izanami8770's page

Again...this.

I think that goes long way to supporting my use of the spell, but I wanted to see what others thought.

Sorry - standing in an illusion is enough to be interacting, practically by definition.

How so? By what definition? Did you read the article on interaction?

Anyone with darkvision would also expect to see through it, thus interaction.

I would be willing to concede that anyone who isn't aware of what magical darkness is would be allowed a save if they have darkvision (ignorance wins out for once lol).

Also, as people have said, you can't actually reduce the illumination level, so that means you have to "make inky blackness" as you described. That won't look like magical darkness, so isn't likely to fool viewers

I would have to question how different blackness and total darkness are. I would not think there would be any discernible difference.

Regardless of other things, silent image can at least attempt something like this, but you're better off just doing a mist effect instead (more believable for those with darkvision). Will still get a save if you're in it though.

This is something I have certainly considered, and I fully agree that going into mist would warrant a save (as mist would have water particles in it), but therein lies the problem. The best way to use illusions (in my mind) is to: A.)never allow interaction if you can help it, and B.)the almighty KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid).

Is darkness an object, creature, or force?

Well, it wouldn't be "darkness" per se, just inky blackness. Splitting hairs, perhaps, but there it is. Plus, I would think darkness would be considered a force in DnD terms (though CERTAINLY not in physics lol).

A figment effect creates a visual illusion of an object or creature. It cannot alter something's appearance.

I'm not altering anything. I'm putting a figment of blackness in empty air.

It also certainly cannot duplicate the effect of the third-level spell deeper darkness

Where is that written? And technically, it's not duplicating it. Deeper Darkness lowers light levels by 2, this would be blackness. Also, this (the image) requires a concentration check to hold (I got Effortless Trickery :-P),and disbelief negates its effect on an individual, and cause a chain of saves. Deeper Darkness allows no such save.

Silent image isn't powerful enough to do what you describe.

Silent Image is often seen as one of the most powerful spells in the game.

BTW, I don't think silent image is as powereful as deeper darkness simply because it can be so easily disbelieved (If the character thinks to try).

This. The moment ONE PERSON saves, it starts a chain reaction of +4 saves. Now, they would still need to spend an action interacting as per the rules in that monster article, but still...+4.

Standing in an illusion is generally sufficient to be considered interaction.

Not really. If one CAN'T stand in a real version of what the illusion is mimicking, then it's an automatic disbelief (like standing inside a dragon image). If, however, one is standing inside something that can be stood inside without any tactile sense, there is no interaction. Interaction almost always requires an action (unless something is obviously not real, in which case it is automatically disbelieved).

I am currently in a campaign playing as an illusionist, and I used Silent Image to put inky blackness into a room so that only me and my allies could see. Everything else, including things with darkvision, were effectively blinded as per the darkness rules. While I greatly enjoyed having this much control in what should have been a TPK, I am concerned about how powerful this is.

We are level 4 atm, and I understand that later in the game dispel magic and true seeing can shut this down, but I just wanted to opinions from the community.

Should people with darkvision get a saving throw since they can normally see in darkness, or not. The counterpoint would generally be that such creatures can't see in magical darkness. But it could just depend on whether the creature in question knows what magical darkness is.

Good resource for interaction rules: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/rg/20060221a

Thanks

As a DM, I would rule that no components means no obvious effects means no chance to notice (unless it is something like a fireball, where the result of the spell evidence enough). Technically, silent and still doesn't mean non-visual, so I can see someone ruling otherwise. SLAs do provoke AOs, but who's to say for certain why that is, except that you are letting your guard down. Still, I don't let people notice paladins detect evil, as it feels silly, and slows down the game.

End of the day, up to the GM (obviously), but i tend to side with what makes the experience more enjoyable for the group. If my group has a caster who focuses on no component casting with component freedom (mythic stuff) or metamagic feats, then I will let him cast without people noticing, but monsters with SLAs will have the same benefit. I think people worry too much about the rules at the expense of fun...in a game...which is supposed to be fun. The most important rule is on page 9 of the core rulebook: change the rules to fit your needs so that everyone has fun.

Good luck.

I am in a game where one of the players is using a divination wizard, and he wants to scry to gather intel. This seems fair enough. The only problem is, our DM says that he is concerned that the AP in question (Wrath of the Righteous) won't always have the information he needs to reward smart use of scry and other such spells. So far, we have only been through book 1 (going to start book 2 soon), so does anyone either a.) know that the subsequent books will have enough info or b.) have any ideas to keep both parties happy?

My DM hates telling people that they can't do things, and wants a way to make it work.

Thanks.

Can I stop concentrating on a spell then start concentrating on it again before it expires? For example, if the spell lasts for 2 rounds after I cease concentrating, can I pick it up again before it ends?

Beguiling Touch (Sp): You can charm a living creature by touching it. Creatures with more Hit Dice than your wizard level are unaffected, as are creatures in combat and those with an attitude of hostile toward you. Creatures receive a Will saving throw to negate the effect. The DC of this save is equal to 10 + 1/2 your wizard level + your Intelligence modifier. Creatures that fail their save are affected by charm monster for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 your wizard level (minimum 1). This is a mind-affecting effect. You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Intelligence modifier.

