Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 kharmakazy May 31, 2008 11:38:17	Minor argument, Once a player casts an illusion spell, say.. silent image for simplicity sake... The duration is concentrate. While the spell is still active, can he change the image in any way? I mean, if he images a Figther guarding a door, clearly the fighter can walk around withing the range, but could the caster say... make something else happen? Like.. have a image of a cage drop down on the illusory figher? Could he have the fighter change into a wizard image? How does it work exactly? Pointing to exact rules would be most helpfull.
#2 doomsought May 31, 2008 13:18:55	what does the spell description say? If nothing, then just raise the concentration DC according to what he makes it do.
#3 kharmakazy May 31, 2008 14:03:07
#4 drmorganes May 31, 2008 14:04:29	Minor argument, Once a player casts an illusion spell, say.. silent image for simplicity sake... The duration is concentrate. While the spell is still active, can he change the image in any way? I mean, if he images a Figther guarding a door, clearly the fighter can walk around withing the range, but could the caster say... make something else happen? Like.. have a image of a cage drop down on the illusory figher? Could he have the fighter change into a wizard image? How does it work exactly? Pointing to exact rules would be most helpfull. The spell description is always the best place to start. Spell descriptions are generally quite specific about the limitations of the spell's effect. From the SRD: This spell creates the visual illusion of an object, creature, or force, as visualized by you. The illusion does not create sound, smell, texture, or temperature. You can move the image within the limits of the size of the effect. In this case, I'm going with a resounding No. The spell creates a visual image of an object, creature, or force, as visualized by the caster. This image can be moved in a believable manner within the limits of the spell's area. However, the description of the spell says nothing about altering the illusion once cast. Now, having said that... this is where DM adjudication comes into play. A lot depends on what you describe is happening. The dropping of the cage is right out (unless another illusion is cast). Suddenly morphing the image from a fighter to a wizard would likewise be outside the spell's capability; you have two different images. However, having the fighter remove a cloak, jacket, or breastplate to reveal something underneath would, in my opinion, be allowed. Keep in mind the level of the spell in question. Level 1 spells are very limited in the scope of their effects. Silent Image, for example, is visual only. You need to be a 5th level caster before your illusions are real enough (Major Image, Level 3 spell) to accurately replicate speech, produce thermal effects (like be warm to the touch), and the like. It takes a 4th level spell (Shadow Conjuration) before your illusions are even partially real. Keep in mind as well that spells in D&D generally do ONE thing. A given spell may have multiple effects available to it, but most spells are only capable of producing a single effect with each casting. It's only higher level magic that begins to have multiple simultaneous effects. With that in mind, a low-level spell like Silent Image will allow you to have one and only one image - selected and fixed at the time of casting - each time the spell is cast.