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In my party I have a warlock who is partial to illusion magic. At second level, he took the 'Misty Visions' invocation, with the intent of using Silent Image to keep the party shrouded in illusory fog during combat. His logic is that because the party knows it is an illusion, they are never hindered by it, but the enemies are effectively blinded to the players until they manage to discern the illusion. In one instance, this resulted in two party members swinging with advantage on a bugbear who couldn't see them, and who had to use his action on the next turn to inspect the illusion.

In this situation, Silent Image gives most of the benefits of Darkness, a second level spell, without negatively affecting the party, and without costing a spell slot. I don't want to have to tell the player "No, that's too OP," but I'm not sure how to interpret the mechanics in a way that isn't broken.

In short:
What does RAW say about using Silent Image on top of or between close quarters combatants?
How can Silent Image be interpreted/altered such that it can provide some benefit in combat, while maintaining the intended power level?

Purple Monkey
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Alexare
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    I have doubts about because the party knows it is an illusion, they are never hindered by it part. A fog is a fog, it blocks vision no matter if it is illusory or real. If someone understands it is an illusion, it is still blocking vision. In 3-e used to hide dangerous low-health kamikaze in the illusion of a bigger extremely dangerous one. People got that it is illusion, but had no idea that someone is inside and took no countermeasures. – Barafu Albino Nov 02 '15 at 09:56
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    In DnD 5e, when you discern an illusion you can see through it. "If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see through the image." PhB 254 – Trolleitor Nov 02 '15 at 12:53
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    Is "the party knows it's an illusion" by the rules? Is it because they're aware the Warlock is going to cast an Illusion that they can see through it? I'm not sure that being told something is an illusion is enough to disbelieve it. (Otherwise, as soon as a single enemy realizes it's an illusion, he can just say "oh, it's fake" and then all enemies will see through it as well, which will probably greatly reduce this abilities' power.) – Erik Nov 02 '15 at 13:20

5 Answers5

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Cost

This is not without cost to the warlock; he has chosen to use one of his two invocations to get this thereby forgoing other choices. In addition, he uses an action to cast it and an action to move it; unless your battles are very static he would need to move it a lot. Remember, the most limited resource any creature has is not its spell slots or hit dice; it is its actions, it only gets one per turn. Good players know this and they should be thinking every turn "Is this the best thing I can do with my action right now?"

Innovation

This is a very clever and imaginative use of the spell - this is something that you should encourage in your players; not discourage. I have had a wizard use Silent Image to create an picture of a hallway that the rogue could walk behind; this not only gave advantage, it also allowed sneak attack against, coincidently, a bugbear.

Disadvantages

A 15 foot cube of fog rolling towards the bugbear is going to negate surprise (its just not natural) and allow it to make an active perception check to find out where the PCs are in the cloud. The bugbear can then use its action to attack (with disadvantage); following which it can see through the cloud because "Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion" - sticking your morning star into it qualifies as "physical interaction".

It doesn't work that way, anyhow

You say: " because the party knows it is an illusion, they are never hindered by it". Where does it say that in the rules?

The relevant text of the spell is:

Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion, because things can pass through it. A creature that uses its action to examine the image can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against your spell save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see through the image.

There are only 2 ways to see through the image, "Physical interaction" or "use your action" and make a save. Knowing that it is an illusion doesn't allow you to see through it.

Dale M
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  • I'm not sure this answer satisfies my concern. Each of the points falls somewhat short. The answer to "Is this the best action" will end up being yes for almost every first turn for the warlock. Yes it is innovative but only the first time; every time after that it just makes the combat simple for them. As for disadvantages, there's no reason the party can't wait until after the surprise round to drop the fog. A round with advantage against the enemies and disadvantage to be hit (with a good chance of additional rounds if the enemies are ranged) is just too much of an edge, surely? – Alexare Nov 02 '15 at 00:16
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    @Cerra - That sounds like something you'll need to consider how to counter. Don't have them in fog provoking terrain and he'll have to consider something else. Consider: a 15 foot cube of fog would look incredibly unnatural at high noon on top of a hill. Even a fairly stupid creature would discern this was not real and look closer. I agree with Dale though, reward the player for a clever solution and don't deny him his invocations. Toss in a couple enemies with blindsight or tremorsense to counter this. – Lino Frank Ciaralli Nov 02 '15 at 01:39
  • @Lino Frank Ciaralli - That makes sense, but that isn't how they are using it. So far it has mostly been cast as a door is thrown open, and in resulting round or two of 'what the...' from the enemies, the players have won, or at least gained a decisive advantage. I suppose I will just try to adapt to it though. I'm a fairly new DM, so just "tossing in a couple enemies with blindsight" is gonna be something I'll have to figure out. – Alexare Nov 02 '15 at 03:29
  • Just add it to an enemy or two every 3rd or 4th encounter. That way at least a few enemies are able to engage without caring, while the warlock still benefits from his skill. It just means he has an annoying obstacle to deal with now. :) – Lino Frank Ciaralli Nov 02 '15 at 04:48
  • The can wait till the surprise round but there is no guarantee the warlock will go first - if the other PCs and/or the bugbear beat the warlocks initiative what are they going to do, look at the warlock and say "Hey, where's the fog man?" – Dale M Nov 02 '15 at 07:07
  • @Cerra "Too much of an edge" or Good Tactics. I'd say it's the latter. Players are supposed to use good tactics to get an advantage. The point of combat is to win the combat encounter. – KorvinStarmast Nov 02 '15 at 14:20
  • @KorvinStarmast Sure the PCs are supposed to try to win, but the rules of the game are supposed to make it a challenge. Players having an easy time of things due to a loophole is only going to make the game boring for everyone. – Alexare Nov 03 '15 at 22:53
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    @Cerra The nature of the game dictates that the PCs will win 99.9% of combat encounters. The challenge comes from their decisions on how so that they can do it in the most efficient manner possible so they can move on to the next combat encounter rather than having to retreat and rest up. – Dale M Nov 03 '15 at 23:01
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    @DaleM you could also add in the Cost section that Silent Image requires concentration. – Sent_ Jun 23 '16 at 09:42
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    I disagree with your premise that "sticking your morningstar into it" will always reveal the fog to be an illusion, because although the spell reads "reveals it to be an illusion, because things can pass through it", things can always pass through fog. Direct skin contact, maybe, and depending on how the warlock defines the fog's exact appearance - a fairly intelligent/perceptive opponent might notice it when a fog with wispy tendrils doesn't swirl behind the morningstar, but a thick, uniform fog wouldn't leave an obvious visual clue. – Dan Henderson Jun 23 '16 at 18:51
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    Your last sentence contradicts with your last quote. You said "Knowing that it is an illusion doesn't allow you to see through it", but the spell says "If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see through the image." – Man_Over_Game Feb 07 '19 at 18:18
  • @DanielZastoupil depends on the definition you use for “discern” - it can mean “seeing” or “understanding” – Dale M Feb 07 '19 at 19:44
  • @LinoFrankCiaralli a fog at noon is unnatural, yes, but it does not mean it must be an illusion. It could just as well be Fog Cloud . – András Oct 14 '19 at 13:04
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I agree with Dale M that you should reward innovation, but it sounds like the player is overlooking one of the aspects of the spell:

