Question about illusions

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Halaster Blackcloak
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Question about illusions

Post by Halaster Blackcloak »

I don't use illusions all that often, so I'm a little rusty at it. I'm planning a room in Undermountain that has an illusion of Halaster and I want it to be able to interact with the PCs for at least a short while. Does anyone know which spell creates such a thing? I'm not seeing anything that really includes an interactive illusion, ie one that can communicate with (question and answer for example) characters.

Not sure if I should make it more like a shadow monster or what. I want the PCs to believe they're interacting with Halaster. Obviously they'll get a saving throw for disbelief, but why would they disbelieve they're facing Halaster himself, while on some of the deepest levels of the dungeon? :twisted:

Any suggestions?
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Tarrax Ironwolf
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Post by Tarrax Ironwolf »

The only spell that I could find is Improved Magic Mouth (Bard), where it can carry a conversation with the 'targets'. But it doesn't create an illusion of a person.
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Halaster Blackcloak
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Post by Halaster Blackcloak »

Hmmm. I really gotta brush up on illusions. It's my one weak spot in AD&D, not having used them often. Gotta find a way to make this work.
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McDeath
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Post by McDeath »

I think that's why you wanted to create the Illusionist Handbook or some such.
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Halaster Blackcloak
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Post by Halaster Blackcloak »

Exactly! Wish we could have had developers stick around for that. :(
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McDeath
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Post by McDeath »

Well, it does take persistence. My brain is pretty scrambled on many things atm. Of course I do miss my physical books. When I do research I do use a computer and have like 40 windows open but I also have like 20+ actual books open too.

Then its like a random butterfly and a kitten and I get distracted or get slump and take a nap or w/e.

What we know about illusion:
They're not real in most senses or rather they confound the senses with misdirection. I mean we don't really need to debate what is real or not real as that's like saying robots have souls and holograms deserve human rights (which screams star trek and other odd shows/movies).

Illusions vary in degree and power affecting these senses right: Wiki Senses
Sight - Vision
Hearing - Audition
Smell - Olfaction
Taste - Gustation
Touch - Tactition

Then there are parts of the senses as per that simple article. There's also that gut feeling sense cops get or the extra sensory powers I guess.

Bard's Tale had it simple. Just make an illusion mob that can be disbelieved via int/wis/level check. Or a spell. There were monsters that were disbelieved though spells weren't.
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Mira
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Post by Mira »

Maybe use Demi-Shadow Monsters or Shadow Monsters?

Improved Phantasmal Force doesn't have intelligible speech, but Shadow Monsters are quasi-real.

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Halaster Blackcloak
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Post by Halaster Blackcloak »

Good suggestions all. Thanks! Illusions is one area I'm just not good at. Haven't used them enough.
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slade88green
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Post by slade88green »

Use in improved magic mouth spell in conjunction with programmed illusion. If you have access to Dragon magazine # 229 read the article there concerning illusions. It's called Emil Duli Wonk's traveling illusionists' seminar. Wonderful story/article about illusions.
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Re: Question about illusions

Post by garhkal »

Programmed illusion, to ME should do that even without the magic mouth..
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