Phantasmal Force
(Illusion/Phantasm)
Phantasmal Force
(Illusion/Phantasm)
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(i: 6" + (1")*) |
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(1 square inch)* (i: 4 square inches + (1 square inch)*) wj: 8" + 1"/level |
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Duration: The
illusion lasts until struck by an opponent -- unless the spell caster
causes the illusion to react appropriately --
or until the magic-user
ceases concentration upon the spell
(due to desire, moving,
or successful attack which causes damage).
Saving
Throw: Creatures which disbelieve the phantasmal force gain
a saving throw versus the spell,
and if they succeed,
they see it for what it
is and add +4 to associates’ saving throws if this knowledge can be communicated
effectively.
Effect: When this
spell is cast,
the magic-user creates a
visual illusion which will affect all believing creatures which view
the phantasmal force,
even to the extent of suffering
damage from phantasmal missiles or from falling into an illusory pit full
of sharp spikes.
Note that audial illusion
is not a component of the spell.
Creatures not observing
the spell effect are immune until they view it.
The spell can create the
illusion of
any object,
or creature,
or force,
as long as it is within
the boundaries of the spell’s area of effect.
This area can move within
the limits of the range.
DMG.MU: The magic-user
must know of and understand the force/creature he/she is making an illusion
of.
Thus, if the caster has
never cast a fireball or has never seen a dragon turtle, his illusion of
such will be very poor.
MC: A bit of fleece.
Wu
Jen: This spell creates a visible illusion that lasts until struck
or until the caster ceases to concentrate upon it.
The illusion appears real
if the caster has some knowledge of the item he is creating, even to the
point of
inflicting damage. A saving
throw is granted to the viewers if it is consciously disbelieved, and,
should one of a
group make that save and
inform the others, they gain a saving throw at + 4.
Wu Jen.MC: A piece
of lamb's wool.
Q: I don't understand
what the AREA
of the first-level illusionist
spell
phantasmal force should
be.
A: The base area for
a phantasmal force
spell is four (scale) square
inches, meaning
10' × 40' (400 square
feet) or any set of
dimensions not exceeding
400 square feet.
The area increases by one
(scale) square
inch (100 square feet) per
level.
(154.7)
ADQ: Just what can
a phantasmal force
imitate? According to the
spell description,
the area of effect is only
8 square
inches + 1 square inch per
level. With
this restriction, an archmage
could only
make a pit 3 square feet
in area.
Shouldn't it be listed as
8" + 1"/level
instead?
ADA: Your 1st question
is so broad that it
cannot be answered here.
However, note
that the "square inch" in
this spell description
(written at a time when
terminology
was quite a bit looser)
refers to 100 square
feet (a 10' by 10' area),
as you have noted.
(Polyhedron #26)
Q. While using a phantasmal force
spell, is the caster only allowed to
create the illusion of one 'thing'?
A. The caster, be he a M-U or an
illusionist, can only create the illusion
of any 1 thing with this spell.
Furthermore, the spell caster cannot
set this spell in motion and then
move on to cast a 2nd spell -- he
must maintain his concentration all
the time.
(Imagine #2)
"Evenstar may use phantasmal
force to make the cistern appear to release a flood of water for 3d4
damage." - DL4.17
Thorg wrote:
I agree here with old schooler.
Do take it easy.
I have another question if you don't mind concerning illusionists. You mention in your description that the illusionist spell phantasmal force/improved Ph force do real damage (if believed).
The question I have is, what is the limit of this spell in the amount of damage that can be inflicted? For instance a victim that believes they fall into a pit trap and land on 3 spears after falling 15 feet might take 3d6 damage. But then, couldn't the player make this a fall from 30 feet onto 8 spears for 8d6? When you had illusionists in your AD&D games, how did you (as DM) handle what max damage could be inflicted? One way this is commonly done is the use of a house rule 1d6 per level of the illusionist per target. So a first level illusionist casting a bolt of lighting on a group of 10 orcs would inflict 1-6 to each orc in the target area. A 2nd level illus would inflict 2-12 to each etc. Did you, as DM or sitting for Rob ever use such a rule?
Oh, also with phantasmal force. If a target goes to -10 from the illusion do they die, do they get a system shock save, or do they stay at the brink of death. I've sat for DMs that do all three.
Thanks again Gary.
Your kind words are appreciated 
The illusion can be as complex
as the Illusionist desires, but a check for
disbelief can be allowed for each special circumstance.
For instance the spikes
in the pit.
Adding them means the subject
of the illusory trap must "see" them as he "falls" into the "pit."
Thus a check against the
subject's Int or Wis
might be allowed.
In any event
a victim believing he is done to death
by an illusion is dead.
The heart stops beating.
As I have said before, illusions are most difficult to deal with because thet are (shades) of unreality, magic.
Cheerio,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottGLXIX
Hey Col.
Can you let me know if my
estimation of illusion/phantasm spells is correct?
If a group of characters
encountered a phantasmal force pit. The illusionist is hidden nearby and
maintaining concentration on the spell. All of the players believe the
pit is real. One player believes he falls into the pit and takes falling
damage. At this point, the phantasm aspect of the spell takes over, the
effects of this being similar to the effects of hallucinatory insanity.
The player that fell into the pit believes he’s in a pit. His companions
believe he is in the pit. Their conviction is so strong that they would
go through the actions of lowering a rope into the pit to help their comrade
out. The party then goes on their way, never knowing the encounter was
a phantasmal force spell, and one character down the hit points suffered
from the fall.
If on the other hand, one
of the party members realized the pit was an illusion, and conveyed this
information to the rest of the party, the fellow in the pit would realize
he was just sitting on the floor in the hall, and the hit points would
be recovered.
Sound correct?
Thanks.
Scott
Ho Scott!
We are in total accors save for the last part.
Any damage believed to have
been suffered is actual, caused by the mind of the victim--think of stgamta
for an example. So disbelief after the fact does NOT mean automatic recovery.
The harm done is actual, and it must be healed as any other damage
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally Posted by loki44
That reminds me of a spell
question I had. Would you care to comment on the old Phantasmal Force illusionist
spell? That spell was a blessing and a curse. It was great because it was
so open ended that the caster could be hugely creative, but it always seemed
like a nightmare for the DM to adjudicate its effects in a way that didn't
imbalance the game or squash the player's creativity. Any thoughts?
Phantasmal Force was an
old Chainmail Fantasy Suplement spell, as a matter of fact
The illusionary force can be of any sort, but it must be a force--anything from a great swarm of insects to a herd of animals, a company of knights or a battle of pikemen, a tribe of bugbears or a flock of wyverns.
The use of the spell does demand an able DM and a player able to articulate the exact nature of the Phantasmal Force brought forth, what it looks like and what it will do. Of course the caster will need to concentrate on the latter aspect unless the action is simple and straightforward.
In all, the spell is nothing more than an illusion.
Cheers,
Gary