1st level invisibility [Archive] - Wizards Community

1st level invisibility [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
atanhel
11-21-06, 01:51 PM A few people adressed me the other day if I would show them the way into D&D.
After asking what they wanted to play, one of them said she wanted to be a magic user who could become invisible. And when I asked on, she wanted some other things but mostly just beeing invisible.

So I came up with an idea for a 1st level invisibility spell, but I'm not certain if it's balanced:

Invisibility, Lesser
Illusion (Glamer)
Level: Brd 1, Sor/Wiz 1
Components: M, Special
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Personal
Target: You
Duration: Concentration (special)
Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless)
Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless)
You become invisible, vanishing from sight, even from darkvision. Your gear vanishes too.
Items dropped or put down by an invisible creature become visible; items picked up disappear if tucked into the clothing or pouches worn by the creature. Light, however, never becomes invisible, although a source of light can become so (thus, the effect is that of a light with no visible source). Any part of an item that the subject carries but that extends more than 10 feet from it becomes visible.
Of course, you are not magically silenced, and certain other conditions can render you detectable (such as stepping in a puddle). The spell ends if you attack any creature. For purposes of this spell, an attack includes any spell targeting a foe or whose area or effect includes a foe. (Exactly who is a foe depends on the invisible character’s perceptions.) Actions directed at unattended objects do not break the spell. Causing harm indirectly is not an attack. Thus, an invisible being can open doors, talk, eat, climb stairs, summon monsters and have them attack, cut the ropes holding a rope bridge while enemies are on the bridge, remotely trigger traps, open a portcullis to release attack dogs, and so forth. If you attack directly, however, you immediately become visible along with all your gear. Spells such as bless that specifically affect allies but not foes are not attacks for this purpose, even when they include foes in their area.
This limmited version of Invisibility works only if you repeat an incantation in your head. This however is so distracting that only concentrating on the spell is not enough. The caster must expend a standard action to concentrate on the spell and make a concentration check every round, at the beginning of his turn. If you fail you cannot do anything else that round but concentrate. If you fail the check by more than 5, the spell ends and you can act that round, altough you've still lost your standard action. The checks DC is 10 (+disctracting factors). The DC increases by 1 for every round you fail to beat the DC by more than five. If for any reson you fail to concentrate in this way on the spell at the beginning of your turn, the spell immediately ends.
Arcane Material Component: An eyelash encased in a bit of gum arabic.

So what do you think?
ZomB
11-21-06, 03:28 PM Seems too powerful. Not a significant difference over invisibility. Concentration can last for a very long time. Having it drop the next round is actually better then normal invisibility in some circumstances. Allowing surprise strikes is one of the primary uses of normal invisibility

Perhaps if you stand perfectly still and hold your breath you remain invisible. Any movement at all or you breathe or blink or lose concentration and you instantly become visible.
Milo HoBo
11-21-06, 03:31 PM It should still have a limit on the number of rounds that the caster can concentrate before the spell ends.
Seems too powerful. Not a significant difference over invisibility. Concentration can last for a very long time. Having it drop the next round is actually better then normal invisibility in some circumstances. Allowing surprise strikes is one of the primary uses of normal invisibility

Perhaps if you stand perfectly still and hold your breath you remain invisible. Any movement at all or you breathe or blink or lose concentration and you instantly become visible.I like this one. Though it may even be too much of a nerf. You can only hold your breath for a number of rounds equal to twice your Constitution score before having to make futher checks.
Sildatorak
11-21-06, 03:51 PM I'd still cap the spell at 1 min/level, and I'd make it so that the spell ends the round concentration ceases. That way if the first thing they don't do is spend a standard action on the spell (such as if they wish to attack) the spell will drop. Otherwise you just have a version of invisibility that doesn't let you run. If you want invisibility to be first level, the combat aspect of it has to go.
Regularguy
11-21-06, 03:52 PM Back in 1E, a first-level spellcaster could pull off a limited version of Invisibility that only worked on people who were in front of you -- maybe 120 degrees? Anyhow, it was great for sneaking up on one guy, or even against a group so long as you could face the lot of 'em while circling around; IIRC, the effect faded out after 10 minutes. And that whole package of restrictions got it pegged as a cantrip suitable for folks who didn't yet have two experience points to rub together.
atanhel
11-21-06, 05:58 PM Thanks,
I've changed the duration and inculded a concentration check.
I liked the idea of holding your breath, but I feel it's to steep.
Haida
11-21-06, 06:25 PM Do you have access to Complete Arcane?

