Illusionist

The Illusionist build

One of the more straightforward builds, this is a single class gnomish mage constructed around maximizing the illusioncraft skill.

• Only one illusory monster active at a time; does not count towards magic CR or player party CR (so if you like to have a big party, you can use monster summoning to your heart's delight)
• Gnomish Arcane Trickery 3 times a day: save them for your (extended) monster illusions
• (t)alk to illusory monsters to issue orders
• With all possible bonuses, Illusioncraft skill starts at around 10-15 at 1st level and by 11th level is at least 30, probably more if you get many bonuses to Int from religion and inherents
• Illusory creatures are of CR level up to half of the Illusioncraft skill rating, may be up to -2 from that.

• Illusion disbelief DCs:
  • For illusory forces, the DC is 10 + 1/2 x Illusioncraft (no spell focus bonus, spell level bonus, etc)
  • For illusory creatures, the DC is as per normal spells, i.e. 10 + spell level + int bonus + school focus bonus (no illusioncraft bonus)
  • Arcane trickery applies to both if activated (+8 to DC)

• Gods: Asherath (+1 Int sacred bonus at favor levels 3,5,7,9), Xavias

• Major spells:
  • Phantasmal force (level 1, 2 mana) creates any creature, CR limited only by Illusioncraft. also forces: Magic missile, Force Bolt, Burning Hands, Ice Dagger, Sandblast, Sunscorch, Scorcher, Electric Loop
  • Spectral force (level 3, 4 mana) illusory creatures persist after being disbelieved; additional forces: fireball, lightning bolt, thunderlance, ice storm, force missiles, shout
  • Note that you always see through illusory forces automatically effectively giving you automatic bind spell
  • Shadow monsters (level 4) illusory creatures do 20% damage even if disbelieved
  • Demi-shadow monsters (level 5) illusory creatures do 50% damage even if disbelieved

• Issues / Bugs / Unimplemented spells as of 0.6.9H4:
  • shadow magic (8 mana) only implements level 1-2 spells (same as phantasmal force, 2 mana) making it practically useless
  • The entire spellbook of [Smoke and Mirrors] is missing: You will never be able to learn improved (spectral/phantasmal) force, hallucinatory terrain, advanced illusion, color burst, mirage arcana
  • Illusory monsters cannot be cancelled directly or dismissed; you have to cast another illusion to replace them

• Gnomes should not learn ventriloquism, displacement or mirror image since those are race innate.

• Important skills:
  • Illusioncraft (vital: take all possible bonuses possible towards this skill: gnome race, skill focus, intelligence boosts)
  • Concentration (to maintain phantasmal/spectral force): not really a big deal, if it is dispelled, cast it again
  • Move Silently (while Invisible): not all that important since you should never be next to a hostile monster anyway
  • Usual caster skills e.g. metamagic

• Important feats:
  • Skill focus: Illusioncraft
  • School focus: Illusion