Illusory Script

[Felix]

Has anyone noticed that this spell basically makes an unlimited-use Suggestion item? This spell has got to be the bee's knees of infiltration! Just hand any guards you meet a note saying, "Allow the bearer of this note to pass unmolested."

This spell is friggin sweet!

It now has my vote for most underappreciated spell EVAR.

 

[Plane Sailing]

By george, you're right!

That is one heck of an infiltration spell (psychic paper, anyone?)

 

[MarkB]

By george, you're right!

That is one heck of an infiltration spell (psychic paper, anyone?)

Indeed. Just inscribe it with "Believe that the bearer of this paper has presented you with proof of his identity and authority", and it perfectly replicates the common usages of slightly-psychic paper.

 

[wedgeski]

I suppose it's balanced by the fact that you have to designate 'the person (or people)' it's aimed at when you write it. Of course this is open to all kinds of abuse, but I have ruled on occasion that the target has to be quite specific. So "The guards within King Nib's castle" is okay (just), but "Anyone seeking to bar my way" (which someone once tried) is not.

 

[MarkB]

I suppose it's balanced by the fact that you have to designate 'the person (or people)' it's aimed at when you write it. Of course this is open to all kinds of abuse, but I have ruled on occasion that the target has to be quite specific. So "The guards within King Nib's castle" is okay (just), but "Anyone seeking to bar my way" (which someone once tried) is not.

Nope - read it again. The designated target is the one who can read the real message. The embedded suggestion applies to everyone except that designated target. So you can designate "My great grandmother Betsy, gods rest her soul" as the target, and everyone aside from the dearly departed relative will get hit by the suggestion when they read it.

 

[wedgeski]

Nope - read it again. The designated target is the one who can read the real message. The embedded suggestion applies to everyone except that designated target. So you can designate "My great grandmother Betsy, gods rest her soul" as the target, and everyone aside from the dearly departed relative will get hit by the suggestion when they read it.

You're right, of course. I totally mis-read it. Thankfully it hasn't come up in a loooong time.

 

[Felix]

And what's even better, folks who try to read it without magical support think it's in a foreign language... if they make their save v the suggestion, you can say, "oh, sorry, those are the wrong papers, let me get you the one's in Common..." and try it again on him.

I was laughing as I was writing up my new Gnome Illusionist's spellbook, thinking that Illusory Script was my marquee 3rd level spell. Heh heh. The DM won't know what hit him...

 

[Dracorat]

I always have to smile at the thought of people approaching guards with conventional spells in a game where spells are a regular occurrance.

Many of the guards in campaigns I run stand in antimagic fields, for reasons exactly like this.

Still, you do make a good point outside guard territorry.

"Yeah, with this sword, there was a note. I was thinking it might have some information about the sword, but it might not have anything to do with the sword at all. Can you check it out?"

Give any elves a ten percent bonus to their sales for the next ten minutes

"No? Well that's too bad. Let me put this back away."

 

[Felix]

Many of the guards in campaigns I run stand in antimagic fields

/Economically speaking

Yeesh, how expensive is that? An unconventional permanent 6th level spell at every guard post?

I mean, I could see having a 1st level mage on standby if someone thinks something is suspicious with a wand of Detect Magic, but Antimagic Fields?

 

[Dracorat]

Not every post more than at every entrance or exit. (just so we are clear)

And once someone can pay for the building of a keep, they can usually pay for a few unconventional antimagic fields. Not permanent btw, but rather triggered (uses/day), but the guards are trained to trigger them any time they spot someone, friendly or not. (So if you get the jump on them, you can sneak in a fireball, but if you approach and attempt to talk to them, the field is already up)