Best Illusion spells [3.5]

[Bad Wolf]

My Sorcerer/Wild Soul just hit level 9, and that opens up 4th level spells. And as my character is gaining an interest in illusion magic. So, what is the best 4th level illusion spell?

[Lightlawbliss]

I nominate still silent silent image.

Silent image never get's old.

[Venger]

My Sorcerer/Wild Soul just hit level 9, and that opens up 4th level spells. And as my character is gaining an interest in illusion magic. So, what is the best 3th level illusion spell?

I love illusions. 3rd lvl illusion sorcerer spells have some killer stuff, even if there are only about 20 of them.

cruel disappointment is pretty hilarious: the next time the target needs to roll a die for something, it automatically fails. he then thinks he succeeded for the next round, and after that gets another save vs some debuffs. powerful effect

curse of the putrid husk is similarly delicious: will vs daze for 1 round, then unconscious for 1d10 minutes, plus the target can't be woken.

deceptive facade is highly useful (disguise self but works on other ppl and objects)

displacement is useful, if a bit boring

hood of the cobra is a lot of fun, but is a bit too heavily nerfed for my tastes: one living target, close range, willneg (with fort saves for the poison) mind-affecting fear phantasm, SR:yes, closing his eyes negates the shaken effect, and the poisonous bite is a touch attack, plus the duration's only 1 round/3 lvls.

legion of sentinels is super useful (even if you gotta check errata for their stats) and gets really powerful in tandem with sculpt spell

what spells does your guy already know? that might help us determine which are worth spending a slot on and avoid doubling up as it were.

[Divide by Zero]

Can't go wrong with Major Image. If you can't find a way to make that useful in a situation where your target doesn't have True Seeing, you probably aren't thinking hard enough.

[Bad Wolf]

Damn, I meant 4th level spells. Changed it. Sorry everyone!

[TheCrowing1432]

scroll down to the illusion section

http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?PHPSESSID=mvk7volk7bpars4qrsvtge6fa5&topic=394.msg8096#msg8096

[Desthro]

Shadow Conjuration, Shadow Evocation and their counterparts have got to be the most ridiculous illusion spells that exist.

[Bad Wolf]

Thanks for the link, I'll take a look at it.


Shadow Conjuration, Shadow Evocation and their counterparts have got to be the most ridiculous illusion spells that exist.

How so?

[Divide by Zero]

How so?

I don't know if I'd call them "ridiculous" compared to some of the other stuff at this level *coughpolymorphcough*, but they're great for a sorcerer since your spells known are so limited.

[Bad Wolf]

Okay, I'll consider SC.

Just a question, is Nightmare Terrain (CM) considered a good spell?

[Desthro]

Thanks for the link, I'll take a look at it.
How so?

They allow you to emulate spells from other colleges that have partial effectiveness if they save against your illusion. If they don't.... they operate at 100%. The options it opens up for illusionists is insane.

[Desthro]

I don't know if I'd call them "ridiculous" compared to some of the other stuff at this level *coughpolymorphcough*, but they're great for a sorcerer since your spells known are so limited.

Sure, but for specialist casters like Beguilers.... or like you said, sorcerers... they are pretty baller.

[chaos_redefined]

The Shadow Conjuration/Evocation spells are good for versatility.

Greater Mirror Image is an immediate action no button to melee/ranged attacks that lasts for the rest of the combat.

Shadow Well is a will save or maze.

Greater Invisibility is the rogue-is-now-insane option.

What spells do you already have? If you have a strongly offensive list, we're more likely to say Greater Mirror Image. If you already have a lot of defense, then maybe Shadow Well is high on the list.

[Bad Wolf]

The Shadow Conjuration/Evocation spells are good for versatility.

Greater Mirror Image is an immediate action no button to melee/ranged attacks that lasts for the rest of the combat.

Shadow Well is a will save or maze.

Greater Invisibility is the rogue-is-now-insane option.

What spells do you already have? If you have a strongly offensive list, we're more likely to say Greater Mirror Image. If you already have a lot of defense, then maybe Shadow Well is high on the list.
Hmm...I have a mix of offensive and defensive spells, mainly defensive. I looked at Shadow Well, but it seems like a really short duration. Is there any optional components that would extend it?

[Lightlawbliss]

Shadow well is a save or suck spell. round/level of not being in combat plus 1d4 rounds of running away as fast as possible = level +(1d4)*2 rounds of not in the combat, assuming the even come back when they regain control. For a sor, a minimum of 10 rounds of one less low will save character.

Edit: What is your sor's focus? Aka: What sort of use of magic do you focus on?

[nedz]

Shadow Conjuration because it's so flexible. Battlefield Control and Utility in one spell.

Hallucinatory Terrain is good, but Sorcerers should consider waiting two levels for Mirage Arcana instead. Nightmare Terrain is another variant of this spell type.

Greater Invisibility and Greater Mirror Image are excellent defensive spells.

Sensory Deprivation or Shadow Well are great single target SoLs

Which you choose depends upon what you want to do.

[ace rooster]

Shadow conjuration because you can put shadow sepia snake sigils on everything. Sure it gives two saves (hightened, and with a 20% chance of working even if they pass the first), but you only need a round when a wizard isn't looking to cast it on their spell book. :smalltongue: Shadow sleet storm is a big battlefield control spell that does not even break your line of sight. Shadow stinking cloud works similarly, at a smaller radius. When things turn ugly, you can choose to fail your save against it to give you a phantom steed.

Shadow conjuration expands your options considerably, even if you are limited to core.

[Bad Wolf]

Guess I'll use Shadow Conjuration then. Thanks everyone! I just have one tiny question. If you level up in the middle of a battle, can you automatically use your new spells known and spell slots?

[nedz]

Guess I'll use Shadow Conjuration then. Thanks everyone! I just have one tiny question. If you level up in the middle of a battle, can you automatically use your new spells known and spell slots?

Ask your DM. Most don't allow levelling up in the middle of a combat; that said, once you have levelled up: you should be able to use them immediately.

[Tarlek Flamehai]

Guess I'll use Shadow Conjuration then. Thanks everyone! I just have one tiny question. If you level up in the middle of a battle, can you automatically use your new spells known and spell slots?

As a DM, I don't even award XP until the end of the session. If the session ends in the middle of a combat, something to avoid--if possible, I would allow the PC to level up between game nights. After all, the sudden power-up or second-wind is commonly used trope in storytelling.