Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Drachasor 02-19-04, 02:54 PM	Here's an idea for a new spell I had when considering how illusions are handled. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Believe the Lie Enchantment (Charm) [Mind-Affecting] Level: Sor/Wiz 2 Components: V, S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) Target: One humanoid creature Duration: 1 hour/level Saving Throw: Will negates Spell Resistance: Yes The target of this spell becomes highly susceptible to illusions. Their minds seek to believe and justify any illusion they encounter, and it becomes very difficult for them to become conciously aware that they are dealing with illusions. All saves against non-lethal illusions are made with a -4 penalty. Targets failing disbelief saves against illusions will believe the illusion is real no matter what, even to the point of having false sensations to back it up. Anything contradictory to the belief in the illusion will be rationalized away. For example, illusionary walls will seem solid to them, and they will not be able to see someone go through it ("Guys, someone just teleported Hursk, we need to find him!"), and the wall would seem tangible to them (though they could still be forced through). If an illusionary effect would have caused death if it was real, the target gets another save against the illusion. Success means they believe they miracaluously avoided the effect ("I don't know how that dragon's breath missed me, but it did!"). Failure for 'death' means they are stunned for 1d4 rounds whereupon they regain their senses with no recollection of their 'demise'. This spell will not affect saves for any illusions that cause death (such as Phantasmal Killer). Additionally, the subject will want to believe all illusions, no matter who made them. A True Seeing spell will render with spell useless (though for roleplaying purposes, they might seem a little confused now and then). --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greater Believe the Lie Enchantment (Charm) [Mind-Affecting] Level: Sor/Wiz 5 Components: V, S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) Target: One humanoid creature Duration: 1 hour/level Saving Throw: Will negates Spell Resistance: Yes As per Believe the Lie, except the penalty is -8 to saves, and a True Seeing merely gives the target a +2 competence bonus against illusions (they will tend to believe the faint images of illusions they see are reality). This still has no effect on illusions that cause real death. Lastly, then forced to confront the fact that an illusion they believe is fake (such as forcing the target through an illusionary wall), they become stunned for 1d4 rounds, after which they develop some sort of 'reasonable' explanation for what happened. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well, I realize this could be written up a bit better, but what do you think? I am interested in constructive feedback regarding potential abuses, and wether or not this seems like a good spell. -Drachasor Edit1: Updated for Seeker's first suggestions.
Seeker95 02-19-04, 03:00 PM	A -6 to saving throws, even if it is only to Will saves to disbelieve, seems a bit powerful for a 2nd level spell. However, penalizing saving throws in general doesn't seem like a "more powerful" spell concept. Consider dropping the -6 to a -4? Keep the Greater version as written. The added "shock value" of learning the truth is a good element. [Edit: spelling]
Drachasor 02-19-04, 04:19 PM	I dropped it to a -4...probably a good idea considering saves at that level anyhow. I rather like the shock effect I added for the high level version as well. : ) Also, I think it is high time there were some ways to circumvent True Seeing. It is far, far too effective against illusions. : P -Drachasor
Drachasor 02-23-04, 02:53 PM	So...are illusions not popular with people, was this missed, or just a spell no one cared for*? I thought maybe I'd get a bit more feedback. Bump. -Drachasor Edit/* : Besides Seeker, of course.
Seeker95 02-23-04, 03:15 PM	Usually, if you do not receive much feedback, that is a good thing. Your spells are balanced, consistent with the core rules, unique, and well-formatted. Count your blessings! :D
Zitchas 02-23-04, 07:36 PM	Cool. Pretty nice spells there. Although just thinking about it, it might make True Seeing too weak, if those types of spells are around. A thought for dealing with T.S: While they have True Seeing in effect, they have a half/half chance of believing the illusion or the truth. (Might want to tweak the ratio either way, I'm not too sure) This modification could make for some pretty wierd RP situations... Such as if they believe that the wall filling the door is real, but they also believe that the doorframe/door is real... "Hmmm... Who would put a door here like this?" Or things like disbelieving the large illusory wall, yet believing the illusory door is real... And believing the illusion of level ground covering the hole just on the other side of the door. And what's that do to the rest of the party when they've got someone who suposedly should be seeing right through all these illusions telling them that some of these illusions are real. Especially when some of them made the saves, and so see something else. Is what they see real? Or is what the guy with True Sight seeing real? Much fun-ness is possible with these. And of course, an third version, up at about 9th level that, while only having slightly better penalties, also applies to lethal illusions and/or totally negates true sight.
Seeker95 02-23-04, 09:18 PM	This is not a true seeing breaker. The advantage to true seeing is that it lets you see things the way they really are. The advantage to illusions is that you can make things seem as other than they are. True seeing tends to be used most effectively against the "fire and forget" illusions -- programmed image, permanent image, etc. But this spell is used in a more immediate environment. To use this spell, you would have to: 1. Identify someone as using true seeing 2. Successfully cast this on them. 3. Introduce an illusion. More simply, you wouldn't likely have this spell and true seeing occuring in the same kind of encounter.