Thursday, April 2, 2015

Phantasmal Camp

Unquestionably, the higher level illusionist spells from AD&D have always been junk. It is a huge reason why the illusionist was never embraced - and for some, it is even a reason not to play AD&D.

After many years of play, I am steadily solving problems like this by rewriting some spells and adding more of my own. Sometime soon I'm going to post a complete list of 4th level spells . . . but this one is too cute not to give it a separate place.

A 4th level illusionist spell:

Phantasmal Camp

Range: 50' radius
Duration: until one hour after sunrise
Area of Effect: see below
Casting Time: 10 rounds
Saving Throw: none

Creates an area practical for overnight quartering in the outdoors. The spell will create a fire pit with sufficient dry wood for maintaining a steady low fire for eight hours, a metal tripod plus one pot for cooking, two lanterns (if places to hang such are available ) or standing torches, eight dry blankets and four tents sufficient for a total of eight persons. The pot, when created, will be contain two quarts (full) of fresh water.

Further creations - if desired - will include four mosquito nets, a pair of dry boots, a hatchet, a water/wineskin (empty), a 10-foot long & 1-inch diameter wooden pole, a 6-foot pole suitable for fishing, 20 feet of rope, a knife suitable for boning fish, four drinking/eating bowls and a musical instrument (pipe, lute or drum).

Placement of all items is left to the caster, though they must all be located within the spell's range. The spell cannot be cast if the caster is indoors or underground. Note that the fire must be started in the ordinary manner.


UPDATE:

Here's a complete list of 4th level Illusionist spells, with links to spell descriptions.  Every one of these spells has been modified.

4 comments:

  1. I just love illusionists and I think you are right.

    You made me translate in english an old blogpost of mine on invisibility with two new spell that could be of your interest

    http://d20d12.blogspot.it/2015/04/invisible-reflections-and-2-new-osr.html

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  2. sorry forgot to activate email notifications with the previous post :)

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  3. Hi Fabio,

    Read those. I find Cloak of the Chameleon weaker than my rewrite of the invisibility as written on my wiki. The other is essentially Invisibility, 10' radius. Do be sure to also look at the Improved Invisibility spell in the link on the post.

    I more or less agree that invisibility is an illusion; but mages in AD&D throw lots of illusion spells.

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  4. I see that your invisibility has an indefinite duration, mine is just 10'*level but you can turn again invisbile.

    the Tapestry is a bit better than invisibility 10' because it's centered on an area and invisible people in the area can blink in and out (and it affects 1 humanoid*level)...

    anyhow I am looking forward to your rewrite

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