What's the Consensus on Illusory Wall?

[Xyrlove Woodsoul]

There seems to be a bit of a debate as to whether or not an enemy stopped adjacent to the wall by the attack, can waltz right through the wall on its next turn (so long as it started adjacent to the wall). By the wording, I'm thinking that it can, but on the optimization boards, the power is rated gold (the highest), thus, that confuses me. If it is mainly a gm's call at this point, then from a gm's perspective, what would you suggest?

 

[malraux]

The try again bit indicated that on later turns it cannot auto-succeed later, but must be subject to the attack again.

 

[Aegeri]

This is unfortunately a power absolutely at the mercy of your DM. In this case, you are correct: If the monster starts adjacent to the wall they are unable to be attacked (as the attack triggers only on moving adjacent) and so can waltz straight through without a second thought. It will depend on if your DM metagames or decides the creature is intelligent enough to realize the wall is fake (such as an enemy attacking through it). As it is, the power is very messily worded and could really use some clarification. It was however nerfed from its original version, which permitted the attack when the enemy was adjacent to the wall as well. It is quite possibly intended that it only works for a round and then the creature just moves through afterwards.

 

[Xyrlove Woodsoul]

Yes, I agree with all these sentiments. And I have a Life-singer who was able to use the power against enemies starting adjacent to the wall (dm's call), and enemies, very rarely, got thru, and it was a problem. But then when it was ruled the other way, the wall became kind of, meh. But then it dawned on me, to just start pushing and sliding enemies adjacent to the wall away if it was important enough to, and thus, a "happy medium," with the power was reached. But just seeing it rated gold on the optimization boards, made me pause, for a moment. Thanks.

 

[Aegeri]

It's still extremely good, because walls have particularly good control effects and it occupies a utility slot. It's effectively another attack power daily, making it quite exceptional for its general position on the pecking order. Compared with other utilities of its level, it deserves the gold rating.

 

[Aulirophile]

I don't see the confusion with the gold rating. It allows you to completely cut an encounter in half. Say you're facing some ranged artillery with a few elites or normal brutes/soldiers. An optimized party could deal with either one of those two groups in 1-2 turns. The wall will hold up either one of those two groups for 1-2 turns. You've turned an encounter where people might've felt the need to AP/use a daily/etc into two laughably easy encounters that you don't get a short rest inbetween. And that is one example of how it can be abused.

As for the OP, Wizards have tons of slides/pushes. The Wizard will push enemies away from the wall, but yes you are correct that the monster can just walk through on turn 2 if that doesn't happen.

Also the fact that it is a utility power is helpful since some Wizards can use a daily utility every encounter, though personally I prefer to do that with Blur.