pkh@rabbit.UUCP (Paul Pavlidis) (07/01/84)
Ever notice how annoying illusions are to use in AD&D? My particular problem is that the system for disbelieving them is grossly inadequate. What I need is a simple method to find if an illusion works, and one that makes sense. Specific problems: is a simple saving throw going to avoid the illusion completely? Is this different from saying "i am disbelieving"? Must you do both, or is an automatic save allowed? Then what? If it is an illusion of a spell, say fireball, does the victim save for half damage, if they failed to disbelieve? Notice how phantasmal force is almost unusable? What orc is going to believe a fireball that is not hot? Can you cast illusions of other spells that are not visual, like sleep? How do you decide that a monster will attempt to disbelieve, if that is what must be done to recieve a saving throw? Why are all illusions, despite level, just as easy to avoid by saving throw? I have some solutions some of these problems, but they are not very good, and I would like to see what others think. Other than this gripe, I feel that the game is fine and I don't have many other problems. It's just that Illusions, around which a whole character class is based, are not well explained. Any thoughts would be appreciated. rabbit!/usr1/pkh Paul Pavlidis, also known as Sadok the Avenger Himeran, the pan bearer, the fool, the wanderer, and once Terarn the Dragon Slayee
lmaher@uokvax.UUCP (07/03/84)
#R:rabbit:-293300:uokvax:2400051:000:414 uokvax!lmaher Jul 2 22:00:00 1984 <"Oh No! The Illusion Question. Run away!"> My personal preference is to make it impossible for Illusions to do damage. This means the caster must be much more subtle than just casting an illusionary fireball (or as we did in the good ol' days, a zig-zag lightning bolt - after all, what does an orc know about what magic can and can't do?). "Flame away, I'll disbelieve..." Carl ..!ctvax!uokvax!lmaher