The feat "Precocious Apprentice" from the book gives exactly what you're looking for.

"Your master has shown you the basics of a spell beyond the normal limits of your experience and training. Prerequisite: Spellcasting ability, (Int or Cha) 15, arcane caster level 1st."

Your player can memorize one second level spell (Invisibility) and must succeed on a DC 8 caster level check to cast it. After you can cast second level spells, you keep the extra spell slot. The feat also gives a +2 to spellcraft checks.

If you feel especially generous, allow this as a free feat (or with a flaw) and also allow everyone a free feat to make it balanced. I'd recommend this route, rather than making up a first level spell. Either way works though.
Milo HoBo
11-21-06, 06:37 PM Telepathy [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Psion/wilder 2
Display: None
Manifesting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. +5 ft./2 levels)
Target: One creature
Duration: 1 min./level
Saving Throw: Will negates
Power Resistance: Yes
Power Points: 3

You make yourself completely undetectable to the subject by erasing all awareness of your presence from its mind. This power has the following effects.

First, you are invisible and inaudible to the creature. It cannot even detect your presence by means of blindsense, blindsight, scent, or tremorsense. It cannot pinpoint your location by any means.

Second, the subject remains unaware of your actions, provided you do not make any attacks or cause any obvious or directly threatening changes in the subject’s environment. If you attack the subject creature, the effect ends.

If you take an action that creates a sustained and obvious change in the subject’s environment—for example, attacking a creature aside from the subject or moving a large or attended object the subject can see—the subject immediately gains a new saving throw against the power. An ally of the subject creature that is able to see or perceive you can use a move action to warn the subject and thereby grant it a new saving throw. I bolded portionas that you could use to make a new spell based on this power. You are only able to eliminate the target's visual perception of yourself (but they can still hear, smell, and otherwise detect you as well as see changes in there environment that relate to your movement or actions).
QuilCiri
11-27-06, 01:36 AM There is a bard "spellnote" in the Monte Cook eldritch might book (can't remember if its I or II) where he reworked the 3.0 Bard and sorcerer. It can be taken at 1st level.

