[RPG] Limits and rules for Silent/Minor/Major Image spells

dnd-3.5edungeons-and-dragonsspells

What are the limits of Image spells?

An example in the 'All about Illusions' articles on wizards.com (1, 2, 3, 4) is an illusionary guard: Can I make the guard (keeping concentration) dissolve into smoke (and grant concealment with the smoke)?

Or more general: Can I morph/transform/change the illusion while the spell is on-going?

And: A monster who tells his friend that something is an illusion grants that friend a +4 bonus to the will save. However, the friend still needs 'an action' of his own to interact. What action? (Standard, Move, …)

I would prefer answers including rule text references, if possible. References to related material or other discussions of the possibilities and limits of the image spells are very welcome.

Best Answer

The various "image" spells are basically a carte blanke to do anything you can dream up, within the stated limiters of the spell. You manipulate the spell with your concentration, and can alter it as you please as long as you do not take the image out of the limiting area of effect or attempt to do more with it that then the spell allows you to do (i.e. produce any sound or thermals with Silent Image, or recognizable speech with Minor Image).

Illusions such as these are staples of fantasy fiction; why would you assume you can't create a fluid effect with these spells?
For example: an illusionist, hidden in a room whose volume is not larger than his AoE for the spell, casts Major Image: that of an egg in a pentacle. When the door to the room opens and creatures enter, the mage has the egg crack open and a mist start pouring out. in a few seconds, a vicious horned demon forms from the mist. If the creatures do not attack it, the mage then holds a conversation with them out of the demon's mouth. If the creatures attack it, he disperses it into mist again, mocking the hapless creatures.

As long as the mage concentrates, all this is within the purvey of the spell.