"You can use your action to cause the image to move to any spot within range. As the image changes location, you can alter its appearance so that its movements appear natural for the image."--PHB pg 276

This implies that the illusion is completely still when the caster is not using an action to move it. So, the fog wouldn't roll; it would be a hazy, frozen, very obviously unreal phenomenon...so you'd be justified in saying that it wouldn't work on most enemies because they'd be able to passively see how wrong it is.

Liesmith
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    The fact that he has chosen fog isn't particularly relevant. It could just as easily be anything else. A big rock, a cardboard box, a bush. It only needs to obscure vision. – Alexare Nov 02 '15 at 03:37
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    @Cerra Except that fog is meant to be moved through, and it sounds like that's how he's been using it. A wall or box would be a perfectly reasonable use of the spell; it would only allow the first attack to be made with advantage. As soon as someone attacked through it, it would be revealed to be an illusion...no check required. – Liesmith Nov 02 '15 at 06:23
  • Passive perception check is probably a better way than the fiat of "oH, they see that it's wrong." OK, how much time of looking at this did it take to see how wrong it is? A higher Int or Wis would suggest someone who can see through it sooner, where as low int/wis maybe not. – KorvinStarmast Nov 02 '15 at 14:23
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I believe that it would stand to reason that physical interaction would still reveal the illusion, despite it being a fog. I mean this because, although fog is gaseous- and therefor allows things to pass through it normally-, a thick fog like the one described for this illusion can be felt; it normally feels like a mist brushing over you. This is slight, but it is a sensation that the spell would not replicate.

Exomancer _
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The PhB 254 states:

Physical interaction with the image reveals it to be an illusion, because things can pass through it. A creature that uses its action to examine the image can determine that it is an illusion with a successful Intelligence (Investigation) check against yo r spell save DC. If a creature discerns the illusion for what it is, the creature can see through the image.

He can see through the illusion

Regarding physical interaction. If the bugbear touches the fog (which is a lot of physical interaction for me) he would immediately be able to see through it. If he throws/shoots to someone something and the projectile passes through the illusion, he would immediatly be able to see through it.

If the bugbear see a lot of proyectiles and missiles coming from an odorless, heathless fog, he would probably run in it, touching the fog and therefor been able to see through it.

Trolleitor
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    Or he might flee it, if missiles were coming at him out of the fog. – KorvinStarmast Nov 02 '15 at 14:24
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    I've got to disagree with touching the fog immediately allowing the bugbear to see through it. That line states that it, "...reveals it to be an illusion, because things can pass through it", but in the case of fog things passing through it isn't abnormal. – Ceribia Jun 23 '16 at 10:43
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Reward them the first time. Allow it's use and don't always counter it, but be aware that it is a standard tactic and setup instances where it doesn't/can't work and/or would backfire.

  • The enemy runs from a fog throwing arrows/spears/daggers/spells, causing the warlock to waste actions moving the fog in pursuit. Perhaps through dangerous terrain or traps that the enemy knows about that the players don't.

  • Set up enemies that can "see" through it. Blindsight, etc. (as others suggested)

  • Have some invisible enemies -- like a Faerie Dragons or Imps, so they are both at disadvantage.

  • Have a room already full of poisonous smoke, so the players venture in thinking it is just the warlock's spell. (The spell allows you to "see through it" but you still see the illusion as well).

  • Have a friendly NPC begin attacking the unseen thing bursting through the door. The then need to not hurt him, but calm him down until the Warlock can cancel the fog.

  • Have an enemy use similar tactics on the party, (and see if they complain about fairness.) Fey are versed well in illusions.

  • Depending on the Warlocks Patron, you could have the Patron not amused at how the warlock is using its gifts -- but that would be a last resort.

J. A. Streich
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