So...I don't get it. I mean, the duration is awful, the range is touch, a saving throw is allowed, it's mind-affecting, and it can't be used in combat. All the tricky, non-combat uses for charm get absolutely crapped on by the duration and touch range (but mostly the duration). I thought enchantment was already considered UP, so why come out with an alternate power like this (it replaces dazing touch)? I really WANT to like it, as a like playing manipulators and charmers, but this is just...bad. Does anyone have any differing opinions or clever ideas?

We have someone joining our Wrath of the Righteous campaign, and this person wants to be a member of the Eagle's Watch. Our DM is making the Eagle's Watch more like Internal Affairs and covert ops, where they check for internal security issues such as spies in the ranks and ferret them out. The player wants to run a wizard for sure, but is unsure of what specialty to run. The wizard is torn between divination, enchantment, and illusions. While it is understood that the wizard will no longer really be working with the Eagle's Watch, they want background to dictate specialty.

Divination for spying and truth-seeking, enchantment for undercover work and truth-seeking, illusions for counter-intelligence and infiltration. I told this person that all three could work, and they are going to use all three schools for sure, but they want to specialize in the one that would make the most sense story-wise.

This player is also fairly manipulative when they play. They prefer to set up free surprise rounds through manipulation of the situation at hand. They do things like use detect thoughts, charms, and illusions to fool enemies into trusting them. They are what you would call a crafty, planning type player.

Anywho, I told them I would ask around, so I thank you for any input.

EDIT: Oh, and our DM allows expansions, so all of the alternative school stuff is in play.

We have had the same issue with Wrath of the Righteous book 1. We ordered off of paizo.com iirc. Tbh, soft-covered APs falling apart is not really a dealbreaker for me, though it is annoying.

I can't seem to find anything on how the Silence spell affects Stealth checks. For example, if my bard casts Silence on my rogue, how does that affect the rogue's stealth check? If someone could direct me to a source or otherwise answer this question, it would be much appreciated.

Much obliged.

Note that not all illusion spells are visual though!

The only illusions that I can think of that are not visual would be Ghost Sound, Phantasmal Killer, Weirds, and MAYBE the Shadow Conjuration and Evocation spells. Is that right?

Too bad that old '130% Real Shadow effects' build doesn't exist anymore from 3.5, puts it right in the dangly parts of people who can see through illusions.

I am now both curious and sad. :-P

Any character who super-specializes in one specific type of tactic is going to come up against foes where they're essentially helpless... that's the price you pay for being better than normal at one tactic

Yeah, that's what I was getting at with the whole "everyone has weaknesses" thing. I would certainly have other things to fall back on, I just didn't want most or all high level fight to have constant true seeing (since with constant true seeing, I can't just dispel it).

Also, thank you for letting me know about the AP. That's helps a lot. I think I also came up with a few clever ways of shutting down demonic true seeing (involving a familiar and antimagic field) :-P

One more thing while we are on the subject of true seeing. Does true seeing make things IMMUNE to illusions (e.g. patterns and such), or does it just allow automatic disbelief where such disbelief explicitly affects the spell?

Thanks again to everyone.

I found a mythic feat called Fabulous Figments, but I don't know if that helps against True Seeing or See Invisibility.

Non-mythic creatures can't identify your illusion spells with Spellcraft, including checks attempted as part of arcane sight, detect magic, or similar effects. When mythic creatures attempt to identify your illusions, add your tier to the DC of those Spellcraft checks. Mythic creatures informed by their allies that one of your illusions isn't real gain only a +2 bonus on their Will saves to disbelieve. Non-mythic creatures gain no bonus to disbelieve.

Hey all, I just wanted to know how common True Seeing is in the Wrath of the Righteous AP. I was looking to play an illusionist, but I didn't want to get completely screwed by demons' CONSTANT true seeing. I understand that everyone has a weakness, and I would rather this not devolve into a "true seeing is OP" thread, but I just want to not be useless. If anyone has any suggestions on circumventing such problems, I would appreciate that as well.

Ok...so who wants an AP exploring at least one other planet of this solar system? I know I do, but since they are doing a solar system rather than (or I guess in addition to) the planes system of other rpgs, it would be cool to see them be...realistic with the portrayal of other planets. Hear me out.

Now planets in the real world (universe, you get it), are TRULY alien. Venus is 900 F at the surface, you could swim in Titan's atmosphere it's so dense, you get the idea. But alien also means inhospitable. VERY inhospitable. That being said, since there is magic in this world, such limitations can be obfuscated, and space geeks like myself could travel to strange, alien worlds without if feeling like Star Trek (breathable air, perfect temperature and pressure, etc).

My point being, there is a real opportunity to allow players to explore incredibly strange and cool worlds, possibly populated by uniquely alien species, and I hope paizo (who has yet to disappoint me) can take advantage of this.