"If you're viewing this, it must mean I'm already dead."

[blahpers]

Or, the typical modern version of the Dead Man Writing trope. In more modern settings, this is generally recorded as video or holography. What's the simplest way for a character to prepare an animated visual message for someone to view in the event of his demise?

[Create Mr. Pitt]

Programmed image?

[Rynjin]

As near as I can tell, all spells and items that let you record a message have an arbitrary limit of 25 words or less. =/

Research a higher level Magic Mouth that allows longer messages and a holo-image?

[blahpers]

Create Mr. Pitt wrote:

Programmed image?

That's reasonable! Maybe a custom version with only visual and auditory and only as a recording (rather than an arbitrary illusion) would be worth knocking a level or two off of it.

[Joex The Pale]

Probably Programmed Image, as stated above, in a secure area that would only be accessed "over my dead body".

[Set]

Does seem to be exactly what programmed image is for. Or permanent image (on an endless loop of, "Help me, Obi-wan Kenobi, you're my only hope.").

Lacking 6th level spells, a much lower level caster could use a combination of silent image and ghost sound (or just minor image), and the Craft Wondrous Item feat to make a custom item that plays a single illusory message on a specific trigger. Given that it's not an item that one can use to cast silent image / ghost sound, but only replays the same message, and perhaps only under certain restrictive circumstances, it would probably be way cheaper than a generic magic item that allowed the casting of those two spells.

Other schools of magic could be tweaked. A tiny weaker version of a homonculous that looks just like the caster could animate and deliver the message (stats like a magic-less version of a mite with no attacks). A 'haunt' could form that does nothing but deliver the message when triggered, using a wisp of spiritual energy shed by the caster. A divination 'trap' could be left on a scroll, that, when read, the readers senses are cast back into the past, when the scroll was made, and the reader clearly sees the (long dead, now) caster speaking to the air while holding the same scroll, relaying his message, knowing that the scroll will allow someone in the future to view back to this moment in time (one time only! Pay attention!).

In these cases, using a unique sort of magic, you may or may not choose to have some research notes available that the party wizard might use to recreate this spell (or just flat out leave a scroll of it around), assuming that a PC would have a use for such a highly specific spell.

[VRMH]

It's not quite what the OP asked for, but a mundane NPC servant with access to a few castings of "Share Memory" might do the trick too. With just a 2nd level spell, you can make your faithful butler share his memory of you telling him your message, with anyone you told him to.

[Mark Hoover]

- Having a feminine construct programmed to say "They shot me Mal" when PCs walk in the door

- A creepy guy arrives on a dark and stormy night in the middle of an open stretch of highway with the scroll from the caster and says "Are you Marty McFly?"

- A log burned on the fire which forms the image of the caster out of smoke and fire

All of these are delivery methods though, so I'll second Set's advice and suggest you customize it.

- Abjuration: a talking wall
- Conjuration: a summoned monster appears to relate the caster's wish
- Divination: seeing through a censor into a past moment in the caster's life
- Enchantment: a charmed agent with a specific message related in the caster's own voice
- Evocation: a flaming, talking wall
- Illusion: really? Pick any effect
- Necromancy: Set's haunt or spontaneous reanimation of the corpse that speaks in an eerie voice for a minute
- Transmutation: A pyrotechnics/fireworks type effect that forms images of the caster in the smoke and fire

Now of course there's items too that go along w/what you're troping:

- A book or tome to deliver the effect
- Special incense burned producing caster image smoke
- Animate piece of art (sculpture, portrait, special song or another audio/visual representation of the caster)
- Gravestone or the soil of their grave animating into caster's image
- A wand that, once broken, releases recorded message
- A piece of clothing that either conjures the caster's image into it or puts you in a place with the caster

And there's unique agents that can be employed to deliver the news:

- A bunch of faeries having a revel deliver messages from the caster in rhyme
- The corpse of the caster
- A mortal messenger with an innocuous package
- A thrush or other small bird
- The wind in a particular meadow
- Treants
- any kind of a weird (from 3.5) or elemental that somehow exactly resembles the caster
- a construct of some kind
- a summoned angel (or devil, depending on alignment) recruited only for this tragic message

Fun stuff!

[Hawktitan]

From a construct - "He killed me Mal, he killed me with a sword, how weird is that"

[insaneogeddon]

Easiest... either have to say '....' is dead or have it cast it on yourself (Target one creature or object) so works when you die!

MAGIC MOUTH
School illusion (glamer); Level bard 1, sorcerer/wizard 2
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (a small bit of honeycomb and jade dust worth 10 gp)
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one creature or object
Duration permanent until discharged
Saving Throw Will negates (object); Spell Resistance yes (object)
This spell imbues the chosen object or creature with an enchanted mouth that suddenly appears and speaks its message the next time a specified event occurs. The message, which must be 25 or fewer words long, can be in any language known by you and can be delivered over a period of 10 minutes. The mouth cannot utter verbal components, use command words, or activate magical effects. It does, however, move according to the words articulated; if it were placed upon a statue, the mouth of the statue would move and appear to speak. Magic mouth can also be placed upon a tree, rock, or any other object or creature.

The spell functions when specific conditions are fulfilled according to your command as set in the spell. Commands can be as general or as detailed as desired, although only visual and audible triggers can be used. Triggers react to what appears to be the case. Disguises and illusions can fool them. Normal darkness does not defeat a visual trigger, but magical darkness or invisibility does. Silent movement or magical silence defeats audible triggers. Audible triggers can be keyed to general types of noises or to a specific noise or spoken word. Actions can serve as triggers if they are visible or audible. A magic mouth cannot distinguish alignment, level, Hit Dice, or class except by external garb.

