Duplicity lets you cast spells through the image you create, but it doesn't start the image can be the target of the spell.
From the spell: You call forth spirits to protect you. They flit around you to a distance of 15 feet for the duration. If you are good or neutral, their spectral form appears angelic or fey (your choice) You call forth spirits to protect you. They flit around you to a distance of 15 feet for the duration. If you are good or neutral, their spectral form appears angelic or fey (your choice)
Duplicity is an illusion and illusions cannot be targets of self spells. Would Spirit Guardians, even if cast by the image, appear around the image? Or would they appear around the cleric themselves as per the description and illusion rule??
They would not appear around the image. There'd be no point in casting it thru the image, just cast it yourself. If you're worried that it would give away your hidden position, as soon as the spirit guardians start radiating around you, it will give away your position anyway.
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Playing D&D since 1982
Have played every version of the game since Basic (Red Box Set), except that abomination sometimes called 4e.
Does the visual illusion of the PC created through Invoke Duplicity lose its effectiveness in the same way as other illusions, i.e., through the Study action and a successful Investigation check against the caster's spell save DC? Seems somewhat odd that this would render a spell cast through the illusion ineffective since the spell doesn't seem to be illusory. That said, I think this is the way things work dealing with Phantasmal Force
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Started playing AD&D in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in 2023
Some of this depends on the DM, but here's my take. Invoke Duplicity creates a "perfect illusion", I would take that to mean that the Study Action does not reveal it, unless someone were to touch it (it intangible and does not occupy its space). Their hand would pass harmlessly thru it, revealing that it is likely an illusion (though some may assume it is the caster, only insubstantial).
It is meant to be used as a distraction - there are now two of the character on the battlefield, which one do you target? One is casting spells, that one must be real - oops, nope, because the caster can cast the spells through the duplicate. Or two of the caster in melee with an enemy, the enemy does not know which one to defend against, so it gives the caster advantage on the attacks. Also if you need to run into a dangerous area (or through monsters) to deliver a spell, duplicity allows you to do that.
But if you are looking to create a moveable Spirit Guardians that can be moved around the battlefield while the caster hides back in safety - that's beyond what the ability is designed for.
Duplicity lets you cast spells through the image you create, but it doesn't start the image can be the target of the spell.
From the spell: You call forth spirits to protect you. They flit around you to a distance of 15 feet for the duration. If you are good or neutral, their spectral form appears angelic or fey (your choice) You call forth spirits to protect you. They flit around you to a distance of 15 feet for the duration. If you are good or neutral, their spectral form appears angelic or fey (your choice)
Duplicity is an illusion and illusions cannot be targets of self spells. Would Spirit Guardians, even if cast by the image, appear around the image? Or would they appear around the cleric themselves as per the description and illusion rule??
They would not appear around the image. There'd be no point in casting it thru the image, just cast it yourself. If you're worried that it would give away your hidden position, as soon as the spirit guardians start radiating around you, it will give away your position anyway.
Playing D&D since 1982
Have played every version of the game since Basic (Red Box Set), except that abomination sometimes called 4e.
Does the visual illusion of the PC created through Invoke Duplicity lose its effectiveness in the same way as other illusions, i.e., through the Study action and a successful Investigation check against the caster's spell save DC? Seems somewhat odd that this would render a spell cast through the illusion ineffective since the spell doesn't seem to be illusory. That said, I think this is the way things work dealing with Phantasmal Force
Started playing AD&D in the late 70s and stopped in the mid-80s. Started immersing myself into 5e in 2023
Some of this depends on the DM, but here's my take. Invoke Duplicity creates a "perfect illusion", I would take that to mean that the Study Action does not reveal it, unless someone were to touch it (it intangible and does not occupy its space). Their hand would pass harmlessly thru it, revealing that it is likely an illusion (though some may assume it is the caster, only insubstantial).
It is meant to be used as a distraction - there are now two of the character on the battlefield, which one do you target? One is casting spells, that one must be real - oops, nope, because the caster can cast the spells through the duplicate. Or two of the caster in melee with an enemy, the enemy does not know which one to defend against, so it gives the caster advantage on the attacks. Also if you need to run into a dangerous area (or through monsters) to deliver a spell, duplicity allows you to do that.
But if you are looking to create a moveable Spirit Guardians that can be moved around the battlefield while the caster hides back in safety - that's beyond what the ability is designed for.
Playing D&D since 1982
Have played every version of the game since Basic (Red Box Set), except that abomination sometimes called 4e.