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Author Topic: Ask a World-Definer: Ghost Sound  (Read 418 times)

darkstorme

Ask a World-Definer: Ghost Sound
« on: January 11, 2011, 04:18:31 am »
This doesn't necessarily have to be Ed - just someone who can make an official ruling (hence World-Definer).  It's also an issue that a number of players might be interested in.

There is a precedent (outside of Layonara) for using the D&D spell Ghost Sound to provide instrumental or vocal accompaniment to a singer.  Is this also possible for Bards in Layonara?

If it requires keeping a spell slot blank, that's entirely acceptable in exchange for a means of providing Therise some backup.
 
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Dorganath

Re: Ask a World-Definer: Ghost Sound
« Reply #1 on: January 11, 2011, 09:02:36 am »
Personally, I would put it under the category of general illusions that most spellcasters, especially arcane casters, have been able to perform by precedent and convention since I can remember.  

What I typically expect from someone RPing an illusion is a good emote and a Spellcraft check, the latter determining the quality of the illusion.  For something more complex, I usually also ask for a Concentration check, but that's rare even unless the caster is pretty low level and/or the caster is doing something else that's also complex.

Obviously, Enchantment and Divination specialist Wizards probably would not get the opportunity to perform illusions of any kind.

In the case of something like you're asking, if the Bard is RPing, then there's really no reason to worry about a spell slot. I would say the same thing about a Sorcerer. A Wizard could just prepare (or could have prepared in advance) to produce an Illusion. In the case of something more active (i.e. during a quest situation where it may not be possible to rest), I would just ask the caster to hold back on the casting of an appropriate Illusion spell, such as Invisibility or the like.

This of course assumes that the caster has some knowledge of Illusion and that the imagery, whether visual or auditory, and that the caster has gained sufficient levels to be able to "cast" the equivalent PnP spell for the desired effect.

For instance, Ghost Sound is a cantrip and Silent Image is a level 1 spell, so either of these effects would be possible for a low-level caster, though doing both at the same time would probably require a Concentration roll at best.  By contrast, Persistent Image is a 5th level spell which combines a range of sensory effects, and it would require a caster with greater experience and ability to manage.

Anyway, while I don't personally call these things by their names in the Layonara setting, I use the PnP spells as a guideline for what can be done. Keep it reasonable and within the ability of the character and it's all good.

In Therise's case, her Spellcraft is low and her Concentration is non-existent.  I could see she could produce some short-lived and simple sounds as an accompaniment to her performance, but it would definitely be in the realm of "background" or "mood music".
 

 

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