Jastermereel
2010-03-24, 02:36 PM
So I'm going to start throwing some illusions at my players this weekend for the first time and wanted some advice.
The rules seem pretty clear about simple concepts (a hole covered by illusory floor), but what about more complex setups? Should it be harder to make the illusion-resisting throw on a silent image if the truth is closer to the illusion? With the hole/floor setup, it's a pretty stark difference, but what if I hide a wooden wall with a Japanese style paper wall (masking it's potential vulnerability to a PC's crazed barbarian). What if it's a wooden or plaster wall? Should it be harder to recognize the material discrepancy than it is to recognize that there's nothing there at all? On a related note, I realize that silent image says "The illusion does not create sound, smell, texture, or temperature." (emphasis added) but I can't seem to find any mention of the later illusion spells including texture (though they include sound, smell and temperature).
Also, can I use an illusion to make a PC think a hallway goes on for longer than it does, and if so, what happens? That is, instead of seeing a wall, they would see another 10-20 feet or so of hallway with a door at the end. Ignoring any nose-bumping damage issues, would the illusion be broken by them running into the real wall? In the book's hole/floor idea, "A character who falls through a section of illusory floor into a pit knows something is amiss," but running into a wall isn't the same. It could be a Wall of Force preventing them from passing, no?
Beyond those two questions, any general advice for a illusion-noob DM on the perils and pitfalls of this staple of magic?
The rules seem pretty clear about simple concepts (a hole covered by illusory floor), but what about more complex setups? Should it be harder to make the illusion-resisting throw on a silent image if the truth is closer to the illusion? With the hole/floor setup, it's a pretty stark difference, but what if I hide a wooden wall with a Japanese style paper wall (masking it's potential vulnerability to a PC's crazed barbarian). What if it's a wooden or plaster wall? Should it be harder to recognize the material discrepancy than it is to recognize that there's nothing there at all? On a related note, I realize that silent image says "The illusion does not create sound, smell, texture, or temperature." (emphasis added) but I can't seem to find any mention of the later illusion spells including texture (though they include sound, smell and temperature).
Also, can I use an illusion to make a PC think a hallway goes on for longer than it does, and if so, what happens? That is, instead of seeing a wall, they would see another 10-20 feet or so of hallway with a door at the end. Ignoring any nose-bumping damage issues, would the illusion be broken by them running into the real wall? In the book's hole/floor idea, "A character who falls through a section of illusory floor into a pit knows something is amiss," but running into a wall isn't the same. It could be a Wall of Force preventing them from passing, no?
Beyond those two questions, any general advice for a illusion-noob DM on the perils and pitfalls of this staple of magic?