I remember there being a spell in one of the Paizo books; I believe it's Ultimate Magic or Advanced Player's Guide, but I can't find it in part due to not knowing its name.
The spell in question allowed the caster to remotely see through statues, paintings, and other artwork depicting said caster's likeness. So a self-portrait can become a useful surveillance and spying tool.
Anybody know its name and location?
Downside is you need to have pictures of yourself everywhere. Why not look into Irrisen Mirror Sight? Does a similar thing, only using mirrors, and mirrors are everywhere.
Maybe unrelated, but can you alter your face and change the portraits that are valid targets for the spell?
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Nope. It says you look out of "your image," which indicates that the images have to actually be portraits of you, not just portraits that happen to look like you or portraits of someone you've (however skillfully) disguised yourself as.
Enter Image does have some advantages over Mirror Sight. It allows you to hear from the image as well as see out of it. It has a duration of Concentration instead of 1 minute/level, which means it can potentially last longer. It has a casting time od 1 standard action instead of 10 minutes. And it's available to a wider range of classes - Mirror Sight is sorc/wiz only. Of course, Enter Image also has a shorter range.
Good to be aware of both.
You could place very small images of yourself in hidden observation areas if you want to keep an eye on a place. Could be very useful in a home or fortress you own if you come under attack. Does the spell give a range to how far from the image of you can be and still look through it? Would your vision scale to the portrait's size I wonder...?
Thanks for the recommendations. I take it that Enter Image is OGL, but is Mirror Sight as well? Was thinking of using something like this in an adventure I'm writing.
Arguably you could spam Arcane Mark with a rune of yourself on coins, and circulate them? Go full on illuminati with the all-seeing eye!
If you're the king, make sure that every coin in the kingdom bears your likeness. ;)
If you're the king, make sure that every coin in the kingdom bears your likeness. ;)
Somewhat limited in use. Cause pockets and chests. Portraits tend to be prominently displayed. Coins are kept secure.
Now, swords. That could be interesting. Have your image stamped on the guard of every state issued sword for the soldiers. It isn't suspicious (although it seems narcissistic), and they are kept at people's waist, which has a decent enough view.
That initially just lets you get recon, as well as watch over the soldier's actions (ie- catching spies). But later, the swords will eventually find their way into circulation. Thieves might decide to use the swords after killing soldiers. The swords might end up as part of any army surplus (...which you can create as the king) and head into the market where they end up everywhere.
Just make a law so it is legal for people to buy such swords, but not to take your image off. Ostensibly, that allows you to track the source (kind of a medieval serial number). It looks like a vanity thing ("how dare you scratch off the face of the king!"). And it has enough layers that it can be hard for people to guess it is a magical spying thing.
Throw out some cheap, state subsidized daggers too ("for self defense and utility of the masses"), and you can get a large portion of the population.
EDIT- wait, there is a range requirement? Damn. Well, it can at least get paranoid kings the ability to see who is talking behind his back among the knights. Swords for guards, daggers for noblemen. Easy enough to catch conspiracies. Maybe add in some secret passages that do not even need you be able to see/hear the other side.
Disguise yourself and have portraits painted while you are disguised.