Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Vaalingrade Ashland 05-03-06, 01:11 AM	Facsimile Illusion [Shadow] Brd 5, Sor/Wiz5 Components: S, V Casting Time: 1 hour Range: 0ft. Effect: An illusory humanoid called a facsimile Duration: Instantaneous (see text) Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: No You bring into being a sexless humanoid of average human height and weight that is unswervingly loyal to you. The creature has the statistics listed below. Facsimiles speak and understand all languages their creators speak. A slain facsimile sublimates into black smoke, leaving only the clothes and gear it was wearing. Facsimiles die on their own after three days. Facsimile CR ½ Medium Humanoid Initiative: +0; Senses: Spot +0, Listen +0 Languages: Common ____________________________________ AC 10 (10 +0 Dex), touch 10, flat-footed 10 HP 5 (1 HD) Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +0 ___________________________________ Speed 30 ft. Melee: Unarmed Strike +0 Melee (1d3+0 x2) Base Attack/Grapple: +0/+0 Class Features: -- ________________________________ Abilities Str 10, Dex 10, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 12 SQ: Shadowed Mind, Shared Spells, Master’s Skill Feats Run Skills Climb +4, Jump +4 Shadowed Mind (Ex): As creatures of illusion, Facsimiles are immune to Mind-effecting spells. Shared Spells (Su): At the creator’s option, he may have any spell (but not any spell-like ability) he casts on himself also affect his facsimile. The facsimile must be within 60 feet at the time of casting to receive the benefit. The creator may cast a spell with a target of "You" on his facsimile (as a touch range spell) instead of on himself. A creator and his facsimile can share spells even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the facsimile’s type (humanoid). Master’s Skill (Ex): A facsimile gains a racial bonus to Diplomacy, Bluff and Intimidate equal to its creator’s ranks in those skills.
smrtgmp 05-03-06, 03:43 AM	I'd allow it. Maybe even at 4th level. I dont see this being any more powerful than animate dead. Nice spell, BTW. :)
Jarrad 05-03-06, 04:54 AM	What a very nifty spell! I absolutely second the motion that it should be 4th level, and would suggest that at the caster's option the facsimile can be visually identical to the caster, with illusory and non-functional replicas of all equipment etc., present at the time of casting. Yep, I know that you could use Disguise Self for this purpose but it'd be nice to have one default appearance built in to the spell. Otherwise, it's not really a facsimile of anything, is it? :D Maybe to make this a 5th-level spell, the creature should be able to communicate mentally with the caster whenever they are on the same plane and have Disguise Self at will as a spell-like ability? Duration: is 3 days enough, with a spell that takes an hour to cast? Perhaps one day/2 levels, I dunno... I can see potential for a Lesser and Greater variant of this spell actually - I really like it :)
Soel Griffin 05-03-06, 05:46 AM	I agree with Jarrad about having it be visually identical to the caster, and using Disguise Self to make adjustments, or were you going for the blank slate approach? Also, why did you give the creature Run as a feat? I'd maybe suggest the option to allow the use of any one (just one, chosen at time of casting,) of the Wizard's feats that the Facsimile can meet the pre-reqs for. Or, perhaps an ability like Shared Initiative, where it acts at the same time the creating Wizard does in a round. Its got a lot less utility than the other two spells, so yeah 4th level, and even then, maybe 3rd.
Seeker95 05-03-06, 09:40 AM	I like it. And agree that it is appropriate for 4th level and that making it a replica of the caster as an option is a good idea. If you make it 5th level, I think it would be useful to allow the caster to make it a facsimile of anyone, although this would probably need some kind of disguise / forgery checks to make it a "reasonable facsimile thereof". Good spell!
malignor 05-03-06, 09:51 AM	The share spells aspect and lack of costly component make this spell obcene. You could make a bunch of these guys over 2 days, then cast one Polymorph (even a monomorph variant like Trollform from PHB2) and have a platoon of friggin trolls! Just stay within 60' of you. Or, even nastier, mix up some spells like Enlarge Person (self), Fly, Greater Invisibility, Stoneskin, Mage Armor, Haste, Jump, Energy Resistance, etc. (pick a couple), then cast Tenser's Transformation or a polymorph/monomorph spell. It's like a free "mass-" buff spell with more restrictions, but all the recipients of the buffs all work together anyway. I find it's too easy to exploit. I say either make some sort of GP material cost or drop (ore restrict) the shared spells aspect.
jaelis 05-03-06, 09:58 AM	If you limit it to allowing only one fascimile at a time, that fixes a lot of malignor's problems but still allows some nice uses. And having an army of these things seems a bit weird to me anyway.
Vaalingrade Ashland 05-03-06, 10:19 AM	I gave them share spells specifically to allow Disguise Self. If I change Share Spells to Disguise Self, does everyone think they could stay 4th/5th level?
