good threads regarding DMing illusions?

[scotchleaf]

Know any good threads regarding DMing illusions? Thanks

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Any specific questions? Threads have covered all sorts of stuff in the past decade-plus.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Seconding Whizbang Dustyboots. What specifically about DMing illusions do you want info on?

 

[Noumenon]

Here's a couple notes I have distilled from Enworld threads on general approach to illusions. If you want context instead of snippets, you could Google site search Enworld for the phrase.

scent should count as interaction imo

stay away from illusions of light and dark, like a globe of darkness.

The best illusions I've ever run as DM were sufficiently complex that even if one player said "it's an illusion, disbelieve it", that wouldn't destroy the illusion overall. I've accomplished that in multiple ways - "separating" the PCs, illusions of the PCs with conflicting advice, multiplicity of illusions with changing conditions, etc.

sneaking past an illusionary guard is not an interaction. Use a move action to watch it.

Keep in mind (learn) at what point your targets get to make their save and at what point they see through what type of illusion automatically. Use your illusions in a way to minimize these. That's the key to successful illusion use.

So how are illusions fun in fantasy? I'm thinking it's so the villain can reveal his omniscience and lead the heroes into a trap, which is exciting, or just to set a scary mood.

In fantasy, the point of illusions is so you can do the big reveal.

Note that spellcraft can tell illusion spells. bluff? unless silent. How about opposed Spellcraft checks? May take a feat or a Concentration check.

I also have collections of suggestions for illusions to use either before combat, or in combat, if that's what you want.

 

[Aran Thule]

Illusions where the characters dont get a chance to examine it closely.
A couple of my faves:
Programmed illusion when the group enters the area, a guard turns the corner ahead of them looks paniced and runs back.
The corridor and door behind are trapped, ie pits and slimes ect that the illusion will not set off.
Second is the old classic of having an illusion on a rust monster so it appears as something else.

 

[Li Shenron]

Well I guess the starting point would be to carefully check the rules in your edition about both illusion spells and spells against illusions I never managed to remember them well when I was DMing 3ed fulltime, and much less now...

But for instance, if you play 3ed, check the difference between illusion types, which ones are revealed and which ones remain after the PCs win the ST.

Then you may want to house rule something about Detect Magic because it makes it normally quite easy to identify an illusion. If you don't want to house rule it, then try to design the illusions in a way that there is little to suggest the PC to use Detect Magic.

Watch out for other spells that may indirectly reveal an illusion: Detect Evil, Detect Undead, Detect Thoughts... perhaps it's better to create the illusion of a mindless neutral animated statue rather than a Wight or Vampire (which would not register to either of these spells, should the PCs have them active when they encounter it).