First, I know this gets asked a lot...A LOT, but every one I read seems to focus on a particular way someone wants to use/abuse the simple cantrip. I was hoping to not focus on how a situational usage of the cantrip is cool or legal and to understand a couple major points of the cantrip. Also, this is a CANTRIP, a simple trick which has leveled spells to do the things that I think some players/GMs think this does.
What is defined as an object seems to be the most debated point. Here is a list of questions or inferences I think most of the random posts drift their focus around:
1 - How does the spell define an object over how the player wants an object to be defined?
2 - Is a shadow on a wall considered an object? Could I instead cover it in a thin layer of a darker colored wall in the outline of a shadow I wish to cast?
3 - Is an object 'literally' a generic physical thing like a box, foot prints, or could any physical thing like a perfect statue of a living thing be a method of skirting this intent? (I am not creating a 5 foot image of a character, I am creating a perfect statue of them.)
4 - The illusion can not affect senses. If I create a 'star' within the 5 ft image and the look of radiating light is part of the image, would it appear to illuminate just to the edges without casting the light outside of the 5ft. cube illuminating the area? It wouldn't just be a ball of burning plasma locked in place because the character would not know it as that?
5 - All illusions you create are STATIC. Fire does not flicker, water does not wave, etc. Just wanted to state this because there are so many forums asking about it.
6 - How does the environment affect the illusion? A mirror would not reflect light to give an image. If I am in a dark alley and I cast a simple garbage pile over my character to hide. Would the shadows in the dark affect it? Would a lantern casting light in a tight beam give away the object because it does not reflect/refract light?
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IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
1 - somebody will inevitably point you to some definition in the rules as to what D&D considers an object.
2 - Since you can create an image of muddy footprints, I would say that you can create the image of a shadow on a wall.
3 - a statue of somebody is still an object.
4 - it creates an object, so it would not replicate the light shining off other things within the 5ft cube.
5 - flames might not be considered objects, but the spell doesn't say that the object is static (for sound, it plays the sound, e.g. drums, unabated for the duration). Once the image is created, it can't be repositioned (for that you will need the 1st level spell Silent Image).
6 - I would say that an image would not be immediately given away by somebody carrying a torch walking past.
Took a bit of digging, but I managed to track down a definition for what an object is in the DMG:
For the purpose of these rules, an object is a discrete, inanimate item like a window, door, sword, book, table, chair, or stone, not a building or a vehicle that is composed of many other objects.
So I would say fire doesn't count.
2) Shadows are a bit trickier. A true shadow (and darkness by extension) is not an image of an object, but you could create an image of a darkened object. To appear to function as a shadow.
3) Images of creatures is another one of those that I don't think is specifically allowed, but the statue thing effectively works around it.
4) This is starting to get into what the spell specifically can't do (create light). I would say you can make a white ball that is brightly colored and that is about the limit.
5) I agree.
6) Another tough one. I would say that this could be part of the check that gives away the illusion.
So 2 and 3 don't break the spell, so should usually be allowed. 4 and 5 are specifically not allowed. And 6 I think is more interesting to not allow, but that is more up to DMs.
I jumbled together the pertinent parts of the descriptions.
Object: a discrete, inanimate item like a window, door, sword, book, table, chair, or stone, not a building or a vehicle that is composed of many other objects. (No complex machines, also seems to only indicate things that are solids. Unsure if it also includes liquids, gases, or plasma.)
Minor Illusion: If you create an image of an object - such as a chair, muddy footprints, or a small chest - it must be no larger than a 5-foot cube. The image can't create sound, light, smell, or any other sensory effect. (It does not say it has to be static, but I have always assumed that to be the case given the description of a an object.)
Major Image: You create the image of an object, a creature, or some other visible phenomenon that is no larger than a 20-foot cube. (Visible Phenomenon might be things like plasma (fire, auroras, etc.), rainbows, sparks, reflective surface, and...)
