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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore

Netherlands
1280 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2013 :  02:18:08  Show Profile Send Bladewind a Private Message  Reply with Quote  Delete Topic
Do illusions make reflections in mirrors?

My campaign sketches

Druidic Groves

Creature Feature: Giant Spiders

Ayrik
Great Reader

Canada
7989 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2013 :  02:47:04  Show Profile Send Ayrik a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Only if the illusion magic doesn‘t involve invisbility.

[/Ayrik]
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Jeremy Grenemyer
Great Reader

USA
2717 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2013 :  04:01:09  Show Profile Send Jeremy Grenemyer a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Depends on the rules set you're using.

Look for me and my content at EN World (user name: sanishiver).
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Bladewind
Master of Realmslore

Netherlands
1280 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2013 :  14:17:35  Show Profile Send Bladewind a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I tend to fall back on 3.5 rules. I think those rules say naught about how an illusion interacts withs with objects, reflective surfaces or illumination/shadows.

An important line in the illusion school of magic states:
quote:
Illusion spells deceive the senses or minds of others. They cause people to see things that are not there, not see things that are there, hear phantom noises, or remember things that never happened.


See how it focuses on people?

I think objects lack of senses or minds make them 'immune' to illusory effects, so most illusions can't create images in the reflected realities of mirrors.

A phantasm is only there for the affected target and the caster imagining them. So phantasms definately don't register on a mirror.

A glamer usually is something that gets altered to look like something else. Here I am hesitant to say a mirror picks up the illusory magic placed on the thing.

Light (and even shadowy illumination) can only be created through actual manipulation of energy (so it's in the field of evocation) and its obviously effected by reflective mirrors. But can a figment, i.e. a false visual sensation be seen in total darkness? So how does a figment of a light ray behave infront of a reflective surface? Does the illusionist need to account for the reflective prortaties or does the mirror do its work for him?

In case you are wondering, I plan on designing a mirror maze dungeon full with illusory magic and deadly traps. Thanks for any insight!

Edit: Spelling

My campaign sketches

Druidic Groves

Creature Feature: Giant Spiders

Edited by - Bladewind on 06 Sep 2013 14:20:21
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire

USA
15724 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2013 :  14:54:05  Show Profile Send Markustay a Private Message  Reply with Quote
So there is no 'real' reflection in the mirror, but anyone under the illusion should see a reflection regardless (because the reflection is part of the illusion).

Thats my interpretation.

"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone

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Dreamstalker
Acolyte

USA
47 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2013 :  21:32:10  Show Profile Send Dreamstalker a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Since you mentioned 3.5 rules:

Phantasms should create reflections in the minds of the affected targets. Phantasms tend to act appropriately to keep up the charade.

Figments are the middle ground between phantasms and glamers. Figments are false sensations but independent of minds and objects. I would allow seeing a reflection to count as interaction with the figment and allows a will save for disbelief, but only if taking the time to really look at the figment's reflection. Figments are really independent of the world around them, not changing sensory qualities as glamers do but floating in space sending out a false sensation not attached to anything but the spell itself.

Glamers should create illusory reflections as a direct result of directly changing the sensory qualities of an object to a false output. Glamers do not require the direct manipulation of minds, and are directly linked to the object it is masking. I would find it odd that greater invisibility or disguise self would be so readily foiled by a reflection in water or a mirror.

Shadows are complicated in that they create quasi-real effects. Reflections should be just as quasi-real as the shadow effect itself is. I would allow careful study through a reflection to count as interaction as per figments, but again not an automatic trump.

Mirrors should give interesting opportunities for interactions. I could see mirrors providing a bonus to foil an illusion in certain situations, but not do so as an immediate independent bypass.
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Ayrik
Great Reader

Canada
7989 Posts

Posted - 06 Sep 2013 :  22:11:22  Show Profile Send Ayrik a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Illusions can deceive observers through scrying devices, whether these devices be mirrors or not.

Good illusions will appear to have shadows and reflections as well; perhaps less complex or poorly rendered illusions (which might allow a chance or bonus to disbelieve) sometimes lack these finer details.

[/Ayrik]
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