TheSword
Legend
[Edit: I’ve added in some thoughts on uses for illusions beyond the simple hide in an illusory crate.]
The New Improved Illusionist Subclass
So it feels like illusions have gotten a little bit better in 2024. To that end I thought I would do a direct comparison between 2014 Illusionists and their spells and 2024. To be honest it’s not a class I’ve played but I’m very tempted.
The subclass kicks in at level 3 now, which is not a big problem. Particularly when you see what they get.
Illusion Savant (Level 3) Instead of halving the cost of scribing illusion spells you now gain 2 illusion spells and another one each time you gain a new level of spells.
Improved Illusion (Level 3) As well as learning minor illusion and being able to create an image and a sound at once, you now get extra abilities. You don’t need verbal components to cast illusion spells, range of illusion spells is increased by 60ft, and casting minor illusion is now a bonus action for you.
Malleable Illusion (Level 6) which allowed you to change ongoing illusions is gone and replaced with Phantasmal Creatures (Level 6) which adds conjure fey and conjure animal to your spells prepared and if you make them Phantasmal at 1/2 hp you can cast the spell without using a spell slot.
Illusory Self (Level 10) is the same however you can now restore this 1/short rest ability without an action by expending a level 2 spell slot.
Illusory Reality (Level 14) no change.
All in all a very attractive set of abilities.
Uses for Illusions
I’ve been looking at the kinds of things we could use illusions for. It’s really important to me that they not be things that break the system or try and make illusions do things that they don’t do. Hyper realistic 2D paintings of empty rooms for instance. I want to be playing the game not arguing with my DM about forced perspective. If I’m doubt I’m being cautious so no using Non-detection to make illusions seem real.
This list is by no means comprehensive, more just a set of broad musings. There may be inconsistencies so please do point out if I make any mistakes
Conceal
The ubiquitous 5’ shrub/crate/barrel/wall. For minor illusion this might just give you enough to take a hide action. Or conceal a small creature. It won’t give you cover but it will make you unseen. Best to assume if you attack through your concealment someone who sees that will realise your crossbow bolt firing crate is an illusion and your concealment will disappear.
With more powerful illusions you could make a wall covering one side of a room set a few feet out - what a great ambush spot. Or you might conceal a door or entrance. Have a fallen comrade on the ground? You can cover them with a disguise until you can get to them. Or want to stop a fallen foe being healed - do the same. Many spells require line of sight and your illusions can break that. Some more powerful spells like hallucinatory terrain or mirage arcana could conceal immense areas even entire armies.
You can also conceal other threats. Hide that pit in the floor. Hide that pressure plate. Hide the spell effect that would otherwise be easy to avoid.
Distract
The classic magician’s trick. Get someone to look in one direction and miss what’s happening in another. These kinds of illusions don’t even need to be that realistic. Minor illusion now will allow you to create an image and a sound as loud as a scream. It’s the equivalent to throwing a pebble in the other direction but probably faster and more impressive. Enough to allow your party to sneak by or to give you time to use sleight of hand to swipe an object or bring into play another illusion.
Confirm
Several enchantment spells require ‘reasonable’ circumstances. Suggestion for instance. Your spells can make otherwise unreasonable suggestions seem reasonable. If the individual won’t have an opportunity to investigate or disbelieve because they are affected by other magic it won’t matter if they could walk through the effect. Bonus points if you can make someone attack their own friends through the seeming spell.
Imitate
Illusions can help you impersonate other people. Either in person using disguise self, shouting through a door with minor illusion or by creating a full moving talking image of the thing you’re imitating. Some perform skill and a sense of the plausible will probably help here. But what about imitating other spells. It might be very useful to make your foes think any of spells and effects are in play. Particularly when not requiring verbal components means you can shout whatever nonsense words you like when casting your illusions.
Attract
A small sack lying on the ground with gold coins glinting through the opening would be tempting to many people. Or a damsel in distress. Similar to distract except it’s more likely if you get it right that creatures will investigate.
Compel
Some illusions will override a persons free will. Fear for instance will cause them to flee. Phantasmal force can cause them to become convinced something is real.
Confuse
Any time you can get the foe to hesitate you’re benefiting. Just caused someone to fall asleep - create an illusory sleeping body on the ground a few feet away. Make them chose - make them question what they are seeing.
Communicate
The PowerPoint of the D&D universe. Maps, helpful illustrations, directional signage and much more. Want to ask if someone has seen your quarry - show them a realistic image of the persons face. Trying to communicate with someone who doesn’t speak your language. Enhance your hand gestures with illusions. Even simple warnings and messages could be left for friends or foes.
Injure
Illusions can hurt - Phantasmal force, Phantasmal killer and Weird can all do damage even if it’s all psychic. That little bit of realism can help to reinforce the truth of the illusions. You didn’t pick the school because of the huge amount of damage it can cause but these spells simultaneously inhibit the target in other ways at the same time.
Illusions can also trick people into other situations that hurt. If the illusionist dispels that mirage arcana that the advancing orc horde is climbing its gravity that does the damage. Same with the illusory ladder that isn’t really there or false floor.
Escape
Between laying false trails and hiding your escape route it should be relatively easy for a skilled illusionist to escape an encounter.
Mock
Not to be underestimated the power of pricking someone’s ego. Use it sparingly lest your DM decide to prick yours!
Glam Up
The reverse of pricking ego. First impressions count. Remember the first scene we meet Stregobor in the Witcher - all illusion. Not only can you make your surroundings more fitting you could also hide your own deformities with your magic. Mirage arcana has tactile effects and it’s confirmed it can bear weight. Sleep by the side of the road or create yourself an elaborate palace. A fanfare of trumpets when you enter a room?