The range limit of a trigger is 15 feet per caster level, so a 6th-level caster can command a magic mouth to respond to triggers as far as 90 feet away. Regardless of range, the mouth can respond only to visible or audible triggers and actions in line of sight or within hearing distance.

Magic mouth can be made permanent with a permanency spell.

[cZak]

Where, when & why do you want this effect?
If it's just an after death 'last will & testament' type thing...

Charge a Glyph of warding with a Spectral forces Major image.
The only problematic part I see is the 'harmful' requirement for the glyph spell description.

The Spectral forces Major image covers all the sensory components.
This can include a hologram of you, relaying your message while sitting in a comfy chair by a fireplace if you'd like.

Or the Conan route; sitting on a throne surrounded by slave girls with the heads of your enemies laying at your feet.

Have the glyph trigger when your favorite (weapon, magic item, left arm, etc...) is brought within range. Something that you would never be without unless you were dead.

[Count Coltello]

Hawktitan wrote:

From a construct - "He killed me Mal, he killed me with a sword, how weird is that"

Taking me forever to figure out this one its on the tip of my tongue grr lol

And how about something like in Harry Potter someone can put their thoughts into a vial to be viewed later

[Hawktitan]

Turn in your browncoat.

It's from the movie Serenity.

[Story Archer]

blahpers wrote:

Or, the typical modern version of the Dead Man Writing trope. In more modern settings, this is generally recorded as video or holography. What's the simplest way for a character to prepare an animated visual message for someone to view in the event of his demise?

My suggestion is to never limit yourself to spells written as the only options for magic. They make for a good selection for the PC's but over thousands of years over hundreds of cultures, I'm quite sure everything under the sun that can be done has been.

If its something an NPC wants to do, hand wave it without a second thought. If its something a PC wants to do and it doesn't provide any real mechanical benefit, let him research it and then do it as well.

[Wiggz]

Hawktitan wrote:

Turn in your browncoat.

It's from the movie Serenity.

For real.

Kids these days...

[SlimGauge]

How about an Animated Portrait from Ultimate Equipment ? Each programmed response is limited to 25 words, but you get 10 responses.

[Duiker]

You're overthinking this. Exploding Runes.

[LazarX]

blahpers wrote:

Or, the typical modern version of the Dead Man Writing trope. In more modern settings, this is generally recorded as video or holography. What's the simplest way for a character to prepare an animated visual message for someone to view in the event of his demise?

Are you doing this as a GM? If so, just fiat it. From the player's point of view the story is in the message, not the mechanics used to construct it.

If people really insist, the effect is within what's possible from the Programmed Illusion spell, or a wondrous item built using such magic.

[Count Coltello]

Hawktitan wrote:

Turn in your browncoat.

It's from the movie Serenity.

That's what I thought after I closed this my gf almost wrecked when I shouted the name lol

(Was on phone and she was driving)

[Master of the Dark Triad]

Duiker wrote:

You're overthinking this. Exploding Runes.

I prepared exploding runes today.

[lemeres]

My first impulse was to simply say "speak with dead"...for the obvious advantages. But that is far, far to direct and simple. But it gives a nice starting point for other ideas. So first, for a 'recorded message' type deal, you need a custom magic item with some specific activation method. But what spell? How about a different "speak with" spell?

Speak with Animals is a first level druid spell, so it would not be theoretically hard to get on a nice collar to use 1/day. It seems like a simply enough magical item that you'd imagine a market for it among rich nobles. And while an animal's ability to perceive what is going on might be poor, I would not doubt they could generally remember a message if it was told during a previous use of speak with animals.

So, a short, simply, but poignant message, and a completely innocent sounding request to take care of his dog if he ever dies. Take all that, and a simple set of instructions on how to use the ability on the inside of the collar (easy enough to miss on casual inspection, but hard to miss for long if you are the new owner), and suddenly you have an adventure hook (and maybe an unreliable witness of the death itself). Plus, you also have a character and possibly a half decent way of leading the party. For example, the dog could growl and start a chase because he caught the scent of the six-fingered man. Not entirely the original request, but it can work well nonetheless.

[Liam Warner]

Second darkness had 10,000 year old orbs (flavour not statted) that contained an entire subjects worth of information (presumably at least a couple of big thick books) and an interactive image that could answer questions and even show limited initive "Hello I am and may I suggest X as a subject of interest) not full AI but would certainly cover a will.

[blahpers]

This is more of a player looking for existing options. Naturally, a player could work with the GM on a custom solution, but it's good to know what's already out there before modifying or reinventing the wheel.

[Mark Hoover]

Master of the Dark Triad wrote:

Duiker wrote:

You're overthinking this. Exploding Runes.

I prepared exploding runes today.

I had exploding runes last week. Fiber is so important at my age.

[MagusJanus]

Just use an illusion.

"If you are seeing this, I am already dead. Please do not scan this with detect magic; the device projecting this has been designed to violently explode if you do. A security measure against those who seek vengeance."

And, once it's done talking.

"Oh, and you might want to run... I left out it will also explode when this message is complete. You have until I stop counting. Twenty, nineteen, eighteen..."

Have it actually explode and deal damage as a top-level maximized fireball. Just to discourage them from trying to pick through the pieces.

[LazarX]

MagusJanus wrote:

Just use an illusion.

"If you are seeing this, I am already dead. Please do not scan this with detect magic; the device projecting this has been designed to violently explode if you do. A security measure against those who seek vengeance."

The problem with that approach is that...

People generally search for magic items using detect magic.. Or will do so first before triggering it.