DECK OF ILLUSIONS
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Experience Point Value. 1,500 xp
Gold Piece Value. 15,000 gp
This set of parchment cards is usually found in an ivory, leather, or wood box. A full deck consists of 34 of these plaques.
When one is drawn at random and cast out, an illusion with audial and visual components is formed. It lasts until it is dispelled. The illusory creature will not go more than 30 feet away from where the card lands when it is thrown, but will otherwise move and act as if it were real.
When the illusion is dispelled, the card becomes blank and cannot be used again. If the card is picked up from where it lies, the illusion is automatically and instantly dispelled. The cards in a deck and the illusions they bring forth are as follows:
♠
A
K
Q
J
10
9
8
2
Creatures
Red dragon
Fighter and 4 guards
Succubus
Druid
Cloud giant
Ettin
Bugbear
Goblin
♣
A
K
Q
J
10
9
8
2
Creatures
Beholder
M-U and 1 apprentice
Night hag
Assassin
Fire giant
Ogre mage
Gnoll
Kobold
♥
A
K
Q
J
10
9
8
2
Creatures
Lich
Cleric and 2 underpriests
Medusa
Monk
Frost giant
Troll
Hobgoblin
Goblin
♦
A
K
Q
J
10
9
8
2
Creatures
Iron golem
Thief and 3 cohorts
Erinyes
Bard
Hill giant
Ogre
Orc
Kobold
The cards in a particular deck may differ from these, and a deck may be discovered with some of its plaques missing. The illusions perform normal routines and respond to attacks; ie., DMs are to play them as if they were real creatures.
Campaign Rule. In the case of this deck, the magic item is the "caster" and the caster level is 12 with a 15 Intelligence. The effect otherwise duplicates the improved phantasmal force spell
Dragon 130, p.22. "Hold On to Your Illusions!". ...A deck of illusions controls itself; it is effectively 12th level with an intelligence of 15.
Campaign Rule. A creature that takes damage from an illusion can make a Wisdom save vs magic to disbelieve the effect. If recreating an effect, the caster must know how to use the effect (as a spell, ability, item, etc.). Any effect created by the caster operates at their caster level. The caster must have encountered any creatures they create. Creatures created by the spell are average specimens with regard to statistics/attacks. Total hit dice is limited by caster Intelligence score. The caster can break up the area of effect within the range of the spell so as to allow missile weapons being used by illusory troops. Only one effect can be created per spell, ie. one fireball, one group of goblins, one wall, one pit, one ship, etc. Trappings are possible, for the previous examples: burning/smoking furniture or clothing, various kinds of equipment or bags of gems being carried by the goblins, a wall adorned with pictures or a hole or writing, a pit with spikes or covered in green goo, a ship manned with pirates (that don't attack but move around believably), etc.If there is no audial component and the illusion requires one—illusory creatures in melee, a raging fire, etc. creatures nearby get an immediate save for disbelief. If reasonable noise exists, the GM may disregard the immediate save, for example a group of bowmen firing in battle.This extends to other effects, fire without a thermal component, etc."Interacting" with an illusion does not grant a disbelief save if the caster is actively concentrating on the spell. Otherwise, interaction must be tactile—ie. through feel - touching by hand, etc. It is not possible to simply look at an illusion and attempt disbelief.Once disbelieved, the illusion is seen only as the barest outline, ie. it does not impede vision or color at all.
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