Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Wizbeard77 Sep 15, 2015 15:15:33	I thought it would be nice to have a list of suggested uses for minor illusion. Specifically, the spell may create a sound or an image of an object within range that last for the duration. If it's an object, it may be no larger than a 5 foot cube and cannot create sound (except wizards specializing in illusion), light, smell or any other sensory effect.   I.E. No creatures, flames, lights, smoke (a sensory effect), spheres of darkness, and no movement (https://twitter.com/jeremyecrawford/status/634381222303498240).   So let's start with some objects it can create outside the furniture and footprints noted in the spell description. I've included a bonus idea for wizards specializing in illusion and gaining the Improved Minor Illusion ability to create sound.   Those marked with an "*" are a bit of a stretch and depend on some form of movement or physical interaction, so definitely up to your DM. However, they are usually simple uses in line with the power of a cantrip without mimicing the effect of a greater spell and follow the rule of cool.   OBJECTS Treasure chest. (bait an ambush) A "sword in the stone" mcguffin A gravestone inscribed with an enemies name (bonus: add eerie whispers) Pool of blood or a bloody handprint Skull or a corpse (bonus: make the skull howl or the corpse wail) Doll or puppet (bonus: add laughing or taunts) Add an insignia or symbol to a shield or garment (actually prestidigitation can do this) A mask to disguise your features* (probably not allowed due to movement and physical interaction. Still an illusionary mask seems cool and a DM might let it fly, but you can always just carry an actual mask) Sign post ("The bestest road!") Occupied bedroll (bonus: snoring) False trapdoor (bonus: growls) Statue of a deity or menancing guard creature (bonus: a prophecy or heavy breathing sounds) A weapon on a hip* or fallen to the floor (put it near to someone who shouldn't be armed for the occasion. bonus: clanging sound as if dropped and to draw attention) A replica of a stolen object at the feet of someone you intend to frame or as a diversion to guards looking for the thief. A dropped fat purse of coins to distract pursuers or muggers or during a tavern brawl (bonus: with clinking). A painting on the wall depicting it's subject in a good or bad reference. (the king with his pants down, you as the true heir) Brick up a window or bars/grate across part of an opening. Partially buried coffin (bonus: thumping) Mound of dirt as if something is buried there A flowering bush or other plant An extinguished campfire Obvious trap such as a large pot or cauldron over a doorway or points of a portcullis in an open frame or a hunters trap A wishing well (free money? Bonus: add water sloshing sounds at bottom. Probably better with the longer duration of a higher level illusion. "Down here it's our time, our time!") False donation box near a temple around a simple open bag. Collect your money at the days end. May be discovered though so be careful when you go to collect. Musical instrument or musicbox (bonus: with music!) Expensive looking lock on a door or chest (pretend to be a rogue and pick it) Bright fishing lure on a set fishing rod* (the lure won't move, probably more effective with a net) Bowl of fruit (I don't know, people paint it all the time) The winning card or false dice roll during a game of chance (pretty much an at will ace up the sleeve with a little finesse/misdirection) Write derogatory/insulting words on forhead of NPC or player* (again, probably a prestidigitation) A 5' wall or other obstruction to use as fake cover (look I added it, your mileage may vary however and we're not responsible for loss of limb or life) A pike, low wall, or other barrier in response to a charge. (very effective if rider is mounted) False curtains or boarding over a window used for spying or sniping. Caltrops (enhanced by using actual caltrops in certain areas and filling in a 5' gap with illusion). Pit trap or false floor. Dig a hole or use the natural terrain to create an impromptu trap covered with a Minor Illusion (use the Mold Earth cantrip in outdoor areas to avoid getting your hands dirty). Pair of boots sticking out from under a curtain or other obvious area. Create a false shadow on a wall. (Shadow could be considered to be a sensory effect, but not any more so than drawing any other picture on a wall. Fun with shadow puppets).   SOUNDS Thunder of hooves as if a stampede, or cavalry reinforcements, behind hill / viewblock Cooking stove / fire.  Point is to distract the enemy for a round while you quietly do something else.  Even better if you can cast Illusory Odors. Branches & leaves blowing in the breeze.  To cover up something low-noisy you are doing. Voice (ally of victim?) calling Help help help.  Like a ventriloquist, place it down a hallway or in an obvious trap Sounds of combat coming from out-of-sight.  Intended to divert attention and reinforcements to go elsewhere Snoring coming from a dungeon cell where you have just freed the prisoner and placed a decoy in his place. (Requires high Perception and INT) imitate the boss' voice calling the guard to come into his office ... which leaves you alone to devise more mischief Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing 'Hallelujah Chorus' or 'Ode to Joy' just after you defeat BBEG ! Theme music! Barking dogs (false alarm) Rock fall down a side passage Door creaking or slamming Make a corpse speak or call for help Rain/thunder outside Applause/laugh track for comedic relief Flatulence to embarass or annoy Snapping tree branches as if something approaches   Please suggest anything you can think of.   Thanks!
