Use your illusion

[Kneller]

I've been reading that illusion spells like silent image and whatnot are super useful for their levels. What I'm wondering is how you use illusion spells in your games. Illusions have always been an ambiguous thing with me as I've never had two GMs who approach it the same way. I'm interested in silent usage in particular. The only use I could think of was to create a fake wall of fire to create choke points. Though, being that it wouldn't put off any heat, wouldn't that make it unbelievable from the start? In any event, what can you tell me about how you use illusions? Thanks.

[TheBlackPlague]

That does seem to be the biggest problem with illusions - how much you DM wants to let you get away with it.

That said, I've always found that talking to the DM is essential before deciding to use them. For example, my DM once allowed me to make a giant walking food plant to lure some cows into a new field. *shrugs* Unfortunately, battle illusions tend to be messier in my experience. Especially if the GM wants the combat to go a certain way.

[Third Mind]

I once made a silent image of a grim reaper like wraith that menacingly looked on a couple enemies that were trying to escape. After I created it, I shouted, "I am close personal friends with death itself! Yield or die!" (Something along those lines at least)

Anyways, not wanting to touch the dead silent specter, they did as they were told and gave up.

Another time I created an image of a friendly looking fellow that had a sign hanging around his shoulders, hands palm open in the air. On it was written, "Cursed by evil sorcerer with eternal silence". It was more a test to see if some beings we thought could be enemies would attack. They did. Granted they may not have been able to read the sign, but they still attacked a quiet, surrendering person. So we were extra cautious.

In any case, I find with Silent Image especially, that I needed to find ways for it not making sound to make sense.

[kikidmonkey]

Like TBP said, first talk to your GM about possible interactions issues, such as what constitutes "interact"

As for Silent image, it's best used for things like fake walls/floors, creating hiding places that are terrain specific (boulders/crates/poo mound)

In combat, Silent Image is mostly useful for cover, possibly for fooling opponent into thinking it's an enemy and go after it or provide an ally flanking (Your mileage may vary here)

Other useful uses for image spells (and again mileage may vary) is to do stuff like cast an "image fireball" once or twice, convincing the opponents that it's safe to ignore and then follow up with a real fireball, or the opposite, cast a fireball or two and then a third fake one to send the opponents running for cover.

In my group, successful reflex saves often send opponents into new squares as they are diving for cover so we can get more potential use for such things.

Higher level image spells are obviously more useful as they fool more senses, so that's where you can really use fake firewalls and such

[JoeJ]

Silent Image can control movement by creating the illusion of obstacles like a pit, caltrops, or a puddle of green slime. It can also be used to hide a pit that's actually there with an illusory floor.

[Tony Wonder]

So I want you guys to be on Use Your Illusion. Only now it’s “allusion” with an “a.” So if you guys want to put an allusion in there somewhere, like Poe or something... Don’t do Poe, ’cause I’m doing Poe.

[DominusMegadeus]

Tony Wonder wrote:

So I want you guys to be on Use Your Illusion. Only now it’s “allusion” with an “a.” So if you guys want to put an allusion in there somewhere, like Poe or something... Don’t do Poe, ’cause I’m doing Poe.

Whose Illusion Is It Anyway?, where everything is made up and the martials don't matter.

On-Topic Mode: Definently have to ask your GM before you play a bard or something how he plays illusions. There's usually a solid middle ground, but some DMs will let you get away with murder (literally) and others make illusions basically meaningless.

[kikidmonkey]

DominusMegadeus wrote:

but some DMs will let you get away with murder (literally)

Well, as long as it's an ILLUSORY murder...

[Ravingdork]

The following guide is for an older version of the game, but since the illusions rules haven't changed since then, much of its advice is still relevant today:

All About Illusions, Part I
All About Illusions, Part II
All About Illusions, Part III
All About Illusions, Part IV

I hope that helps you and your group make some sense out of it all.

EDIT 1: S+~%. After all these years, I guess they finally took the articles down. Anyone bother to save an offline copy?

EDIT 2: Found their new location. Looks like they got archived. Fixed the links above to match their new location.