A Few Spell Questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Few Spell Questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Xeonas
12-16-05, 12:55 PM I have a few simple questions about 3 different spells.

1. With spells that can trap souls in gems permanently (Trap the Soul, Soul Bind), what can you do with those souls now? It seems the soul should be able to serve a purpose other than just being carried around in you pocket.

2. The spell Astral Projection: What happens if you use the spell to travel to a different plane and then use Gate to travel back to your origanl body? Does your new body disapear, does your old body disapear, or do you have 2 bodies somehow?

3. The spell Shades (and its lesser powered versions): How many copies of an object can you make? The PHB just says that you can shape one or more creatrues, objects, or forces. I don't think it's entirerly balanced to be able to make 30 copies of yourself, even if they are less powerful. Also, do all the objects you shape have to be the same, or can they be different objects?

Thanks in advance.
Seeker95
12-16-05, 01:02 PM 1. It prevents resurrection, for one. And in some supplements, such gems can be used as a tradable commodity.

2. Technically, you have two bodies.

3. What do you mean? The spell shades reads like this:
Shades
Illusion (Shadow)
Level: Sor/Wiz 9

This spell functions like shadow conjuration, except that it mimics sorcerer and wizard conjuration spells of 8th level or lower. The illusory conjurations created deal four-fifths (80%) damage to nonbelievers, and nondamaging effects are 80% likely to work against nonbelievers.It just mimics lower level spells, not spellcasters.
Xeonas
12-16-05, 02:05 PM Thanks for the info.

For that last question, I'm refering to the first line in the spell description of Shadow Conjuration.

Shadow Conjuration
Illusion (Shadow)
Level: Br 4, Sor/Wiz 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: See text
Effect: See text
Duration: See text
Saving Throw: Will disbelief (if interacted with); varies; see text
Spell Resitance: Yes; see text

You use material from the Plane of Shadow to shape quasi-real illusions of one or more creatures, objects or forces.

It goes on to talk about how shadow creatures interact with other creatures, so you can most definitly create creatures with a Shades spell.
Seeker95
12-16-05, 02:38 PM Xeonas, you are quoting the flavor text. Read the next sentence to discover the mechanics: Shadow conjuration can mimic any sorcerer or wizard conjuration (summoning) or conjuration (creation) spell of 3rd level or lower.

So while it is true that you can use shadow conjuration to create images, this is accomplished by mimicing a lower level spell that creates images. Read the mechanics of a spell. Don't worry about the flavor text. It really gets in the way of rules-based understandings.
Xeonas
12-16-05, 02:41 PM Oh. My Bad. :(
Seeker95
12-16-05, 02:43 PM Don't feel bad. It happens to many folks. There are some who let the flavor text of darkness delude them into thinking the spell can be used to illuminate a lightless room! :schemes: :rimshot: :fight!:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xeonas 12-16-05, 12:55 PM	I have a few simple questions about 3 different spells. 1. With spells that can trap souls in gems permanently (Trap the Soul, Soul Bind), what can you do with those souls now? It seems the soul should be able to serve a purpose other than just being carried around in you pocket. 2. The spell Astral Projection: What happens if you use the spell to travel to a different plane and then use Gate to travel back to your origanl body? Does your new body disapear, does your old body disapear, or do you have 2 bodies somehow? 3. The spell Shades (and its lesser powered versions): How many copies of an object can you make? The PHB just says that you can shape one or more creatrues, objects, or forces. I don't think it's entirerly balanced to be able to make 30 copies of yourself, even if they are less powerful. Also, do all the objects you shape have to be the same, or can they be different objects? Thanks in advance.
Seeker95 12-16-05, 01:02 PM	1. It prevents resurrection, for one. And in some supplements, such gems can be used as a tradable commodity. 2. Technically, you have two bodies. 3. What do you mean? The spell shades reads like this: Shades Illusion (Shadow) Level: Sor/Wiz 9 This spell functions like shadow conjuration, except that it mimics sorcerer and wizard conjuration spells of 8th level or lower. The illusory conjurations created deal four-fifths (80%) damage to nonbelievers, and nondamaging effects are 80% likely to work against nonbelievers.It just mimics lower level spells, not spellcasters.
Xeonas 12-16-05, 02:05 PM	Thanks for the info. For that last question, I'm refering to the first line in the spell description of Shadow Conjuration. Shadow Conjuration Illusion (Shadow) Level: Br 4, Sor/Wiz 4 Components: V, S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: See text Effect: See text Duration: See text Saving Throw: Will disbelief (if interacted with); varies; see text Spell Resitance: Yes; see text You use material from the Plane of Shadow to shape quasi-real illusions of one or more creatures, objects or forces. It goes on to talk about how shadow creatures interact with other creatures, so you can most definitly create creatures with a Shades spell.
Seeker95 12-16-05, 02:38 PM	Xeonas, you are quoting the flavor text. Read the next sentence to discover the mechanics: Shadow conjuration can mimic any sorcerer or wizard conjuration (summoning) or conjuration (creation) spell of 3rd level or lower. So while it is true that you can use shadow conjuration to create images, this is accomplished by mimicing a lower level spell that creates images. Read the mechanics of a spell. Don't worry about the flavor text. It really gets in the way of rules-based understandings.
Xeonas 12-16-05, 02:41 PM	Oh. My Bad. :(
Seeker95 12-16-05, 02:43 PM	Don't feel bad. It happens to many folks. There are some who let the flavor text of darkness delude them into thinking the spell can be used to illuminate a lightless room! :schemes: :rimshot: :fight!: