I am a Shadow...The True Self! (3.5 Specialist Wizard Spell, PEACH)

[NeoSeraphi]

In honor of me approaching my 100th homebrew, I've decided to do something special for all of you! I'm releasing a set of special homebrew spells that can only be cast by a specialist wizard! There will be one for each school, so look forward to them! I always thought that specialist wizards deserved their own spells, kind of like Domains, but I'm just going to do one spell per school for now. Please, let me know what you think.

The True Self
Illusion (Phantasm) (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting]
Level: Illusionist 5, Gnome Illusionist 4
Components: V, S
Range: Long
Target: One living creature with an Intelligence score
Effect: Visual figment that replicates the appearance of a target creature
Duration: 10 min/level (D)
Saving Throw: Will Negates, then Will Disbelief if interacted with
SR: See text

As you cast this spell, you create an illusion of a creature. You must overcome the creature you target's spell resistance, and it is allowed a Will saving throw to negate the effect completely. If you overcome its resistance and it fails its saving throw, an exact copy of the creature is born. It appears exactly like the target, except that it is surrounded in a dark black aura. The figment speaks all languages the creature is able to speak, and begins taunting the original by revealing its darkest secrets. Every round that the original is able to hear the figment, it must make a Will save or be enraged and embarrassed, and dedicate all its power to destroying the figment as if it were a real creature. This effect lasts until the beginning of the next round, though if the original continues to hear the shadow speak, it must save against being enraged again. When the original is enraged in such a way, it takes a -5 morale penalty to its saving throws. It will attack the figment, and receive a Will save for interacting with it.

If the original manages to disbelieve the illusion, the spell ends.

Even if the original creature is under the effects of the true seeing spell, or is otherwise able to ignore illusions but is not immune to mind-affecting abilities, the original will hear the shadow's voice as if it was coming from nowhere. If that happens, the original must instead make a Will save or cower in panic for the round.

Spell resistance for this spell only applies to the creation of the shadow. All creatures who interact with the shadow after it is created, including the original, do not apply their spell resistance to it.

[bloodtide]

First off, I like the idea of specialist spells.

This spell is not quite made right by the core illusion rules. First off, it's an mind effecting spell. Second, it's not a figment type spell. This spell forces the target to make a will save or take action, and figments don't do that. If you want an illusionary double that everyone can see, then the spell would be a pattern type spell(though by purest form it should be a phantasm).

Permanent looks to be a bit much for duration...maybe a bit less?

And the whole 'will save or a sitting duck' is a bit much, as this spell would be way too much of a killer in combat.

And the whole true seeing bit is bad too. So if a powerful target has true seeing and they fail a will save they panic and cower? And note you say it's a 'mind effecting' spell here.

[NeoSeraphi]

First off, I like the idea of specialist spells.

This spell is not quite made right by the core illusion rules. First off, it's an mind effecting spell. Second, it's not a figment type spell. This spell forces the target to make a will save or take action, and figments don't do that. If you want an illusionary double that everyone can see, then the spell would be a pattern type spell(though by purest form it should be a phantasm).

Okay thanks. I don't make illusion spells (or cast them) very often, so the whole category of subschools confused me. (I just lifted the one from major image and assumed it'd be fine)

Permanent looks to be a bit much for duration...maybe a bit less?

Sure, but you have to realize that the point of the spell is to reveal the darkest secrets of a creature's past...that can take a lot longer than a few rounds. Guess I'll make it 10 minutes per level, though.

And the whole 'will save or a sitting duck' is a bit much, as this spell would be way too much of a killer in combat.

And? It's two levels below solipsism, which is Will save or be helpless for 1 round per level, and its a specialist only spell. This spell is basically like a more flavorful, but less effective version of hold monster, since it offers a Will save every round (and then a second Will save to end the effect if the creature reacts).

Basically, unless you need a 15 or higher to pass your save, you'll break the effect in the first few rounds.

