Just read through the players guide for Carrion Crown, and possibly hit a snag with my build. It recommended against an Illusionist Wizard, which was going to be my focus.
Without giving away to many spoilers (use spoiler button if you must) Is it going to be a waste of time with an illusionist, or is there something I can do to make one effective in this campaign?
Thanks ahead of time.
afaik carrion crown is heavy on undead
undead are mostly immune to mind-affecting stuff
illusions are mostly mind-affecting...
... I think :-)
I have only played through the first and second books. I won't spoil anything for you.
In my opinion, an illusiononist would have been a complete waste in the first book.
In the second book, there are somethings that can be affected by illusions, but it still wouldn't be the best choice.
To be honest, I think almost any other wizard would be better than an illusionist. I suppose if you don't specialize in illusions too much (other than the specialty school), are careful with your opposition schools, and don't actually prepare too many illusion spells. You could probably do ok. But then why be an illusionist at all.
afaik carrion crown is heavy on undead
undead are mostly immune to mind-affecting stuff
illusions are mostly mind-affecting...
... I think :-)
Not the stables like Silent Image, etc. Undead have way of reasoning those away so they are double susceptible. Them and Golems (who also don't question their environment).
What type of illusions are you expected to use?
Phantasms? No.
Figments? Work.
Glamer? Yes.
Patern? No.
Shadow? Yes.
If you read the entry for undead: •Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms)
It shows only two types are illusions are an issue.
Sadly, no one reads entries and assumes undead are immune to all illusions.
1st level spells:
Color Spray: immune
Silent Image: Double vulnerable, same for minor/Major/Shocking Image
Dazzling Blade: immune
Illusion of Calm: Weak.
Shadow Weapon: Weak
Vanish: Weak, same for Invisibility/Greater
Ventriloquism: weak
2nd level:
Blur: Not a question.
Hypnotic pattern: Immune
Haunting Mists: Works? Can undead be shaken?
Ghostly Disguise: works.
Mirror Image: Works
Mad Hallucination: immune
3rd:
Vision of Hell: Works
Displacement: works
4th:
Hallucinary Terrain: works
Illusionary Wall: Double vulnerable (why would it question it?)
5th:
Phantasm Web: no.
Symbol of Striking: Yes
Mirage Arcana: works
Yeah, maybe not the best (although adventure 3 is full of lots of living critters!) unless you'd like to retool the idea as an Undead bloodline sorcerer (with the special ability for their mind effecting spells to effect coporal undead), see below:
"Bloodline Arcana: Some undead are susceptible to your mind-affecting spells. Corporeal undead that were once humanoids are treated as humanoids for the purposes of determining which spells affect them."
I'm playing one now and focusing more on the necromancy and evocation spells, but I can recall charming some zombies!
My main goal was to use the image spells (silent.. minor.. major) which are "figments" and then later show evocation which is "shadow".
Looking at the undead type, I see they are immune to:
Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
Immunity to bleed, death effects, disease, paralysis, poison, sleep effects, and stunning.
So, would I still be able to get image spells and shadow evocation spells off? and supplement the rest of my casting with conjuration/blasting?
*edit - In other words.. what starbuck said :)
I think I'll be fine with the concept I was going for, although I may have to reconsider the phantasm sub-school.
How are the higher levels 8+? Will I find a lot of mind-affecting immune stuff there where I should consider a different sub-school than phantasm? (I love that Bedeviling aura concept)
If you read the entry for undead: •Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms)
[...]
Haunting Mists: Works? Can undead be shaken?
fear is a morale effect, afaik
The Shadow Gambit feat will allow your illusions to rain down death and destruction. But it's not the greatest thing action-economy-wise.