In The Basic Illusionist, I used "heightened" variants to merge some similar spells and introduce easy differences. How should these be labelled?
(A)
PHANTASMAL FORCE
Level: Illusionist 2
Range: 240 feet
Duration: Concentration
This spell creates a realistic illusion in the sight of all who view it. The illusion disappears when it is touched, but if the viewer believes the illusion is real, he can take damage from it. Unless the Referee rules otherwise, victims of the spell are permitted a saving throw, and the illusion cannot cause more than 2d6 points of damage per victim. This damage is illusory, and disappears 1 round after the spell expires.
Heightened (+3): When prepared as a 5th-level spell, the duration becomes permanent.
(B)
PHANTASMAL FORCE
Level: Illusionist 2
Range: 240 feet
Duration: Concentration
This spell creates a realistic illusion in the sight of all who view it. The illusion disappears when it is touched, but if the viewer believes the illusion is real, he can take damage from it. Unless the Referee rules otherwise, victims of the spell are permitted a saving throw, and the illusion cannot cause more than 2d6 points of damage per victim. This damage is illusory, and disappears 1 round after the spell expires.
Permanent Image (+3): When prepared as a 5th-level spell, the duration becomes permanent.
or
(C)
PHANTASMAL FORCE
Level: Illusionist 2
Range: 240 feet
Duration: Concentration
This spell creates a realistic illusion in the sight of all who view it. The illusion disappears when it is touched, but if the viewer believes the illusion is real, he can take damage from it. Unless the Referee rules otherwise, victims of the spell are permitted a saving throw, and the illusion cannot cause more than 2d6 points of damage per victim. This damage is illusory, and disappears 1 round after the spell expires.
Heightened +3, "Permanent Image": When prepared as a 5th-level spell, the duration becomes permanent.
Note: I didn't use this in TBI, but I could have. The only differences between phantasmal force and permanent image are spell level and duration.
Hi Nathan---
ReplyDeleteMonte Cook did something like this in his book Arcana Unearthed, and perhaps in his d20 Might & Magic books, too. I think his spells had both heightened and lowered versions, but I don't recall the nomenclature he used, though, so you'll have to do some digging.
Allan.
He used heightened and diminished. It's where part of where my inspiration came from. That said, I'm going to drop the terms from the spell descriptions in favor of variant spell name and level. See next post for the rationale.
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