#2 Cognomen Sep 17, 2015 9:42:27	You didn't hit on what I thought was the obvious use, creating a wall or even a bunker. Most single-target spells require that the caster be able to see the target. If you're crouching behind an illusory wall, you're as good as invisible. Or, to protect yourself from an enemy charging, throw up a wall and make the horse pass the Int check.
#3 Wizbeard77 Sep 17, 2015 12:15:41	Thanks for the response! True, I did not mention the wall/bunker obstruction use for a couple of reasons.   One, it's pretty much suggested everywhere else.   But the second and more realistic reason is I'm not sure I want to be hiding behind a fake illusionary wall in the middle of combat. While it might grant advantage for a round, it's not likely a trick to be repeated. It won't help against area effect spells and kind of is like posting a sign saying "I'm hiding here". It seems to me it amounts to a metagame manipulation to try to gain advantage/disadvantage on an at will basis, and most DM's will find a way to curb that abuse. But even discounting that, against multiple enemies all it takes is one to use their action to investigate and then inform the archer to go ahead and fire. It's like hiding behind smoke for all the good it will do you.   I agree it has some applications, and I would be more apt to see it as a exemplary tactic if the battle-field was prepared before hand. Like an illusion of yet another hay bale when fighting on a farm. But given the low save DC, and the fact that it eats up your action, it's not the end-all-be-all use of the cantrip.   So I was trying to get a list of role playing suggestions to maximize the spell without just attempting to get a mechanical advantage so that players would have a few ideas to really capture the potential of the spell.
#4 Ralif_Redhammer Sep 17, 2015 12:54:30	In a world where spellcasters can make a real wall out of thin air, I wouldn’t be willing to take my chance on guessing that that wall that appeared out of nowhere wasn’t real. That being said, the size can only be, what, five feet?   In a recent adventure, I was down to just cantrips. Flipping through, I saw minor illusion and came up with the idea of making a giant pile of gems to distract the Xorn. So, food for dumb beasts is one use. It won’t last past inspection, but it could distract them for a few rounds.
#5 Wizbeard77 Sep 17, 2015 15:15:33	The xorn idea is an excellent use of the cantrip. I don't think minor illusion is ever going to last very long once noticed, but that distraction can be critical. In fact we could list out quite a few related "food" items geared toward monsters (not relying on smell or obviously living things).   Metal for rust monsters Someone mentioned a corpse for ghouls   I'll see what else I can find.   Regarding walls:   I agree that the sudden appearance of a wall in a fantasy world where magic is common shouldn't warrant immediate suspicion.  It IS a viable tactic in some circumstances.   But minor illusion doesn't describe any movement. You're not "conjuring" a wall or summoning up vines to create a barrier. One second it isn't there and the next it is. I suppose it helps if you can add sound of it being created (mystical or otherwise), but it is a little dubious. Any spellcaster worth his salt will recognize it's not a wall of stone spell.   Even ignoring whether it's believed, it isn't really a barrier to anything. You're giving up your action for very little actual protection and further limiting your movement by staying behind it. You've just announced you're the spellcaster and where you'll be crouching for the duration. At best it wastes an action for someone to investigate and at worst it's realized as illusory by physical interaction (including an arrow flying through it).   You'd probably be better off using movement to step behind a tree or other real object and use your action for something more relevant. You'd gain all the same advantages and keep your action.   So even if it costs an enemy action to investigate, you've traded your action for one of theirs. Let's consider: What if after the wall is discovered as illusory, the illusionist makes another illusory wall, and another after that? At what point are the walls beyond believability? Would you see a group of opponents going "It's real this time even if it wasn't the last five times" rather than just firing at it? It stands to reason that the trick loses potential the more often it is applied. Done too often and you might get a reputation for it. Or worse, due to perceived effectiveness, other apprentices start copying it and eventually it is seen as the magical equivalent of throwing sand.   In my opinion, use of illusions should be subtle such that very few even question it, in fact the less "magical" it seems the better. Failing that, you have the possible distraction/confusion of a surprise illusion, but they generally don't last beyond a round.   *Edit: In short - I don't think making walls is the best use of Minor Illusion. It's a bit over-suggested, unimaginative, and really not as effective in application as on paper. That said, the situation described by Cognomen as throwing a wall up during a horse charge is an awesome use of a minor illusion wall because it's purpose is far greater than just hiding behind it for a temporary advantage.