it's cast as a move equivalent action, and makes you invisible (as per the 2nd lv. version of invisibility) for 1 round.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
atanhel 11-21-06, 01:51 PM	A few people adressed me the other day if I would show them the way into D&D. After asking what they wanted to play, one of them said she wanted to be a magic user who could become invisible. And when I asked on, she wanted some other things but mostly just beeing invisible. So I came up with an idea for a 1st level invisibility spell, but I'm not certain if it's balanced: Invisibility, Lesser Illusion (Glamer) Level: Brd 1, Sor/Wiz 1 Components: M, Special Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Personal Target: You Duration: Concentration (special) Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless) Spell Resistance: Yes (harmless) You become invisible, vanishing from sight, even from darkvision. Your gear vanishes too. Items dropped or put down by an invisible creature become visible; items picked up disappear if tucked into the clothing or pouches worn by the creature. Light, however, never becomes invisible, although a source of light can become so (thus, the effect is that of a light with no visible source). Any part of an item that the subject carries but that extends more than 10 feet from it becomes visible. Of course, you are not magically silenced, and certain other conditions can render you detectable (such as stepping in a puddle). The spell ends if you attack any creature. For purposes of this spell, an attack includes any spell targeting a foe or whose area or effect includes a foe. (Exactly who is a foe depends on the invisible character’s perceptions.) Actions directed at unattended objects do not break the spell. Causing harm indirectly is not an attack. Thus, an invisible being can open doors, talk, eat, climb stairs, summon monsters and have them attack, cut the ropes holding a rope bridge while enemies are on the bridge, remotely trigger traps, open a portcullis to release attack dogs, and so forth. If you attack directly, however, you immediately become visible along with all your gear. Spells such as bless that specifically affect allies but not foes are not attacks for this purpose, even when they include foes in their area. This limmited version of Invisibility works only if you repeat an incantation in your head. This however is so distracting that only concentrating on the spell is not enough. The caster must expend a standard action to concentrate on the spell and make a concentration check every round, at the beginning of his turn. If you fail you cannot do anything else that round but concentrate. If you fail the check by more than 5, the spell ends and you can act that round, altough you've still lost your standard action. The checks DC is 10 (+disctracting factors). The DC increases by 1 for every round you fail to beat the DC by more than five. If for any reson you fail to concentrate in this way on the spell at the beginning of your turn, the spell immediately ends. Arcane Material Component: An eyelash encased in a bit of gum arabic. So what do you think?
ZomB 11-21-06, 03:28 PM	Seems too powerful. Not a significant difference over invisibility. Concentration can last for a very long time. Having it drop the next round is actually better then normal invisibility in some circumstances. Allowing surprise strikes is one of the primary uses of normal invisibility Perhaps if you stand perfectly still and hold your breath you remain invisible. Any movement at all or you breathe or blink or lose concentration and you instantly become visible.
Milo HoBo 11-21-06, 03:31 PM	It should still have a limit on the number of rounds that the caster can concentrate before the spell ends. Seems too powerful. Not a significant difference over invisibility. Concentration can last for a very long time. Having it drop the next round is actually better then normal invisibility in some circumstances. Allowing surprise strikes is one of the primary uses of normal invisibility Perhaps if you stand perfectly still and hold your breath you remain invisible. Any movement at all or you breathe or blink or lose concentration and you instantly become visible.I like this one. Though it may even be too much of a nerf. You can only hold your breath for a number of rounds equal to twice your Constitution score before having to make futher checks.
Sildatorak 11-21-06, 03:51 PM	I'd still cap the spell at 1 min/level, and I'd make it so that the spell ends the round concentration ceases. That way if the first thing they don't do is spend a standard action on the spell (such as if they wish to attack) the spell will drop. Otherwise you just have a version of invisibility that doesn't let you run. If you want invisibility to be first level, the combat aspect of it has to go.
Regularguy 11-21-06, 03:52 PM	Back in 1E, a first-level spellcaster could pull off a limited version of Invisibility that only worked on people who were in front of you -- maybe 120 degrees? Anyhow, it was great for sneaking up on one guy, or even against a group so long as you could face the lot of 'em while circling around; IIRC, the effect faded out after 10 minutes. And that whole package of restrictions got it pegged as a cantrip suitable for folks who didn't yet have two experience points to rub together.
atanhel 11-21-06, 05:58 PM	Thanks, I've changed the duration and inculded a concentration check. I liked the idea of holding your breath, but I feel it's to steep.
Haida 11-21-06, 06:25 PM	Do you have access to Complete Arcane? The feat "Precocious Apprentice" from the book gives exactly what you're looking for. "Your master has shown you the basics of a spell beyond the normal limits of your experience and training. Prerequisite: Spellcasting ability, (Int or Cha) 15, arcane caster level 1st." Your player can memorize one second level spell (Invisibility) and must succeed on a DC 8 caster level check to cast it. After you can cast second level spells, you keep the extra spell slot. The feat also gives a +2 to spellcraft checks. If you feel especially generous, allow this as a free feat (or with a flaw) and also allow everyone a free feat to make it balanced. I'd recommend this route, rather than making up a first level spell. Either way works though.
Milo HoBo 11-21-06, 06:37 PM	Telepathy [Mind-Affecting] Level: Psion/wilder 2 Display: None Manifesting Time: 1 standard action Range: Close (25 ft. +5 ft./2 levels) Target: One creature Duration: 1 min./level Saving Throw: Will negates Power Resistance: Yes Power Points: 3 You make yourself completely undetectable to the subject by erasing all awareness of your presence from its mind. This power has the following effects. First, you are invisible and inaudible to the creature. It cannot even detect your presence by means of blindsense, blindsight, scent, or tremorsense. It cannot pinpoint your location by any means. Second, the subject remains unaware of your actions, provided you do not make any attacks or cause any obvious or directly threatening changes in the subject’s environment. If you attack the subject creature, the effect ends. If you take an action that creates a sustained and obvious change in the subject’s environment—for example, attacking a creature aside from the subject or moving a large or attended object the subject can see—the subject immediately gains a new saving throw against the power. An ally of the subject creature that is able to see or perceive you can use a move action to warn the subject and thereby grant it a new saving throw. I bolded portionas that you could use to make a new spell based on this power. You are only able to eliminate the target's visual perception of yourself (but they can still hear, smell, and otherwise detect you as well as see changes in there environment that relate to your movement or actions).
QuilCiri 11-27-06, 01:36 AM	There is a bard "spellnote" in the Monte Cook eldritch might book (can't remember if its I or II) where he reworked the 3.0 Bard and sorcerer. It can be taken at 1st level. it's cast as a move equivalent action, and makes you invisible (as per the 2nd lv. version of invisibility) for 1 round.