Jarrad 05-03-06, 10:35 AM	You could put a limit on the *level* of spell that could be shared, which could take care of the Polymorph problem. You see, I rather like the idea of this spell being used as a convincing duplicate of the original caster and adding a few minor protective spells and a Mirror Image as the party break down the door of your lair would possibly keep them busy for a round or two ;-) 4th level, extend the duration, give the caster the option to make the creature a duplicate of himself right off the bat or just give the Facsimile Disguise Self as a SLA useable at will. Restrict the Shared Spell option, or make the spell 5th level and add the proviso that only one Facsimile can be made at any one time. I'd also seriously consider changing the Facsimile's type to Construct, particularly if you're going to remove the Shared Spell ability. Like I said before, I can see a Lesser and Greater version of this working out nicely. As for duplicating another creature (after all, this is a "Facsimile" spell), perhaps the caster would require a lock of hair, flake of skin, drop of blood or whatever from the creature he wishes to duplicate, otherwise it'll look like him. Alternatively, a Disguise check would be reasonable and the result would be opposed by the Spot of anyone who knew the original. I really, REALLY like this spell the more I think about it... Mind if I snaffle it? I can feel a plot device coming on :D
Vaalingrade Ashland 05-03-06, 11:19 AM	Facsimile Illusion [Shadow] Brd4, Sor/Wiz4 Components: S, V, M (See text) Casting Time: 1 hour Range: 0ft. Effect: An illusory humanoid called a facsimile Duration: Instantaneous (see text) Saving Throw: None Spell Resistance: No You bring into being a sexless humanoid of average human height and weight that is unswervingly loyal to you. The creature has the statistics listed below. Facsimiles speak and understand all languages their creators speak. At the caster's option, the facsimile can be a dedicated copy of a humanoid or monsterous humanoid. When using this option, the caster must use part of that creature (hair, nails, blood, etc) as a material component when casting the spell. When using this option, the facsimile loses its Alter Shape ability and is created in the form of the creature and gains instead a +20 bonus to disguise checks to impersonate that creature A slain facsimile sublimates into black smoke, leaving only the clothes and gear it was wearing. Facsimiles die on their own after seven days. Facsimile CR ½ Medium Construct Initiative: +0; Senses: Spot +0, Listen +0 Languages: Common ____________________________________ AC 10 (10 +0 Dex), touch 10, flat-footed 10 HP 6 (1 HD) Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +0 ___________________________________ Speed 30 ft. Melee: Unarmed Strike +0 Melee (1d3+0 x2) Base Attack/Grapple: +0/+0 Class Features: -- ________________________________ Abilities Str 10, Dex 10, Con --, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 12 SQ: Shadowed Mind, Alter Shape, Master’s Skill Feats Run Skills Climb +4, Jump +4 Shadowed Mind (Ex): As creatures of illusion, Facsimiles are immune to Mind-effecting spells. Alter Shape(Ex): Facsimiles can change the shape for thier body to take on the characteristics of other creatures. This ability functions as the disguise self spell, but effects only the facsimile, not its clothing or gear. Master’s Skill (Ex): A facsimile gains a racial bonus to Diplomacy, Bluff and Intimidate equal to its creator’s ranks in those skills. -------------------------------------------- Commentary: Thanks for all the responses. I've taken the construct and copy aspects to heart and added them to the spell. The intent of the spell, specifically in my campaign is sort of three parts: 1) To create a 'spy' type spell that if very hard to detect and has some old school flavor. A lot of fantasy spellcasters had spells that created sexless 'blanks' to act as assistants and spies. 2) To create a 'signature' spell for my Intuitive core class. Facsimile isn't it, its just the base. the Intuitive class deals with communicating with ghosts and being thier avatar on the Prime. The signature high level spell will be a facsimile spell that actually puts a ghost in a temporary body so they can help the Intuitive or finish thier unfinished buisness. 3) To provide a basis for a player friendly version of a diety's Avatar. Simulacrum didn't give me the 'blank slate' I was looking for. So yeah, I'm glad you guys like it. Feel free to use it in your games and let me know how it turns out. I'll have a Rogue Facsimile monster written up sometime and a couple of facsimile based spells once this one gets nailed down.
Jarrad 05-03-06, 11:25 AM	Great stuff - thanks! :clap: This will get play-tested on Thursday from the DM's side of the screen; remind me to tell you how it went ;)
smrtgmp 05-03-06, 11:47 AM	Nice. :tiphat: I'm going to put this to use in my Eberron campaign. The intrigue based possibilities are fantastic. I only have one more suggestion. I think you should be able to make the facimile permanent with a permanency spell.
Sarlax 05-03-06, 12:01 PM	I like a version that duplicates the caster but grants the construct access to the caster's skills (using the same bonus but without the benefit of items).
malignor 05-03-06, 01:11 PM	Much better. If I were to add one more thing, I would make the "disguise self" aspect impervious to disbelief. Maybe even true sight.
Vaalingrade Ashland 05-03-06, 11:36 PM	Alter Shape(Ex): Facsimiles can change the shape for thier body to take on the characteristics of other creatures. This ability functions as the disguise self spell, but effects only the facsimile, not its clothing or gear. This is a non-magical, physical change and as such is not subject to detection by means such as arcane sight or true seeing. Better?