All spells of the Evocation and Invocation type no longer do any physical damage. It is planned for PCs, NPCs and monsters to make extensive use of the other spells in their place.
The non-damaging effects of Evocation and Invocation spells still occur.
The caster may elect to have the damage aspect (if any) occur as an illusion type effect. In this case the targets get an illusion saving throw in addition to any other saving throw the spell provides (targets may not elect to disbelieve the effect). If the illusion save is successful the target recognises the illusion and takes no damage. If the save fails the target believes they take the damage, but will realise after 1d4 rounds (or the end of combat, or being awoken from "thinking" they died) that no damage was actually inflicted.
Some of the reasoning behind the idea
I'm really bored with the whole fireball your way through a dungeon thing. I want to see guards running off after illusions, powerful monsters being weakened with necromancy, and charmed minions being knocked out and disabled rather then cooked up medium-well. I want to see divinations being cast to find a better way to get the job done and summoned monsters sent in to join the fray.
There are so many interesting spells in the core D&D books and in the d20 expansions. A lot of good fantasy literature has magic that turns things around, but doesn't just kill stuff all the time. I think it will be fun to have PCs, NPCs and monsters casting and being affected by spells that really seem "magical".
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