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Say I have a BBEG with the ability to cast illusions. Further say that this BBEG is currently ethereal via some spell-like ability. Can the illusions be cast such that they appear on the Material Plane?
I can see a clear argument for "no" being the answer. But from the spell description there's nothing to say that illusions are not perceived.
Force effects and abjurations affect an ethereal creature normally. Their effects extend onto the Ethereal Plane from the Material Plane, but not vice versa. An ethereal creature can't attack material creatures, and spells you cast while ethereal affect only other ethereal things. Certain material creatures or objects have attacks or effects that work on the Ethereal Plane.
While it is possible to see into the Material Plane from the Ethereal Plane, the latter is usually invisible to those on the Material Plane. Normally, creatures on the Ethereal Plane cannot attack creatures on the Material Plane, and vice versa. A traveler on the Ethereal Plane is invisible, insubstanial, and utterly silent to someone on the Material Plane.
In the highlighted sections is the implication that objects, in addition to creatures, are invisible to creatures on the Material Plane looking into the Ethereal Plane. But it's not really stated.
Normal Magic: Spells function normally on the Ethereal Plane, though they do not cross into the Material Plane.
That seems pretty clear. But an illusion is a figment of the mind and not physical -- cannot the mind of a creature on the Material Plane be affected?
(I think I've talked myself out of this being possible, but now that I've typed all this, I may as well submit it. :))
Things that are on the ethereal plane are invisible (see blink) So you would have an illusion, but no one could see it.
phantasms are in the mind. Other illusions are not.
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Heh-heh.
What about magic jar? I have a BBEG with that ability -- would it work across the planar boundary?
I've got this BBEG and it seems that this guy is useless unless he first materializes on the Material Plane...
Speaking of which, what kind of action is it to change planes? The casting of etherealness is itself a standard action, but what about changing planes to come back?
And if a creature is native to the Ethereal Plane, would their spell be called "materialness"? Would it be recognizable by a wizard on the M.P. via Spellcraft? ;-)
(Sorry, I'm getting goofy now. I think I'll have my BBEG summon some other creatures first and send them into battle, then make his own plans. Hm, a summoned creature would appear in the Ethereal Plane too I suppose? When the spellcaster cancels etherealness, are the summoned creatures affected by it as well and shift to the M.P.?)