#6 BloodMoon666 Sep 20, 2015 2:04:37	Even if the enemy knows(or rather think they know) it is an illusion, they will still get at least disadvantage on their ranged attack rolls because they can't see the enemy. Provided the wizard keeps casting a new obstacle every round, making their arrow-through-the-wall reset every time. Yes - logically speaking they know the obstacle isn't real, but since there is a new obstacle they can't see through each round, they are effectively blinded in relation to the caster, as per the errata hiding rules.
#7 BRJN Sep 20, 2015 10:23:00	A la Braveheart, to mess with a charging cavalryman: Cast an illusion of a big lance / halberd / sharpened tree trunk; pick it up and brace it where he can crash into the pointy end.  His horse might think twice, and maybe he will too.
#8 BRJN Sep 20, 2015 10:25:17	Another option: before diving behind a real wall, Illusion it to look soft and non-protective.  The enemy may charge straight at it, expecting it to just fall down upon contact.  (He thinks you are hiding behind a tapestry, you really went through a door.)
#9 Mad_Jack Sep 20, 2015 14:36:35	Create a false closed door in the space of a real open one (or empty doorway) and combine with the sound of a door slamming if necessary...     At the very least, it stops an enemy pursuing you in their tracks long enough to get rid of it. Best case scenario, you cause an opponent to walk into an ambush consisting of readying a massed range attack during the surprise round.   (As far as people pointing out visibility issues... If you want to argue that the wizard can't see through his own illusions, then itt's an illusion of a door - you can look through the keyhole.)
#10 Wizbeard77 Sep 21, 2015 15:01:50	BloodMoon666 wrote:
#11 Wizbeard77 Sep 21, 2015 15:16:49	I added the above suggestions (including the wall).   I wanted to point out that if even one arrow/spell/anything goes through a wall or "blocked" window, it is immediately revealed as illusory to everyone by physical interaction. That means if you fire through your wall (rather than standing up to fire over it for example), you just ruined your own effect. And the same with sniping through covered window.    Worse, in the case of multiple attackers, an illusory wall would only hold up to the first attack and not subsequent ones.
#12 BRJN Sep 21, 2015 18:21:08	Illusory sounds: - Thunder of hooves as if a stampede, or cavalry reinforcements, behind hill / viewblock - Cooking stove / fire.  Point is to distract the enemy for a round while you quietly do something else.  Even better if you can cast Illusory Odors. - Branches & leaves blowing in the breeze.  To cover up something low-noisy you are doing. - Voice (ally of victim?) calling Help help help.  Like a ventriloquist, place it down a hallway or in an obvious trap - Sounds of combat coming from out-of-sight.  Intended to divert attention and reinforcements to go elsewhere - Snoring coming from a dungeon cell where you have just freed the prisoner and placed a decoy in his place. - (Requires high Perception and INT) imitate the boss' voice calling the guard to come into his office ... which leaves you alone to devise more mischief - Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing 'Hallelujah Chorus' or 'Ode to Joy' just after you defeat BBEG !
#13 Wizbeard77 Sep 21, 2015 23:00:54	BRJN wrote:
#14 Greenstone.Walker Sep 23, 2015 15:07:11	Wizbeard77 wrote:
#15 Wizbeard77 Sep 23, 2015 22:21:42	Greenstone.Walker wrote:
#16 Ralif_Redhammer Sep 24, 2015 7:34:18	Another use might be to create illusory caltrops to slow down enemies. Since the whole idea of caltrops is to not interact with them, that could be just as effective as the real thing, as the enemies move slowly to avoid them.
#17 rgoodbb Sep 25, 2015 8:12:18	Add to that real caltrops either before or after to muddle them up even more   Coat MI it over a mage hand to make it look like an exotic evil spider. Place said spider on guards shoulder
#18 Eragong Sep 25, 2015 15:35:29	I once used the minor illusion cantrip to create a false section of floor in a cave, it wasn't very big but it was raised slightly to cause the attacking beserkers to fall when they tried to stand on it.
#19 Wizbeard77 Sep 25, 2015 19:36:12	Ralif_Redhammer wrote:
#20 rgoodbb Sep 26, 2015 0:24:42	Mold Earth to instantly excavate that pitfall   Pair of boots sticking out from behind/under the curtain   Tree branches breaking and snapping, getting closer
#21 Wizbeard77 Sep 26, 2015 12:10:56	rgoodbb wrote:
#22 Mad_Jack Sep 28, 2015 1:29:14	Assuming you can manage to get within the range of the cantrip without being spotted, the sounds of a huge and angry insect buzzing around behind a guard's head, yet seeming to move away before he can spot it, can distract the guard from seeing the rest of the party trying to sneak by. (Also just really fun and cruel.)