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<blockquote data-quote="Undrhil" data-source="post: 7027546" data-attributes="member: 77538">Some more examples of how I would use PF - In a combat with wolves, I would summon an illusion of a halfling on one of them.&nbsp; The wolf would immediately attack it, but would likely realize it's not real since it can't smell it and would ignore it.&nbsp; However, without doing the INT (Investigation) check and succeeding it, the spell continues on, so the wolf is ignoring the &quot;halfling&quot; but the spell is still doing damage to the wolf.&nbsp; Maybe after a couple of rounds, the wolf would try again to attack the illusion.&nbsp; Or it might, at this point, &quot;reason it out&quot; and do the check.&nbsp; I'm not a wolf, so I don't know how they think or if it would even bother, perhaps just opting to try to run away when it cannot damage the thing hurting it?In a combat with some Kobolds, use PF to create the image of a Dragon (a Wyrmling, perhaps, due to the 10' cube size limitation) and that dragon would just be as majestic as possible to the one Kobold, so that Kobold would throw itself prostrate before it in worship.&nbsp; After a round or two of grovelling, it might wonder why the dragon hasn't spoken to it or moved or anything.&nbsp; Then, the Kobold would get up and investigate it.Phantasmal Force is more about control than damage.&nbsp; Any turn in which the target of Phantasmal Force is interacting with the illusion (or investigating it) is a turn in which it is not attacking the party.&nbsp; This is a good thing and should be encouraged whole-heartedly.&nbsp; In fact, a Warlock with Hex could curse the target and let it have disadvantage on INT checks before the Wizard throws PF on it, making it even more likely to not be able to break away from the illusion.It seems like people who complain about this spell have a hard time working out the illusion aspect of the spell.&nbsp; It's not a *real* illusion, in that anyone can see it: the illusion is in the mind of the target.&nbsp; Since it is in their mind, the illusion can do pretty much anything that the target believes it can do.&nbsp; Dragon illusion might Polymorph into something else or breathe fire, lightning, cone of cold.&nbsp; Chains will feel solid, rattle, etc.&nbsp; All of these things are part of the spell.&nbsp; Until the target makes the INT (Investigation) check (or passes the initial INT saving throw), the illusion is *real* to the target.I am a wizard.&nbsp; I summoned chains around your arms.&nbsp; What are you going to do about it?I am a wizard.&nbsp; I summoned a box over your head.&nbsp; What are you going to do about it?I am a wizard.&nbsp; I summoned a gelatinous cube over you.&nbsp; What are you going to do about it?I am a wizard.&nbsp; I summoned skeleton hands coming out of the ground at your feet, grabbing at your ankles and slashing you.&nbsp; What are you going to do about it?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Undrhil, post: 7027546, member: 77538"] Some more examples of how I would use PF - In a combat with wolves, I would summon an illusion of a halfling on one of them. The wolf would immediately attack it, but would likely realize it's not real since it can't smell it and would ignore it. However, without doing the INT (Investigation) check and succeeding it, the spell continues on, so the wolf is ignoring the "halfling" but the spell is still doing damage to the wolf. Maybe after a couple of rounds, the wolf would try again to attack the illusion. Or it might, at this point, "reason it out" and do the check. I'm not a wolf, so I don't know how they think or if it would even bother, perhaps just opting to try to run away when it cannot damage the thing hurting it? In a combat with some Kobolds, use PF to create the image of a Dragon (a Wyrmling, perhaps, due to the 10' cube size limitation) and that dragon would just be as majestic as possible to the one Kobold, so that Kobold would throw itself prostrate before it in worship. After a round or two of grovelling, it might wonder why the dragon hasn't spoken to it or moved or anything. Then, the Kobold would get up and investigate it. Phantasmal Force is more about control than damage. Any turn in which the target of Phantasmal Force is interacting with the illusion (or investigating it) is a turn in which it is not attacking the party. This is a good thing and should be encouraged whole-heartedly. In fact, a Warlock with Hex could curse the target and let it have disadvantage on INT checks before the Wizard throws PF on it, making it even more likely to not be able to break away from the illusion. It seems like people who complain about this spell have a hard time working out the illusion aspect of the spell. It's not a *real* illusion, in that anyone can see it: the illusion is in the mind of the target. Since it is in their mind, the illusion can do pretty much anything that the target believes it can do. Dragon illusion might Polymorph into something else or breathe fire, lightning, cone of cold. Chains will feel solid, rattle, etc. All of these things are part of the spell. Until the target makes the INT (Investigation) check (or passes the initial INT saving throw), the illusion is *real* to the target. I am a wizard. I summoned chains around your arms. What are you going to do about it? I am a wizard. I summoned a box over your head. What are you going to do about it? I am a wizard. I summoned a gelatinous cube over you. What are you going to do about it? I am a wizard. I summoned skeleton hands coming out of the ground at your feet, grabbing at your ankles and slashing you. What are you going to do about it? [/QUOTE]

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