And the whole true seeing bit is bad too. So if a powerful target has true seeing and they fail a will save they panic and cower? And note you say it's a 'mind effecting' spell here.

Yeah, I'm going to add the mind-affecting part in. And yes, because true seeing lets you see through illusions as if they are not there. It does not prevent the illusion from being cast. And even if you can't see the illusion, it doesn't mean it's not there, and if it's there, it's still talking. In fact, it's a lot scarier with the true seeing than without it, because it sounds like a disembodied voice (that sounds just like you) is telling everyone your darkest secrets.

Edit: Added the (Phantasm) and (Compulsion) subschools, and the [Mind-Affecting] descriptor.

[Siosilvar]

And? It's two levels below solipsism, which is Will save or be helpless for 1 round per level, and its a specialist only spell. This spell is basically like a more flavorful, but less effective version of hold monster, since it offers a Will save every round (and then a second Will save to end the effect if the creature reacts).

Basically, unless you need a 15 or higher to pass your save, you'll break the effect in the first few rounds.

Hold Monster also allows a save every round, because it references hold person.

This spell is the same level as hold monster, so a direct comparison is very apt:

Hold monster makes you helpless and cuts your ability to stay flying/swimming, but the true self applies a -5 penalty to its saving throws. Both are [mind-affecting].

Could the true self illusion be put into the same square as another creature, to have it attack something else? In that case, we could compare to confusion:

Confusion is a level lower and doesn't give you direct control over what the creature does. True self is single-target and has a save every round.

I think I'd cut the -5 penalty back slightly to -4 and call it good.

... I love the more potent effect if the target has true seeing than if it doesn't. Devilish little thing, isn't it. Reminds me of invisible obscuring mist.

[NeoSeraphi]

Hold Monster also allows a save every round, because it references hold person.

This spell is the same level as hold monster, so a direct comparison is very apt:

Hold monster makes you helpless and cuts your ability to stay flying/swimming, but the true self applies a -5 penalty to its saving throws. Both are [mind-affecting].

Could the true self illusion be put into the same square as another creature, to have it attack something else? In that case, we could compare to confusion:

Confusion is a level lower and doesn't give you direct control over what the creature does. True self is single-target and has a save every round.

I think I'd cut the -5 penalty back slightly to -4 and call it good.

Actually, you're incorrect here. And that's my fault, I guess the spell's text is confusing.

Every round, the subject of the true self must make a saving throw or be enraged for the remainder of that round. It then takes a -5 penalty on its saving throws for the rest of the round, and when it interacts with the shadow because it's attacking it it gets another Will save to disbelieve.

The subject of the true self gets 2 saves every round. One to act normally, one to break the effect entirely. If it makes the first one, it doesn't need to make the second (unless it wants to attack the shadow on its own)

[Pyromancer999]

Good spell, although I hate to point out that masochistic characters would probably be dazed instead of enraged. Just saying.

[Milo v3]

NeoSeraphi is this based off Persona 4?

Anyway seems like a cool spell and an amazingly fun way of screwing people up. Cast in the middle of the street on a random person with Still and Silent Metamagics. It would be tonnes of fun for any trickster.

One thing I find strange though. It all goes away if you don't believe in it. Very different to the game. But even then I could easily cast Phantasmal Killer once they disbelieve it and it would fit perfectly.

[NeoSeraphi]

NeoSeraphi is this based off Persona 4?

But of course! How ever did you guess?

Anyway seems like a cool spell and an amazingly fun way of screwing people up. Cast in the middle of the street on a random person with Still and Silent Metamagics. It would be tonnes of fun for any trickster.

Haha, yes, indeed that would be fun.

One thing I find strange though. It all goes away if you don't believe in it. Very different to the game. But even then I could easily cast Phantasmal Killer once they disbelieve it and it would fit perfectly.

I feel the same way. If you scroll up and read the comments, you'll see that the duration of the spell was originally Permanent, but they convinced me to cut it back to 10 min/level. So it was much closer to the game, originally.