I'm toying with a new 1st level illusion spell. Please let me know if you believe the following is useful and balanced:
Seeming
School illusion (glamer); Level bard 1, sorcerer/wizard 1
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range personal
Target you
Duration 10 min./level (D)
You make yourself - including clothing, armor, weapons, and equipment - appear bigger or smaller. You can seem up to a maximum one size category smaller or larger or anywhere in between. Regardless of your apparent size, your features remain altogether recognizable unless you take some other measures to disguise them.
If you use this spell to appear one size category smaller you gain a +4 size bonus to Stealth checks. Conversely, you suffer a –4 size penalty to Stealth checks if you appear one size category larger. These modifiers stack with any other size bonuses or penalties you may already have. Also, your new apparent size should be taken into account when attempting intimidate checks.
The spell does not alter the perceived tactile (touch) properties of you or your equipment. A creature that interacts with the glamer gets a Will save to recognize it as an illusion.
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I think it takes the whole stealth bonus one step too far.
If there is no save to detect that it is an illusion unless you physically interact with the target that means that if you are playing up the role this spell buffs, a save will never GET rolled.
I would allow any creature that views you an automatic roll to disbelieve.
In addition 10 minutes/CL is far too long for a personal buff spell, the general rule of thumb for these types of things is 1 minute/CL.
Keep in mind this is a 1st level spell.
It's based around disguise self, which is also 1st level, only allows a save if interacted with and permits one to walk around fully disguised just as long.
I figured that a reasonable bonus to hide checks in the right circumstances compared well with the ability to disguise oneself as anybody. It's the difference between hiding out of sight and hiding in plain sight. =)
To look at it another way, a hat of disguise (which grants a perpetual disguise self effect) is valued at 1800 gp. An item that grants a perpetual +4 bonus to stealth would be valued at 1600 gp.
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You are right but disguise self doesn't give you any bonuses to skill checks other than disguise which is really the whole purpose of the spell.
The save serves no purpose as if someone will interact with the illusion then the effect of the spell will have already have been rendered useless. Plus if I see a Dwarf that is 2.5 feet tall or a Human that is 11 feet tall my first reaction would be disbelief. I think a roll to disbelieve is fair.
I can understand the spell in terms of being a neat/fun spell for RP, but put down to mechanics, it needs a counter. After 3-4th level as a caster there is never a reason NOT to have this up on yourself and that over qualifies it for a 1st level spell.
I don't see that it's more useful or powerful than disguise self. The bonus isn't as big as the former's +10 to disguise and it's only really of use to those who have bothered to increase their overall stealth score.
But I asked for feedback and appreciate you taking the time to offer yours. Thanks. =)
Oddly perhaps, my primary purpose in making the spell wasn't to gain a bonus to stealth; it was to allow a spryte to pass himself off as a gnome. As is, disguise self is too restrictive in its 12 inch size increase limit. I just figured that a bonus/penalty to stealth and intimidate made sense in context of the spell's effects and might make it otherwise useful.
Any other opinions?
I think it's properly balanced, if not a little underpowered.
I put it up against Enlarge Person and Reduce Person, first level spells that can be used on others and ACTUALLY change your size. This spell is longer duration but is a visual-only illusion.
Incidentally, I would probably put a line in the spell that it eliminates the size-change penalty to disguise checks when using some other means to disguise as the apparent size.
I don't agree that an automatic disbelief is needed. First of all, that would break the general rule on Will disbelief. Second, at least in my experience, Enlarge and Reduce Person are very popular first-level spells. Even if otherwise entirely undisguised, it's reasonable for people to believe you're under the enfluence of one of those.
In fact, upon further consideration, I might add a line that indicates that the spell completely replicates the visual effect of one of those two spells.
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Therein lies the problem with these two spells a person is able to give themselves a +8 to stealth with little recourse at level 1. That is not even mentioning PCs that start off as small which would account for a +16 bonus to stealth, that is an unaccountably large bonus for such a low level spell.
And the enlarge/reduce person spells are great examples of my point exactly, most arcane casters use those spells every single combat if they have the opportunity after level 4-5. That doesn't speak to the balance of the spell but to how powerful it is.
I agree with AvalonXQ on this. I would change the spell from giving you flat bonuses to stealth to read "you get the normal bonuses or penalties to stealth and intimidate for your new apparent size," and add in the line that it affects other spells that disguise you.
I may add a restriction that you cannot use it with actual size increases though. Enlarge person + this or reduce person + this I'm not sure I want to stack.
Overall, I think it is about the right power for a spell.
Okay, so about like this:
Resize Appearance
School illusion (glamer); Level bard 1, sorcerer/wizard 1
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
Range personal
Target you
Duration 10 min./level (D)
Save Will disbelief if interacted with
This spell replicates the visual effects of either Enlarge Person or Reduce Person, chosen at the time of casting. The illusion is visual only; a creature that interacts with you gets a saving throw as normal to see through the glamer.
You are considered your apparent size rather than your actual size when making Stealth, Intimidate, and Disguise checks. You are considered your actual size for all other purposes.
This spell ceases to function if you are other than your normal size. Its duration expires normally, and the glamer resumes if you return to your normal size.
I like it. I might even add a 3th lvl version that lets you do 2 size categories.
Believe it or not, I was thinking the exact same thing.
I like some of AvalonXQ's changes, though I don't know if I'd bother including restrictions on it functioning alongside other size increases or decreases. I don't see a problem with a caster netting a +8 bonus on hide checks for 1 minute per level if he's willing to cast two 1st level spells to get it. The tactic's overall usefulness remains dependant on a successful stealth skill check; at which most casters don't excel anyways. He could just as easily cast vanish (another 1st level spell) or invisibility to disappear altogether with no associated skill checks or requirements such as concealment or cover.