The Mechanics of Shadow Matter Illusion

By Magus Vincent Morris

This book is intended to supplement the existing literature on Shadow Matter Illusion. Previous works, especially Shadow and Illusion by fellow Ebony Mage Oorayv'levana, do a fantastic job of explaining the nature of shadow matter and how an Illusionist can utilize it to create special versions of Evocation and Conjuration spells. What this book seeks to accomplish is to provide more detail about the specific effects that this process has on these spells.

The advantages of utilizing Shadow Matter in Evocation and Conjuration spells are twofold: applying expertise in the Illusion School more broadly, and using Shadow Matter to enhance the effects of spells. The primary disadvantage is that of introducing the downsides of illusion - the potential for your target to see through the illusion - to these other schools. After extensive testing, I've determined which specific Evocation and Conjuration spells are impacted the most in these various ways.

Notes: this work will only cover 1st- through 6th-circle spells, as testing has only been completed on these circles. However, some basic principles can be extracted from this testing, and some predictions have been made about spells in the highest circles. Any spells unlisted were not changed significantly by converting to Illusion.

Applying Illusion Expertise:

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While Evocation and Conjuration both bring to mind various ways to burn, electrocute, and otherwise maim one's enemies, there are several spells that have other effects. The advantage in converting these spells to Illusion lies mostly in the application of one's extensive Illusion expertise to their casting. This makes many spells more difficult to resist. Spells that benefit from this and not from increased damage are generally not impacted by the target's disbelief with one notable exception - Flame Arrow.

The following spells fall into this category: 0th - Flare 1st - Grease 2nd - Baleful Transposition, Cloud of Bewilderment, Glitterdust, Web 3rd - Flame Arrow, Flashburst, Gust of Wind, Stinking Cloud 4th - Wall of Fire 5th - Ball Lightning, Lesser Planar Binding 6th - Acid Fog, Planar Binding

Increasing Potential:

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The classic offensive spells from the Evocation and Conjuration schools can be made even more effective with the conversion of the spell into a shadow variant. Most of these spells are slightly bigger, badder, and more impactful with the addition of Shadow Matter. These spells usually have limits on how powerful they can be - a Fireball cast by a sufficiently powerful wizard is going to be indistinguishable from another cast by an even more powerful wizard (except for how difficult it is to dodge). Shadow Matter allows us to break through these limits. The conversion of a spell into a shadow variant can introduce the potential for disbelief, which can reduce the impact of the spell, but those with the highest levels of experience with the school of Illusion will be able to make this very difficult, and still do considerable damage to those who disbelieve. A few of these spells do not benefit from the Illusion expertise described above, but most do

The following spells fall into this category: 1st - Burning Bolt, Hail of Stone, Horizikaul's Boom, Ice Dagger, Lesser Elemental Orbs, Magic Missile, Snilloc's Snowball 2nd - Agannazzar's Scorcher, Combust, Fireburst, Gedlee's Electric Loop, Snilloc's Snowball Swarm 3rd - Fireball, Forceblast, Ice Burst, Lightning Bolt, Mestil's Acid Breath, Scintillating Sphere, Serpent's Sigh 4th - Blast of Flame, Elemental Orbs, Evard's Black Tentacles, Ice Storm, Isaac's Lesser Missile Storm 5th - Cloudkill, Cone of Cold, Firebrand, Greater Fireburst, Snilloc's Major Missile 6th - Acid Storm, Chain Lightning, Isaac's Greater Missile Storm

Noteworthy Spells:

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During testing, some spells rose above the others as benefiting a lot from being converted to Shadow Matter Illusion. As this research began with a personal desire to determine which spells were best to prepare for general use as a budding Shadow Matter Illusionist, it seems appropriate to share these findings with others.

Glitterdust - a personal favorite, made even better by converting to Illusion. In addition to revealing hidden foes of every sort, the dust shines brighter and really gets in the eye's of your foes, blinding them more consistently. Works equally well in wand form!

Firebrand - another great spell made even better by infusing it with Shadow Matter. Applying advanced Illusion techniques makes these searing beauties harder to dodge, and they pack a much bigger punch.

Acid Storm - for area destruction, look no further. The Illusion version gives slippery types less time to react to it, and shadow acid is potent stuff. Just make sure your companions are immune to it, if you care about such things.