Just wondering about some illusion spells

[Zwordsman]

Heya. I'm having a hard time searching online for them, so while I do that I figure i'd toss a thread out~

I'm curious if there are any damaging low level illusion spells? Of course illusion isn't meant to be damage. I'm just curious if there was anything like a shadow dart or something.
The only damaging lower level spells I know are shadow weapon (makes melee weapon) then shadow evocation (lv 4 spell i think)

Since the character i'm looking at a lot is primary illusion I was curious about choices. (plenty of fun stuff in evocation and conjuration of course. I just won't have as many focuses in that)

[tonyz]

Most illusion spells rely on tricking the enemy into doing things that are damaging or destructive onhis own accord. Stumble over the cliff edge, step onto the pit, run away from the illusory dragon and into the invisible fighter, that sort of thing.

Color spray stuns a lot of foes so your fighter bipuddy, or your summoned buddy, can easily hack them up.

[Zwordsman]

Yup yup, colour spray is a main stay. Figured I'd ask incase there was something low level (If I remember right some race (probably that shadow one haha) adds damage to illusion spells. which could help with some things.
Probably go for force and sonic spells

[tonyz]

Do other things than illusions. It's handy if people don't know which is real and which isn't. :)

[Tacticslion]

There are 100 different illusion spells (go to the "school" tab and select "illusion").

Fair warning, transcribing these quickly (copy/paste plus deletion) means I might have made some mistakes. Not all of them will be available for an arcanist, or specific other caster, and I might have gotten the level wrong. Sorry.

Now for a copy/paste of doooooooooooooooooom:

Spoiled for Shortness:

Blur level 2
Color Spray level 1
Disguise Self level 1
Displacement level 3
Dream level 5
False Vision level 5
Ghost Sound level 0
Hallucinatory Terrain level 4
Hypnotic Pattern level 2
Illusory Script level 3
Illusory Wall level 4
Invisibility level 2
Invisibility, Greater level 4
Invisibility, Mass level 7
Invisibility Sphere level 3
Magic Aura level 1
Magic Mouth level 2
Major Image level 3
Minor Image level 2
Mirage Arcana level 5
Mirror Image level 2
Misdirection level 2
Mislead illusion level 6
Nightmare level 5
Permanent Image level 6
Persistent Image level 5
Phantasmal Killer level 4
Phantom Trap level 2
Programmed Image level 6
Project Image level 7
Rainbow Pattern illusion level 4
Scintillating Pattern level 8
Screen level 8
Seeming level 5
Shadow Conjuration level 4
Shades level 9
Shadow Conjuration, Greater level 7
Shadow Evocation level 5
Shadow Evocation, Greater level 8
Shadow Walk level 6
Silence level 2
Silent Image level 1
Simulacrum level 7
Veil level 6
Ventriloquism level 1
Weird level 9
Zone of Silence level 4 (bard only)
Dirge Of The Victorious Knights level 6 (damage dealing, bard only)
Twine Double level 3
Illusory Poison level 3
Chameleon Stride level 2
Hide Campsite level 3
Invigorate level 1
Invigorate, Mass level 3
Mask Dweomer level 1
Phantasmal Revenge level 7
Phantasmal Web level 5
Vanish level 1
Wandering Star Motes level 4
Vision of Lamashtu level 7
Trail of the Rose level 2
Cackling Skull level 3
Disguise Other level 2
Exquisite Accompaniment level 3
Ghostly Disguise level 2
Haunting Mists level 2; deals wisdom damage
Loathsome Veil level 3; causes sickness
Lunar Veil level 7
Mad Hallucination level 2
Shadowbard leve 5
Shadow Step level 4
Shadow Weapon level 1
Simulacrum, Lesser level 4
Symbol of Mirroring level 2
Vision of Hell level 3
Dazzling Blade level 1
Dazzling Blade, Mass level 3
Stolen Light level 3
Shadow Barbs level 4 (creates a magic spiked chain)
Haunted Fey Aspect cantrip
Illusion of Calm level 1
Mask Dweomer, Communal level 2
Negative Reaction level 1; "damages" reputation, hahah
Shocking Image level 4, damages attacker
Symbol of Striking level 5
Lose the Trail level 2
Blend level 1
Jitterbugs level 1
Major Phantom Object level 5
Minor Dream level 3
Minor Phantom Object level 4
Fearsome Duplicate level 3
Village Veil level 5
Agonizing Rebuke level 3, harms attackers
Shadow Anchor level 2
Clarion Call level 1
Display Aversion level 2
Familiar Figment level 2
Shadow Dragon Aspect level 4, gain the ability to deal damage
Illusory Hoard level 5

I added a few notes, but I didn't really look at the spells. Those were just the ones I noticed as I deleted the preponderance of the entries - do not take those as a definitive list.

Agonizing Rebuke (lvl 3) harms attackers, and Loathsome Veil (lvl 3) and Haunting Mist (lvl 2) add sickness or wisdom damage, respectively.

In addition to what you mentioned, that's about it below fourth level, that I noticed, though I could easily have missed... everything!

Anyway, hope that helps!

[Zwordsman]

Wow epic list!

Thank you for that!

[Justin Rocket]

Illusions just really aren't intended to do damage. That's more of an evocation and conjuration thing. Illusions are some of the best God powers (battlefield control) and some of the most flexible battlefield powers when in the hands of a spontaneous caster who has Cha as a prime.

Its worth noting, though, that (due to what I consider to be a critical flaw in the rules as written), people nearby can sense when even a still/silent illusion is cast and can potentially know that it was an illusion spell that was cast.

[Zwordsman]

I don't think I know that rule you mentioned..
how do you mean?

[Tacticslion]

Zwordsman wrote:

I don't think I know that rule you mentioned..

how do you mean?

I believe it's the ability to use a spellcraft check to identify a spell as its being cast. You don't even have to see it. It's just obvious that a spell is being cast.

In Golarion, at least, (the Pathfinder Core setting) it's generally presumed to be explained as things like floating runes and bright lights surrounding the caster or similar (presumed by way of the artwork), whereas in RAW it's unexplained; I understand the aesthetic choice, but it makes illusionist have a really hard time of it.

In any event, it's glaringly obvious you're casting magic no matter what. Weirdly, it seems that it may be obvious if you're casting an arcane or divine spell, even if they're on the same list, even if you've got still and silent spell, and even if you've got pretty much every reason in the world to convince people otherwise.

EDIT: Anyway, I just ignore the rule in my home games. It wasn't a presumed part of 3.5 or earlier things, and we've (mostly accidentally before purposefully) grandfathered that in.