There are a number of spells that are marginal for PCs but good for NPCs, usually because they're most useful for things like destroying cities or obliterating commoners, or are extremely situational and the situation might never come up. For example, Control Weather has the occasional use for "an army of orcs is coming" but against normal tier 3/4 enemies it's probably not going to do anything, nor is it going to do much to PCs who are tier 2 or higher. Likewise Storm of Vengeance is... very marginal damage in an absolutely enormous area. If you cast tsunami inside a dungeon, it's probably going to only last for one round because the room you cast it in is less than 50' high. Earthquake isn't going to do much of anything outdoors and probably makes things fall on your head when cast inside a dungeon.
All those spells are fine for BBEGs demonstrating their power. Weird doesn't even work well at that.
What would you have a 9th level illusion do instead?
Pantagruel is dead on. Another strong possibility would be upgrading Mental Prison/Dream so a target who fails their Int save has their senses perceive exactly what the illusionist wants them to and nothing else - both false positive and false negative, so they are in a false world of the caster's design.
What would you have a 9th level illusion do instead?
Maybe do any of the following?:
Make the target run away from their fear, or increase the damage amount or have the enemy take it at the start of their turn, or impose madness charts similar to the ones Wrenthemugnificent suggested earlier on this thread.
There are numerous ways to make weird a more powerful and flavorful spell, and to have a good 9th level illusion spell. It's sad that WotC's design team wasn't able to make weird interesting AND powerful.
There are a number of spells that are marginal for PCs but good for NPCs, usually because they're most useful for things like destroying cities or obliterating commoners, or are extremely situational and the situation might never come up. For example, Control Weather has the occasional use for "an army of orcs is coming" but against normal tier 3/4 enemies it's probably not going to do anything, nor is it going to do much to PCs who are tier 2 or higher. Likewise Storm of Vengeance is... very marginal damage in an absolutely enormous area. If you cast tsunami inside a dungeon, it's probably going to only last for one round because the room you cast it in is less than 50' high. Earthquake isn't going to do much of anything outdoors and probably makes things fall on your head when cast inside a dungeon.
All those spells are fine for BBEGs demonstrating their power. Weird doesn't even work well at that.
What would you have a 9th level illusion do instead?
As Mirage Arcane except the illusion can also disguise or create creatures and inflict damage on people in the area?
Pantagruel is dead on. Another strong possibility would be upgrading Mental Prison/Dream so a target who fails their Int save has their senses perceive exactly what the illusionist wants them to and nothing else - both false positive and false negative, so they are in a false world of the caster's design.
True Weird - Spells - Homebrew - D&D Beyond (dndbeyond.com)
Note meant to have the spell continue even if the creature is not frightened
Maybe do any of the following?:
Make the target run away from their fear, or increase the damage amount or have the enemy take it at the start of their turn, or impose madness charts similar to the ones Wrenthemugnificent suggested earlier on this thread.
There are numerous ways to make weird a more powerful and flavorful spell, and to have a good 9th level illusion spell. It's sad that WotC's design team wasn't able to make weird interesting AND powerful.
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