Phantasmal Killer is an illusion... it says it makes an image of what you're afraid of. since it causes death without doing damage, is it a 'death effect' (ie does death ward protect you against it... and if so, does it protect you from the 3d6 if you fail will but make fort?)
Thanks for input as I might have to reverse a ruling in my game depending on the answer to this question.
It is not. Only things that have the [death] descriptor or are explicitly called out as "this is a death effect" are death effects.
Thanks!!!