Heya! I'm running a one-shot for some people. I need help fine-tuning something though; the whole premise is that the whole time, the characters are told and convinced that they are fighting the BBEG, but they are actually just being tricked and fighting the good guys (until the big event where they realise and fight the BBEG). I couldn't think of how this would happen though unless they were put under an illusion spell... is there such a spell that lasts a few days or will I have to homebrew a spell? They'll be playing level 8, and I've tried finding something, but nothing that fits just right. Should I just pick a spell similar and then tweak it? Or is there a spell that'll make the characters see evil creatures and monsters?
As a DM you're not restricted to existing spell effects for the purpose of storytelling, or even homebrewing a spell that fits into the system. If you want to you can just call the effect "Curse of warped perception" and then call it a day. Some NPCs just know/can do stuff that PCs can't.
If you want something the PC;s can mechanically try to deduce the deception from then you could use the Seeming spell (lvl 5 Illusion), it normally lasts 8 hours but you can always have a tweaked version for a npc...or explain it away as it being cast with Sorcery Metamagic to double the duration to 16 hours.
A spell like geas or another enchantment spell could do the job. I think illusion could be interesting, maybe something like a changed enemies abound where it makes specific creatures appear as enemies.
enemies abound is probably the closest and I would recommend it as an in combat manifestation of mind control powers along with crown of madness . Crown of madness is also a charm so is subject to alter memories but as many others have said npcs can just kind of do things they don't need an existing spell so its better to understand how a spell works
Enemies abound is designed so you can break targets out of it by attacking them, attacking the caster or dispelling it. If you don't want those to be a possibility then you need to change its rules.
Crown of madness is designed to require the caster to constantly maintain their control.
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Heya!
I'm running a one-shot for some people. I need help fine-tuning something though; the whole premise is that the whole time, the characters are told and convinced that they are fighting the BBEG, but they are actually just being tricked and fighting the good guys (until the big event where they realise and fight the BBEG). I couldn't think of how this would happen though unless they were put under an illusion spell... is there such a spell that lasts a few days or will I have to homebrew a spell? They'll be playing level 8, and I've tried finding something, but nothing that fits just right. Should I just pick a spell similar and then tweak it? Or is there a spell that'll make the characters see evil creatures and monsters?
As a DM you're not restricted to existing spell effects for the purpose of storytelling, or even homebrewing a spell that fits into the system. If you want to you can just call the effect "Curse of warped perception" and then call it a day. Some NPCs just know/can do stuff that PCs can't.
If you want something the PC;s can mechanically try to deduce the deception from then you could use the Seeming spell (lvl 5 Illusion), it normally lasts 8 hours but you can always have a tweaked version for a npc...or explain it away as it being cast with Sorcery Metamagic to double the duration to 16 hours.
A spell like geas or another enchantment spell could do the job. I think illusion could be interesting, maybe something like a changed enemies abound where it makes specific creatures appear as enemies.
I'd say look at Modify Memory and see if that will either do the trick or work as a starting point for something of your own.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
enemies abound is probably the closest and I would recommend it as an in combat manifestation of mind control powers along with crown of madness . Crown of madness is also a charm so is subject to alter memories but as many others have said npcs can just kind of do things they don't need an existing spell so its better to understand how a spell works