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IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
First, I know this gets asked a lot...A LOT, but every one I read seems to focus on a particular way someone wants to use/abuse the simple cantrip. I was hoping to not focus on how a situational usage of the cantrip is cool or legal and to understand a couple major points of the cantrip. Also, this is a CANTRIP, a simple trick which has leveled spells to do the things that I think some players/GMs think this does.
What is defined as an object seems to be the most debated point. Here is a list of questions or inferences I think most of the random posts drift their focus around:
1 - How does the spell define an object over how the player wants an object to be defined?
2 - Is a shadow on a wall considered an object? Could I instead cover it in a thin layer of a darker colored wall in the outline of a shadow I wish to cast?
3 - Is an object 'literally' a generic physical thing like a box, foot prints, or could any physical thing like a perfect statue of a living thing be a method of skirting this intent? (I am not creating a 5 foot image of a character, I am creating a perfect statue of them.)
4 - The illusion can not affect senses. If I create a 'star' within the 5 ft image and the look of radiating light is part of the image, would it appear to illuminate just to the edges without casting the light outside of the 5ft. cube illuminating the area? It wouldn't just be a ball of burning plasma locked in place because the character would not know it as that?
5 - All illusions you create are STATIC. Fire does not flicker, water does not wave, etc. Just wanted to state this because there are so many forums asking about it.
6 - How does the environment affect the illusion? A mirror would not reflect light to give an image. If I am in a dark alley and I cast a simple garbage pile over my character to hide. Would the shadows in the dark affect it? Would a lantern casting light in a tight beam give away the object because it does not reflect/refract light?
1) Spells tend to distinguish either "objects", "creatures", and "locations/points" so to define what the spell can create would be to exclude the second two. Then, the usual definition of an object also excludes highly complex items (vehicles, buildings, etc), although the bigger restriction here is size, so I would argue you could create a fairly complex looking object so long as if fits in the area limit
2) I would argue that a facsimile of a shadow (very thin dark silhouette made out of dark material) is feasible, but actual shadow would require light, which you cannot create.
3) I think a "statue" is feasible if it fits in the area given
4) you can't create light, so at best you are making a bright white orb...any rays would be like the opposite of the shadow facsimile so would appear like a solid object, not light (I'd say it would be easily discernable as not light)
5) I argue that the image can move inside the limits of the illusions size (5' cube) but you can't move the object once cast (so no making it ambulate to another location. So fake fire could wave (but probably not flicker...see the light issue), a jack in the box could pop, etc, but you can't move the object outside the 5' cube you starting casting it in.
6) I go with the RAW here...it can fool a visual effectively, but can't hold up to intense investigation (via check) or physical touch (things go through it). And yes, a mirror wouldn't reflect (see light issue again).
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First, I know this gets asked a lot...A LOT, but every one I read seems to focus on a particular way someone wants to use/abuse the simple cantrip. I was hoping to not focus on how a situational usage of the cantrip is cool or legal and to understand a couple major points of the cantrip. Also, this is a CANTRIP, a simple trick which has leveled spells to do the things that I think some players/GMs think this does.
What is defined as an object seems to be the most debated point. Here is a list of questions or inferences I think most of the random posts drift their focus around:
1 - How does the spell define an object over how the player wants an object to be defined?
2 - Is a shadow on a wall considered an object? Could I instead cover it in a thin layer of a darker colored wall in the outline of a shadow I wish to cast?
3 - Is an object 'literally' a generic physical thing like a box, foot prints, or could any physical thing like a perfect statue of a living thing be a method of skirting this intent? (I am not creating a 5 foot image of a character, I am creating a perfect statue of them.)
4 - The illusion can not affect senses. If I create a 'star' within the 5 ft image and the look of radiating light is part of the image, would it appear to illuminate just to the edges without casting the light outside of the 5ft. cube illuminating the area? It wouldn't just be a ball of burning plasma locked in place because the character would not know it as that?
