Illusions vs. Magic resistance

[Lilaxe]

How do you rule illusionists casting things like phantasmal force against a group of magic resistant enemies. If the caster merely directs illusions to walk around trying to cause a distraction, would the illusion be blocked by MR?

[JCBoney]

IMO, no. MR pans out as personal resistance to spells cast upon the creature. An illusion is a magical effect seperate from the creature in question that creates a visual phenomenon. The illusion is cunning enough to fool the eye unless the creature in question is smart enough to spot some flaw or attempt to disbelieve the phenomenon (if he suspects an illusion is in play).

In short: MR applies to spells received, but an illusion is not a spell cast upon a target.

[Matthew]

I tend to agree with Semaj, though if the magic resistant creatures entered the area of effect then I would probably roll against magic resistance to see if the spell collapses.

[JCBoney]

I wouldn't, unless there was something pointing out that a creature's MR specifically acted as a magical dampening or anti-magic field.

[Matthew]

According to the Monster Manual II, magic resistance can function that way, shattering an existing spell by coming into contact with it, though the guidelines are vague. In this case, I just think it is cool for a demon to walk through an illusion and it breaking down around him. an alternative take, I suppose, would be to have magic resistance disrupt the spell where it comes into contact entitling onlookers to an additional saving throw.

[JCBoney]

Oh, well... there you are then.

[SimperingToad]

I kinda like having the illusion remain intact, but the aware viewer just sees it as rather vague and transparent. They can interact or ignore as they see fit.