Question about minor illusion: I know that minor illusion can be used to create an illusory sound, but can it be used to modify an existing sound? I.e., to alter your voice?
That isn't exactly what it is for, but you could lip sync to it at least, so I would allow it. It doesn't step on the toes of any other spells that I know of.
It would work. I'd argue that it'd still probably require a performance or deception check to appropriately mimic another person's voice and anybody who sees you performing the somatic components could at least determine you were casting a spell with an arcana check. Keep in mind, too, that no cantrip should come anywhere near the effectiveness of an actual spell. While I suppose you could do it, I'd say the best I'd ever give you is advantage on a performance/deception check, and that would require an exceptionally clever use of the spell. Trying to do it long-term to augment a disguise or something would be made insanely conspicuous by the somatic components.
It would work. I'd argue that it'd still probably require a performance or deception check to appropriately mimic another person's voice and anybody who sees you performing the somatic components could at least determine you were casting a spell with an arcana check. Keep in mind, too, that no cantrip should come anywhere near the effectiveness of an actual spell. While I suppose you could do it, I'd say the best I'd ever give you is advantage on a performance/deception check, and that would require an exceptionally clever use of the spell. Trying to do it long-term to augment a disguise or something would be made insanely conspicuous by the somatic components.
the spell sets up what is necessary to disbelieve an image or a sound created by minor illusion.
its an intelligence(Investigation) check requiring an action by creature attempting to disbelieve, compared to the spell save DC of the caster.
the spell save DC represents the casters potency when attempting to make the voice real.
Okay, we're talking three different situations here:
1. The player just wants to mimic their own voice, just altered as to be unrecognizeable (think those low-pitched, America's Most Wanted interviews). In this case, I'd say no roll required to do it. Bing, bang, boom.
2. The player wants to mimic someone else's voice, someone specific, to manipulate somebody. Say, for instance, you want to copy the voice of a gang leader to lure away his men. I'd say you still need to have an understanding of the cadence of that person's speech, their specific word choice, and other subtle clues that might create a true facsimile of speech. In this case, I'd require a check to appropriately mimic the voice and achieve the desired effect. Usually, this would be Deception or Performance, same as any mimicry attempt.
3. The player wants to repeat something they heard using the spell, similar to playback of a recording. Depending on how fresh the memory was, how simple the phrase they're trying to repeat ("Hey, come over here" vs. "I want you guys to go to the Rusty Spoon and shake down the barkeep for the sixteen gold he owes me"), and how well they heard the phrase in the first place, I would likely require different levels of Intelligence check - nothing for a simple phrase recently heard vs. a check with disadvantage for a difficult phrase they heard a couple days ago.
In ANY of these instances, if there was a clue that this was, in some way, a disingenuous effect (if, for instance, you fail one of the above checks, or a guard sees you performing the somatic components while trying to disguise your voice), I would ALSO allow any witnesses to make an Investigation check to discern that it was an illusion. ALSO, in any of these situations where you want to make it sound like the words are coming out of your own mouth, I would say that you would need to make a Performance check to do it believably. You ever seen someone lip-synching? It's hard to do right.
All-in, it's a creative use of the spell, and if you're the DM, you might wave away any of the above restrictions just because you want to allow it. But it's a pretty far cry from the spell's intended use, so I'd be careful about allowing it to become too prevalent, lest it upset balance.
Question about minor illusion: I know that minor illusion can be used to create an illusory sound, but can it be used to modify an existing sound? I.e., to alter your voice?
That isn't exactly what it is for, but you could lip sync to it at least, so I would allow it. It doesn't step on the toes of any other spells that I know of.
The only spell it might step on is an effect from Thaumaturgy.
IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
The spell states that it can make sounds whose volume an range from a whisper to a scream.
spell states the sound can be your voice, someone else’s voice, beating of drums, a lions roar, and ANY OTHER SOUND YOU CHOOSE.
The spell states that the sound continues for up to a minute unabated, or that you can make discrete sounds at different times before the spell ends.
the spell has a Somatic component and a material component, with NO verbal component.
the spells range is 30 feet, and the sound can be made to come from anywhere in that range, including your space.
i see absolutely no reason why this wouldn’t work.
i also see no reason why you wouldn’t be able to make it sound like anyone within 30ft is just belligerently yelling.
It would work. I'd argue that it'd still probably require a performance or deception check to appropriately mimic another person's voice and anybody who sees you performing the somatic components could at least determine you were casting a spell with an arcana check. Keep in mind, too, that no cantrip should come anywhere near the effectiveness of an actual spell. While I suppose you could do it, I'd say the best I'd ever give you is advantage on a performance/deception check, and that would require an exceptionally clever use of the spell. Trying to do it long-term to augment a disguise or something would be made insanely conspicuous by the somatic components.
the spell sets up what is necessary to disbelieve an image or a sound created by minor illusion.
its an intelligence(Investigation) check requiring an action by creature attempting to disbelieve, compared to the spell save DC of the caster.
the spell save DC represents the casters potency when attempting to make the voice real.
Okay, we're talking three different situations here:
1. The player just wants to mimic their own voice, just altered as to be unrecognizeable (think those low-pitched, America's Most Wanted interviews). In this case, I'd say no roll required to do it. Bing, bang, boom.
2. The player wants to mimic someone else's voice, someone specific, to manipulate somebody. Say, for instance, you want to copy the voice of a gang leader to lure away his men. I'd say you still need to have an understanding of the cadence of that person's speech, their specific word choice, and other subtle clues that might create a true facsimile of speech. In this case, I'd require a check to appropriately mimic the voice and achieve the desired effect. Usually, this would be Deception or Performance, same as any mimicry attempt.
3. The player wants to repeat something they heard using the spell, similar to playback of a recording. Depending on how fresh the memory was, how simple the phrase they're trying to repeat ("Hey, come over here" vs. "I want you guys to go to the Rusty Spoon and shake down the barkeep for the sixteen gold he owes me"), and how well they heard the phrase in the first place, I would likely require different levels of Intelligence check - nothing for a simple phrase recently heard vs. a check with disadvantage for a difficult phrase they heard a couple days ago.
In ANY of these instances, if there was a clue that this was, in some way, a disingenuous effect (if, for instance, you fail one of the above checks, or a guard sees you performing the somatic components while trying to disguise your voice), I would ALSO allow any witnesses to make an Investigation check to discern that it was an illusion. ALSO, in any of these situations where you want to make it sound like the words are coming out of your own mouth, I would say that you would need to make a Performance check to do it believably. You ever seen someone lip-synching? It's hard to do right.
All-in, it's a creative use of the spell, and if you're the DM, you might wave away any of the above restrictions just because you want to allow it. But it's a pretty far cry from the spell's intended use, so I'd be careful about allowing it to become too prevalent, lest it upset balance.