Glitterdust v.s. Invisibility/Mirror Image/Displacement

[Trainz]

I play a sorceror.

We were attacked by an arcanist who had the following spells cast: Improved Invisibility, Mirror Image, Displacement.

So I cast Detect Invisibility on the first round, I see him, so on the second round I cast Glitterdust so that my comrades can also see him and attack him.

The DM said that he still benefits from Mirror Image and Displacement. I argued that the arcanist was still invisible, and that glitterdust only outlined his actual physical form, not the mirror images or his displaced self.

How could the dust from glitterdust hang on the images, since they're only an illusion ? And also for the displaced image of displacement ?

I need you guy's wisdom on this one. And if you could also reinforce your input by actual book passages, so much the better.

Thanks !

 

[Silveras]

I mostly agree with your DM.

From Mirror Image (3.5 PH, p. 254): "An attacker must be able to see the images to be fooled. If you are invisible or the attacker shuts his or her eyes, the spell has no effect."

Also: "The figments mimic your actions, pretending to cast spells when you cast a spell, drink potions when you drink a potion, levitate when you levitate, and so on."

And: "Figments seem to react normally to area spells (such as looking like they are burned or dead after being hit by a fireball)."

Finally: "You can move into and through a mirror image. When you and the mirror image separate, observers can't use vision or hearing to tell which one is you and which one is the image."

So... Mirror Image + Invisibility is a waste of the Mirror Image spell in the first place, UNLESS someone uses a spell to counter the invisibility portion.

After that, Glitterdust clings to the target normally. However, the figments "react normally to area spells" and appear to be coated in glitterdust as well.

Likewise, with Displacement (3.5 PH, p. 223): "The subject of this spell appears to be about 2 feet away from its true location."

So, the glitterdusted mage and his/her images appear to be about 2 feet from where they should be -- glitterdust and all.

Glitterdust itself (3.5 PH, p. 236) specifically says it makes invisible creatures visible, and imposes a -40 penalty on Hide checks. It does not mention negating any other visual distortion effects.

 

[Trainz]

Silveras, you gave me all we needed to know. That part precisely:

"Figments seem to react normally to area spells"

... really solves the whole problem, since glitterdust is indeed an area spell. Thank you very much.

 

[Jdvn1]

Also in agreement with the DM. I just think it makes more sense that way. A Mirror Image makes it difficult to discern which dude is the real dude. Glitterdust doesn't have any pertinent effect.

 

[Hypersmurf]

There was an argument you could have made for Faerie Fire vs Mirror Image (under the right lighting conditions, anyway), with the first printing of the 3E PHB... but the relevant clause was removed with the second printing.

The description of figments used to state that they could not 'illuminate darkness'. (Presumbaly that's why spells like Continual Flame were changed from Figments to Evocations with the second printing... though the fact that the clause was removed meant the change was no longer necessary...!)

Faerie Fire limns the target in coloured flames, causing them to shed light equivalent to candlelight.

So if you hit a MI'd creature with Faerie Fire, he and all his images would be limned in coloured flames... but only one would shed light, since the figments could not illuminate darkness.

Obviously, in bright light, you'd never tell the difference... but if the ambient light levels were low enough, it would become obvious.

Unfortunately, with the removal of the clause, figments are no longer prohibited from illuminating darkness, and it ceases to work.

-Hyp.

 

[Thanee]

Yep, by the rules it definitely doesn't work, tho there is a point in being able to see where the displaced caster really is.

Bye
Thanee