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Dream

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Dream
  • Level: 5
  • School: Illusion
  • Class: Bard, Warlock, Wizard
  • Casting Time: 1 minute
  • Range: Special
  • Components: V, S, M (a handful of sand)
  • Duration: 8 hours

You target a creature you know on the same plane of existence. You or a willing creature you touch enters a trance state to act as a dream messenger. While in the trance, the messenger is Incapacitated and has a Speed of 0.

If the target is asleep, the messenger appears in the target's dreams and can converse with the target as long as it remains asleep, through the spell's duration. The messenger can also shape the dream's environment, creating landscapes, objects, and other images. The messenger can emerge from the trance at any time, ending the spell. The target recalls the dream perfectly upon waking.

If the target is awake when you cast the spell, the messenger knows it and can either end the trance (and the spell) or wait for the target to sleep, at which point the messenger enters its dreams.

You can make the messenger terrifying to the target. If you do so, the messenger can deliver a message of no more than ten words, and then the target makes a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, the target gains no benefit from its rest, and it takes 3d6 Psychic damage when it wakes up.

Tactical Usage​

Long-Distance Communication: Dream provides secure mental communication across any distance. This 5th-level illusion spell excels at coordinating with distant allies or gathering information from afar.

Optimal Timing: Deploy for strategic coordination, intelligence gathering, psychological warfare, or maintaining contact across vast distances.

Resource Management: Uses a 5th-level spell slot - available from character level 9+. 8-hour duration covers full sleep cycle.

Target Selection: Known creature on same plane. Must have seen target or possess physical connection.

Spell Combinations​

Synergistic Spells:

  • Information Magic: Combine with scrying or clairvoyance for comprehensive intelligence operations
  • Illusion Magic: Layer with other illusion spells for enhanced dream manipulation
  • Divination Magic: Pair with divination spells for strategic planning coordination

Class Feature Interactions:

  • Illusion Mastery: Wizards specializing in illusion gain enhanced dream control
  • Telepathic Features: Mental communication abilities complement dream messaging
  • Dream Magic: Some class features specifically enhance sleep and dream interactions

Multi-Caster Coordination: Multiple dreamers can coordinate complex operations or verify information.

Material Component Details​

Component Acquisition: Handful of sand, dab of ink, and writing quill from sleeping bird.

Component Handling: Symbolic components representing sleep, communication, and memory. Consumed during casting.

Roleplay Opportunities: Different dream manifestations reflect personal symbolism, cultural traditions, or magical aesthetics.

Economic Considerations: Minimal component costs for invaluable long-distance communication capability.

Creator Notes​

Encounter Balancing: Secure long-distance communication affects story pacing and information control.

NPC Usage: Spies, coordinators, or powerful casters might use dreams for intelligence networks or psychological operations.

Environmental Considerations: Works across any distance on same plane. Target must be sleeping for full effect.

Campaign Integration: Essential communication magic for large-scale campaigns or stories requiring coordination across distances.

Environmental Interactions​

Terrain Effects: No range limitation on same plane. Unaffected by physical distance or terrain barriers.

Weather Influence: Unaffected by weather conditions or environmental factors.

Structural Interactions: Penetrates any physical barriers or magical protections except specific dream wards.

Elemental Interactions: Mental communication unaffected by elemental conditions or magical interference.

Common Rulings & Clarifications​

Timing Questions: Action casting time with 8-hour duration. Communication occurs during target's next sleep.

Target Limitations: Known creature on same plane. Requires previous visual contact or physical connection.

Duration Interactions: 8-hour duration. Message delivered during target's sleep within duration.

Mechanical Interactions: Nightmare option deals 3d6 psychic damage and prevents rest benefits.

Alternative Applications​

Non-Combat Uses: Strategic coordination, intelligence gathering, diplomatic communication, or maintaining relationships.

Social Encounters: Long-distance negotiations, information exchange, or psychological influence operations.

Exploration Applications: Coordinating with distant allies, gathering intelligence about areas, or maintaining contact during separation.

Utility Functions: Strategic communication, intelligence networks, diplomatic channels, or psychological operations.

Same School: Other illusion spells like major image (3rd level visual illusion), hallucinatory terrain (4th level environmental illusion), mirage arcane (7th level massive illusion).

Similar Effects: sending (3rd level short message), dream (5th level full communication), telepathic bond (5th level group mental link).

Progression Options: message (cantrip short range), sending (3rd level brief message), dream (5th level full communication).

Complementary Magic: scrying (visual intelligence), clairvoyance (remote observation), sending (backup communication).

Scaling Analysis​

Level Progression: Remains valuable throughout campaigns for strategic coordination and intelligence operations.

Upcast Benefits: No improvement from higher spell slots, making this a pure 5th-level communication investment.

Campaign Phases: Most valuable in campaigns requiring coordination across large areas or complex political situations.

Comparative Value: Excellent communication magic that provides unique long-distance capabilities for strategic operations.

Narrative Flavor​

Casting Description: Your consciousness reaches across vast distances as magical energy carries your awareness into the target's sleeping mind.

Effect Manifestation: You appear within the target's dream as a vivid presence capable of full communication and shared experience.

Personal Style: Enchanters create detailed dream scenarios, while sorcerers manifest intuitive dream connections reflecting their magical nature.

World Integration: Represents advanced mental magic available to skilled illusion specialists, often associated with espionage networks, strategic coordination, or psychological warfare operations.