5 - All illusions you create are STATIC. Fire does not flicker, water does not wave, etc. Just wanted to state this because there are so many forums asking about it.
6 - How does the environment affect the illusion? A mirror would not reflect light to give an image. If I am in a dark alley and I cast a simple garbage pile over my character to hide. Would the shadows in the dark affect it? Would a lantern casting light in a tight beam give away the object because it does not reflect/refract light?
IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
Yeah, I have no clue. And what about using it to make a blindfold?
Enjoy my magic items, spells, monsters, my race, and a few feats. And GIVE ME FEEDBACK... or else.
Like what I say?
⬐ Just press this little guy right here.
1 - somebody will inevitably point you to some definition in the rules as to what D&D considers an object.
2 - Since you can create an image of muddy footprints, I would say that you can create the image of a shadow on a wall.
3 - a statue of somebody is still an object.
4 - it creates an object, so it would not replicate the light shining off other things within the 5ft cube.
5 - flames might not be considered objects, but the spell doesn't say that the object is static (for sound, it plays the sound, e.g. drums, unabated for the duration). Once the image is created, it can't be repositioned (for that you will need the 1st level spell Silent Image).
6 - I would say that an image would not be immediately given away by somebody carrying a torch walking past.
Took a bit of digging, but I managed to track down a definition for what an object is in the DMG:
So I would say fire doesn't count.
2) Shadows are a bit trickier. A true shadow (and darkness by extension) is not an image of an object, but you could create an image of a darkened object. To appear to function as a shadow.
3) Images of creatures is another one of those that I don't think is specifically allowed, but the statue thing effectively works around it.
4) This is starting to get into what the spell specifically can't do (create light). I would say you can make a white ball that is brightly colored and that is about the limit.
5) I agree.
6) Another tough one. I would say that this could be part of the check that gives away the illusion.
So 2 and 3 don't break the spell, so should usually be allowed. 4 and 5 are specifically not allowed. And 6 I think is more interesting to not allow, but that is more up to DMs.
I jumbled together the pertinent parts of the descriptions.
Object: a discrete, inanimate item like a window, door, sword, book, table, chair, or stone, not a building or a vehicle that is composed of many other objects. (No complex machines, also seems to only indicate things that are solids. Unsure if it also includes liquids, gases, or plasma.)
Minor Illusion: If you create an image of an object - such as a chair, muddy footprints, or a small chest - it must be no larger than a 5-foot cube. The image can't create sound, light, smell, or any other sensory effect. (It does not say it has to be static, but I have always assumed that to be the case given the description of a an object.)
Major Image: You create the image of an object, a creature, or some other visible phenomenon that is no larger than a 20-foot cube. (Visible Phenomenon might be things like plasma (fire, auroras, etc.), rainbows, sparks, reflective surface, and...)
IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
1) Spells tend to distinguish either "objects", "creatures", and "locations/points" so to define what the spell can create would be to exclude the second two. Then, the usual definition of an object also excludes highly complex items (vehicles, buildings, etc), although the bigger restriction here is size, so I would argue you could create a fairly complex looking object so long as if fits in the area limit
2) I would argue that a facsimile of a shadow (very thin dark silhouette made out of dark material) is feasible, but actual shadow would require light, which you cannot create.
3) I think a "statue" is feasible if it fits in the area given
4) you can't create light, so at best you are making a bright white orb...any rays would be like the opposite of the shadow facsimile so would appear like a solid object, not light (I'd say it would be easily discernable as not light)
5) I argue that the image can move inside the limits of the illusions size (5' cube) but you can't move the object once cast (so no making it ambulate to another location. So fake fire could wave (but probably not flicker...see the light issue), a jack in the box could pop, etc, but you can't move the object outside the 5' cube you starting casting it in.
6) I go with the RAW here...it can fool a visual effectively, but can't hold up to intense investigation (via check) or physical touch (things go through it). And yes, a mirror wouldn't reflect (see light issue again).