The ability to move unseen is a coveted fantasy gem. Whether through the enchantment of a spell or an artifact of legendary power, invisibility spins the odds in your favor. What will your character do with such a gift?
Invisibility stuff
- ring, amulet, marble, stone, bell, wand, globe
- shoes, boots, slippers, gloves, gauntlet,
- robe, cloak, hood, cape, gown, blanket, headband,
- rune, scroll, tablet, script, tapestry,
- feather from a white raven, eye of a blind snake,
- ribbon, button,
- phosphorus, smoke, incense, a particular blend of herbs,
- magic hoop: you crawl through it and become invisible when you come out the other side.
- salt, ointment, tincture, tonic, ether, dust,
Degrees of invisibility
Invisibility doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing deal. There can definitely be degrees of invisibleness… that makes for fun story. So when you design a magical case of invisibility, think of the number of qualities you could qualify it with…
- transparent, translucent, semi-transparent, silouetted, outlined, aqueous form, gaseous,
- ethereal, astral, ectoplasmic, dimensional, extraplanar, extraspatial, temporal,
- corporeal, incorporeal,
- blinking, shimmering, winking, glimmering, glistening, swirling, pulsating, vacillating,
- light bending, light fractures,
- prismatic, reflective, colour change, glow,
- chameleon-like, blending, matching, mirage,
- fade, dissolve, dissipate, vanish, dwindle, evanesce,
- hazy, foggy, oily, heat shimmer
- .0001% – 99% visibility
- invisible in daylight, twilight, dim light,
- invisible to certain species, particular people,
Characters
Anyone can get their hands on invisibility stuff, but here are a few ideas:
- peddler of bizarre goods, purveyor of fine majicks, apothecary, alchemist, specialized tailor,
- wizard, sorcerer, enchantress, witch,
- chaperone, observer,
- spy, ninja, assassin,
- thief, burglar, robber,
- superheroes,
Side effects of invisibility
- strength drain, fatigue,
- mental anguish, madness, insanity,
- extreme thirst, dry skin, burning sensation
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision,
- must make a sacrifice, sell soul, give up first born, flog yourself, do pennance, pray, atone,
- become a ghostly figure permanently, lost soul, crossed-over spirit,
- death,
3d6 Table of invisibility
When you take a potion, cast a spell, or utilize a wand’s ability, the success of the effect can be interpreted using a chart like this (use this one or make up your own similarly leveled outcomes!):
- 18 Tremendous – will last as long as you want; can go invisible at will for next two days
- 16-17 Great – you are so invisible that you can do almost anything and go undetected
- 14-15 Good – you’re invisible; spell worked like a charm
- 12-13 Fair – mostly invisilbe though a faint shimmer may exist
- 11 Poor – you are invisible but blink into visibility or shimmer a little
- 10 Iffy – you splutter in and out of visibility
- 8-9 Lousy – you briefly blink out of sight but for the most part remain visible
- 6-7 Bad – you are visible; the magic failed.
- 4-5 Terrible – you are visible and probably have a few minor side effects
- 3 Catastrophic – you’re not invisible; instead, you are glowing
Notes and Ideas
- consider whether a character’s belongings all go invisible along with the character
- how solid is an invisible character?
- can regular weapons and items strike the invisible character?