The New Improved Illusionist Subclass
So it feels like illusions have gotten a little bit better in 2024. To that end I thought I would do a direct comparison between 2014 Illusionists and their spells and 2024. To be honest it’s not a class I’ve played but I’m very tempted.
The subclass kicks in at level 3 now, which is not a big problem. Particularly when you see what they get.
Illusion Savant (Level 3) Instead of halving the cost of scribing illusion spells you now gain 2 illusion spells and another one each time you gain a new level of spells.
Improved Illusion (Level 3) As well as learning minor illusion and being able to create an image and a sound at once, you now get extra abilities. You don’t need verbal components to cast illusion spells, range of illusion spells is increased by 60ft, and casting minor illusion is now a bonus action for you.
Malleable Illusion (Level 6) which allowed you to change ongoing illusions is gone and replaced with Phantasmal Creatures (Level 6) which adds conjure fey and conjure animal to your spells prepared and if you make them Phantasmal at 1/2 hp you can cast the spell without using a spell slot.
Illusory Self (Level 10) is the same however you can now restore this 1/short rest ability without an action by expending a level 2 spell slot.
Illusory Reality (Level 14) no change.
All in all a very attractive set of abilities.
Uses for Illusions
I’ve been looking at the kinds of things we could use illusions for. It’s really important to me that they not be things that break the system or try and make illusions do things that they don’t do. Hyper realistic 2D paintings of empty rooms for instance. I want to be playing the game not arguing with my DM about forced perspective. If I’m doubt I’m being cautious so no using Non-detection to make illusions seem real.
This list is by no means comprehensive, more just a set of broad musings. There may be inconsistencies so please do point out if I make any mistakes
Conceal
The ubiquitous 5’ shrub/crate/barrel/wall. For minor illusion this might just give you enough to take a hide action. Or conceal a small creature. It won’t give you cover but it will make you unseen. Best to assume if you attack through your concealment someone who sees that will realise your crossbow bolt firing crate is an illusion and your concealment will disappear.
With more powerful illusions you could make a wall covering one side of a room set a few feet out - what a great ambush spot. Or you might conceal a door or entrance. Have a fallen comrade on the ground? You can cover them with a disguise until you can get to them. Or want to stop a fallen foe being healed - do the same. Many spells require line of sight and your illusions can break that. Some more powerful spells like hallucinatory terrain or mirage arcana could conceal immense areas even entire armies.
You can also conceal other threats. Hide that pit in the floor. Hide that pressure plate. Hide the spell effect that would otherwise be easy to avoid.
Distract
The classic magician’s trick. Get someone to look in one direction and miss what’s happening in another. These kinds of illusions don’t even need to be that realistic. Minor illusion now will allow you to create an image and a sound as loud as a scream. It’s the equivalent to throwing a pebble in the other direction but probably faster and more impressive. Enough to allow your party to sneak by or to give you time to use sleight of hand to swipe an object or bring into play another illusion.
Confirm
Several enchantment spells require ‘reasonable’ circumstances. Suggestion for instance. Your spells can make otherwise unreasonable suggestions seem reasonable. If the individual won’t have an opportunity to investigate or disbelieve because they are affected by other magic it won’t matter if they could walk through the effect. Bonus points if you can make someone attack their own friends through the seeming spell.
Imitate
Illusions can help you impersonate other people. Either in person using disguise self, shouting through a door with minor illusion or by creating a full moving talking image of the thing you’re imitating. Some perform skill and a sense of the plausible will probably help here. But what about imitating other spells. It might be very useful to make your foes think any of spells and effects are in play. Particularly when not requiring verbal components means you can shout whatever nonsense words you like when casting your illusions.
Attract
A small sack lying on the ground with gold coins glinting through the opening would be tempting to many people. Or a damsel in distress. Similar to distract except it’s more likely if you get it right that creatures will investigate.
Compel
Some illusions will override a persons free will. Fear for instance will cause them to flee. Phantasmal force can cause them to become convinced something is real.
Confuse
Any time you can get the foe to hesitate you’re benefiting. Just caused someone to fall asleep - create an illusory sleeping body on the ground a few feet away. Make them chose - make them question what they are seeing.
Communicate
The PowerPoint of the D&D universe. Maps, helpful illustrations, directional signage and much more. Want to ask if someone has seen your quarry - show them a realistic image of the persons face. Trying to communicate with someone who doesn’t speak your language. Enhance your hand gestures with illusions. Even simple warnings and messages could be left for friends or foes.
Injure
Illusions can hurt - Phantasmal force, Phantasmal killer and Weird can all do damage even if it’s all psychic. That little bit of realism can help to reinforce the truth of the illusions. You didn’t pick the school because of the huge amount of damage it can cause but these spells simultaneously inhibit the target in other ways at the same time.
Illusions can also trick people into other situations that hurt. If the illusionist dispels that mirage arcana that the advancing orc horde is climbing its gravity that does the damage. Same with the illusory ladder that isn’t really there or false floor.
Escape
Between laying false trails and hiding your escape route it should be relatively easy for a skilled illusionist to escape an encounter.
Mock
Not to be underestimated the power of pricking someone’s ego. Use it sparingly lest your DM decide to prick yours!
Glam Up
The reverse of pricking ego. First impressions count. Remember the first scene we meet Stregobor in the Witcher - all illusion. Not only can you make your surroundings more fitting you could also hide your own deformities with your magic. Mirage arcana has tactile effects and it’s confirmed it can bear weight. Sleep by the side of the road or create yourself an elaborate palace. A fanfare of trumpets when you enter a room?
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