Illusionist oddity

[Turtlejay]

I am playing an illusionist in my current game. Now that I have played a few sessions, I feel qualified to make a judgement about them.

They are wonky. I am trying to stick to only illusion powers, and if you do that you notice that both illusion at-wills are single target, but so far every illusion encounter and daily (up to 7th level) is an area. I like the powers, but. . .wierd?

Also, the powers I do have are very situational. Good powers, sure, but in my last fight I had a hard time getting my encounters laid down, and didn't get them off until the tail end of the fight.

I'm thinking that the illusionist deserves an area at will. Doesn't Chilling Cloud seem perfect?

Bah. I am probably complaining like everyone else that their character is not powerful enough. I am happy. I should be content.

Is this something?

Jay

 

[DMingNicholas]

It is a valid point for a controller, but not a huge issue. You can really grab any wizard AoE at-will and call it an illusion if you want. A kind DM might even let you put the illusion keyword on it.

 

[Nifft]

Illusionists ought to be envious of Psions.
Area attacks against Will as at-wills. Wow.

Cheers, -- N

 

[Mort_Q]

Illusionists ought to be envious of Psions.
Area attacks against Will as at-wills. Wow.

Given that Psions don't get encounter powers, that isn't that impressive.

So far, they look pretty sweet. I do like the 4e version of the power point mechanic.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Also, don't forget that just because you are an illusionist, it doesn't mean you should/would have only illusion spells. You'd have other spells in your repetoire. After all, this way the case in 3E as well... you might have been a Wizard specialist of the Illusion sphere... but that only meant you lost two other spheres of spells and had to have at least one illusion as your bonus spell. Other than that... you had the entire spell lists from the remaining spheres that you were allowed to take and cast.

So taking Chilling Cloud should not / would not lessen your fluff ability to call yourself an "Illusionist".

 

[DracoSuave]

Illusionists ought to be envious of Psions.
Area attacks against Will as at-wills. Wow.

...that the psion can't use at-will because of power points.

Not quite.

But the fact that you can make an all-psychic damage character? Awesome. Dark Fury Go!

 

[Nifft]

...that the psion can't use at-will because of power points.

Not quite.

Yes, a psion can.

-- N

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Yeah, I don't really see any reason why you would have to limit yourself only to illusion spells. I'd certainly think taking one at-will of another type wouldn't really hurt the character's feel any.

It is interesting though that you're able to be reasonably effective with that one subset of wizard spells. I hadn't seen any illusionists in action and kind of wondered how much they would be able to concentrate on their stock in trade and still function reasonably well.

Considered PP choices yet?

 

[Mr. Teapot]

I'm thinking that the illusionist deserves an area at will. Doesn't Chilling Cloud seem perfect?

So take Chilling Cloud. Where's the issue? Being an illusionist doesn't mean every spell you have must be an illusion, just that you focus on it more than other schools. In 3rd ed, being an illusionist just meant that you planned on casting at least one illusion spell a day for each spell level you had. 90% of your prepped spells might have been conjurations. (The same in previous editions, I believe.)


All illusions at-wills being single target but all encounters area effects is a bit odd, but I can see it as a nice way of balancing things.

 

[Jhaelen]

Yeah, I don't really see any reason why you would have to limit yourself only to illusion spells. I'd certainly think taking one at-will of another type wouldn't really hurt the character's feel any.

This. An old standard tactic of illusionists was to use a 'real' spell and then follow it up with an illusionary spell or vice versa to keep enemies on their toes who thought they'd figured you out and started disbelieving every spell you cast.