukelightning]

Another possibility is Spike Stones, but as with the Wall of Fire Pielorinho mentioned, there's too much risk someone will just 'suck it up' and barrel through anyway.

Spike stones are virtually invisible. In fact, only rogues (or other classes with the trapfinding ability) even have a chance of finding them, with a search[i/] check. You can't just look and see them.

Also, regarding the sidewalk art optical illusions: Those only work if you lack depth perception. They work fine in photos or in real life if you close one eye, but otherwise your depth perception will ruin the effect.

 

[KarinsDad]

No, and that's exactly my point.

If all viewers saw the same thing regardless of their angle - that is, people looking at the image from 180 degrees apart both saw the fighter's face - then the 'fake perspective overlay' trick could work from all directions.

But since they don't, it can't; the viewers see the illusion as if it were an actual object.

And an actual object mimicking a hole via clever perspective tricks on a 2D overlay only works from a certain direction. Since the illusion mimics the actual object, it will behave in the same way.

And this is where I think you are incorrectly overanalyzing this.

A (real) hole looks like a hole, regardless of angle. What is seen is slightly different, but it still looks like a hole.

A figment is not a 2D representation of a 3D image like the pretty pictures you posted, it is a 3D representation of a 3D image. It does this via magic.

Hence, a figment of a hole (or pit) looks like a hole. If there is a rung ladder on one side of it, characters from one angle would see the rungs, characters from a different angle would not.

I do agree with one thing you said:

the viewers see the illusion as if it were an actual object

Precisely.

An image of a pit (which for intents and purposes is a rectangular or cylindrical shape of the inside of an object, e.g. the ground) is viewed by all as if it were an actual pit, regardless of angle of view.

The fact that a pit is the interior side of an object (as opposed to see the exterior side of an object such as the image of a Fighter) should not change how the magic works.


And the definition of figments spells do not explicitly call out examples of such a strange 2D representation of a 3D image, hence, this non-intuitive view of it cannot be what the designers envisioned. It's magic. It is meant to fool senses, regardless of what object the image is representing.

The 2D representation might have to be done in the real world to get the proper 3D effect, but we are talking magic here. It does not have to be limited in this way, nor does the definition of figments in the book state such a thing.

 

[Plane Sailing]

And this is where I think you are incorrectly overanalyzing this.

A (real) hole looks like a hole, regardless of angle. What is seen is slightly different, but it still looks like a hole.

I'm with Hyp here - because I don't think an illusion can make something look like nothing - if there is a real hole, the illusion can't provide a pit effect because the ground gets in the way. If you did a 3d representation of a pit, everything below the ground would be lost anyway (even if you didn't say that 'line of effect' prevented it appearing below the ground level).

A pit isn't an object - it is the lack of an object, possibly with other additional decorations on the side or bottom.

 

[lukelightning]

I am of the mind that you can make an illusion of a pit, since illusions are so weak. Yeah, this might start problems with stuff like "can you make an illusion to replicate invisibility?" but I'd just say no, you can't. Why? Uh, I dunno. But the Mages of Mysteris with their 13 ranks of spellcraft could surely explain.

 

[Mistwell]

I am of the mind that you can make an illusion of a pit, since illusions are so weak. Yeah, this might start problems with stuff like "can you make an illusion to replicate invisibility?" but I'd just say no, you can't. Why? Uh, I dunno. But the Mages of Mysteris with their 13 ranks of spellcraft could surely explain.

I think what you mean to say is that you cannot make a figment of invisibility, not an illusion of invisibility. Invisibility is in fact an illusion spell.

 

[lukelightning]

I think what you mean to say is that you cannot make a figment of invisibility, not an illusion of invisibility. Invisibility is in fact an illusion spell.

Yeah, what you said. Hey, what about invisible figments? Things that can only be seen by someone with see invisibility? That could be a dirty trick... the enemy wizard turns invisible. You cast see invisibility and see him.... and a bunch of "invisible" demon minions or something like that.

 

[Mistwell]

So what sorts of illusions can people think of that could be done with the silent image spell that would be likely to deter opponents from pursuing by that route, but which are not a "wall", and apparently which are not a spiked pit. We have a creature, and bubbling lava pit (though that will have no heat and no scent, so it won't deter anyone for long). Anything else?

 

[Deset Gled]

One fun tactic I've seen is to take a mundane object (like a spot of the floor, or a statue), and to create an illusion over it of the exact same thing. This will drive players with Detect Magic or Arcane Sight nuts, as they will see that the spot is magic, but whenever they attempt to see through the illusion, the see the exact same thing.

Also, its not techinically an illusion, but you can have a lot of fun with a set of full plate with multiple Continual Flame spells on it. The description of a creature engulfed in flame running at a party can be great, especially when they later find out it was just a kobold. This works even better with creatures that have Cold immunities, as many players will automatically use those types of attacks.

 

[Hypersmurf]

Hence, a figment of a hole (or pit) looks like a hole. If there is a rung ladder on one side of it, characters from one angle would see the rungs, characters from a different angle would not.

I would be more than happy for you to put a figment of a spiked pit with a rung ladder inside a real hole in the ground.

But I don't understand how you could put one inside a solid floor. My objections are the same two Plane Sailing mentioned: 1. you don't have line of effect to the majority of the volume of your image, and even if you did, 2. people can't see it, 'cos there's a floor in the way.

If I cast an illusion of an orc on the other side of that wall, you can't see him - there's a wall in the way.

If I cast an illusion of a pit under this floor, you can't see it - there's a floor in the way.

-Hyp.