Running up against an illusion

[Bungus]

The players are going up against an evil mage that has projected his image onto the edge of the battlefield (session ending cliffhanger after they just defeated the mage’s minions).

The real mage is nearby (about 60 feet away) and hidden via Greater Invisibility. This is a 3.5E game and the PCs are in the level 11/12 range.

My guess as to how it plays out – an exchange of witty banter, followed by the evil mage casting Cone of Cold or Finger of Death, while the PC warriors charge the evil mage. The evil mage is going to have the spell appear to have been cast from the projected image.

Do all the PCs then get saves against the illusion of the image, or do they need to request that they attempt to disbelieve? If it casts Finger of Death vs. one PC, does only that one PC get a save to disbelieve because they interacted with the image?

Next round, rogue, paladin or fighter reaches the image and strikes. If it is the fighter, an average roll of 10 for him will hit an AC in the low 30s or maybe even a bit better. So, normally enough to hit AC: evil mage.

How can the image react, as it is not really hitting the mage? Does the image act as if it took damage? Or, can the image pretend to dodge out of the way, while I come back with, “Ha ha, you will have to do better than that!” I know the fighter will then get a Will save but, how can the image react?

This is a bit from the SRD on Project Image:

You tap energy from the Plane of Shadow to create a quasi-real, illusory version of yourself. The projected image looks, sounds, and smells like you but is intangible. The projected image mimics your actions (including speech) unless you direct it to act differently (which is a move action).

The reason I ask is that the players have not run up against much in the way of illusions.

 

[steenan]

This is how I would run it:
1. Just seeing and hearing the projected image does not allow a disbelieve save, neither does being hit by a spell originating from it (the spell is real).
2. Spending a standard action to observe the image in detail allows a disbelieve save.
3. The first direct action taken against the image (attack, casting a spell at it) allows a disbelieve save, no matter if it succeeded or not - it definitely count as "interacting"
4. Every physical attack that would hit allows a disbelieve save for the attacker - it either hits and there is nothing or the image dodges in an unrealistic way. An attack with a natural 20 counts as the save automatically passed.
5. Disbelieve saves are rolled by the GM in secret.

 

[NewJeffCT]

This is how I would run it:
1. Just seeing and hearing the projected image does not allow a disbelieve save, neither does being hit by a spell originating from it (the spell is real).
2. Spending a standard action to observe the image in detail allows a disbelieve save.
3. The first direct action taken against the image (attack, casting a spell at it) allows a disbelieve save, no matter if it succeeded or not - it definitely count as "interacting"
4. Every physical attack that would hit allows a disbelieve save for the attacker - it either hits and there is nothing or the image dodges in an unrealistic way. An attack with a natural 20 counts as the save automatically passed.
5. Disbelieve saves are rolled by the GM in secret.

I would agree with steenan - the PCs do not get a save unless they take a direct action against the image.

I might allow a disbelieve save on a near miss as well, but I would wait for others to weigh in on the issue.

 

[roguerouge]

Well, since these are not silent spells that the mage is casting, I would give the PCs a listen check to hear TWO sets of incantations--one from the mage and one from over... there!