Starting at 6th level, when you cast an illusion spell that has a duration of 1 minute or longer, you can use your action to change the nature of that illusion (using the spell’s normal parameters for the illusion), provided that you can see the illusion.
Let's break this down
when you cast an illusion spell that has a duration of 1 minute or longer,
So, at the time that you cast spell X. Not any rounds after you cast spell X, but when you cast the spell. For the sake of this analysis, let's say spell X is Major Image.
you can use your action to change the nature of that illusion (using the spell’s normal parameters for the illusion), provided that you can see the illusion.
So, on the round that you cast Major Image. you can change the nature of the illusion (within the spell's parameters) using your action*.
In other words, when you cast Major Image to create an image of a doodad (not any following rounds, but when you cast the spell). you can spend your action to change the image of the doodad into an image of a gewgaw.
RAW, that sounds spectacularly useless.
* note also that as Malleable Illusion requires an action, it can't be applied to spells that take an action to cast..
But also think of this. As an illusionist you get improved minor illusion at second level. Which lets you add sound to your visual illusion, now add in the malleable illusion skill to this for the next 9 rounds, and that cantrip becomes quite formidable.
You can not only form an image of yourself giving your opponent the good old 'your number one' hand sign but you could add in a nice loud raspberry sound to it. Then make it move off around a corner away from you.
The intent is while the illusion is in effect you can use the action to change the illusion. Made the illusion of a dancing stature? Use malleable illusion to make it look like hedgehog rolling.
It's not worded very well.
This is evident because if we were very strict with wording, then the feature cannot be used for anything except Shadow Blade (bonus action). It takes an action to cast all other illusions, and an action to use the feature. You can't use two actions at the same time.
This is further evidenced by the "provided that you can see the illusion" bit since, the illusion won't appear until after you have finished casting.
Again, further evidenced by the necessity of the illusion lasting 1 minute or longer.
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The intent is while the illusion is in effect you can use the action to change the illusion. Made the illusion of a dancing stature? Use malleable illusion to make it look like hedgehog rolling.
It's not worded very well.
This is evident because if we were very strict with wording, then the feature cannot be used for anything except Shadow Blade (bonus action). It takes an action to cast all other illusions, and an action to use the feature. You can't use two actions at the same time.
This is further evidenced by the "provided that you can see the illusion" bit since, the illusion won't appear until after you have finished casting.
Again, further evidenced by the necessity of the illusion lasting 1 minute or longer.
All of which I pointed out in the original question.
But, has there been an official rewrite of the ability?
There is no need to rewrite it. You are just reading it with a overly narrow reading of when you cast the spell. It is not saying timing it is saying YOU, YOU are the person who casts the spell. Not someone else's illusion, your illusion.
There is no need to rewrite it. You are just reading it with a overly narrow reading of when you cast the spell. It is not saying timing it is saying YOU, YOU are the person who casts the spell. Not someone else's illusion, your illusion.
Then it is poorly written. It would be much clearer if written as, "during any round which falls within the duration of any illusion spell that you cast, you can spend your action to change the parameters of that illusion spell (within the normal parameters of that spell) provided you can see that illusion and the spell has a duration of at least a minute."
Sure, like dozens if not hundreds of parts in this game it could be clearer. But it is fairly obvious what they meant. I think this is the first time I have seen anyone even suggest it meant something else. On the list of unclear wordings this ranks really low imo.
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Malleable Illusion states
Let's break this down
So, at the time that you cast spell X. Not any rounds after you cast spell X, but when you cast the spell. For the sake of this analysis, let's say spell X is Major Image.
So, on the round that you cast Major Image. you can change the nature of the illusion (within the spell's parameters) using your action*.
In other words, when you cast Major Image to create an image of a doodad (not any following rounds, but when you cast the spell). you can spend your action to change the image of the doodad into an image of a gewgaw.
RAW, that sounds spectacularly useless.
* note also that as Malleable Illusion requires an action, it can't be applied to spells that take an action to cast..
Has this been officially edited?
For the first round yes its not quite beneficial.
But also think of this. As an illusionist you get improved minor illusion at second level. Which lets you add sound to your visual illusion, now add in the malleable illusion skill to this for the next 9 rounds, and that cantrip becomes quite formidable.
You can not only form an image of yourself giving your opponent the good old 'your number one' hand sign but you could add in a nice loud raspberry sound to it. Then make it move off around a corner away from you.
The intent is while the illusion is in effect you can use the action to change the illusion. Made the illusion of a dancing stature? Use malleable illusion to make it look like hedgehog rolling.
It's not worded very well.
This is evident because if we were very strict with wording, then the feature cannot be used for anything except Shadow Blade (bonus action). It takes an action to cast all other illusions, and an action to use the feature. You can't use two actions at the same time.
This is further evidenced by the "provided that you can see the illusion" bit since, the illusion won't appear until after you have finished casting.
Again, further evidenced by the necessity of the illusion lasting 1 minute or longer.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
All of which I pointed out in the original question.
But, has there been an official rewrite of the ability?
There is no need to rewrite it. You are just reading it with a overly narrow reading of when you cast the spell. It is not saying timing it is saying YOU, YOU are the person who casts the spell. Not someone else's illusion, your illusion.
Then it is poorly written. It would be much clearer if written as, "during any round which falls within the duration of any illusion spell that you cast, you can spend your action to change the parameters of that illusion spell (within the normal parameters of that spell) provided you can see that illusion and the spell has a duration of at least a minute."
Sure, like dozens if not hundreds of parts in this game it could be clearer. But it is fairly obvious what they meant. I think this is the first time I have seen anyone even suggest it meant something else. On the list of unclear wordings this ranks really low imo.