How to optimally use Illusions WITHOUT Shadowcraft Magic?

[Endarire]

A Shadowcraft Mage can turn a silent image into a killer weapon.

I'm more interested in how to best use silent image, major image, project image, and permanent image (all as written in the PHB) to their best effect.

[snakeman830]

It all depends on the situation.  Illusion can be one of the most powerful/versatile schools of magic, but you have to be creative to make it so.  There really isn't any advice that can be given as virtually all of those spells are best used in specific ways in specific situations.

[Phoenix00]

Nightmare Spinner adaption that makes monsters normally immune to mind affecting spells suddenly immune to them.

[LargePrime]

what is the difference between being normally immune and suddenly immune?

[Phoenix00]

I meant to say are suddenly not immune to the mind affecting effect.  (they can be affected by mind affecting spells).

Nevermind I reread the ability and it only works on charms and dominates not just normal mind affecting spells.

[skydragonknight]

For DC increases? Bards can increase DC with their music and the right feat, Beguilers can increase DC by catching enemies flatfooted.

Numbers? Enhanced Shadow Reality feat (or something like that - some Dragon issue) ups reality of (shadow) spells by 20%.


Though really, the true power of illusions is not achieved by optimization, but by having a powerful imagination.

Typical uses:
General Casters - Greater Mirror Image and cast normally.
Sneak/caster hybrids - Greater Invisibility + Darkstalker and use illusions as decoys.

[altpersona]

also requires a reasonable dm

[Hallack]

also requires a reasonable dm

Yep, this is the biggest factor to Illusion effectiveness perhaps even moreso than the players creativity.

[archangel.arcanis]

Mix with conjurations to keep the bad guys guessing what is real and what isn't.

[skydragonknight]

Mix with conjurations to keep the bad guys guessing what is real and what isn't.

Ha! Forgot about that one. That was one of the classic minibosses I used.

[Mixster]

Silent image can pretty effectively mimic a wall of stone or fog.

Major image can pretty easily mimic gate, making your opponents run when you summon a freaking solar, couple it with looking like you are reading it from a scroll and it probably works better.

It does require you enemy to not have spellcraft though, but I doubt many of them actually have that anyway.

[weenog]

I like Silent Image to summon horrible incorporeal things, myself.  The sudden appearance of a dread wraith should scare the crap out of anything smart enough to know what it is, and its silence and attacks passing harmlessly through it don't spoil the illusion.

[jojolagger]

I like Silent Image to summon horrible incorporeal things, myself.  The sudden appearance of a dread wraith should scare the crap out of anything smart enough to know what it is, and its silence and attacks passing harmlessly through it don't spoil the illusion.

Also remember to use fly and silent image to create a floor below you. It looks like your just standing there, and they'll never check the floor.