Undead and Invisibility

[Insight]

I have come upon a problem I had not yet encountered in my years of playing in the 3.x system. Review the following description of the Undead type from the 3.5 SRD (I have posted the whole description for the sake of completeness):

Undead Type: Undead are once-living creatures animated by spiritual or supernatural forces.
Features: An undead creature has the following features.
—12-sided Hit Dice.
—Base attack bonus equal to 1/2 total Hit Dice (as wizard).
—Good Will saves.
—Skill points equal to (4 + Int modifier, minimum 1) per Hit Die, with quadruple skill points for the first Hit Die, if the undead creature has an Intelligence score. However, many undead are mindless and gain no skill points or feats.
Traits: An undead creature possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature’s entry).
—No Constitution score.
—Darkvision out to 60 feet.
—Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects).
—Immunity to poison, sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease, and death effects.
—Not subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability drain, or energy drain. Immune to damage to its physical ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution), as well as to fatigue and exhaustion effects.
—Cannot heal damage on its own if it has no Intelligence score, although it can be healed. Negative energy (such as an inflict spell) can heal undead creatures. The fast healing special quality works regardless of the creature’s Intelligence score.
—Immunity to any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects or is harmless).
—Uses its Charisma modifier for Concentration checks.
—Not at risk of death from massive damage, but when reduced to 0 hit points or less, it is immediately destroyed.
—Not affected by raise dead and reincarnate spells or abilities. Resurrection and true resurrection can affect undead creatures. These spells turn undead creatures back into the living creatures they were before becoming undead.
—Proficient with its natural weapons, all simple weapons, and any weapons mentioned in its entry.
—Proficient with whatever type of armor (light, medium, or heavy) it is described as wearing, as well as all lighter types. Undead not indicated as wearing armor are not proficient with armor. Undead are proficient with shields if they are proficient with any form of armor.
—Undead do not breathe, eat, or sleep.

Here's the problem I have - why are Undead immune to the Invisibility spell, or are they? The mere existence of an Invisibility TO UNDEAD spell makes me wonder whether or not Undead are immune to regular Invisibility.

On the one hand, Invisibility is an Illusion, but not of the subtypes that Undead ignore (phantasms and patterns) - it is a glamer. On the other hand, why does Invisibility to Undead exist if Undead are not immune to normal Invisibility?

You can by inference take either one of the following arguments. Either Undead ARE immune to regular Invisibility because of the existence of the Invisibility to Undead spell, or the Invisibility to Undead spell exists because Clerics don't get regular old Invisibility and it's meant to help them in their struggle against the Undead.

I would be curious if there has been any official answer on this sort of question.

Thanks

 

[dcollins]

Here's the problem I have - why are Undead immune to the Invisibility spell, or are they?

They are not. An essay on the subject by Sean K. Reynolds:
http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/rants/undeadseethroughillusions.html

 

[Insight]

Thanks! At least an answer from an official, WOTC type source. This should help, although I should say I don't always agree 100% with official materials. But they help the discussion nonetheless!

 

[Blue]

There is also a 1st level druid Hide from Animals spell, but that doesn't imply that animals can see people with invisibility any more then levitate implies there is no fly spell.

There already is an official answer, the one you already pointed out -- that undead are not immune to the type of illusion that invisibility is.

Cheers,
=Blue

 

[sfedi]

On the other hand, why does Invisibility to Undead exist if Undead are not immune to normal Invisibility?

Because the ones that can cast Hide from Undead:

Hide from Undead
Abjuration
Level: Clr 1

can't cast Invisibility:

Invisibility
Illusion (Glamer)
Level: Brd 2, Sor/Wiz 2, Trickery 2