Programmed Illusion: Put on a Show!

Usable By: Bard, Wizard

Spell Level: 6

School: Illusion

Casting Time: 1 action

Range: 120 feet

Duration: Until dispelled

Components: V, S, M (a bit of fleece and jade dust worth at least 25 gp)

You create an illusion of an object, a creature, or some other visible phenomenon within range that activates when a specific condition occurs. The illusion is imperceptible until then. It must be no larger than a 30-‐‑foot cube, and you decide when you cast the spell how the illusion behaves and what sounds it makes. This scripted performance can last up to 5 minutes.

When the condition you specify occurs, the illusion springs into existence and performs in the manner you described. Once the illusion finishes performing, it disappears and remains dormant for 10 minutes. After this time, the illusion can be activated again.

The triggering condition can be as general or as detailed as you like, though it must be based on visual or audible conditions that occur within 30 feet of the area. For example, you could create an illusion of yourself to appear and warn off others who attempt to open a trapped door, or you could set the illusion to trigger only when a creature says the correct word or phrase.

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, and any noise it makes sounds hollow to the creature.

Review by Samuel West, Twitter: @CrierKobold

Programmed Illusion has its roots in old sci-fi hologram projectors and scary illusion traps meant to waste a few rounds running in circles being scared. For a 6th level spell, is creating a hologram to say “Haha, suck it nerd! I left HOURS ago!” worth it? Because most of the time, that’s what it does.

At its best, Programmed Illusion sets up unique puzzles and traps in dungeons. It's a tool a DM can shape into a hazard, making me wonder if it would have just been better off being in the DMG as such. In the hands of a player, Programmed Illusion can have some neat use cases, but they are rare, and normally could be handled better by other illusion options.

As a player, you need to want to leave a message or other image for a purpose intended to be viewed later. This is a super narrow window to find usage out of. Most of the time, when you’re in the market for an illusion, you want the illusion NOW. This might deter foes from entering a guarded estate, or alert allies of upcoming danger or passed events, but beyond that it's really just a for fun spell dedicated to neat RP moments.

You can create a little historical museum showing visually the tales of your partie’s adventures, while narrating over the footage in your best documentary narrator impression. You could go around town over a week and make some holographic style billboards advertising your adventuring services that are miserable for law enforcement to get rid of. You could go to your rival's bedroom, and just make it so every ten minutes, if they’re laying in bed, a giant screaming angry goat descends from the rafters and screams for five straight minutes. It really is only limited by your imagination the torment you can unleash with a lot of downtime and a petty vendetta.

If that’s what you’re looking for, Programmed Illusion is the best. If you want a practical spell that will serve some meaningful purpose, Program Illusion isn’t it.

5e Spells

Programmed Illusion: Put on a Show!