Illusions: Twice as Real

[legomaster00156]

So, I just had to ask. Using any source at all, RAW-wise, how real can you possibly make an illusion?

[Akeaka]

There's a handbook for the Shadowcraft Mage out there somewhere that states the best you can really get is about 160% real.

There are some cheese options (taking a race from the Shadow Plane or using magic to do it) that adds another 30% or so to it!

So yes, Shadows are more real than non shadows, though only if the person makes their save, oddly enough.

[AmberVael]

Enhanced Shadow Reality adds +20% to the reality of damage from shadow spells. (A feat from Dragon Magazine #325)

Shadowcrafter adds +20% by level 7 in the class. (This is a prestige class from The Underdark)

School Mastery: Illusion adds +10%. (A spellcaster variant that replaces familiar from Dragon Magazine #357)

Shadowcraft Mage adds +20% with Powerful Shadow Magic (Prestige class from Races of Stone)

Practical Metamagic: Heighten Spell (Feat for spontaneous spellcasters that reduces metamagic adjustment on a single metamagic by one, from Races of the Dragon)

Easy Metamagic: Heighten Spell (Feat that reduces metamagic adjustment on a single metamagic by one, from Dragon Magazine #325)

Earth Spell (Feat that effectively increases the spell level granted by heighten by one, from Races of Stone).

Heighten Spell. (It increases your spell's level in exchange for respectively increased slots.)

Dark Creature. (A template that makes you native to the plane of Shadow. From Tome of Magic. May be obtained through a Collar of Umbral Metamorphosis instead of taking the template).

Planar Bubble. (A spell that creates a 10ft emanation of a creature's home plane around it. The Plane of Shadow adds 10% to the reality of shadow spells cast on it).

If I've done my math right, this allows you to cast 160% real illusions from 7th level spell slots, (180% if they're damaging effects). The reason you can't get a 180% real spell from a 6th level slot is because Heighten only goes up to 9th level spells, so Practical Metamagic and Easy Metamagic can't be used to increase spell level over that.

Note that using Practical and Easy Metamagic on Heighten spell is debatable.

[NNescio]

Mandatory quote:


"You weak minded fools! If you had the strength of will to look past his illusionary fire, you would see that - OH GOD, IT BURNS! IT BURNS EVEN HOTTER THAN THE REAL THING!"