D&D General Illusionists better in 2024

[Neonchameleon]

I have one core issue with the Illusionist - that if you want to really specialise in Illusions then pre-14 the GOOlock does it better. No minor image as a bonus action, but any of Silent Image, Disguise Self, or Invisibility at will. Illusions silent and component free. And on a much much better turnaround cycle for fourth level spells like permanent (I e. upcast major) image and Hallucinatory Terrain.

 

[TheSword]

I have one core issue with the Illusionist - that if you want to really specialise in Illusions then pre-14 the GOOlock does it better. No minor image as a bonus action, but any of Silent Image, Disguise Self, or Invisibility at will. Illusions silent and component free. And on a much much better turnaround cycle for fourth level spells like permanent (I e. upcast major) image and Hallucinatory Terrain.

Never heard of it. But presumably it was better at a lot of things.
Though if it is pre-14 does that mean it’s not even 5e?
Wouldn’t upcast Major image have been 6th level back then?

 

[Neonchameleon]

Never heard of it. But presumably it was better at a lot of things.
Though if it is pre-14 does that mean it’s not even 5e?
Wouldn’t upcast Major image have been 6th level back then?

Pre 14 means pre level 14 here - Illusionary Reality is a game changer. And warlocks are far more focused magically than wizards

 

[Weiley31]

Honestly, the 2024 Illusionist sounds REALLY COOL.

 

[BookTenTiger]

Honestly, the 2024 Illusionist sounds REALLY COOL.

But is it really cool? Or is it just an illuuuuuusion???

 

[Nikosandros]

But is it really cool? Or is it just an illuuuuuusion???

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ah-ah

 

[TheSword]

Pre 14 means pre level 14 here - Illusionary Reality is a game changer. And warlocks are far more focused magically than wizards

So caught up in edition talk! I forgot 14 can be more than a year!

The no components element of psychic spells is cool and the minor spells you mentioned at will are handy. Though Invisibility is only in dim light and only on yourself. They also use up a invocation each.

I guess I struggle to get past the 2 spells per short rest bit. It’s why I’ve never got on with them. Every time I’ve seen Warlocks in play they seem to rely on a pact weapon for combat or eldritch blasting - neither of which feel very Illusionist to me.

Bonus action minor illusion is a game changer for me at all levels of play.

 

[Zuranthium]

I hate the design of turning Illusionists into Summoners. Giving them Summon Beast/Fey always prepared and being able to cast it without using a spellslot has nothing to do with illusion magic. Illusory Reality shouldn't be a feature either, rather an optional feat. Illusions are illusions, everything that's hard-coded into the subclass should be about that specifically - fabricating images, sounds, smells. WotC said they wanted to give the Illusionist more "combat teeth", but that could be achieved by making them better at invisibility than other casters, or by removing concentration from their damage-over-time spells: constantly barraging opponents with light and sound.

 

[TheSword]

I hate the design of turning Illusionists into Summoners. Giving them Summon Beast/Fey always prepared and being able to cast it without using a spellslot has nothing to do with illusion magic. Illusory Reality shouldn't be a feature either, rather an optional feat. Illusions are illusions, everything that's hard-coded into the subclass should be about that specifically - fabricating images, sounds, smells. WotC said they wanted to give the Illusionist more "combat teeth", but that could be achieved by making them better at invisibility than other casters, or by removing concentration from their damage-over-time spells: constantly barraging opponents with light and sound.

What do you mean it has nothing to do with Illusion magic. Semi real creatures and objects has been Illusion magic for 40 years? Semi illusory creatures and objects were created by illusionists back in AD&D.

Creation was an illusion spell long before 3e moved it to the conjugation slot.

Check out AD&D shadow monsters. They used to have full effect unless disbelieved in which case they had 20% of the effect.

 

[Neonchameleon]

What do you mean it has nothing to do with Illusion magic. Semi real creatures and objects has been Illusion magic for 40 years? Semi illusory creatures and objects were created by illusionists back in AD&D.

And this illustrates a clash in approaches. The Illusionist is something that exists outside D&D. Is matching a pop culture illusionist more important or is matching the D&D implementation more valuable?

I'd consider the latter incestuous and the former far more important but reasonable people can disagree

And I for one found the old level 6 feature that let you morph illusions far more illusion-y than the new summons.