Originally Posted by
NigelWalmsley
Having separate effects for in combat and out of combat causes a lot of problems. If Silent Image does something different to a guy you are fighting than a guy who is simply in the environment, you inevitably create incentives for stupid metagaming. Maybe the combat rules are more favorable, and the players start having the Fighter declare his action as drawing a sword (putting the party "in combat") every time the Wizard casts Silent Image. Maybe the non-combat rules are better, and the players invent increasingly contrived excuses for why the Wizard is totally not in combat right now.